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JJBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF
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GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
-a.id'vtbk,tiseivi:ei>tts.
We require that every advertiser satisfy us of
responsibility and intention to do all that he agrees,
and that his goods are really worth the price asked
for them. In fact, I hold myself responsible for
every advertisement on these pages.
Bates for Advertisements.
All advertisements will be inserted at the rate of
20 cents per line. Nonpareil space, each insertion.
12 lines. Nonpareil space make 1 inch. Discounts
will be made as follows:
On 10 lines and upward, 3 insertions, 5 per cent; 6
insertions, 10 per cent; 9 insertions, 15 per cent;
12 insertions, 20 per cent.
On 50 lines (Vt column) and upward 1 insertion, 5 per
cent; 3 insertions, 10 per cent; 6 insertions, 15
percent; 9 insertions, 20 per cent; 12 insertions,
25 per cent.
On 100 lines (whole column) and upward, 1 insertion,
10 per cent; 3 insertions, 15 per cent; 6 inser-
tions, 20 per cent; 9 insertions, 25 per cent; 12 in-
sertions, 33H per cent.
On 200 lines (whole page) 1 insertion, 15 per cent; 3
insertions, 20 per cent; 6 insertions, 25 per cent;
9 insertions, 30 per cent; 12 insertions, 40 per
cent. A. I. ROOT.
BARNES' PATENT FOOT
POWER ITIACHINERY !
CIRCULAR and SCROLL SAWS.
Hand, Circular Rip Saws for hca^-y
and light ripping. Lathes, &c., &c.
These machines are especially
adapted to Hive Making'. It
will pay every bee-keeper to send
for our 64 page Catalogue. Ma-
cbines Went on Trial.
W. F. & JOHIi BARNES,
Rockford, Winnebago Co., 111.
HUBBEE STAMPS
DATING, ADDRESSING, BUSINESS,
LETTER HEADS, ETC.
No. 1.
Address only, like
No. 1, $1.50; with bu-
siness card, like No. 2,
f2.00; with movable
months and figures for
dating, like No. 3, $3.00.
Full outfit included—
pads, ink, box, etc.
Sent by mail postpaid.
Without ink and pads,
50c less.
Put your stamp on
every card, letter, pa-
per, book, or anything
else that you may send
out by mail or express
and you will save your-
No. 3.
No.2.
world of
self and all who do business with you "a
trouble." I know, you see.
We have those suitable for Druggists, Grocery-
men, Hardware Dealers, Dentists, &c., &c. Send for
Circular. A. L ROOT, Medina, Ohio.
OliM COMB FOUNDATION MACHINES, from
$15.00 to $3o.t0. Sample and Circular sent free
on application. Address,
9tfd C. OLM, Fond du lac. Wis,
Comb Foundation MachineS
$15.00 TO $100.00.
SAMPLES OP FOUNDATION WITH OUR ONE
POUND SECTION BOX BY MAIL FOR
FIVE CENTS.
For illustrations see our Illustrated Catalogue
of Apiarian Implements and Supplies, mailed on ap-
plication. A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio.
Names of responsible parties will be inserted in
either of the following departments, at a uniform
price of 20 cents each insertion, or $2,0() per year.
$1.00 Queens.
Names iiiserted in this department the fi-rst time uith-
out charge. After, 20c each insertion, or $2,00 per year.
Those whose names appear below agree to furnish
Italian queens for $1,00 each, under the following
conditions: No guarantee is to be assumed of purity,
or an j'tbing of the kind, only that t he queen be reared
from a choice, pure mother, and had commenced to
lay when they were shipped. They also agree to re-
turn the money at any time when customers become
impatient of such delay as may be unavoidable.
Bear in mind that he who sends the best queens,
put up most neatly and most securely, will probably
receive the most orders. Special rates for warranted
and tested queens, furnisned on application to any
of the parties. Names with *, use an imported queen
mother. If the queen arrives dead, notify us and
we will send you another. Probably none will be
sent for $1.00 before July 1st, or after Nov. If want-
ed sooner, or later, see rates in price list.
*E. W, Hale, Wirt C. H., Wirt Co., W. Va. 2-1
*A. I. Hoot, Aledina, Ohio.
*H. H. Brown, Light Street, Columbia Co., Pa. Itf
*E. M. Hayhurst, Kansas City, Mo. 1-12
*Paul L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La. Ittd
*D. A. McCord, Oxford, Butler Co., O. 1-13
*S. F. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. Itfd
*B. Marionneaiix, Plaquemine, Iberville Par., La.55
*Jas. P. Sterritt, Sheaklevville, Mercer Co., Pa. 6-2
*J. T. WUson, Mortonsville, Woodford Co., Ky, 6-6
Jno. Couser, Glenn, Johnson Co., Kan. 7-2
*Chas. G. Dickinson, Sou' Oxford, Chen. Co. N.Y. 1-10
*Wm. Ballantine, Sago, Musk. Co., O. 2tfd
Hive Manufacturers.
Who agree to make such hives, and at the prices
named, as those described on our circular,
A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
Sid. D. Buell, Union City, Branch Co., Mich. 2-7
P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, Iberville Par., La. Itfd
S. F. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. Itfd
Sprunger Bro's, Berne, Adams Co., Ind. 3-2
J. F. Hart, Union Point, Greene Co., Ga. 4-3
M. S. West, Pontiac, Oakland Co., Mich, 8-1
We will send Gleanings—
With The American Bee Journal ($2 00) . .
" The Bee-Keeper's Magazine (100)..
" The Bee-Keeper's Exchange.. (75 c.)...
" AU three of the above Journals
" Bee-Keepers' Instructor (50 c.).
" Bee-Keepers' Guide (50 c.).
" American Bee-Keeper (1 00).
AU above (Bee Journals of America)
$2 75
1 50
1 50
3 50
..1 30
..1 30
..1 80
..5 25
With American Agriculturist ($1 50)
" Prairie Farmer (2 00) ..
" Rural New Zorker (2 50)
" Scientific American (3 20)
" Fruit Recorder and Cottage Gardener (1 00)
" U. S. Oflicial Postal Guide (1 50)
" Sunday School Times, weekly, (2 00)
\A bnve rates include aU Postane. i
2 26
2 75
3 25
3 90
1 75
3 2.5
3 25
1881
GLEAXIKGS IX BEE CULTURE.
Contents of this Number.
Bee Botaxt il
Bee Entomology '"
Blasted Hopes 10
BoTS' Department
Cartoon 16
Editorials li*
Growlery iti j
Humbugs and Swindles
INDEX OF HEADS OF GRAIN, NOTES AN
AND OTHER SHORT ARTICLE
Honey Column 48
Heads of Grain 27
Kind Words From ouk
Customers 5
Ladies' Department 10
Notes and (Queries 11
QUERIES,
A Beginner's First 3 Seasons. 17
Abraliaui's Report 10
Adams ' Horse-power :i7
Advantage of Italians aiuoug
Blacks 3G
Almost Blasted Hopes :«
Alsike Clover 36
Amber Cane 30, 11
Answering Promptly 6
Archangelica 11
Bad Report from Sugar .'io
Barrel -making 30
Bee-Stings and Rheumatism,
21.30
Bees Leaving during Cold
Weather 10, 27
Bee Talk, and Lazy Bees 31
Bees that won't accept Qu'n.37
Bee Poisoning 12
Beglmier's Troubles 30
Blue Thistle 27
Blowing Bees from Bo-fes 27
Black Bees in Italy 31
Blacks and Italians 28
Box Hives and Black Bees. . . .29
Bonliam's Process for Fdn... 26
Brood Late in Fall 31
Cages 28,32
Califomia Letter 7
Calendar Clocks 48
Candy-making 27
Cellar Wintering 21
Celebrating the Fourth 33
Chatf Covering for Winter. . .19
Chase's Receipt Book 49
Clarifj-Ing Syrup with Clay . .35
Corn as a Honey -plant 11
Cotton as a Honey- plant 11
Cottonwood for Honey 41
Doubling up in Spring 41
Doolittle's Review 20
• ' Down-East ' ' Scholai-s 32
Dysentery in December 34
Experiments with Honey-
plants 23
' ' Fair ' ' Treatment 36
Faris Machine 29
reeding Comb Honey 40
Feeding New Swarms 37
Fireweed, Great Yield from. 26
Fifteen from One in 1 Season 27
First Summer with Bees 34
Filling Combs with Syrup 42
Florida, Report from 27
Foul Brood 19
Galvanized Iron 34
Getting Cells for Rearing 33
Given' s Colunm 16
Grape Sugar 29
Hardening Plaster Casts 33
Home Decoi-ations 11
Honey-Beetle 22
Honey-Dew, Origin of 22
Honey -Plants, vai'ious 13
Hununel's Report So
Hyloc.apa as an Enemy 22
Iii-and-in Breeding 49
Journals from Publishei'S, etc 17
Kleinow's Swa-m'g Troubles 1.5
Letting Bees Sta.^'! 11
Mallows as a Honey lant 12
Mandrels, Cheaper 42
Marking Hybrids 31
Mignonnette 13
Millers on Spider Plants 37
Mrs. Cotton 50
Newell's Report 10
New- Year Greeting 18
No. of Stocks for one locality36
Not " Blasted Hopes " 38, 40
"Parody" on Winter 37
Peet Cage 33
Peach-Blossoms 41
Phacelia Congesta 23
Planer Saws 38
Poisoning Bees, etc 8
Pollen in November 30
Prepared Paper for Fdn 36
Quarter-blood Italians 41
Queens thrown from Hive in
Winter 28
Ramble No. 1 2.")
Recipes, Selling 49
Report of Crop of 1880 31
Report from an Illinois Bee-
Keeper 32
Reports from Medina Co 9
lieport from Red Clover 38
Sagging of all Fdn 17
Scale to Register Daily Yield. 39
Scotland, a Letter from 12
Seed Farms , 32
Sep's of Pert. Metal 10
Shipping Bees from South.. .28
Simpson Plants 13
Simplicity Hives 17
SUver-drip Syrup 30
Stingless Bees 18
Stoiy vnth two Morals 41
Suggestion on Introducing.,.. 38
Twenty-live Dollars per Col... 7
Two Colonies in a Chaff Hive 17
Weekly Bee Journal 48
What to do for Bees having
Dysentei-y 49
What 1 lb. of Bees in June did 34
White Wax 29
WUlow 14,28
Wire Cloth over Bees in Win-
ter 3.5
Wire Cloth for Cages 35
To send for Moore's 4th annual circular of Perfec-
tion Honey-Box, Italian and Cyprian Queens; Paper
for separators, &c. Address
Id J. E. MOORE, Byron, Gen. Co., N. Y.
OUR NEW ILLUSTRATED DESCRIPTIVE CIR-
CULAR of Italian, Cyprian, and Holy-Land
Queens; also club rates of bee publications, sent
free. Send your name on postal card to
1 EDWARD B. BEEBEE, Oneida, N. Y.
CYPRIANS and Italian Queens or ISTuclei. Des-
criptive Circular and Price List sent free.
Address JULIUS HOFFMAN,
l-4d Fort Plain, Montgomery Co., N. Y.
Ha! Ha! History, Ha! Ha!
The Hethering-ton Brothers are the largest Bee-
Keepcrs in the LT. S. Bingham & Hetherington smo-
kers and Honey-Knives were the only ones at the
last American Bee-Keepers' Society; also at the
Michigan State Society. They were invented for
our own use in our own apiaries, and patented to
secure us the credit of their invention, and the
means of advertising them so as to guard bee-keep-
ers against worthless imitations. There are no oth-
er smokers advertised which were not made by sup-
ply dealers, and not for their own use. Twenty
thousand of ours are in use in the best apiaries. All
praise them as best. None complain. We are the
only legal makers of them, and we sell no other sup-
plies. We are proud of them. Send card for circu-
lars or wholesale rates to
BINGHAM & HETHERINGTON.
Id Otsego, Michigan.
Italian, Cyprian,
AND
HOLY-LAND QUEENS!
Single Queen, Tested $2 00
" " Untested (laying) 100
Sent by mail and safe arrival guaranteed.
8 Frame Colony 6 00
3 " Nuclei 3 00
2 " " 2 50
Safe arrival guaranteed by express.
Address W. P. HENDERSON,
l-61nq Murfreesboro, Ruth. Co., Tennessee.
BE SURE
To send a postal card for our Illustrated Catalogue of
APIARIAN SUPPLIES
Before purchasing elsewhere. It contains illustra-
tions and descriptions of every thing new and desi-
rable in an apiary,
AT THE LOWEST PRICES.
Italian, Cyprian, and Holy-Land Queens and Bees.
J. C. & H. P. SAYLES,
l-8d Hartford, Washington Co., Wis.
Willow Cuttings.
I will send postpaid to any address in the United
States, ten cuttings of the willow on which the kill-
moiiark is budded, 6 inches long, assorted from '3 to
?8 of an inch in diameter, on receipt of 25 cts; of 13
cuttings,- 8 inches long, for 30 cts.
HENRY CULP,
Id Hilliards, Franklin Co., Ohio.
CHEAP SECTIONS!
All Oiic-Piece Sections. Pound and Prize size at
$4.50 per 1,000. JOHN McGREGOR,
1 Freeland, Saginaw Co., Mich.
MAHER & GROSH, 34 N. Mon-
roe St., Toledo, Ohio, ask your at-
tention to their brand of Hand
Forged. Razor Steel Cutlery, every
lilade warranted and replaced free,
if soft or Hawy. Cut shows exact
size of medium 2-blade Knife,
price by mail, post-paid, 50c; lar-
ger and stronger Knife, 60c; extra
strong 2-blade, made for hard ser-
vice, 75c: Our Best, oil temper and tested, highest finish, $1. One blade size of cut, 25c; extra strong
1-blade, 50c. Ladies' small 1-blade Pen Knife, 25c; 2-blade 50c. Pruners, oil temper and tested, $1. Hunt-
ing Knife, $1.00. Illustrated list of Knives, Razors and Scissors free. Address as above. Sample 6-inch,
hand forged Butcher Knife, 50c., or Chicago Stock-Yard Skinning Knife, T5c. 10-12
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
Jan.
Keceiit Additions to the
COUNTER STORE.
Our friends will bear in mind the price of single
articles are given at the head of each list, and that
the figures refer only to lots of 10 and 100.
of 100
I 4 25
I 3 50
I 3 50
3 00
4 25
3 50
4 25
4 25
3 50
3 50
10
FIVE-CENT COUNTER.
Postage.] [Pr.oflO,
10 I Brackets to hold clock-shelf | 45
2 I Copper Wire, on spools; suitable for
mending things when they get broken | 40
6 I Hammer, Tack, coppered; iron handle | 40
4 I Hammer, Tack; wood handle 35
16 I Hammer, Carpenter's, full size j 45
1 1 Pencils, red one end blue the other,
the best pencil of American Lead
Pencil Co | 40
2 I Handkerchiefs, all-linen; good size;
tine, and neatly hemmed | 45
2 I Knives and Forks, small size, and very
neatly finished, knife and fork are
two I 45
1 1 Pie-plates, Tin; just right for pump-
kin pies I 40
4 I Tablets, Suitable for writing and coun-
ter-slips; on excellent writing paper | 40
TEN-CENT COUNTER.
20 I Coal Shovels, wrought iron, with a tin-
covered handle to prevent their get-
ting hot I
Egg-beaters, single-geared; a wonder
for the money |
Butter-Dishes, individual; glass, 3 for
10 cents I
Handkerchiefs, all-linen; good size
for gentlemen |
Knives for boys, Two-bladed; although
the blades are not American make,
they are steel, and a wonder for the
money |
Pencils, 1 doz. for 10c. Am. Pencil Co;
and very fair pencils (doz. packages) |
FIFTEEN-CENT COUNTER.
Combination Salt and Pepper, gives
both or either condiment at pleas-
ure I 1 40 113 00
Honey or Syrup Cup; glass, with
hinged tin cover 1 1 20 | 10 00
Berry Comports, no foot; glass; very
pretty 1 1 30 | 12 50
Butter-Dish, on foot; glass; a very
nice piece of work for the price ... | 1 30 | 12 50
Wire-ringed Pot-Cleaners, The cele-
brated Iron-Dish Cloth | 1 20 1 10 00
Twenty-Five Cent Counter.
Clock Oil, an excellent oil for clocks,
watches, or any light or delicate
machinery [3
Counter Brushes, a neat and useful
article 1 1
Family Egg-beaters, double geared;
a regular flf tj'-cent article | 1
Lantern, Convex reflector; a very
good lantern for only 25 cents ... .12
Twine Boxes, ironed japan | 2
Vise to screw on the bench, with
anvil |2
Wheat-bread plates, glass; has the
motto, "Give us this day our daily
bread," blown in the glass around
the edge; a most beautiful plate .. | 2
Clothespins, best wooden, (i doz. in a
basket, basket and all, only 25c | I
Watchmaker's Eye-glasses, a most
useful magnifying-glass for a vari-
ety of purposes
48
85 1 8 00
85 1 8 00
25 1 2 25
90 1 8 50
95 1 8 50
75 1 T 00
00 1 18 00
75 1 16 00
75 1 16 00
10 20 00
00 18 00
35 I 21 00
2 00 i 18 00
I 60 1 15 00
1 50 1 14 00
Thirty-Five Cent Counter.
Glass Pitchers, '/^ gallon, very hand-
some
Berry Comports, glass, on foot; a
most beautiful article /
50
20 I Hunter's Sifter. The regular price
is 75c. A rotary flour and meal
sifter, mixer, scoop, measure,
weigher, egg-beater, rice-washer,
pumpkin, tomato, starch strainer,
etc I 3 80 I 25 00
30 j Vises, Iron parallel jaws, 1J4 inch
wide, to screw on table or bench,
very handy j 3 25 | 31 CO
Seventy-Five Cent Counter.
60 I Coffee-Mill with a covered hopper.
Extra nice | 6 00 1 55 00
2 I Silk Handkerchiefs, Beautiful | 7 '00 | 65 00
ONE DOLLAR COUNTER.
64 I Wrenches, Coe's pattern, malleablp,
black, 15 in. long, extra heavy and
strong I 7 50 1 70 00
A. I. ROOT, Medina, O.
The A B C of Bee Culture.
Bound in paper, mailed for Sl.OO. At wholesale,
same price as Gleanings, with which it may be
clubbed. One copy, fl.OO; 2 copies, $1.90; three cop-
ies, $2.75; live copies, $4.00; ten copies, $7.50.
The same, neatly bound in cloth, with the covers
neatly embellished in embossing and gold, one copy,
$1.25; 2 C(ipies, $2.40; three copies, $3.50; five cop-
ies, $5.25; ten copies, $10.00. If ordered by freight
or express, the postage may be deducted, which will
be 12c on the book in paper, and 15c each, on the
book in cloth.
Cook's Manual in paper or doth at the same price as
A. I. ROOT, Medina, O.
"w. 0.^" iNKr
In 2 oz. bottles, black, violet, or blue, in H
gross boxes, per gross $4 00
In quantities of 5 or more gross, $3,20 per Gross.
In Pint Bottles, per doz $3 00
In Quart " " " 6 00
In Gallon Jugs " " 13 00
Green and Red ink are necessarily more expen-
sive, and the price will therefore be one-half more.
Liquid Bluing, in 6 oz. bottles, per doz 50
" " " " " gross $5 40
I will send l^ gross, 3 oz. inks, assorted colors,
black, blue, violet, and one bottle each of green and
red, as a trial order for $1.00.
WM. OLDROYD, Columbus, Ohio.
THE
Britisli Bee Journal.
The British Bee Journal is now mailed to our ad-
dress in packages, each month. In order to dispose
of them, we offer them at present at $1.00 per year,
postage paid, beginning Jan. 1881. Will guarantee
safe arrival of every No.
A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio.
IMPEO VED
Langstroth Hives.
Supplies for the Apiary. Comb Foundation a spe-
cialty. Being able to procure lumber cheap, I can
furnish Hives and Sections very cheap. Send for a
circular. A. D. BENHAM,
2tfd Olivet, Eaton Co., Mich.
FINE MIXED CAR13S, with name. 10 cents,
postpaid. M. L. Dorman, Sinclairville,
12tfd Chaut. Co., N. Y,
50
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
JOIN our club and get free one pound paekag'e of
a NF.w SEEDi.iNO, potato — the finest we ever
saw — or 20 Strawberry plants of varieties that sell
for 50e to il per do/. Particulars free.
1-1 P. SUTTON, Kansom, Lack'a Co., Pa.
WANTED.— An experienced apiarist; one who
can do all kinds of farm work, and handle
tools to some extent. Single man preferred. Ap-
plicant must be of good habits, a "man of activity,"
and ready and willing to take hold of whatever turns
up. Address immediately, W. P. CLEMENT,
3d Mouticello, Green Co., Wis.
FOR Catalogue and Price List of young Sour-
wood, Black Locust, Buckthorn, Buckbush,
and other forest trees and seeds.
Address CHAS. KINGSLEY,
1-3 Greeneville Greene Co , Tenn.
KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS.
I am very much pleased with the Sunday-school
books you sent. Austts M. Magee.
Coopers, Chilton Co., Ala., Dec. T, 1880.
1 received my watch to-day, Dec. 23, and It is a
beauty; and let mo thank you for it, for it is just
the watch you said it was. H. C. Kersten.
Brooklyn, Iowa.
The ink-powder, gauge, and file, came all right to-
day; ink is made, and I am writing with it. It
Hows well. P. D. S. Greene.
Barry, Pike Co., TIL, Dec. 13, 1880.
I want to say this, that the 15c coal-shovel, though
the handle got broke in the mail, is still worth twice
the money. If you only could send tongs to match
it! If j'ou get any tongs before my box of goods
leaves, put a pair in. Isaac B. Rumford.
Bakersfield, Kern Co., Cal., Dec. 13, 1880.
The goods came last Saturday. The charges were
$1.3,5. That was very reasonable, I think. The ex-
tractor is just splendid— much nicer than I expected
it to be, and the box of bee material was all packed
in good shape. A. Osbun.
Spring Bluff, Wis., Nov. 23, 1880.
Inclosed find SI. 00 for Gleanings another year.
Thanks for the Home Paperp. They help us in West-
ern Connecticut to be unselfish, and thoughtful of
others. May the "great Lover of us all sustain and
keep" you until you come to his everlasting king-
dom. Mrs. a. E. Jordan.
Redding, Ct., Nov. 25, 1880.
The ABC book came to hand. The paper, print-
ing, and liinding, are all that could be desired, and
yet $1.35 pays for it all! The minute precision of its
details makes it a handy book for the novice in bee
culture, and is a guarantee of sound information
and instruction. Geo. H. Waddell. M. D.
Coronaca, Abbeville Co., S. C, Nov. 19, 1880.
The Waterbury watch ordered on the 8th inst. ar-
rived safely on the 16th. Thanks. To say that 1 am
pleased with it, does not express the full truth of
the matter (I do not wish to beggar the English lan-
guage.) What a revolution there is in watches!
and they keep on revolving (?) providing we keep
them wound up. D. P. Lane.
Koshkonong, Wis.
T was much pleased with the several small arti-
cles. They are cheap, if they are what they appear
to be, and I have no doubt they are, for I have sent
to you several times, and was always well pleased,
and will risk sending to you once more. I was es-
pecially pleased with your ten-cent balance. Send
me two more. W. L. Millspaitgh,
Catherine, Schuyler Co., N. Y., Nov. 33, 1880.
I received the watch on the 14th inst., all safe. I
wound it up and started it in 2;i minutes after I got
it, and it has run to a minute with my clock ever
since. I am well pleased with it. You may look out
again for orders. I also received the scissors and
Gleanings for December. Thanks for your prompt-
ness. J. D. Cooper.
Traveller's Rest, S. C„ Dec. 16, 1880.
The ABC book is received, and ray wife and I are
very well pleased with it. I can hardly see how such
a nice book can be sold for so little money. Book-
keepers in these parts would charge $3.00 for just
such a book. All the goods that I have ordered
from you have been received, and give good satis-
faction. They were also packed in the best of order.
■rj "c^ r^ FTAMHT EY
Spanish Ranch, Plumas Co , Cal.', Nov. 16, 1880. •
BE YE TEMPERATE IN ALL THINGS.
Inclosed find 45 cents, the price for sending 5-cent
Sunday-school books for 8 weeks. I think they come
weekly, the same as a newspaper. 1 would rather
tt ey would come so, even if I had to pav a little more
postage; for, although I think that I am strictly
temperate, as far as the use (or, rather, the disuse)
of ardent spirits is concerned, but not always so
when I have too much on hand at once to read.
White House Station, MRS. Walter Smith.
Hunterdon Co., N. J., Dec. 16, 1880.
I can not for my life imderstand why any single
subscriber can ask for Gleanings at club rates, or
complain at you for allowing a small margin to
agents. If they want the profit, they should get up
the club. Perhaps a great many complain just for
the fun of a growl; if so, just let them growl on, as
it perhaps enables them to sleep better. Gleanings
is worth a dollar, without the Home Papers; and
they alone are worth more than a dollar a year
without the bee department. Enoch Arwine.
Bean Blossom, Brown Co., Ind , Dec. 14, 1880.
The above order I culled out of the pamphlet you
sent to Miss M^— list week. About bees— ahem!
she wants to know if you can not send her some
Italian queens for samples on trial!!
N. B.— 1 am innocent if there be a joke In the mat-
ter. A. B. C.
Med way, Greene Co., N. Y., Nov. 29, 1880.
[Why, friend A. B. C, I am really sorry to refuse
to oblige Miss M. ; but you see it is such awful hard
work to raise queens, that, if we did that with ail the
brothers and sisters, there wouldn't be enough to go
round; at least I am afraid there wouldn't, and you
know I am of a careful turn of mind. Ahem !]
The two Sunday-school books that you sent me of
late we all like very much, and are hungry for more.
The names of those two were "Pilgrim Street," (God
help us all to gain the victory as little Tom did!) and
"General Peg and Her Staff." I enjoy reading
Gleanings as much as ever — especially "Our
Homes." My prayer is, that God will continue to
bless our Christian friends in India. I felt sorry
for you when I read the Growlery of this month, be-
cause J. A. Hopkins had such bad luck with his per-
chases. We like our little thermometers very much,
and Edward Carson thinks his little 15c plane as
near perfect as any thing could be for the price.
Mary E. Hartwell.
Medora, Macoupin Co., 111., Dec. 6, 1880.
The ABC book came to hand all right, and after
reading it all through once, and some of it twice, I
think— well, I will just tell you what I think.
1 think, friend Root,
You made a pretty good shoot
When you undertook
That A B Cbook;
And we all should peruse.
With joy profuse,
A book so free
In its knowledge of the bee.
And long may you live.
And happy should you be.
In such a book to give,
As the ABC.
W. H. Turner.
Fifes, Goochland Co., Va.
I would as soon be without an almanac for 13
months as to do without your bee journal. I do not
write for it, for I do not want to be consigned to
either the Growlery or Blasted Hopes. I can not
boast of as much as some of your people do; yet I
concede that I am doing far better since I adopted
the Simplicity hive and got the Italian bees than I
ever did before. But while I can not boast of as
much as some do, 1 love to read their reports. And
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Jax.
now, brother Root, don't ever give up the Home
Department, you do not know the good that you are
doing. It will" tell in eternit}-. Toil on and the Lord
will bless you. E. E. Smith.
Settle, N. C, Dec. 3, 1880.
I see, by last No. of Gr.EANiNGS. that our year is
ended; and my husband would about as soon think
of dispensing "with his dinner as your useful paper;
and so, liking to give him pleasant surprises. 1 write
and inclose one dollar for the coming year. Besides,
I have felt a "big drawing" to pen you a few lines
this long while, to "sort of rest" j'ou again when
you sit down after a hard day's work, with your slip-
pers and dressing-gown on, and your feet a little el-
evated; for the many different businesses you are
getting engaged in must be tiresome to mind and
Dody. I can not conceive how you can think of hav-
ing "so many enemies, when every faculty of your
soui and body seems intent on doing somebody some
good. Even the long-neglected prisoner is made
happy by your visits and instructions. The printer
you spoke of as now being in your employ, we 'are
greatly interested in. Go on, dear brother, in your
good work; and, if you faint not, in the great judg-
ment-day Christ will make mention of your labors of
love to that unfortunate class. I told my husband
this morning that I would like so much to see your
operations, and I should go to Medina with some-
thing like the same feelings that the queen of Sheba
visited Solomon.
Our bee business has occupied the time and mind
of Mr. Mattison quite a good deal: indeed, I might
say almost entirely. We began with 1-t swarms, and
increased to 23, all artificiiiUy. AVhen bees seemed
too many for a hiye, lie would take frames from sev-
eral hives, and sm(jke them to make them smell
alike; then give them some Italian larvte in the
right state to make a queen of, and they would sren-
ernlly soon be found to have " set up housekeeping"
nicely. The queen we got of you a short time ago
was, he thinks, gratefully received bv the mother-
less bees, though it has been too cold to make a
thorough examination. 1 see some of the women in
the country are turning their heads in a "bee-line."
Indeed, no*w-a-days they claim great liberty, and
must have their say too. Some of the communica-
tions from them read quite sensible. My husband
is trying to instruct m^, so if I survive him I shall
be able to carry on the business. I think favorably
of your intention of making a little book of your
laj--sermons, as they may truthfully be called. It is
encouraging to think tbat if any one is in straits,
and needs help of God, they can send their requests,
not only to the Fulton-street prayer-meeting, but to
Medina, Ohio. Go on, dear brother, in carrying the
needs of a dying world to God; and remember all
your patrons in their various necessities. Remem-
ber me particularly to your dear wife, whom 1 feel
aids you in your arduous and trying labors.
Emeline Mattison.
Ocean View, Cape May Co., N. J., Dec. (5, 1880.
[Why, my dear kind friend, I never had such a
thing as a dressiiw-gowu and slippers in all my life,
and 1 hardly think 1 ever shall. The clerks all had a
good hearty laugh at the idea; and when I read it at
the dinner-table, we had another. My wife says I do
not even sit still on Sundaj-, unless I am obliged to
while in church; and then my restless disposition re-
venges itself by making me go to sleep, if they keep
me very long without letting me "do something."
We should be most glad to see you among us; but I
fear you might be sadly disappointed, and you know
that wasn't the case with the queen of Sheba.]
KIND WORDS TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
I FOUND the following sentences on a postal writ-
ten by one of the clerks to one of you:—
.We beg pardon if we have been " short " or
" crusty." It was not intended. The " 1-90 " to
which you refer, means that your account stands on
Ledger 1, page 90. Our short sentences mean haste
— not churlishness.
Now, inasmuch as quite a number have taken of-
fense at our brief way of answering, I thought it
best to remind you to try to have charity, even if we
are short in our replies. Very often, at this time of
the year, a great number of letters are waiting
for answers, and we felt that brief ones were
better than none at all. It is quite likely that the
clerks are sometimes a little impatient in a way
they should not be, for I have a great' many times
made them write their cards over again, just be-
cause of this very thing. Please try to bear with us
when we get cross; and when j'ou get cross, we will
bear with you. Shall we not call this a bargain,
while we all try hard to do better?
Please, my friends, do not take the trouble to
send certificates from your postmaster, justice of
the peace, or anybody else. Just make a plain,
frank statement of the case ; if any thing is wrong,
and if I think you have not told it fairly, I will be
equally frank. The more I become acquainted with
my fellow-men each j-ear, the more I am convinced
that by far the greater part of them are trying to be
just and honest. We lack wisdom and judgment,
many times; but the cases are very few where we
deliberately try to rob our fellows. If I am think-
ing too well of you, may God help you to come up,
instead of my faith going down. "vVhat shall it
profit a man, if he gain the whole world and lose his
own soul?"
One more word about answering letters promptly:
As usual, about the close of the year we have quite
a little ' tu3sle," if we may so term it, with some of
the friends, to get them to answer postals, and have
all littl3 matters closed up. Well, after writing to
some of you four or five times, during nearly as
many months, we finally get quite a letter, and
sometimes a small "blowing up," if I may be ex-
cused again, because they did not owe the little bal-
ance, or else thought they didn't, which amounts to
the same thing, fir else that some of the goods were
lost or broken, or we were at fault in sending them
wrongly. Now, my friends, I do not mean, by these
statements, that you are necessarily owing me any-
thing, for very often the fault is all mine and not
yours at all; but are you not at least in fault in
waiting several months without saying a word?
Very likely I deserved the blowing up; but why not
give it to me at once, and have it done with? If
any thinff is wrong, why not say so, right off, and
have it done with? The poorest way in the world to
settle accounts, that I know of, is to keep putting
off, day after day, and month after month. If you
have not got the money, and are "hard up," say so,
in a manly way; if yoTi have paid the account al-
ready, or even think you have, by all means say so;
and if the blunder is ours, I will pay you for time
and postage, and for going to the postoflice too. Our
book-keeper receives the highest wages of any one
in the establishment, except Mr. Gray, and all these
delays cost me severely; in view of this, will yoti
not try harder to just scratch a line or two on a card,
and drop it into theoflBce? In trying to settle up
every thing before another season, we have written
repeatedly to some of your postmasters, and when
that didn't do, I have gone to the expense of hiring a
man to hunt you up, and ask you the simple ques-
tion as to whether you honestly owed that little bill.
Now, my friends, for your own good, and that you
may prosper and build up a thriving business, and
be an ornament to your neighborhood, please do at-
tend to these little matters. Do not have these lit-
tle sins lying on your conscience; but, rather, be
"diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serving the
Lord." Is it not the better way? Do you not feel
from the bottom of your heart, brother, that I am
right?
I>EVOTEr> TO I3EE.«?5 A^VO IIOTS^EY, A:vr> H03IIiJ TIVTKRESTW.
Tol. IX.
JANUARY 1, 1881.
No. 1.
A. I. ROOT,
Publisher and Froprietor, \
1
medlna, O. J
Published Monthly. f f EKMS: $1.00 Per Annumc in
•^ Advance; 2 Copies /or $l.t)U; A
'for $2.75; 5 for S4.00; lO or
"i more. 75ecach. Single ]S'nmher,V)c.
Established in 1873. td^'S.'"''"^' '''"'""' '""'^ "'
NOTES fro:ti the banner apiary.
No. 14.
f:?5 PROFIT, PER COLONY, ANP HOW IT WAS DONE.
M S the figures that I gave one year ago, repre-
Jf^^_ senting the profits of my apiary, were not
shrunk by the cold weather, I will venture
once more to send in my report without waiting un-
til next June.
You will see from the above heading that my prof-
its this season have reached a good round figure;
but perhaps you would be more interested n learn-
ing how such results were obtained.
I commenced the season with 15 colonies. The
warm weather came earlier than usual; I began
starting queen-cells the fore part of May; in the
middle of the month I commenced forming nuclei,
while the first of June found me shipping queens,
with 25 good, strong, three-frame nviclei started.
There is no use trying to rear queens either late or
early in the season, unless your nuclei are liept
strong. I will say, right here, that there was almost
a steady yield of honey from early in the spring un-
til the frosts came, although there was no great
yield at any one time. By July 1st, my 25 nuclei had
increased to 50, and by July loth I had formed 30
more; as this number enabled me to keep up with
orders, I did not start any more. I have once or
twice before given my method of queen-rearing, and
I will not repeat it here; but I would like to say just
a word or two in regard to the importance of always
having nuclei furnished with vmsealed brood, and of
always having on hand a good supply of queen-cells.
I know it is quite a "chore" to go around every
three or four days and see that every nuclei is fur-
nished with brood; but it is just such little "chores"
as this that help to bring in $25 profit, per colony. I
did this work so thoroughly that not one fertile
worker put in an appearance. Whenever there was
a scarcity of orders, and I had a lot of laying queens
on hand, it used to be one of my " besetting sins " to
neglect starting queen-cells; but this state of affairs
never failed to be followed by a "rush" of orders
that would take every laying queen from the j-ard,
leave me with no cells to put in their places, and
teach me the folly of such neglect. During the past
season I kept such a large stock of cells constantly
on hand that I frequently had to kill young queens
when they hatched, there being no place to put them.
I do so dislike to kill a queen, that these newly
hatched queens were frequently introduced to nu-
clei at the same time that the laying queens were re-
moved ; perhaps three-fourths of these queens would
be accepted, and the time thus gained more than
counterbalanced the queen lost.
My increase was only four colonies; my surplus
honey was 40 lbs. to the swarm, and the number of
queens sold, per colony, was 25.
I have kept bees four years, and the average profit,
per colony, has been §18.82.« Friend Doolittle, what
has been your averaie profit, per colony, since you
first engaged in bee culture?
W. Z. Hutchinson.
Rogersville, Genesee Co., Mich.
CALIFORNIA LETTER.
WE have had a 3-lnch rain, and bees are in fine
condition. We are still eating grapes from
" -^ the vines in our apiary. Over 400 white
hives, six feet apart, in hexagonal shape, on clean,
light-colored ground, when the glare of the sun is
on them, 1 am inclined to think is rather hard on the
eyes, especially when one has to look through
glasses and a bee-hat ; but the grapevines, when in
leaf, relieve the dilliculti' somewhat. It is true,
they take up some room, and are sometimes in the
way; but we rather like this obtrusiveness, just as
we do with wife and children; we rather like to have
them rub against us, even if we do have to shove
them to one side rather rudely for business consid-
erations.
BEES AND GRAPES.
I hear considerable said of late about the injury of
grapes and other fruit by bees. The yellow jackets,
or yellow hornets, are exceedingly numerous here
this season, making the trouble by bees very consid-
erable, especially where the sweet varieties of
grapes are being dried into raisins. They take them
almost wholesale where they can get at them. In
Los Angeles county, where grapes are raised in
great abundance, there will be a special effort to
have a State law passed to prevent bees being kept
in the vicinity of vineyards. But I suppose the gen-
eral law of the State is at present sufficient to pro-
tect their property. However, your late statement
of one being liable to a penalty for killing another
man's bees the same as any other kind of stock, I
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Jak.
think is not fully correct. The law of Ohio supposes
that all domestic animals, commonly understood not
to be dangerous or injurious in running at large,
does not make the owner liable for damage for acci-
dental injury from such animal; but if the owner
knows that any animal owned by him is inclined to
mischief, he becomes liable for the damage; or if he
keeps a bear, or any animal generally supposed to be
dangerous, the owner becomes liable for all dam-
ages by such animal's running at large; also any
kind of animals or stock that in its very nature is
not within the control of the owner, the owner is li-
able for damages by such animals; but, besides this,
if the owner can not control his own stock (as bees), it
gives extra liberties to the one injured to protect him-
self against it; so that, so far as law is concerned, I
would feel comparatively safe in killing a man's
bees or pigeons if they injured me, rather than his
horses or sheep.
HONEY-KNIVES.
I used the Bingham & Hetherington knife the past
season, and, although some of our neighbors call it
a " trowel," I lay aside all other kinds, and use noth-
ing but the trowel. It throws off all the cappings so
nicely. R. Wilkin.
San Buena Ventura, Cal., Dec. 11, 1880.
^ I ■ I ■* — ^
POISONING bx:e:s, and bi<:i<:s and
GKAP£S.
fURTHKR FACTS IN REGARD TO THE CASE GIVEN ON
PAGE 530, OCTOBER NO., VOL. VIII.
MUCH interest Was been expressed, and
many questions have been asked, in
regard to this sad affair, and I have
waited thus far, hoping that some amicable
settlement of the trouble between the two
neighbors might be brought about. As I
have given but one side in the article re-
ferred to, I will now give both sides of the
matter.
Mr. Boot:~l have been to see Mr. Krock, and 1
will give you the substance of what he had to say.
"Mr. Rosekelly, I told Klasen two years ago that his
bees were damaging my grape crop, and that he
must do something with them; but I have never
been bothered as much as I have this fall. My girls
had to wear gloves all the while they were picking,
and would then get stung often; and the baskets,
after they were filled, would have from fifty to
one hundred bees in them, and we could not pack
until night. We worked several nights all night.
I saw Klasen, and told him that his bees were dama-
ging me, and he told me that I should 'put them in
the pound," as I could easily tell bis bees by 'tick-
ling them a little behind.* "
I then asked Krock if Klasen did not offer to pay
him damages.
"No, sir; he only offered to buy a mosquito-net to
put over my door and windows, and that would have
been of no use. I first thought that I would sue
him for damages, but could not prove that it was his
bees. Then I thought I would go to the town coun-
cil and prove them (the bees) a nuisance; but that
body refused to act upon it, stating that they had
no right to do any thing about it. So you see that
the law was out of my reach; and when I went to
him I was met with blackguarding talk, instead of
his meeting me as man should meet man. I have
lost a third of my grapes, and if you do not believe
toe, ask" (he here gave me several names). I showed
him my letter and your answer, and explained to
him how the poisoned sweets had drawn many bees
that would not otherwise have come.
"I know that this has brought trouble upon the
bee-keepers, and it would not have been if he had
not overstocked the town, and he does not feed
them, and so they have to eat people's fruit.
"I must either dig out my grapes, or the bees must
be moved; and as for the lawsuit, you have known
me from your childhood, and you never knew me to
have any thing of the kind, and I would like to drop
the case, on condition that he take away his bees."
Geo. Rosekelly.
Huron, Ohio, Nov. 17, 1880.
The following is from a mutual friend of
the parties : —
Mr. A. I. Root:— At the request of my neighbor,
Mr. H. I. Krock, 1 take the liberty of addressing you
on the subject of a difficulty between him, Mr.
Krock, and Mr. Peter Klasen, for damage, which he,
Mr. Klasen, has sustained in the loss of his bees,
wherein he accuses Mr. Krock of poisoning them.
Mr. Krock emphatically denies the charge. The
two gentlemen are my neighbors, both of whom I
hold in high estimation as citizens, and am sorry to
see them in a dispute which must eventually be an
injury to both, as there are doubtless two sides to
the question.
Mr. Krock commenced the cultivation of grapes
in this village in 1861. He now has about 1 acres un-
der cultivation, which is his principal revenue for
the support of his family. He is 64 years old, with a
wife and two daughters depending upon his vine-
yard principally, for support; so it would not do for
him to abandon it. He is willing to abandon all
claim for damage heretofore sustained in conse-
quence of the bees if Mr. Klasen will remove them
out of reach of his vineyard. It is very evident,
that Mr. Klasen can not prevent his bees trespassing
upon the grapes when they are located so near the
vineyard— less than half a mile. Mr. Krock says
that he has heretofore frequently called Mr. Klasen's
attention to the subject of the injury his bees were
doing to his grapes, but was answered in a sneering
and provoking manner. I can scarcely think that
Mr. Klasen really intended to be insulting. He
probably did not think how irritating his remarks
were. I don't think that Mr. Krock would make a
false statement. He says that he used Paris green
to poison the potato beetle, as they were destroying
his potatoes which were growing among his grapes.
When the hugs quit, he put the dish containing the
poison inside his packing house. When the grapes
began to ripen, he cleared out the packing house,
and the dish containing the remains of the Paris
green was set outside. He admits that the bees
may have gotten some of the poison, but if they did
it was accidental. I have been in Mr. Krock's vine-
yard, and I know that the bees were very annoying;
so much so that Mr. Krock dare not take his horse
into the vineyard. Mr. Krock wishes to avoid litiga-
tion, and would be glad to drop all contention, and I
think that Mr. Klasen would take the same view,
and drop the matter if some of his bee-keeping
friends would give him the right kind of advice. I
don't think that Mr. Klasen is really a bad man; but
when temper is up, reason leaves.
I fear that I may have trespassed too long upon
your patience; but if I have, you will please excuse
me when you take into consideration that my ob*
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
ject is not selfish. I only wish to make peace be-
tween my neighbors. Mr. Krock wishes me to in.
form you that he will be glad to give you any infor-
mation you may think proper to ask. I think that
Mr. Klasen intends to remove his bees from town,
as there are others who are annoyed by them. With
the hope that you will patiently take mj- remarks
into consideration, I remain yours truly—
Huron, O., Dec. 9, 1880. Geo. S. Haskin.
In a later letter, Mr. Rosekelly adds the
following: —
Mr. Klasen is with me now, and says:—
"My damages are more than I first thought they
were. I told him to make out his bill of damages,
not only of what my bees had done, but what others
had done, and I would pay it; and he said he would
not; that he would not be bothered with them; says
he, 'You think you will get rich out of bees, but you
won't. I will Qx them.' Now, as for the damages
done his grapes, it is queer that my bees should fly
over other peoples' grapes and not damage them,
but should do all the damage to his grapes. When I
found that my bees were dying, I tracked them by
their dead bodies to the vineyard of Mr. Krock, and
I found the poison on boards (syrup and Paris green
mixed, poured upon m:ished poaches and grapes; a
dish of the same I have in my possession yet.) Mr.
Krock, undoubtedly, in his letter, tells that he has
offered to settle with me; but I would here like to
state the conditions. When I was in his vineyard, I
happened to meet Mr. Krock, and he ordered me off,
and took a grape-stick in his hand to make me go,
and I pointed a revolver at him, to keep him from
striking me; and for this ho complained of me, and
we had our trial before the Probate Court, and there
he offered to withdraw his suit against me if I would
not sue him for damages, which offer I could not ac-
cept, because I would not settle. He subpoenaed all
the witnesses he could, in order to make my cost as
great as possible, which was $1.00 flue, with the cost
of prosecution, of which the lawyer fees were about
$20, and other expenses amounted to about $60. I
have sued him from the encouragement I have had
from the boe-keepers; and as some want to know
what proof I can bring, I will here mention, first, he
told three men that he would poison them; to me,
he said he would ' fix them.' Four other men be-
sides myself saw the poison as prepared on the
boards in his vineyard. From the encouragement
of the bee-keepers, I employed Mr. King (attorney,
of Sandusky) to prosecute the case to the fullest ex-
tent of the law, if he does not settle.
"If any one desires to ask any question regarding
the case, I will gladly answer by return mail.'
N. B.— Gentlemen, as you are interested in the
business, we should like to hoar from you through
Gleanings, or direct. Some have advised us to set-
tle; but what terms shall we make with Mr. Krock?
I hope you will all feel interested in this matter, and
a few I will call upon to give their views; viz.. A. I.
Root, Messrs. Doolittle, Blood, Hayhurst, Fish,
Boardman, Mackey, Dadant, and others.
Geo. Rosekklly.
Huron, Erie Co., O., Dec. 30, 1880.
My friends, inasmuch as I am called upon
first, I presume it is proper that I should
speak lirst. You all know how strongly I
have urged upon you, "not by might, nor
by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of
hosts." The temptation is strong to use
might and power here ; but let us be slow in
judging. Nearly all whose eves meet these
pages will be interested parties, and inter-
ested on one particular side. It is evident
that both these men are stirred up, and
hardly show forth their better selves. Is it
not i)lain that both have done wrong? Per-
haps God only knows how uuicli wrong. Mr.
Krock is a stranger among us. It is more
than likely that we shall feel a prejudice
against him which he hardly deserves, be-
cause we are all bee-men. May I not plead
for a little charity fro m him V Shall we not
let the world know that we can overlook a
wrong, be forgiving, — yes, and be magnan-
imous V Our good friend Klasen (I know
him, for, in fact, I gave a little picture of
him on pages 293 and 294, June number for
last year) has lost $160. (JO already, but he
brought all this trouble on himself' by point-
ing that pistol at his neighbor. What in the
world made him so foolish as to have a pis-
tol V Do you remember the talk I gave you
in regard to them awhile ago V To come to
the point : my advice is, to let it drop right
where it is. Let God judge friend Krock
if he has not told it all just as it should be.
My advice is safe ; you all know it is. If
friend Klasen's neighbors want him to
move his bees away, by all means let him
move them. Who would wish to even seem
to be a nuisance to the neighborhood V
Eor our dear Savior's sake, friends and
neighbors, let us do nothing that will make
these two men get further estranged from
each other. Let us subscribe money, if need
be, to get them to drop it, far rather than
to enable them to go on with it. Help us,
O Lord, in our weakness, as thou hast helped
us in times gone by.
REPORTS FROM THE BEE - MEN OF
MEDINA COUNTY.
M CCORDING to your request for the bee-keepers
J^\ of Medina Co. to send in their reports for the
' past season, I reply as follows:—
We had, at the opening of the honey season, 130
swarms, all in good condition, yielding us 3000 lbs. of
comb and 1500 lbs. of extracted honey. The comb
honey was sold at an average of about 15c per lb. ;
the extracted honey is worth 10c at wholesale.
We increased our number of swarms to 185, giv-
ing us 55 new swarms. We allowed our bees to
swarm naturally, and also to build their combs with-
out any artificial assistance: and by proper manage-
ment we secured nearlj' all perfect worker combs.
A summary of the proceeds for the season gives
$600 for the honey product; and, estimating the
new swarms at $5.00 each, they would be worth $275,
making the gross proceeds $875, giving an average
of nearly .?7.00 for each swarm.
The flow of honey from fruit-blossoms was the best
we ever had. White clover yielded honey moderate*
ly, but did not continue nearly as long as usual.
Basswood blossomed unusually full, and the pros-
pects for a large yield were exceedingly good. But
we were doomed to disappointment; for, after the
bees had fairly got to work, the weather became very
unfavorable on account of the almost incessant rain,
which continued until the basswood season closed, —
thus terminating what might be called a moderate
honej' season. W. H. Shanh.
Medina, Ohio, Dec. 17, 1880.
10
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Jan,
We started last spring with 60 swarms of bees, and
about half of these were in old L. hives. These came
through very weak. We put them all together, but
they would not have made 10 good swarms. We now
have 85 good strong swarms, and took about 1000 lbs.
of honey. We fed back about 400 lbs. of this, leav-
ing 600 lbs. This has been the poorest honey season
we ever knew, or, at least, one of the poorest. We
sold no queens this season. We have used ovir hive
three winters, and have never lost a single swarm
yet in them. Get away Langstroth frames for vis.
F. K. Shaw.
Chatham Center, 0., Nov. 25, 1880.
I have tried to get reports from the rest of
our Medina friends, but some way th^-y don't
seem to get around to it.
m !>■ ^
SEPAKATORS OF PEKFOR^T » MET-
AL.
ALSO ABOUT PERFORATING THE SEPARATORS WE
ALREADY HAVE IN USK.
OINCE our last, I liave had considerable
^) correspondence in the matter, and find
"*^ that the perforators of sheet metals
will furnish us tin or zinc separators, perfor-
ated in any way we may choose, either round
or oblong holes, and of any size, so that sep-
arators in lots of 10,000 can be furnished at
an even 5c each. I am sure you all agree
with me, that this is too much. Well, here
is something to the point:—
I inclose sample of perforated tin from J. C. Car-
penter, of Cherry Valley, N. Y., and his letter con-
cerning his machine. My opinion is, that he has
"Struck ile." 1 have suggested that he make the
perforations closer, and alternating each other.
Also that he send a machine to you or Nellis, that
you may pass upon its merits for simplicity and dura-
bility. J. S. Hughes.
Mt. Zion, 111., Dec. 14, 1880.
I notice in Gleanings, page 536, Nov. No., an ar-
ticle from you expressing a want among bee-keep-
ers of open or perforated separators for honey-
boxes. I think that open separators are desirable,
provided they do not cost too much. I have just
completed a machine for perforating tin or paper,
with which I can do the work quite rapidly. I can
perforate the separators for an ordinary hive for 20
cents, or perhaps less; or I could furnish separators
to order for the above percentage. I inclose and
send you a specimen of my work. You will natur-
ally inquire what the machine costs. They may
probably be afforded for f 5.00, after getting used to
making them; still, I am not quite prepared to say
what will be the cost. I should like to hear from
you upon the subject. J. C. Carpenter.
Cherry Creek, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Dec. 10, 1880.
Here is something further from friend C.
himself: —
I send you by this mail a specimen of my perfor-
ated tin separator. I can perforate tin or paper
very rapidly and cheaply. If there is any, or but a
small gain in honey with open separators, it will
soon pay all expense and afford a profit. I have a
hand machine that does the work.
J. C. Carpenter.
The holes in the samples of tin sent are t
inch in diameter, and f inch apart. It seems
to me the best size of these holes, and the
proper distance, can be determined only by
exjieriment. Can not friend Doolittle help
us in tlie matter V It is my impression, that
bees will sometimes bulge a comb of honey
into a hole^ inch across. Who can answer"?
Our blacksmith is now at work making a
tool, something like our tinner's snips, but
rather heavier. It is to have movable dies,
so as to cut any size holes, and a gauge is to
be attached for spacing the holes at exact
distances, quickly and rapidly. I presume
about $.5.00 will be as low as it can be made.
Now, it may be that the right kind of wire
cloth will be cheaper and better than any
perforated metal, so it will be well to move
slowly in such matters. Friend Abbott, of
the British Bee Journal, gives, in his price
list, an engraving of the zinc excluder friend
.lones has mentioned, and I have samples of
zinc with oblong holes that I should think
just right to exclude queens and drones,
that can be furnished in small lots, sLieets
any size, for 40c per square foot.
REES liEAVlNG THElRrHIVES DU ING
COLD AVEATHER.
f' HAVE selected the following letter, re-
ceived just as we go to press, from
— ' among several of like, tenor. It seems
we are going to have trouble this winter, in
many localities.
I fear I shall lose .all my bees. They are dying off
very fast every day; even during this cold weather
they fly out and fall in front of the hive, and perish
by the hundreds. Some of my neighbors have al-
ready lost all they had. Mine are well packed on
summer stands, with quilts and carpets, straw and
boards. I attribute it to bad honey, as they are
strong in numbers and stores. 1 have to-day given
them candy, in hopes that they would eat it instead
of their honey. I have just seen a neighbor, who has
his bees in the cellar, and they are acting in the
same way. Some whole colonies have died, leaving
plenty of.honey. Am I right as to the cause of this
destruction of our pets? if so, how can we save what
remain? I might add, that all the bee-men whom I
have heard from in this vicinity make the same re-
port. M. H. WOLFEH.
Richmond, Ind., Dec. 26, 1880.
I should say, candy is your only hope,
friend W.^ I If the weather comes off warm
soon, I would take away their stores and
give them other combs and a pure candy
diet; that is, where the bees are coming out
in such numbers as to make it certain they
would surely die if left to go on in this way.
If only a few come out thus, say a dozen
bees in a day, I would not disturb them ; but
where you see the colony is surely going, I
would use only granulated sugar for the can-
dy, without any flour or any thing else.
Lumps of white rock candy are almost chem-
ically pure cane sugar, and, although it costs
a little more, it is perhaps the most whole-
some food for bees that can be found, when
given to them in small lumps at a time. If
you can not find it at your grocer's, we can
furnish it for 1.5c per lb.
18S1
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
11
CORN AS A HONEY-PIiANT, ETC.
EASTERDAY S REPORT.
t COMMENCED the season with 12 colonies, and
increased to 23. Took ofif 1089 lbs., all comb
*~^ honey— an average of over 00 lbs. I boug-ht 5
old colonies in August for $12.00, from which I took
180 lbs. Nearly all of this honey was produced dur-
ing very dry, hot weather in August and September ;
principally from corn-tassel and smartweed. I am
aware that many contend that corn does not yield
honey; but I have always got more from that source
than from white clover. My honey sold readily at
an average of about seventeen cents, net.
Nokomls, Ills., Dec, 1880. E. S. E.4Sterdav.
There now! I alvvay.s thought corn was
good for bee.s ; or, perhaps, I should say,
rather, I hoped it was. Last season I bought
a bushel each of three kinds of sweet corn,
and ]ilanted patches of them on our grounds.
The bees worked on all, and got large quan-
tities of pollen, if they did not honey. Well,
to kind of make my honey farm pay a little
something, I sold green corn and some other
garden stuff. Neighbor II. is a farmer, you
know. AVell, he and Mr. Gray were one day
laughing at my market-garden speculation.
I had a man hired at $1.2.5 a day, and I had
hoped to sell enough stuff to pay his wages.
Said II., "Mr. R.. you are a tip-top hand to
run a bee journal and factory; but w^hen
you get to farming,, you are off from your
beat. You may possibly make your ground
yield the 2.5c part of the 11.2-5, but, if I mis-
take not, you Avill be just about a dollar a
day out of pocket.*'
Well, it was a good deal so, my friends, on
a great part of my crops, because I had so
little ground, and could not be with the boys
personally much of the time. But there was
one thing that paid expenses, and a little
more. It was the green corn. It was very
little cash out for labor, and the corn sold
readily at 10c per dozen ears, the whole of it.
More than that, a lot of it w^as dried, and it
is certainly the most delicious corn now of
any w^e have ever used or tasted. Caddy
and Blue Eyes both testify to its excellen-
cies. The corn was the Mammoth Ever-
green ; and next year I am going to have a
field large enough to keep our lunch-room
supplied, not only during the summer, but
with dried corn through the winter months.
Who knows but that we may be able to put
a package of superior dried corn on the 5c
counter, large enough to make a good meal
for the whole family? Wake up, boys!
Who among you, ye sons of toil, Avill furnish
me with dried corn by the ton, so I can sell
it low, and do good, and all get paid for it
too? The honey will be clear profit, you
know. The corn mentioned w'as so sweet
that we all accused mamma of putting sugar
in it. You see, when you get a lot of it
ready for market, you can just send samples
by mail. W^hy has dried corn never yet been
before the public? Good canned corn can
be had, it is true ; but think of the expense
of cans, and the extra bulk of corn boiled in
water, juice and all, compared with dried
corn. Our dried corn is, besides, vastly su-
perior to any canned corn we can get in our
market. Who will furnish me a ton? Where
are our feminine friends who have nothing
to do? and who will tell us the best method
of diying it? If this article is not all about
corn as a honey-plant, it is a good one, I am
sure. If you do not think so, come down to
dinner Avith us, and have a dish of that dried
corn. I ])resume it w^as that jiew book of
the Home Papers that startea my mind off
in this direction.
\ciamj,
OB H09ET PLANTS TO BE NAMED.
fSEND you by mail to-day a honey-plant which is
of considerable value in this locality. No. 1
grows in wet places, and is rare here. 1 have
}i acre of it. It is in bloom from middle of May till
middle of September. Bees work on it all day. It
grows 6 ft. high; has a branching top, with numer-
ous bunches of bloom, similar to the elderberry in
appearance. I send you one branch of stalk, with
seed inclosed inside. J. W. VanDorn.
El Dorado, Kan., Oct. 6, 1880.
The piece of stem is that of a large plant belong-
ing to the Parsley family (wjn^cHi'/erfc). Flies work
on these plants a good deal. It is most likely some
species of ArchangeUca in the order above named.
Lansing, Mich. W". J. Beal.
The stalk referred to looks like a joint out
of a dock-stem, only it is of mammoth size,
and so hard it seems as if it might do nicely
for some kind of timber tubing. It must be
a curiosity indeed to see such a thing grow-
ing ; and if it bears honey in proportion, it
must be worth while indeed. Will you
please send a few more seed, friend V.? We
Sent all those with the stalk, to Prof. Beal.
COTTON AS A HONEY-PLANT.
I come to vindicate my staple honey-plant,— cot-
ton. I see friend Cathey, of Cabot, Ark., classes it as
a poor honey-plant. His description of the bloom is
correct. My bees seldom enter the bloom, as there
is but little honey secreted on the inside of the cor-
olla. They get their honey between the corolla and
the live-pointed calyx which hugs the corolla very
tightly, admitting only the tongue of the bee; and
as the honey is secreted at or near the base of the
corolla, where the little boll increased, aad as the
calyx is si.x-sixteenths of an inch in depth, and the
tongue of the Italian bee is only four or live six-
teenths of an inch in length, it is impossible for the
bees to get all the nectar, and frequently the calyx
Is so tight around the corolla that it is impossible for
the bees to get at the nectar. My bees gave me a
surplus of 30 lbs. per hive in July, and during Aug-
ust and September they stored from 50 to 60 lbs. per
hive from cotton alone. I had fifty acres of cotton
on my own farm, extending to within fifteen feet of
my hives. I spent many hours in the cotton-fields,
to satisfy myself that my bees were getting their
honey from the cotton; and as I live on a high, open
prairie, three miles from timber, and nine-tenths of
the land is under cultivation, and fully three-fiftha
planted to cotton, with no other flowers from which
my bees could get honey, I know that is the best
honey-plant we have; and if it were not for the
countless millions of small black ants that appropri-
12
GLEA^^INGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Jan.
ate a greater part of the nectar, our bees would
gather tons of honey every year from the cotton
alone. I do not write this to got up a controversy
with any of my Southern bee-keepers, but to set
them to watching closely for the honej^ for the
bees, and how they get the honey, and for the greedy
little ants that g%t most of the cotton honey. The
honey from cotton is white and very transparent,
and after standing a few months is equal to the
famous white-clover honey of the North.
B. F. Carroll.
Dresden, Navarro Co., Texas, Oct. 30, 1880.
MALLOWS AS A HONEY-PLANT.
Inclosed And some seed and some of the stalls
which blooms from July till the ground freezes. My
bees are working on it to-day, and have been ever
since basswood. J. K. Oren.
LaPorte City, la., Oct. 6, 1880.
The plant sent is Malva alcca, a kind of mallow
which has escaped from cultivation. W. J. Beal.
Lansing, Mich.
The same plant was in bloom in our
garden last season, and the bees were busy
working on it November 5th. I can not
now remember who sent it to us, l)ut it has
excited considerable attention tliis season.
Tlie blossoms are exactly like little holly-
hocks. I heave no doubt but that a half-acre
of it would be a sight. It grows nearly as
high as the hollyhock, but has a much more
branching habit.
Below is a report from the same plant,
from still another locality : —
I send you to-day a parcel containing leaves, flow-
ers, and seeds, of a plant we call "Malice." It blos-
soms from early spring until late in the fall. If it is
of any account for bee-food, will you please give no-
tice of It in Gleanings as soon as possible, and
oblige a subscriber and lover of flowers and bees?
Kichmond, Mich., Nov. 6, '80.
A liETTER from: SCOTI^AND.
FROM AN enthusiastic ABC SCHOLAR ACROSS THE
WATER.
MAKE bold to write you, as you are a friend to
every one interested In bees. Your book fell
Into my hands In the spring of this year. I
happened to find it in a friend's house, and as he
was making no use of it I begged a reading of him.
The result was, that your name became a house-
hold word in our circle. Your plans of bee-keeping
were at once adopted by me, and, though laughed at
by many an old-fashioned apiarist, I persevered
with my pound section-boxes till, in the first week
of July, I experienced the delight of lifting off from
one of my hives one completely filled. It weighed
exactly 1GV4 ounces. My dear wife, who, since that,
has, by our all-wise heavenly Father, been taken
from me, was very much pleased, and so were all
our friends. The enemies of the system were
all amazed. Encouraged by my success, I still went
on supering my hives with these little boxes ; de-
vised tin separators, which, while they made the
bees work straight combs, freely admitted the laden
workers to the honey-chambers; then in the begin-
ning of August, just as the heather was bursting
into bloom (a moor containing four thousand acres
13 within three miles of our village), on a dull night
I had my hives carted otf and set down on a meadow,
with heather in front of them,— heather, purple-
blooming heather, as far as the eye could reach.
How the bees worked! Making a noise like a stream
of water, they poured in and out as only bees in
earnest can do. In the first week of September, at
our annual flower show, I exhibited a crate glassed
at b :rth ends, containing 3lj lbs. (in 1-lb. boxes), each
box so beautifully and smoothly flUed, capped with
a snowy wax capping, that not a drop of honey was
escaping; not a bit of comb protruding. The first
prize was obtained for the exhibit. Next day, the
same crate took first prize against all comers—
against men who have been bee-masters for forty
years, at the show in Sterling. I did feel some
pleasure ia being at once looked upon as an author-
ity in bee culture; but I told those whom I thought
worthy of enlightenment, that they must procure a
copy of the book which had been of so much value
and service to me. All thanks to you, dear friend.
You will, however, allow me to say, that a man's
love for these busy creatures, and his ingenuity,
will do much to win success, even in bad years, and
that these are required over and above the aid of a
valuable book, such as you have given the world.
I always like to think of my bees being the crea-
ti(jn of Him who said to the disciples, " Gather up
the fragments ihat remain, that nothing be lost."
They truly are the gatherers of nectar that would
be lost had he not sent them -skilled laborers— into
the harvest-field to prevent waste or loss.
You may be sure that my "little fellows" are all
comfortably housed; strong in numbers, and plen-
tiful in stores. John Main,
Violet Bank, Douno, Perthshire, Scotland.
Nov. 37, 1880.
BEE POISONING.
MjDITOR GLEANINGS:— I wish to relate my case
I of singular poisoning of the bronchial tubes,
which I receive whenever I am about an open
hive, or in a room where several bees are confined,
or where an angry bee passes within a few inches
of my face. You are all aware, that often an angry
bee throws ofC poison which you can smell readily.
Were you also aware, that nearly every bee that
flies about you (not loaded or en route for the fields)
also throw off a lesser quantity of poison? Well,
such I have proven to be the case. The same is
true when hives are opened, at nearly all times.
This shows us how careful we should be about ir-
ritating the bees when removing surplus honey, in
order that the honey may not become impregnated
with the poison. This trouble commenced about six
or seven years ago, and the first symptoms were an
itching in the glands between the ears and roots of
the tongue; next, a tingling, itching sensation in
the back part of the roof of my mouth, very hard to
bear. Then this sensation crept down the bronchi-
al tubes to the lower portion of the lungs, till I
found I had bronchial asthma. I had to get out of
bed and go to the window to catch my breath, at
night.
I had every evidence that the poison from the
bees caused all the above symptoms, but still I
would doubt it at times. Whenever I was away
from the bees for two weeks at a time, I would get
all well again. Finally I decided to settle the mat-
ter. I kept away from the hives till I was entirely
free from any of the symptoms. When I opened a
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
13
hive, and when the bees were quite enraged, I drew
a long- breath upon them, and I tell you, I shall nev-
er try that experiment again. I was in terrible dis-
tress for a half-hour. I coughed with a "tight"
cough for about two days; then I began to "raise,"
and this kept on about three weeks before I healed
t be wounds. During all the rest of the fall just past
I kept away from my apiaries, except to go in occa-
sionally to direct the work, and then with a hand-
kerchief tied over my nose and mouth. Xow I am
as well as any of us, but much disappoiated when I
think that next season I must shun my favorite la-
bor. AVhen you consider that bee culture has been
a specialty with me all my married life (12 years),
and that nearly all my capital is in it, and that just
now the honey-producer's future seems to brighten,
you can readily imagine that an antidote for this
trouble would be very acceptable. 1 have tried
many and various remedies, among which the best
is ammonia, gargled and swallowed; but none of
them are equal to the task, and soon become nega-
tive to the poison.
I have business enough now, with my supply
trade, to keep me at work out of the apiary; but my
greatest trouble is to get good reliable help who un-
derstand the business. I used to take good men,
and teach them the trade; but now, as I can no long-
er work among the bees, educated help becomes a
necessit}', and, I fear, a very scarce one too. With
the present low rate of interest for money, and out-
look in our pursuit, I should be enlarging rather
than contracting, but for the above-described trou-
ble. Has any one ever experienced or observed any
thing like ity Any information would be thankful-
ly received. James Heddo.v.
Dowagiac, Mich., Dec. 9, 1880.
T have noticed sometliing of what friend
n. mentions, in regard to the poison from
bee-stings, although it never affected myself,
nor any one whom I have conversed with, in
the manner he states. I am inclined to
think that handling bees was not the origin-
al cause of the disease he mentions, but that
the virus from the stings only aggravated a
complaint that proceeded from otlier causes.
Of course, I may be mistaken in this. 'In
any event, I do not think we should be in
haste to conclude that working among bees
is necessarily an unhealthy pursuit, even
though friend II. be correct "in all his prem-
ises. Prof. Cook has recently written in re-
gard to a. kindred matter, showing that Avhat
is '•• one man's meat may be another's poi-
son." You will find, in this No., very strong
proof that these same stings are of great ad-
vantage in some cases of rheumatism ; well,
may it not be that the same virus that proves
l)oisonous to friend H. will be exactly the
medicine needed for some other brother or
sister who is afflictedV
m tm> m
REPORT ON HONE ¥-PIi ANTS.
^"^ S I have previously promised, I will now make
a full report on my success with honey-plants
during the past season. I tried four kinds;
viz., touch-me-not, or the common garden flower
called balsam and lady slippers; mignonnette,
Simpson and Spider plants.
TOUCH-ME-NOT.
Of the first-named, I have tried some for two sea-
sons. This season I had a patch, say 30 by 60 feet.
They bloom freely through the last of July, August,
and Sept., and, having a great variety of shades and
colors, they make a very attractive appearance to
any one who does admire nature's beauties. I have
watched them quite closely, as a honej'-plant, and
I have come to the conclusion that they do not pro-
duce the nectar in very paying quantities, while
they do serve to keep the bees out of mischief, such
as robbing and pilfering, at such times as there is
not much else they can find to work on.
MIGNONNETTE.
I became pretty thoroughly disgusted with mign-
onnette last season. 1 planted a piece, say 150 feet
square, of the very finest of ground, rich and mel-
low; but I had to plant it over three times, and then
did not get half a crop from it. I have planted it
two seasons, and I have found the seeds of it the
very hardest to germinate of anything I have ever
tried. I can beat it with the Simpson seed a thou-
sand to one, as a honey-plant. I conclude, it is fair,
but not the best. Sometimes the bees seemed to
work on it quite fairly, and at others scarcely at all.
If it could be easily grown, I would be satisfied to
raise it every year; but my patch last season cost
me, in ground rent, seed, and cultivation, at
least SIOOO, and I do not think I got $5.00
benefit from it. But I was consoled in the
fall by the information that the kind I had
cultivated, which was the small sweet, was worthless
as a honey-plant, but that the mammoth, or grandi-
flora, were the only ones worth the culture for pro-
ducing honey. If this be true, what have all our bee
journals been doing by advertising and selling the
seeds of the worthless kinds"? Do they not merit a
place in Humhugs and SivindlesJ Next season I in-
tend to try the larger kinds.
THE SIMPSON PLANTS.
Of the Simpson, I conclude the half has never yet
been told. I cultivated a small patch of about
a thousand plants. I saw the first bees on
them the first day of July, and they
were fairly at work by the 8th or 10th; and from
that on, for fully two months, it was one continual
big boom, from early dawn until fully dark, wet or
drj% hot or cold; yes, even in the rain they would
not give it up, for I went out one morning after it
had been raining hard, and was then raining quite
briskly, and the bees were flying there in quite
goodly numbers. Two mornings I got up at four
o'clock to get ahead of the bees, to see how early
they would get to work ; but both times they were
there first. One night I remained to see how late
they would stay, and I could hear them as long as I
could see them; but it was not only a few bees that
would be seen, but a large multitude of them. To
look into the patch, it would seem as if a swarm was
settling there, As the patch was not over ten feet
from my shop, my opportunity for observation was
good. It was a common thing, when my friends
came to see me, to take them out and show them the
sight; and, without exception, they said it was the
greatest wonder in that line they had ever seen.
About the 10th of Sept., it began to seed, and by the
last of the month, scarcely a bee was seen about it,
and I pronounced it done for the season. A couple
of weeks later, I went to it to strip the seed, and
was not a little surprised to see new green shoots,
new buds, and new blossoms, and the bees working
on it again quite lively. A fresh rain had renewed
it ; but as I wanted the seed, I stripped it. I also
14
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
Jan.
raised several hundred plants from seed in the
sprinsT that bloomed finely in the fall.
As this is already too long, I will report on '•,[ der
plants next month. A. A. Fkadenburg.
Port Washington, Tusc. Co., O., Dec. 13, 1880.
Are yoii not a little hasty, friend F., in ac-
cusing the bee journals:' 1 have tested the
large kinds of rnignonnette on a considera-
ble scale, and, if 1 am not mistaken, have
reported in regard to the matter in these (col-
umns. Mv experience has been about like
that you give, if I except some small patches
that were sown on a very deep tine soil. It
has never come anywhere near the Siuipson
plants, in our locality.
HOITIE DECORATIOjVS.
ipkNE of the clerks came into the office a
IJ) few days ago, wearing an apron, the
^^■^ print of "Which was beautiful speci-
mens of ferns and forest leaves. In answer
to my question as to how it is possible for
calico-printers to give us patterns so beauti-
ful and true to nature, I was told that it
was only home-made calico, prepared from a
piece of white cloth. By request, she has
furnished the following description of the
work. I presume our friends will study up
a great variety of ways in which this new
art may be applied. Some of the blank
books we use in our work have beautifully
embellished covers of leaf w^ork done in the
same way. Here is the description:—
SPATTER WORK.
To make these beautiful spatter-work pictures,
which every one admires, provide yourself with a
"spatter-frame," a tooth-brush, a saucer, some ink,
either common (not Oldroyd's, as it runs too freely)
or India ink, and some foolscap or sized drawing-
paper. Have ready some prettily shaped pressed
leaves, such as ferns, honey-locust, delicate vines,
or any wild trailing plants. Spread a newspaper
over a bare table, to protect it from ink-spatters;
lay your blank paper in the center of it, and arrange
your pressed leaves in any form you pleas 3. Fasten
the leaves down with pins or needles stuck through
into the table. Pour a little ink into the saucer, and
dip tke tooth-brush into it; shaking off all the ink
you can into the saucer. Now hold the spatter
frame over the paper and rub the brush lightly
across it, allowing the ink to sift through and fall
like spray on the paper below. Move the frame
slowly about, stopping occasionally to allow the ink
to dry, or the particles will run together and make
large dots. If the tint is not uniform, go over the
lighter places still more until a smooth tint is se-
cured. When the tint is several shades lighter than
it is intended to have it when finished, take off some
of the top leaves, which are required to be darkest
in the design, and then proceed with the spattering
again. When it is several shades darker, remove
more leaves, and repeat the spattering, and so on,
till only those leaves remain which are to appear
white in the design. Fine stems and tendrils may
be produced by careful scratching with a sharp-
pointed knife. Dark stems and veins in the leaves
can be produced with a fine pen or brush, using
strong color. Also, in the same way, decided shades
T,nd effects are made by the use of fine dots or fine
parallel lines drawn regularly, and of even thick-
ness; but this is not necessary to the production of
very beautiful results. A little practice will make
you quite an expert in picture-making, and you can
decorate your walls as much as you please. Beau-
tiful tidies ahd pillow-shams can be made by spatter-
ing on book muslin or common bleached muslin in-
stead of paper.
The spatter frame or sieve is an oblong piece of
fine wire cloth 5x3 bound with tin, and with a tin
handle attached to one end.
What has all this got to do with bee-cul-
ture? some may ask. W^ll, I do not know,
really, unless we ornament our cases for sec-
tion honey by this plan, or, possibly, some
one may choose to make a hive and orna-
ment it with maple leaves, ferns, etc.
WIIiliOAV.
B
FEW years ago I cut off a limb of what I
^?\\ thought was the most beautiful willow-tree I
ever saw. It was standing at the head of a
grove, and I found it had been the stalk of the kill-
monark willow that had been broken off. [See page
599, Dec. No.] I planted it near my well. The sec-
ond summer, the abundance, beauty, and fragrance
of its bloom were the admiration of all who saw it.
The first season, the weather was such that the bees
could not work on it. The next spring it was
thronged with bees throughout the day; and, to my
astonishment as well as delight, they gathered not
only the pollen, but they also cut to pieces and
packed in their little baskets the entire anther, and
carried it to the hive. The flower, when well de-
veloped, is about I'/i inches long, and 5£ of an inch
in diameter. I have counted over 50 well de-
veloped flowers on 36 inches of a single cane. The
flower is of a rich golden color, and consists of a
center, out of which spring up hundreds of thread-
like filaments that support the anthers, or, it may
be, the flowers proper. These are nearly 1-16 of an
inch in diameter, and from 6 to 10 anthers are
enough to load a bee to its utmost capacity. I
can't give the name of the willow. It blooms very
early and continues in bloom from a week to ten
days.
The tree seldom sends up a sucker, and never, to
my knowledge, any distance from the tree. To ob-
tain suitable canes for nice trees, or to bud the kill-
monark, the tree needs to be grown in a moist place,
and to be cut back every spring. To insure the
growth of such canes, they need to be cut before
blooming. I keep about 50 colonies of bees, and
have had such a desire to have them reap the rich
stores, that I have done my cutting after blooming;
hence my increase has been slow. I have no trees
for sale; but to satisfy all as far as I can of the truth
of my statements, I will send a tree to friend Root
for his grounds free of charge, from a cutting a year
ago last spring. I will send a cane also, such as I
plant, and a cane showing about what I have found
to be the maximum flowering capacity. I can fur-
nish about 1000 cuttings. For terms, see advertising
columns. Henry Gulp.
Hilliards, Franklin Co., Ohio.
Lest some of the friends accuse me of par-
tiality in permitting references to the adver-
tising columns like the above, I will explain,
that new and meritorious articles offered at a
low., price, which I think will be of public
benelit, I often advertise entirely free. We
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
16
are very much obliged to friend C. for his
vahiable communication, and I know by ex-
perience that he would necessarily be be-
sieged by api)lications for cuttings from the
Avillow, entailing, perhaps, an expensive cor-
respondence, did he not anticipate it by
offering them for sale as he has done. At
the very low price he offers them, no one can
well accuse him of wishing to make money
by it. I shall be very glad indeed to get one
of the trees.
FRIEND Kl.EI^'OA^ 'S SWARMING TROl-
RliES,
AND ?0ME OTHER TROUBLES NOT CAUSED BY
SWARMING.
fTAKE the liberty to send you my report for 1880.
In the spring I had about 50 strong- colonies and
— ' a few weak ones (mostly Italians), and a few
hybrid colonies; 2t colonies in your chaff, 16 in your
Simplicity, and 10 in your l!i story hives; also 2 in
the "Patented Palace," 1 in King's "Patented Im-
proved Double W'all American," and 2 in box hives
of my own make. So you see, I had a variety of
hives. But the best report of comb honey I can
make is from one of your chaff hives. It is 60 of
your 1-pound sections, completely full, as white as
snow. The great trouble was in not having hives
and other implements ready in time; and I will just
tell you a little of my experience that I had last sea-
son. The middle of May I went to a carpenter here
in Detroit; showed him one of your Simplicity and
one of your IJi story hives in flat. He promised to
make me 60 of them, and to have the most of them
ready by the first of June (the rest by June 15th.)
After sending and going there myself about a dozen
times, I received 10 of them. When I came to nail
them together, there was no entrance on one side.
I took them back again, and he returned them July
1st; but then I could not use them. I then told him
to make no more. Then I sent to Mr. Bell, of Union
City, Mich., for some hives. He had sent me a pos-
tal, saying that he was making hives like A. I. Root's,
because he had the pattern to work by, from you;
but when I told him thej- would have to be just like
A. I. Root's hives, to be used two story high, he sent
me back my money, and said that they could not be
used two story high. Well, what was to be done? I
sent to you, friend Root. Well, you sent the hives
before I expected them, and that helped me out of
the swarming trouble some. The reason that I or-
dered the hives here in Detroit, and by rail, was,
1 thought I could save the freight charges on them,
at least some of it ; and I knew you were very busy
at the time, and I would have to wait a long while.
But after all I had to send to you for them.
Now I want to come to the groat swarming trou-
ble. During the time that I was waiting for the
hives, my bees commenced to swarm (the first
swarm issued May 15, the last swarm, Sept. 3.) Dur-
ing the month of June, my bees were swarming at
the rate of about 12 per day. Some would come out
2 to 5 times in one day. One day 14 swarms came out
— nearly all first swarms; 4 swarms united, and
alighted on a cherry-tree, 4 inches thick. I had to
brace it to keep it from breaking over. It looked as
if there was a black flour-barrel in the tree. I had
the greater part of mj- old queens' wings clipped,
which came very handy, so I could always make the
swarm go back again. The reason I returned them
again was, it was bringing me a little nearer to the
time of receiving the hives. But finally the young
and the old queen came out together. Well, there
was no more stop to them. I lost about 25 nice test-
ed queens. The bees would kill some of them by re-
turning them so often. When three or more swarms
would come out together, some of them would go in
the wrong hives, and get killed; sometimes, when
there were three or more swarms out together, they
would all return to one hive. So, you see, I did get
my bees pettry well mixed up.
The honey season was about a half-crop. With all
my trouble, I received about 900 lbs. of honey, al-
most all in your 1-lb. sections, and about 25 lbs. of
beeswax. The reason that I did not get more honey,
I think, is, first, because I did not have the hives in
readiness when they swarmed. Of course, some of
them would have the swarming fever for about two
weeks; they would not work any during that time;
second, that it rained during the summer, especial-
ly during the white-clover bloom. It rained every
day and almost every night besides, so the white clo-
ver was always full of water. It got no chance to
get dry. If I had not had a large patch of raspber-
ries, and the Simpson honey-plant, I would not have
had any honey at all. One colony give me 60 lbs.; 6
gave me 50 lbs.; 12 give me 25 lbs.; the rest were
scattered through the other hives. Sometimes I
would take out about .500 section boxes, and would
not get a drop of honey in them. That was not very
encouraging, was it? I had over 5000 of your sec-
tion boxes, in the hives during the season. Now, in
the early spring, I put a section frame with sections
and starters on each side, in the lower story. When
the bees had started in them, I put the section
frames, bees and all, up in the second story, then
filled the upper story with section frames complete.
The reason that I put the section frames and the
second story on early was that 1 thought I could
stop swarming (at least to some extent), and secure
a good crop of honey. I did not want any increase in
bees; honpy was what I wanted. So, you see, I did
alllcoulato keep my bees from swarming; but it
was no use. During swarming season, I generally
put 2 or 3 swarms in one hive (2 or 3 story hives), to
have them strong. They would give 1, 2, or even
3 swarms; and some of them would not even touch
starters in lower or upper stories. On some of
them I put empty stories, just to keep them from
swarming; but there was no use. Even the new
swarms would swarm again after being in the hives
about a month or so; but they would store no honey.
Swarming was what they were after. Sometimes
they would hang on the outside of the hive, with
the empty upper story on. Well, they increased to
about 115, but I united to 91, that I have now.
Detroit, Mich., Dec. 1, 1880. Otto Kleinow.
Your bees had what we call the swarming
mania, friend K. If it will make you feel
any better about it, I can tell you that friend
Doolittle had about the same experience one
season, and I am not sure, either, that he
succeeded in devising any thing to prevent
it, to his satisfaction. You of course tried
the plan of hiving them on a comb of un-
sealed brood, did you not? It is bad to have
such a quantity of partly tilled and empty
sections on hand, but they will come in nice-
ly for another season ; and those partly built
out will be just what you Avant to get stub-
born stocks to take a start in the sections.
36
GLEANINGS IX BEE CULTUEE.
Jax.
f/j^ "§rcwkrn"
This department is to be kept for the benefit of those who are
dlssatisfled ; and when anything is amiss. I hope vou will ' ' talk
right out. " As a rule, we will omit names ancl addresses, to
avoid being too personal.
QIVEN'S COLUMN.
Jj\ LTHOr GH your condemning my press was the
f^ means of cutting' my sales square off for the
' time being', and made me feel that I was out-
rageously wronged, I can now see that it has been
of more benefit to me than a standing advertise-
ment, as it has brought the truth squarely before
the people, and my line prospects for sales this
season I attribute to this. Whilst I am thankful
for this, the motives I leave with yourself, and shall
let by-gones be by-gones. I only ask that I may of-
fer a little advice, as coming from one who has had
experience, and hoping it may be a benefit to my
brother-inventors that may yet come.
First. If you have asked a man to advertise with
you, and taken his money, you should be very care-
ful about condemning his invention; for, if you
should be mistaken, surely this money is not a tit
money to be used in those charitable objects you
tell us of.
Second. If you have purchased from him, and are
unable to get his invention to work, then sit down
and write him wherein you fail; at least, give him
some chance to help you. Don't presume you know
all about it after seeing it a few hours, and that he
knows nothing after working perhaps years on it.
Take one step down from that high and exalted seat
we often see you take, and at least tell him before
you kill him.
Third. If you have condemned an invention, and
find that all others who have bought it speak against
you, you should then come down at least one or two
steps; yes, you might be willing to come down
among us— we might do you good.
Don't you know you have fitted a great many suits
on some of us when we happened to growl a little
about things you sold us that we could not get to
work? Come down, now, and we will fiod you scores
of those suits you have cut for us that will fit you so
snugly that not a wrinkle will be found from head
to toe. Come, now, and take for yourself a few of
these. Again, we would advise the use of one kind
of specs. Don't use a pair that will show a sample
at one time as all that could be desired, and order
from it, and then afterward use another pair by
which you are able to look back through a space of 3
months, and see that same sample as being poorly
made. Certainly it would be better to always use
the good ones, and then you can see the imperfec-
tions in the sample before you order; or are the
good ones intended for extreme cases?
We think it's your privilege to advertise what you
please in your extra leaves of Gleanings; but for
the part you sell to us for a bee journal, we surely
have some rights. If our inventions have been sold
through it and condemned in it, we certainly have
the right to say through its pages that we will take
back our inventions and return the money to all
who are dissatisfied. There is much other advice
v,e might ofTer; but as we are allotted just one col-
umn, we can not go further; but I hope these lines
Jmay be the means of some help for my many broth-
er - inventors^ and that Gleanings for 1881 may
be conducted with more charity for all; that all use-
ful inventions, whether manufactured in theMedina
shops or invented and manufactured elsewhere,
may be treated with due respect, and that we all
may be a band of brothers, advancing hand in hand,
step by step, onward an't upward, and that no one
may be found trying to exalt himself above his
brother.
"For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon
every one that i« proud and lofty, and upon every
one that is lifted up, and he shall be brought low."-
ISA.3:12.
Hoopeston, 111., Dec. 8, 1880. D. S. Given.
Whj', friend G., you have no idea what a
long breath of relief I drew when I got to
the end of your letter. Visions of some
awful thing that I might have said or done
during the hurry of last season flitted
through my mind, and of something, possi-
bly, that could never be explained to any
one but God, who knows the heart. I be-
lieve you are right, my friend, and that I
should have more charity. I know I do not
see my faults as others see them, and I am
sometimes literally appalled at the horrible
picture I see of myself, when some kind
friend holds it u]) before me as you have
done. Although I can not recollect it now,
I presume I did solicit an advertisement of
you ; but I did it Avith an honest and sincere
purpose of helping you, even though it
should spoil tlie sales of my rollers. I had
proposed to give you one of the best helps in
the way of notices I ever gave any one, be-
cause I thought you an honest, hard-work-
ing inventor. When we got your machine
off the cars, I was most grievously disap-
pointed. Perhaps I should have reflected
that, for the price, we could not expect a
good flnish ; notwithstanding the jokes and
smiles of Mr. Gray and Washburn, I stoutly
stood up for it. Tlie handle, being made of
cast-iron, and left on the machine, was snap-
ped off in transit, and I had first to have
that repaired. The hands, I presume, had
caught the general spirit, and decided the
machine would not work, before it was tried.
I gave them the directions, and when they
decided it would not work, I tried it myself.
Very likely I was nervous and impatient on
account of the many cares that then weighed
upon me. The machine was tried at differ-
ent times, on several days, and the sheets
were hung in the hives. They worked all
right after the bees got them, but we found
it very hard to get the sheet to stick to the
wires long enough to carry them to the apia-
ry; Avhile, by our regular way, we could
put them in quite rapidly, and have them
stand shipping safely, long distances. As
our room was Umited, and orders pressing,
there was no other way but to move the press
into the back room, as I mentioned, that we
might go on with our work and fill orders.
It did not occur to me, until now, that I
should have returned the money you paid
me for advertising ; but I will most cheer-
fully do it now, friend G. The principal
objection to the machine was the dies ; and,
if I am correct, the i^air sent me have never
been used, — friend Ileddon having procured
a new set after he got the press from me.
Did I not publish every favorable report
from the iiress that has been offered, after
others said I was mistaken? Now, friend
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
17
G., I want another machine, all complete for
L. frames, and I will pay for it in cash as
soon as received, or before, if you choose.
If we can not make it work, I will pay yon
to come out here and show us how, as I did
friend Earis ; but ])lease do not ever say
again I object to certain wares because they
are going to conflict with something I may
have had for sale. Have you not all known
me long enough to know that I am not thus
selfish? I take greater liberties in recom-
mending things on these pages, because I
somehow feel that you know me, — the great-
er part of you, — and give credit for good in-
tentions, if I am sometimes sadly at fault in
judgment.
A REPORT FROill A REGINNER'S FIRST
THREE SEASOISS.
M S we have delayed our report for 1880 so long,
J(^_ we will try to make amends by giving you a
' condensed report of our business for the last
three seasons, which comprises all of our experience
as a bee-keeper.
We bought our first swarm in Oct., 1877, and win-
tered safely, without protection, on their summer
stand. In May, 1878, we found a bee-tree, the inhab-
itants of which we safely transferred to a Lang-
stroth hive. During the season we increased to 9
stocks, and took 50 lbs. of box honey and 150 lbs. ex-
tracted. Although the winter of 1878-'9 was very se-
vere, every stock answered to roll-call on May 1st,
1879— thanks to chaff division-boards and chaff pack-
ing in outside boxes, as described in Cook's ^fanual.
Taking an inventory Dec. 1st, 1878, we found we had
34 colonics and 900 lbs. surplus, one-half of which
was in sections, and one-half extracted. Thirty col-
onies were in Root Chaff hives, and four we e well
packed in Cook's "overcoats."
TWO COLONIES IN ONE CHAFF HIVE.
Three of those in chaff hives were double, with a
thin division board between them, and an entrance
at each end of the hive, as described by friend Nellis.
They all wintered safely, and on the first of May last
we had bees in 35 hives.
The past season has been the poorest for surplus
honey within the memorj^ of the oldest bee-keeper
here, many apiaries giving no income whatever.
All we have to show from our 35 colonies In the
spring, is an increase of 20 colonies, 500 lbs. extract-
ed honey, 200 lbs. section honey, and 700 lbs. gross in
combs, reserved for stimulative feeding next spring.
The bees are all in Root chaff hives, twelve of which
have an entrance at each end, with thin division
board in the middle, each containing two small col-
onics with young queens. What do you think of
this idea of a double hive to winter nuclei? Those I
tried last winter did nicely; and I think, from ob-
servation, that if each nucleus is strong enough to
cover three frames, they are just as safe with a thin
division board between them as if they were united
late in the fall, and one queen destroyed; and in the
spring we have the extra queen for profit, worth at
least half as much as the swarm.
SAGGING OF ALL KINDS OF FDN., DVNHAM INCLUDED.
We have used f dn. in the brood-chamber largely,
both Root and Dunham, and see but very little dif-
ference, if any, in the value of the two kinds. Nei-
ther kind will sag or warp if properly fastened and
given to the bees during fruit-bloom; but If given
to a strong colony during warm weather, and a
heavy flow of honey, both prove very unreliable.
We had sheets of Dunham fdn., 4'2 ft. to the lb., sag
over an inch ; and many of them broke down during
the basswood yield this season, and they were in
chaff hives too. Next season we shall try your
method of wiring, and endeavor to have all not wired
drawn out during fruit-bloom.
MAKING SIMPLICITY HIVES, ETC.
For our new swarms, artificial swarming, nuclei,
queen-rearing, etc., we use the " Nellis-VanDusen-
Simplicity" hive, and think it has several points of
superiority over your Simplicity. We make all of
our own hives, and fancy they are just as good as
those furnished bj' the supply dealers, and they
come a " heap " cheaper. In making our first chaff
hives we followed directions in A B C to a dot, and
when we had about twenty hives completed, we
found that, instead of li or ?« space between the
frames in upper and lower story, we had fully Vi
inch, and the same between frames and bottom-
board. Every time we handle those frames and find
the space between upper and lower story filled with
comb, as it is sure to be, we feel a good deal like
scolding somebodJ^ If we figure rightly, the width
of end-boards should be 9 inches, and side-boards 9!4
inches, instead of 9;8 for former, and 9?8 tor latter,
as it reads in our ABC. Don't want to "take any-
body's head off" about it, but suggest you make the
correction, if not already done.
JOURNALS COSTING MORE OF THE PUBLISHERS THAN
OF SUBSCRIPTION AGENTS.
When we last wrote you, we intimated that if you
practiced the doctrine you preached in " Our
Homes," you should furnish j'our own publications
as cheap as anybodj' else. For this you put us in
the Growlery; and, while there, friend Sayles has a
whack at us, and accuses us of advancing a doctrine
that "savors of Communism." Now, if bringing the
producer and consumer, publisher and subscriber,
nearer together, thus crowding out unnecessary
middlemen, is Communism, then we plead guilty to
the charge. The fact that others advertise to fur-
nish Gleanings to single subscribers cheaper than
the publisher, seems to us proof positive that either
your retail price Is too high or your wholesale price
is too low. When you say that "Gleanings is a
standard article" you " hit the nail squarely on the
head," and you might have truthfully included the
ABC. We have read all of the modern works on
bee culture, and are a subscriber to all of the bee
journals. Friend Sayles thinks if we had spent a lit-
tle " time and mental effort " in obtaining 10 sub-
scribers at the State Grange at the full price, and
thereby pocketed $4.00, we would view the matter in
a very different light. In answer to this, we would
simply say, we have taken many subscriptions for
the standard publications, Including some for Glean-
ings, and have always considered ourselves well
paid when we reserved 10 per cent for ourselves;
and should we ever take 40 per cent profit on a stan-
dard article, especially from our brother-patrons,
we should consider ourselves unworthy of the name
Granger.
And now, friend Root, begging pardon for the
length and broadcast shooting of this "report," and
promising never to "do so" any more, hoping you
will not consider anything I have said as a "growl,"
but only a little friendly criticism, I will conclude by
wishing you all (middlemen too) a merry Christmas
and a happy New Year. George W. Jones.
West Bend, Wash, Co., Wis., Dec. 9, 1880.
1*
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Jak.
Many thanks, friend J., for your report
and kind admonitions. — The Simplicity hive
is so made that tlie shrinkage of the Inmber
can in no way affect any of the dimensions,
except tlie vertical depth of the hive. Now,
as all lumber will shrink, more or less, no
matter how well seasoned and painted, we
liave allowed this i for shrinkage. After
yon have used your hives one season, you
will find they will settle down, — at the very
least, the i you complain of. Then you will
have the standard I, that has been so long
decided to be about right. If I am not mis-
taken you will find some of the hives having
only about i inch ; and if we have any more
shrinkage than this, yoii will be piliching
the bees; but even then, you will find some
stocks that will build solid honey in this i-
incli space. The Italians, I believe, are
more addicted to such tricks. If you will
grease the top and bottom bars of your
frames with tallow, however, you can ef-
fectually stop it. — I did not mean any harm,
friend J., even if I did put you in the Growl-
ery ; for I thought you were just about right.
I too should feel guilty if I took from my
friends 40 per cent for a standard dollar ar-
ticle ; and it is by selling goods at a profit of
10 per cent, instead of 40, or even 25, that I
have builded up such a trade on the coun-
ter-store goods. You know I enlarged
Gleanings, and changed the discount from
40 to only 25 per cent after your letter last
year. Well, luiless I change my mind, the
discount next year (please all take notice a
year in advance), will be only 10 per cent,
unless the papers are all sent to one address ;
and then it will be the same as now. This
is done solely to correct the inconsistencies
you have mentioned.
A STATEMENT THAT WASN'T TRUE.
STINGLESS BEES.
N Mr. Hawley's Brazilian stingless-bee
circular, alluded to in our editorials,
— ' appears the following: —
But Rev. Mr. Clark, late editor of the ^)7ienVrt)i
Bee Journal, the man who later accidentally got a
bee in his mouth while drinking, and died from the
effects of having been stung on the back part of his
tongue, and, in short, others who have lost their
lives in one way and another in handling bees, will
not be apt to ask to be placed in the "don't care if
they do get stung" army of bee-men.
While I was meditating sadly enough up-
on the suddenness of his death, and wonder-
ing that we had heard nothing of it before
through different channels, I was most
agreeably surprised to get a letter from
friend Clark, and he didn't say he was dead
ther. I copied and sent himthe above, and
here is his reply: —
Friend Root:—
Thanks for the above extract from Hawley's cir-
cular. I embrace the opportunity afforded by its re-
ceipt, to reply through Gleanings, and assure my
apicultural friends In the United States, most of
whom, I presume, read your journal, that I have
not yet departed this life, and hope to be able to do
a little more good in the world before I am called to
leave it. I had a severe and painful experience in
the way of a bee-sting, of which I gave an account
in the A. B. J. for Sept., 187t. The sting was not in-
flicted "while drinking," nor was it inflicted on ihe
"back part," or any other part of my tongue, but on
the extreme point of the upper lip, just where the
mustache «livides. Among others who kindly re-
sponded to my account of the accident, was W. S.
Hawley, who furnished me a liquid remedy for
stings, which is certainly a very good thing. I never
heard nor read of abee-keeper, who accidentally got
a bee in his mouth while drinking, and died from the
effects of being stung; but I have known a great
many cases of bee-keepers and others who got a far
worse creature than a bee in their mouths while
drinking, -even that which "bitethlike a serpent
and stingeth like an adder," and died from the ef-
fects of having been bitten or stung. The saddest
feature of these cases was, that they took the ven-
omous thing into their mouths, not accidentally, but
willfully; not in the prosecution of an honorable
calling such as beekeeping, but in the foolish pur-
suit of dangerous pleasure.
After a life of seclusion for several years, owing
to ill health, 1 am now in active work again, and,
among other multifarious duties, intend to act my
part in trying to promote bee-keeping. I have not
lost my interest in the science and art of apiculture;
and, although I handle bees under difficulties, being,
not like some favored mortals, bee-loved, but, for
some unknown cause, bee-hated, I shall not let them
alon« while my eyesight is good enough to see
through a bee-veil.
The indications point to a great revival and ex-
pansion of bee-keeping throughout the Dominion of
Cauada. Now that the secret of successful winter-
ing has been discovered, the chief obstacle to the
prosecution of the business is removed. Yet I do
not fear that it will be overdone by too many going
into it, for it is only a small minority of the human
race who possess the qualities necessary to success
in this line. The exploits of D. A. Jones are doing
much to draw attention to the possibilities connect-
ed with bee-keeping in this country, which, in regard
to honey-producing resources, is probably equal to
any on the face of the globe. Wm. F. Clarke.
Listonel, Ont., Dec. 18, 1880.
Friend Ilawley, unless you "rise and ex-
plain," we shall have to think badly of yon,
for aught I see.
A OIi\1> NEW YEAR TO GIiEVNIN«S.
AN AOBOSIIC.
A glad Xew Year to Gleanings!
(iod bless its patrons, one and all;
Lonn' may tlie savor of its teaehing-s
Abide in tnith, with great and small,
Delivering them from Satan's thrall.
No matter thdUgli Its lessons
Kmhody what tci some seems new;
Waked not our Lord ciiiaint musings, and
[brought strange truths to mortal view?
Yes: he arraigned fixed e\istonis,
Exeept where truth and right bore sway,
And then, with one great offering,
Redeemed from death its helpless prey.
Then let the ransomed everywhere.
On grateful hearts his image bear.
Glad should we be, with sacred gladness,
Like Moses coming from the mount ;
Expressing, even in our visage,
A happiness no words can count.
Nor need we shrink from pain and trial ;
I f Jesus Christ marks out the way.
No foe can harm us, and no shadow
Give daikness to otir heavenly day.
So, now, God speed our upward way.
f'ottam, Ont., Can., Dec, 1880. Mrs. H. A. Awke-s
1881
GLEANINGS IX BEE CULTUllE.
19
FOlIIi BROOD.
/p^iROAKING like a bird of evil omen came friend
%JII Detwiler— "Foul brood, foul brood; perhaps
^^^ you've g-ot it on the yard now and don't know
it." We looked into several of the least prosperous
colonies, but found nothing wrong. I had never
seen a cell of foul brood, never wanted to, and some-
how never expected to. As the sum and substance
of what I have read about the plague, I had a very
incorrect idea about what to look for. I suspect that
hundreds of the boys have just as poor an idea of
what they should be on guard against as I had, and
perhaps a few words on the subject will be timely.
I expected the disease to be heralded by a dreadful
smell, of the knock-you-down order. Doubtless it
does smell bad enough in extreme cases; but in its
mild beginning you smell nothing, unless you poke
your nose almost into it, and then the odor is almost
precisely that of common glue. I expected a mass
of dead brood, spreading al^road like the rot in a
mellow apple. In i)nint of fact, the commencement
may be in less than half a dozen cells, and no two of
them near each other. I expected a disease which
the bees themselves would be powerless to resist.
From what I have seen, I think the bees sometimes
hold the disease at buy for many months. I even
suspect that they sometimes eradicate it altogether
without outside, help.
Having been posted by friend Det. as to what I
should look for, it was not long before I found some
of it. And while I meditated what was the best way
to destroy them, bees, brood, honey, frames, hive,
chaff, and all, I found more of it, and then still more.
Five colonies certainly affected, and as many more
on the doubtful list, all sprinkled through an apiary
of 104 colonies! I'm in for it now. Don't you wish
•you were In my shoes? Meantime the season closes,
brood-rearing stops, pjnd the whole matter is ad-
journed over to next year.
How came I in this mess? I hardly know. Some-
what late in the season I noticed very many bees
working on one )>recise line, and also coming in
quite late and very heavily laden. I suspected at
the time that they were robbing a bee-tree. In that
same direction lies an extinct apiary. A farmer
who kept many bees in the old let-alone way lost the
most of them, and sold the rest to keep them from
dying on his hands. Perchance those bees died of
fdul brood, and the swarm in the tree caught it from
them, and mine brought home the curse when they
roltbed the tree. Curiously enough, the two colonies
which are my champion robbers are not affected.
Either they didn't get the disorder, or they had en-
ergy enough to stamp it out. Kemembering the ap-
pearance of certain unprosperous colonies in times
past, I am not without suspicions that a little of the
disease, in a very mild form, has been hanging about
the apiary these two years.
This matter of the different phases of the disease,
and its different grades of virulence, needs light.
It may be that there are really two diseases called
foul brood; one caused by the fungus Cryptococcuti
AJ vear i (>, an6 ihe other by the Somcthinoelsus Not-
tsobadis. In that case, I'll take the Somctldnaehus.
In the disease variola (small-pox), there is a morbid
growth in the human blood, somewhat as in foul
brood there is a morbid growth in the substance of
the young bee. Two children may take the germs
of variola from the same source, and one will bo-
come an encrusted mass of corruption over a large
portion of the surface of his entire body, while the
other will need parental authority to keej) him from
playing outdoors just as usual, each and every day
the disease lasts. Between these two extremes
there are all intermediate grades. I think, when we
get at the truth of the matter, we shall And thiit the
Cryptocficcus iiroduces just as wide a range of re-
sults.
What is the slightest perceptible touch of the dis-
order? I think, that a very slight growth of the
fungus causes the young bee to give some sign of
discomfort, which is recognized by the delicate
senses of the bees, and that they respond by taking
off the caps of the cells. Don't fly off the handle,
gentle reader, and accuse me of charging foul brood
in all cases of bareheadedness. I don't charge or
believe any such thing. 1 merelj' sujjpose that the
bees incline to pull off caps whenever there is un-
easiness among the brood from any cause. They
have no catnip tea to give them, and what can they
do but to uncover and rub their little aching heads?
The young bees so affected hatch out in due time (or
a little later than due time), the least diseased be-
coming useful members of the commonwealth, and
those more affected becoming useless weaklings.
When the disease has reached its third grade of vir-
ulence the young bee does not come out of the cell
at all, but dies, with his head thrust out and his
tongue protruded at full length. I find so many in
this condition in the affected colonies that I can
hardly be mistaken about this being one phase. I
may mistake in supposing that there are any milder
phases. A fourth phase is where the bee dies before
it is time to emerge from the cell, but after the va-
rious integuments of the body have become some-
what hardened. With matter at this stage, the cells
can still be cleaned out readily, and the bees are still
capable of holding the disease in check. One
degree further, and they are nearly helpless. In
the fifth stage, death takes place while the young
bee is yet soft; and the body speedily changes to a
mass of li(iuid glue, in which the fungus swims. To
pull this stuff out of the hive is impossible, and the
inability of the bees to keep their hive clean makes
what is really but an increased virulence seem an
entirely different disorder. Probably some of the
more zealous of the workers try to get rid of the
filth by sucking it up, as they would any other unde-
sirable liquid, to carry it out and disgorge it. It
may readily be imagined that such stuff can not be
disgorged so completely but that germs of the fun-
gus will remain in the sac. Every larva subsequent-
ly fed by such a bee must be poisoned by receiving
some of the fungus with the food. I think much
more brood is infected in this way than by the
spores that cling to the hairs on the bee's feet and
drop off in the cells. liut I will wait till I see more
before I surmise more. The worst combs I have
yet found had less than one-half of the cells dead,
and not over one-quarter of the comb affected at all.
CHAFF COVERING FOR WINTER.
A word now on a more agreeable topic. Laziness
hath many inventions. Last year, in packing bees
for winter, not having time to make the additional
cushions I needed, I tore otf generous pieces of mus-
lin, laid them over the top of the hive, poured in
chaff', tucked it nicely into corners, folded neatly
over top, and— liked 'em so well that I'm not for
making any more sewed cushions at all. A sewed
cushion, when tucked down, is in a state of tension,
2©
GLE.V^'I:JsGS in J3EE CULTtRE.
J AX.
and sooner or later it will crawl back and leave
Ghiaks. Folded t-ushions are readilj- made to fit all
sizos jind shapes; they will "stajpiit," and are al-
most as pood as yoiir loose-chtiff arrang-ement. The
ease with which th"y are emptied and boiled to dis-
infect them, is in their favor. The chaff can readily
be chang-cd if leakage wets it. Moreover, the cloths,
when empty, enme handy for a variety of purposes.
Eeall.r, dear Novice, do we want our bees so we can
not open them without deluging them with chaff?
Vou didn't like that foundation machine that "ker-
squashed" a waxen spray all over your apparel.
Pity, then, the sorrows of The nf at but helpless bees,
and allow no dusty, musty chatf to be bcsnowed all
down amongst them. E. E. Hasty.
liichards, Lucas Co., O., Nov., ISSO.
If it is proper for one to liazard an opin-
ion on foul brood that has never seen a hive
of it, I -svoiild say, that I am inclined to ac-
cept what friend Hasty says. I do l)elieve a
real, earnest, faithful modern bee-kee])er can
rid his apiary of even foul brood, and with-
out burning the hives and bees up either. I
quite agree with him on chaff too ; why.
tfiat is just what I have been doing, last win-
ter and this too, only I used just a little
loose chaff, to make ciishions fit and hll i)er-
fectly; then, when a hive is to be opened,
after taking out the cushion it is a very sim-
ple matter to push this looss chaff over to
on© side, while we turn back the covering
over the frames enough to make our exam-
inatioi>s. This can be done Avithout getting
any chaff on the bees. We do not have
musty or dusty chaff in our hives, friend 11.,
for they all have water-tight tin roofs ; and,
while 1 am about it, perhaps I should apol-
ogize a little for what I said about spatter-
ing the wax on my clothes. If friend Faris
had not hurried matters, to see how many
poimds he could make in 15 minutes, I pre-
sume the machine could be worked without
any such unpleasant features.
DOOIilTTIilB'S REVIE^V AND CO.IIMENTS
ON THE ABC BOOK.
fjr'T will be remembered, that I offered our
J|| friend Doolittie SlOO, a few months ago,
for a careful going-ovei' of the A ]3 C
book, that he might point out its faults, and
add such suj;gestions as his large experience
might dictate. He has done this; and his
remarivs are of so much value that we shall
embody the greater part of them in tlte book
itself, as an appendix. Where obvious er-
rors are i)ointed out, of course nothing re-
mains but to correct them, and so these
points need not be given here. Those who
have the book will recognize where these re-
marks belong, by the readings. Those who
have not the book will, I think, lind the
notes interesting and profitable.
ABSCONDING SH'^B.VS.
CLIPPING QUEENS' WINGS.
Scarcely a queen need be lost, as a few bees will
always gather around the queen; and by walking
over the yard, and looking on the ground, this ball
of bees is easily seen, and the queen picked up. It
is not so easy, however, always to tell where they
came from; but this can be done by keeping them
till near night, and taking the queen from the bees,
^hen they will return home to their own hives.
Very good indeed I The idea of letting
stray bees find their <.nvn hive is a new one
—to me, at least.
SAVING AFTER-SWARMS, AND BUILDING TIIEM UP TO
GOOD COLONIES.
T can not agree here. With the after-swarms goes
all prospect of surplus honey; and, if prevented, the
old stock is by far the better. AVait T'i days after
the first swarm leaves, and, as a rule, the first young
queen is hatched then. Cut ail cells, and after-
swarms are done away with.
PLURALITY OF (QUEENS IN A SWARM.
I find that a plurality of queens is just as common
in second swarms as in third; and I have had as
many as half a do/.en in a first swarm, issuing from,
the loss of the old queen ten or more days previous-
ly. During the height of swarming, the cells are
not properly guarded, and thus the young queens
run out.
CUTTING OUT CELLS, AFTER A FIRST SWARM ISSUES.
This is not sure, as the bees can rear more from
the brood remaining; but, cut them after the first
queen hatches, and you have a sure thing.
SETTING THE NEW SWARM IN THE PLACE OF THE OLD
STOCK, TO PREVENT AFTER-SWARMS.
This is not a good plan with the Italians, as they
will nearly always swarm after being thus moved;
but with the blacks it generally works well.
AGE OF BEES.
HOW LONG BLACK BEES WILL LIVE, IF AN ITALIAN
QUEEN IS GIVEN THE BEES IN MAY OR .TUNE.
They will live l.j days, from three e.Yperiments I
have tried.
ANGER OF BEES.
The following refers to my remarks about
bees turning suddenly cross, after a severe
rain or storm has washed the honey out of
the flowers: —
Have you not made a mistake here somewhere?
During a heavy yield of hoTioj', our bees seem to be
glad of a rest, and it takes at least :H hours before
our bees think of robbing, after a full How of honey.
We have taken off honey after a shower, as you
speak of, when each bee was so full of honey that, if
squeezed a little, she would throw the honej' out on
the tongue; and. if jammed a little, the honey-sack
(filled with honey) would burst through the sides of
the abdomen. After -4 hours has ehipsed, or the
season draws to a close, we agree with all yon say.
I hardly think I have made a mistake in
the matter, friend I).; but, very likely, more
time had elapsed after the rain, than what
I have given. I have noticed all you say.
imracdiatchj after a very heavy yield; but so
many otherg have spoken of having trouble
in trying to extract, after a storm, that I can
not but think my caution a wise one.
My remarks in the A B V in regard to ar-
tificial fertilization being impracticable, they
have called forth some censure. In a foot-
note, r have mentioned the experiments of
Prof. Ilasbrouck, and it is in regard to this
foot-note that friend Doolittle writes the
following: —
I thoroughly tried Prof. Hasbrouek's plan the past
season with the sugar-barrel with a hole in the top
and a glass on the inside. While I could get the
droTies and queens to fly together attd drop to the
bottom in the embrace, or laying-hold of each other,
yet not one was f^tilized.
1881
GLEAKIXG^ IK BEE CULTUEE.
fl
In regard to this same subject of artificial
fertilization. I remark that now, nearly everj^
apiarist of 50 hives or more, has at least one
imported queen. In regard to this remark,
friend D. writes:—
I can not agree here. I have had three daughters
of imported queens from as many breeders, and
none of them commenced with the stock I had taken
pains to breed for honey. With the majority of
apiarists, probably, your remarks are correct; bvit
we have a few breeders whose queens are far ahead
of a promiscuous Importation from Italy,— at least,
such is my opinion. Five hundred dollars would not
hire me to breed all my queens from an imported
mother, and let my present stock go down.
If better honey-gatherers can be obtained
by going elsewhere rather than Italy, by all
nieans let us have them. As friend D. now
offers queens for sale, we can give his stock
a very thorough test the coming season.
ARTIFICIAL S WARMING.
In the plan I have given, where one can
provide a laying queen during the swarming
season. I have advised simply moving a hive
away and putting a new hive in its place,
witli the queen caged over the frames ; and
if the colony gets weak before tSie new bees
hatch out, giving a frame of brood ; or, in
tlie absence of a laying queen, giving them a
comb containing eggs only, from which to
rear a queen. Friend D. makes the follow-
ing objections to the plan: —
You know my views on old bees as queen-nurses,
and I think the same holds good here, und that this
is almost the poorest plan given for making swarms.
I know that they will bring lots of honey, for that is
the instinct of old bees. If you had said, give this
frame of brood when the swarm was made, I should
ha.re scarcely any objection.
In view of the above, I have altered my
instructions a little ; but I supposed it was to
be understood, that where a queen was to be
reared, I did not expect much of a colony
until she commenced to lay ; and I have then
given directions to build tlie colony up full
with combs of hatching brood. As a matter
of economy, I would not make any colony a
full one until they have a laying queen, 'in
moving old stocks in swarming time, I have
always found plenty of young bees in the
new hive, of Avhat I should consider just the
best age for queen-rearing, — those, for in-
stance, just bringing in their first loads of
pollen.
HOW TO REAR QUEENS.
The first-hatched queen will destroy all remaining
queen-cells, providing it is not in the height of a
tlow of honey. If it is, our experience is, they will
swarm instead. For my ^■iews on this, see A. B. J.
for Oct., 1880— Doolittle's article.
The reference to the article on queen-rear-
ing is, I presume, in regard to friend U.'s
l)Osition that queens reared under the swarm-
ing impulse, are better than those reared iii
the manner I have given. If this were the
case, should not apiaries managed on the
natural-swarming principle, produce superi-
or queens? There are plenty who have fol-
lowed the latter plan all their lives, but I do
not learn they have more honey to sell, than
those who have made their swarms and
reared their queens according to the meth-
ods I have given. It seems to me, friend D.
and our good friend Prof. Cook too have
been a little thoughtless in tlieir condemna-
tion of all queeuvS sold for a dollar, as ii' they
were necessarily inferior on that account, —
especially after the great numbers of great
yields that have been reported from the prog-
eny of ({ueeiis that were purchased for a dol-
lar, and in tlie hands of A 15 C scholars at
that, ])iitit is possible tli;it tViose reared from
natural swarming will be better yet, other
things being the same ; and let "us by all
means, give the matter a fair test. If friend
I), can supi)ly the demand for such, even at
$8.00 each, we shall very soon have plenty of
reports from them.
BASS WOOD.
In a period of 13 years, I have never known bass-
wood to fall to yield honey,— the very shortest sea-
son yielding 4 days, and the longest 20. 1 place bass-
wood at the head of all honey-producing trees or
plants as to yield. From it I once obtained Oti lbs. iti
3 daj'S, from one hive.
In speaking of our cut of the basswood.
friend D. says:—
This is a picture of which you mn.v well be proud;
for a better picture to convey to the mind just what
basswood is, was never executed.
BEES.
BEES, HOW TflEY GROW.
You do not mention water as being mixed ^vlth
the honey and pollen for food. If water is not mixed
with this food, why is it so eagerly sought in spring
and summer, and not at all in warm days in October
and November? Now, I claim that many things
point to water being one element in this food.
BUCKWHEAT.
We have given up placing any dependence on
buckwheat for honey. It has yielded honey only 5
times in 13 years, so that any was stored. See our
report for 1880.
CANDIED HONEY.
SEALED COMB HONEY IN A CANDIED STATE.
Sealed hoTiey seldom candies in the hive as you
say; but I never, to my recollection, had sealed hon-
ey away from the bees over winter without its can-
dying.
SCALDING.
How about changing the flavor as soon as honey is
scalded? Our experience is, that honey that has
been heated hot enough to scald is spoiled, or near-
ly so, in flavor.
CLOVER.
RED CLOVER FOR HONEiY.
If I understand yini correctly here, you and I do
not agree at all. I never pulled the blossoms from a
head of red clover yet, but that there was honey in
them. But I have frequently found the corolla so
long the bee could not touch the honey, I think
there is nothing in the world that secretes as much
honey, year after year, as red clover; still, it is of
little use except to the bumble-bee.
In our locality, the red clover certainly
contains no lioiiey, perceptibly, some sea^
sons. I am ahvays in the habit of plucking
the heads and sucking out the nectar, when-
ever I find them in bloom; and when>iver
I can squeeze out cpiite large gloliules, I al-
ways, so far as I can recollect, find the bees
gathering honey.
GLEANINGS IN BEE CCLTUKE.
Jax,
THE ORIGIN OF HONEV-DEAV,
PIIE following interesting article in re-
gard to honey-clew is translated for
our columns by our proof-reader, from
Der AJsaskh Bienen-Zuditcr (a bee journal
printed in Sarregnimines. Alsace, lately ced-
ed to Pi'ussia by France.)
Not long: ago, as I was taking a walk one after-
noon in a certain neighborhood, I came to a bee-
farm. Our conversation naturally turned upon our
pets, and the bad honey season we had just had.
"No more honey-dew falls down here from heav-
en," remarked my colleague; "and so our bees must
die off by little and little."
"Neither from the bright starry heavens nor from
the clouds does the honey-dew fall," I remarked.
"It is simply the product of certain plants and trees;
direct, when they exude sweet sap, or indirect when
licked up by lice and excreted from their bodies."
But this answer did not satisfy my friend.
"With my own eyes," said he, "have I seen honey-
threada floating in the air; and with my own tongue
have I, even when a boy, licked honey-dew from the
leaves of the trees of the forest."
"And why not from the tiles of the roof?" I re-
joined. "These must drip with honey-dew as soon
as it falls from a clear skj-."
"Mildew originates in the air also," he said; "and
why can it not as well be the case with honey-dew?"
Whereupon I remarked, "Not in the air, but hy
the air— that is, by the change in the temperature of
the air, the bitter, sticky dew originates on the hop-
leaves and other vegetables, and sweet dew on the
pine, larch, linden, oak, willow, ash, plum, maple,
mulberry, etc. Honey is not a volatile substance,
like water, and therefore can not change its form by
becoming mixed with the air and falling again from
the sky. A thousand observations prove that honey-
dew is self-formative when plants and trees, in con-
sequence of warm and damp weather, are very full
of sap-shoots, and when the temperature, through
the influence of the weather, thunderstorms, or
gales, becomes suddenly lowered. By these means
the ascending sap becomes suddenly hardened, and
starts back; it then presses through the pores of
the buds and leaves, and covers them. So long,
then, as fine weather continues, and the morning
dew falls, the moist honey-sap will trickle from the
leaves. Toward noon the sweetness is somewhat
stronger, and the falling drops form long honey-
threads, which the currents of air cause to float
around like gossamer. These honey-threads are es-
pecially noticeable in the vicinity of pine and larch
forests. The bees eagerly suck up the sweet, exu-
ded sap, carry it to their hives, and prepare there-
from a good honey; especially when they have aro-
matic blossom-honey to mingle with it. Pine honey,
however, has a flavor of turpentine. To this exuded
honey the air conveys a quantity of fungus, form-
ing a hatching-place, and thus mildew is occasioned;
hence the saying, " Mildew falls from the air."
" But when a heavy honey-dew falls," interrupted
my friend, "the grass in the forest, as well as that
in the vicinity, is covered with honey. I remember
that once my shoes were all sticky and shiny from
this cause. From whence, now, was this honey?"
"The sweet saps, which the shrubs and trees ex-
ude," I replied, "are not only brooding-places for
various species of fungi, carried there by the wind,
but they afford feasts, not only for the bees alone,
but for leaf-lice. The latter lick up the sap vora-
ciously, and spirt it out. From this a fine dust or
honey rain originates, and which the air spreads all
around the vicinity. When certain plants and trees
do not of themselves yield sweet sap, one can often
see a bunch of leaf lice and other kinds sitting on
the buds and blossoms, in order to puncture them
and suck the sap from the wounds and pores, and
exude it again as sweet excrement. This dirt-min-
gled sweetness is also gathered by the bees, and
forms the so-called leaf -louse honey; but this is such
a poor quality that the bees, as soon as obliged to
use it for winter food, beconu? stricken with dysen-
tery."
f
Or Enemies of Bees Among Insect Tribes.
fpIE following is a correspondence sent
tis by friend Cook, and will doubtless
be interesting to many who are study-
ing our bee enemies.
THE HYL0CAP.\ AS AN ENEMY.
The first part of the following letter referred to
the Hylocapa which he previously sent. He teHs, in
reply to a query from me, how it kills bees.
Lansing, Mich., May 1."., 1880. A. J. Cook.
Your kind reply to mj' letter, sending the bee,
was duly received. I have not yet found any more
of the same species; or, at least, have not been able
to catch them. I will send you the first perfect
specimen I can capture. In regard to the manner
in which he kills the bees, I would say, he would
alight at the entrance, and when the bees would "go
for him," he seemed to bend his body in (much in
the same way a honey-bee prepares to sting), there-
bj' crushing the mass of bees attacking him.
THE THIEVING HONEY-BEETLE.
I send you to-day five or si.v beetles which I found
trying to force their way into one of my hives. The
bees kept them out to-day, but could do them no in-
jury. A few days ago I found one of the same fel-
lows inside on the comb among the bees and honey.
He had cleaned out the cell where I found him, and
I do not know how many more. If you will give me
any information through Gleanings, it will be ap-
preciated. F. N. Wilder.
Forsyth, Ga., April 30, 1880.
The handsome beetle sent by Mr. Wilder is Eiiryi)-
mia sepulcliralis, Lac. Its broad form— it is seven
millimeters (J.4 inch) broad, and only eleven (7-16 in.)
long - short, lamellate antenna-, and short, fossorlal
legs, at once indicate its family relation to the May
beetle, Lachnofitcrna fusca. This large and interest-
ing family is named, from the Greek for beetle,
Scarahividiv. The very convex, triangular thorax,
and short wing-covers point at once to the genus
Euryomia. Eiiryomia inda, a somewhat larger
beetle of very much the same form, is quite common
in the Northern States; and when seen flying in the
spring or autumn, is often mistaken by the novice
for a bumble-bee. This latter beetle also has a re-
fined taste, as it is not uncommon to find it buried
in some luscious peach or mellow fall-pippin. The
Euryomia i<epulchr(dis is of a dark brown color.
Across the elytra, or wing-covers, are several dots
and short, wavy, transverse lines of gray, while on
1S81
CLEANINGS IX BEE CULTURE.
23
the truncated abdomen, back of eac* wing-cover, is
a prominent reddish-brown spot. The entire body
is thickly set with punctures, and short, light-gray
hairs. From the habits of the K. inda wo are not
surprised to learn that this near relative has a
"sivect tooth" that has tempted him to this larceny.
It is to be hoped that his conscience will cause him
to desist, as his natural coat of mail will make him
fearless, even of the bee's formidable spear; and
his size will make it dilRcult to shut him from the
hive. For the present, we will rest his case.
Lansing, Mich. A. J. Cook.
My bees for the past month have suffered consid-
erably, from the depredations of the mosquito-
hawk (LihelJula.) It makes its appearance about my
apiary late in the evening, and continues until near-
ly dark. With long willow switches my little children
bring down scores of this most terrible enemy to
our little industrious pets of the hive. These in-
sects are mostly found near ponds of water, on
marshy lands, and low, damp lands. They lay their
eggs in the water by a peculiar dipping motion, and
always while in the act of copulation. The manner
of meeting between the sexes is different from all
other insects that I have ever witnessed. The fe-
male gathers the tail of the male in her strong jaws,
and holds fast for a long time. In this position they
tiy just above the water, the female frequentlj' dip-
ping her tail in the water by an under curve of her
long abdomen, and, I suppose, she deposits an egg
in this operation. I now have a young one that has
just winged out, for examination. I will try to
catch two while meeting, and will send to Prof.
Cook for dissection, to see if I am right in regard to
the manner in which they copulate, 'i'hey are here
by the thousand, and destroy great quantities of
bees.
I see, in Nov. No. of Gleanings, a description of
a bee-eater, by Wm. Duke, of Kansas. From the
description, I suppose it is the Mantia religiosa, com-
monly called "Devil's horse " and "Rear horse."
This species has a pair of legs in front, resembling a
person's bands when folded in prayer, and is fre-
quently called the " praying mantis." The word
III «h( is signifies prophet; hence we have "religious
prophet." I should not think that he had much re-
ligion about him, for I am sure he never follows the
golden rule, " do unto others as you would have
others do unto you." He is a great scavenger; and,
so long as he will stay in my orchard and let my bees
alone we will be friends, for he is king among in-
sects, making a meal of any other insect that comes
in his way, when hungry. She lays her eggs in a
close, compact row, like the roof of a house, on
apple and peach limbs, which batch in the spring.
Spare the good prophet if you can.
B. F. CAUROLIi.
Dresden, Navarro Co., Tex., Oct 30, 1880.
EXPERIOTEIVTS WITH HOIVKY -BEAR-
ING PliANTS.
f|HE past summer I experimented with about
+0 varieties of annual garden flowers, to find
out which bees work on most so as to produce
pasture, and be an ornament to the garden. We
also had already quite a variety of perennials, bulbs,
and flowering shrubs. The bees work more or less
on nearly all flowers except roses, deutzias, honey-
suckles, lilacs, and a good many other shrubs.
Among early flowering bulbs, the little grape hya-
cinth is visited the most. Crocuses, single and
double hyacinths, some; many others, such as tu-
lips, not at all. The bees work on nearly all peren-
nial and biennial flowers. Pansies and sweet-wil-
liams are their favorites. Among the annuals, the
PliaccUa conaeata, a little blue flower, and a very
clean, neat border plant, beats every thing I have
had so far. It is more than equal to the sweet
clover; begins to bloom earlier, stands the hottest
weather, and the bees fairly swarm on it from early
morning till dark; and, after several light frosts,
next come portulaeas and resedas. Spider plant I
don't like; it takes too much ground for the amount
of bloom, allowing only one plant to grow. The
body was as thick as my arm, Ave feet high or over.
It stood in front of some hives, and the bees did not
notice it till it had formed seed-pods from first blos-
soms, and I had stuck a few bees on the drops of
sweetness. I don't think it is worth the ground it
takes up. Bees prefer to work on flowers where it
takes more work in getting to it. Last March my
bees would go into the pump spout for water when
they had a trough filled with corncobs and clean
water before them; and on our sidewalk are two
sugar maples, out of which the sugar-water eamo
pouring from little holes the woodpeckers had made,
so that the bark of the trees turned black, and the
gravel around the maple-tree was wet; but not a
bee would go on it, as bad as they wanted water. As
soon as I rubbed the woodpecker holes around the
trees full of candied honey, my bees began to swarm
on it as long and as often as the sap ran, so that peo-
ple got afraid to walk or dri\e past near the walk.
I introduced two Cyprian queens to two extra good
Italian hybrids in October, and in one week all avail-
able room was full of brood, while none of the other
stocks had any. I am very anxious to see their
working qualities next season.
Geo. L. Hollenbach. '
Noblesville, Ind., Dec. 1, 1880.
May I take the liberty to suggest, that
some of your ideas are a little unusual,
friend II. ? Our bees certainly prefer to
work where they can get the honey the easi-
est; and a comb of unsealed honey, left
carelessly outside the hive, seems to be
the greatest temptation to them, of any
thing I know of, because it is so easy
to get the honey. We find it the same with
the Spider plant ; but when there is only one
single plant, and that right before the hive,
I am not at all surprised to learn they never
found it. Some of our friends have laid
bunches of grapes on the hives, and because
the bees did not attack them there, have de-
cided they would not "eat grapes" at all. If
I am correct, bees have to learn to get honey
from any flower ; and unless the flowers are
in great profusion, say rods of them, or a
whole tree full, they may miss them entirely
for a whole season. After the bees get
started on a plant, just as they did on those
maple-trees, it is a pretty hard matter to
stop them. After they once get to robbing
a hive, it sometimes seems as if nothing
short of inch boards would hold them at bay.
At such times they will j)uncture grapes and
strip the vines ; yet we nave but a few cases
on record where they have got so crazy about
it as to do this. It was just so with your
watering-place. They had not got accus-
24
GLEANINGS IX BEE CULTURE.
Jan.
tomed to going there.— In our locality, plia-
celia is but an indifferent honey-plant. I
should not want to waste time on any plant
exclusively for honey, imless it yielded honey
so the drops were visible to the eye. Please
accept thanks for your report, friend IL
BSE-STINGS AND KHEUJTIATISM.
WHEN you published my inquiries concermiig
rheumatism and bee-stings, I hoped to re-
^ -' eeive at least tive hundred replies; but
OEly 17 have responded, and of that number, two
claim to have been entirely cured, and one some-
what relieved.
Mr. John C. Grcenleaf, New Boston, Mass., age 31
years, engaged in bee culture 5 years, had rheuma-
tism prior to handling bees, but is relieved entirely.
He receives three or four stings a week.
Mr. C. H. Chapman, Easthampton, Mass., age 48
years, has been in bee business 3 years, and hail
rheumatism prior to handling bees, but received
complete relief in six months afterward. He was
badly afflicted in one shoulder and arm.
Mr. W. C. Hutchinson, Acton, Ind., age 37 years,
engaged in bee culture 7 years, had rheumatism
prior to handling bees, but no severe attack since.
Two report having contracted the disease after
engaging iu bee culture, and received no benefit
from stings; two had it previous to handling bees,
and likewise received no benefit from stings, and
the others never had rheumatism.
I can not accept j-our theoi-y, that the benefit, if
any, from the virus of the bee, is inerely that of a
counter-irritant, for that it does have a peculiar ef-
fect on the blood is seen in the uon-poisonous effect
of the stings on those who have been often stung.
Such care very little more for stings than for mos-
quito bites. The investigation so far is too meager
to prove any thing, and I shall try again.
Otwell, lad., Dec. ti, '80. W. W. Lemmon.
I too, friend L., can not accept my former
theory, after the evidence that has been
Ijrought forward. I am more rejoiced than
I can well tell you, that there seems now
very good evidence that bee-stings may in-
deed exert a curative effect in some cases of
rheumatism ; and who knows if they may
not also do the same with many other dis-
eases V I do not draw this inference from
the cases above alone, but from letters that
will be found elsewhere in this and other
numbers.
• ♦ »
CELLAR ^VINTEKING,
7N WHICH OUR FllIEND MERRYBANKS IS UNJUSTLY
ACCUSED.
S|^|R1END NOVICE: — I rise to say, that, having
JSm read many of the discussions in the bee con-
ventions on winteriDg bees, and also many
communications recently, from different ones in our
bee journals, one would almost think, from the con-
clusions reached, that wintering outdoors in chaff in
some form, is the correct thing to do. We hold, that
any protection is better than none; and, by the
same comity of reasoning, the nearer we come to
complete protection, the better the way. Now, for
a few hard facts and reasons.
For about ten years I hare wiatercd, on an aver-
age, 25 swarms of bees in my cellar. I have never
lost a swarm in wintering in this way. I put them
in, usually, about the :.'Oth of Nov., and put them
out from the 10th to the 20th of March— never giv-
ing them a fly during that time. My cellar is dry,
and cemented on sides and bottom— frost-proof , and
kept so dark that it is the " blackness of darkness.'"
For an illustration: I once lost my light and points
of compass at the same time, in this cellar, and,
after feeling around and not making any headway,
rather than to bark my shins against the butter-fir-
kin, pickle-jar, wash-tub, and so on, all of which I
would be pretty sure to find, I cried out, for once in
my life, for "light from above." Parenthetically,
let me say, there was no cider in the cellar, to the
best of my knowledge and belief!
I recollect that, some time last winter, a gentle-
man—I "think his name is A. I. Root (some of you
may know him), asked how bees were wintering in
cellars, and seemed to fear great loss from bees get-
ting uneasy, as the weather was warm and change-
able. No one, I think, answered the inquiry. It
was an important question, and should have been
answered by all keeping bees in this way. I will
answer now though late: My bees were never more
quiet, or wintered better, than last winter— eating
but little of their stores. The reason is plain enough.
If your cellar is completely protected from the se-
verest cold, ft is just as iccU protected from suddtn
heat; and, although the warm weather may hold for
some time, yet the change is so gradual, the bees do
not mind it. Now, a few words with my chalf-win-
tering friends.
Of all the chaft hives I have seen, I think our
friend Novice's is as good, if not the best, yet
brought out. They are just the thing for springing
and summering bees, and then I can just pick them
up in the fall and put them in my cellar without
fussing as I do now with some of mine by placing
rye-straw mats around and over them, besides fine
hay or leaves on top. Yes, I rather like a chaff hive.
I've several of them, and I'm always careful to put
tliem in the cellar. Try it.
See where he comes, with his old nag! Perched up
on a small cargo of dry&oods boxes, is our old, hon-
est, moon-faced friend, Mr. Merrybanks (see Glean-
ings.) He has about one-fourth the number of box-
es he wants for his 50 hives of bees, when all to-
gether. What a pile! Mr. Merrybanks is always
alert and abreast with the times; don't believe in
exhausting his natural forces, con.sequently will not
carry his bees in and out of the collar any more. Oh
no! Mr. Merrybanks last fall took only a day for
himself and Mag to go to one of his neighbors to get
a load of chaff (no work, you know), and store it
away; and now he is ready for business. Mr. Mer-
rybanks pours about three or lour inches of chaff in
his store box, picks up his hive, and sets in said box;
bores a hole, and puts in a spent, or something for
passage for bees; puts in more chaff, pressing it
down until full, and then puts on the cover. Mr. M.
soliloquizes: "Let's see. About how many hives
could I have picked up and put into my cellar while
I have been fixing this one? .Inst look at that lid ! I
hadn't thought; that cover will leak; just look at
the cracks! By jimiimy!" Don't swear, Mr. Merry-
banks. "Oh! I never do. But I'd like to say some-
thing sti'ong, all the same. It will take me an hour
to fix the thing decently." Then Mr. Merrybanks
has another happy idea— just the thing, you know.
So he gets a big box, big enough to hold four hives;
18S1
GLEANINGS IN UEE CL'LTUKE.
25
puts in entrances on each side; puts in chaff and
hives, and finishes up packing as in the other case;
seats himself on a hive, and, soliloquizing-, viewing
his work,— "Merrybanks, you're a 'brick;' you are
an inventor; four to one box; almost as quickly
done as the other. That's business, and—and— in-
genuity (that's the word) combined. But, it does
seem as though I never saw so many knot-holes and
cracks in a box before, in all ray life. The cover has
just as many cracks as the other, and longer too.
And then, I can't say that it is a pretty thing to look
at. I guess not! And what will mv. wife say? 'Mr.
Merrybanks, dear, what building are you erectingV
a pig-pen, eh? and right in the middle of your pret-
ty bee-yard?' Oh, oh! call that invention a pig-pen!
'And then, what if Koot, A. I., should visit you?
They say he has an eye for the beautiful.' So much
the worse for his eye! And then, how would a whole
yard of them look? My! Jt would be just my des-
tinj'! Some insurance agent or lightning-rod man
would be alwa3's scenting a job; that settles it, Mr.
Merrybanks. Now, Merrybanks, let us reason a lit-
tle about this wintering business." [Mr. Merrybanks
reasons.] " Suppose a winter as warm as the last,
bees outdoors in chalf hives would be likely te lly as
often as once in two weeks. This must exhaust
their stores badly; while in the cellar the opposite
would be the result. Score one for cellar. If the
winter was extremely cold, nearly the same result
would follow. Score two for cellar. And as the dif-
ference in eonsumptioH of honey between wintering
outdoors and wintering in a good cellar is anywhere
up to 6 lbs., we'll say 3 lbs. per hive in favor of cel-
lar; and honey at 12! je per lb., gives 371 ic; and 50
hives gives f 18 To, which would give me enough to
pay for the labor of putting my bees into the cellar
for twenty j-ears." And the last we heard of Mr.
Merrykanks' soliloquy, as he turned a corner of the
honey-house, was, "I've been a simpleton, but I've
got a good many close connections."
Amboy, Lee Co., 111., Nov. 8, '80. R. H. Mellen.
RAIUBLiC: NO. 1.
AT THE COUNTY FAIR.
i^ijj-^E frequently flmd a leisure moment to get
away from our home duties, my wife and I,
and at such times we make a flying visit to
some relative or friend or bee-keeper; and now it
refreshes us to get away from the daily routine of
home life, and talk potatoes and cheese, and the
prospect of prices for these two great productions
of our county! In giving oiu' experiences in our
rambles in the interests of bee-keeping, we will first
ramble to our county fair.
We have exhibited nearly every year at our annual
fair; :ind owing to this fact the premiums haAC been
increased from $2.0U to S25.00. This year I was in-
duced, by the promise of a good central location, to
make a grand show on my own hook and under my
, owu canvas; so, after ample preparation, James
and I hitched old^Billy to the load and bid farewell
to wax, bees, and honey, and off we started for the
fair. Our better half sent her old shoe after us, and
wared her gingham apron while we passed down
our "Linden Avenue." W.iien we reached the fair-
grounds, we came to the painful realization of the
uncertainty of the word of the managers of a county
jPair. The good central location I was promised was
reserved for a cheap dog-show, for which the com-
mittee on rentals received a fee; so the dogs took
the preference, and the bee-keeping industry was
put behind a ready-made-clothing tent and another
show. AVe pocketed our disappointment, and made
the best of our poor location ; and though the crowd
did not find us, the bee-keeping fraternity were
around us more or less during the lour days of the
fair. Our show consisted of comb and extracted
honey, and all appliances used in the apiary, and
three swarms of bees. The tetter were in an inclos-
ure of wire cloth, open at the top, and could be seen
at work at all hours of the day, and people could sec
us handle them. Our one-frame observation hive
attracted a great deal of attention. The queen and
her subjects were a great curiosity to those who or-
dinarily dare not approach a hive of bees. We came
across some of our peculiar friends here, who were
skeptical in relation to queens and drones; and our
friend who believed the drones laid the eggs and
then sat on them until they hatched had his theory
somewhat disturbed by seeing the queea deposit
eggs especially for his benefit.
Oiu' extractor, foundation machine, and smokers,
called forth an unusual amount of questions, both
serious and comic. Our show enabled us to give
much information to the public at large about bees
and honey. We found our bee-keeping friends
ready to lend a helping hand, and Mr. Harris, of
Sandy Hill, made quite a display of bees and honey.
Whenever we have become acquainted with bee-
keepers in our own and adjoining eounties, we find
them very hospitable. We will try to ramble to
some of their homes, and tell you of their bees and
methods of raising honey. John H. Martin.
Hartford, N. Y., Dec. 2, 1880.
May I venture one sujj;gesti()n, friend M.?
Much complaint has been made of the un-
fairness of officers at the fairs. While I am
about it, I might as well add. that I am one
of the com])lainiiifj kind myself, — perhaps at
conveivtions as well as fairs ; but I am jjoing'
to try hard to get over and out of it. Well, I
would make a bargain with the managers,
beforehand; and if you want the best local-
ity, pay for it too. You should be able to
sell honey enough, and other things, to pay
all expenses. If I am correct, I had my
choice of location at our last county fair,
and paid $14.(J0 for the same; but I liad a
very large stand. If good people, re])resent-
ing good, wholesome industries, would take
these eligible points, there would be less of
the swindling and wheel-of -fortune work at
our county fairs. A man offered $^.")0.0() for
the privilege of selling beer on our fair-
grounds, and he came pretty near getting it.
because the association Avas behijid, and
short of funds. If one or two (I do not know
but I might have said only one) of our
staunch temperance and Sunday-school men
had stayed at home, just that day, the beer-
vender would ha^■e had it, and we should
have had su(;h a scene with tlie boys of our
village as they did in a iieighboriug town
where •beei' was sold on the fair-grounds.
Shall we not go to the fairs, and carry our
things and our inlluence too? I ])resume it
will be safe to say the same of conventions;
yes, and I think, AA'hile we are about it, we
might (or I might) promise not to get of-
fended.
26
GLEAXINGS IX BEE CULTURE.
J AN.
BOMIAITI'S mPROVED PROCESS OF
mAKINO COMB FOLNDATIOX.
PATENTED NOV. 9TH, ISSfl.
^T5]HE msichiae consists of two scmi-niolds, or
" *| " plates, made of best quality of dental plaster.
— ' The frames which hold the plates arc put to-
gether with strong butts, aud so hinged that the
frames are thrown half an inch apart when the
mold is closed. In this way the faces of the plates
are raised ^i inch above the wood. On the back of
each plate, a convenient and substantial handle is
firmly fastened, by which the machine is easily man- |
ipulated. To use the mold, open wide the plates so i
that the face of one is on a plane with the other.
Ilaviug- previously wet the mold, place the face of
the machine on the surface of the melted wax; raise
the plates and immediately close them, exerting
some pressure, but not slapping them. Dip the mold
then into a water bath, not too cold, to chill the wax;
open the mold, and your sheet thus molded will be
easily removed. You need wet the molds only oe-
casionaUij before dipping on the wax, as there will
be ?io trouble about shedding. After you have made
a few sheets, aud got things started up all right, it is
nice work to turn out the beautiful sheets of fdn.
If you want heavy fdn., do not have your wa.x very
hot; if light fdn. is desired, have your wax pretty
hot, and exert a little more pressure on the handles
of the mold. To make starters for section boxes, I
use a smaller mold.
The advantages of my process I claim to be these:
1. There is necessarily no daubing of wax, as the
plates are raised so that no wax need touch the
wooden frame, unless dipped too deep into the wax.
2. Its cheapness. With care it , will last a long
time. The handles give strength and support to the
plates.
3. Less dipping in water to make shed.
4. You can work up all your wax, thus enabling
you to conveniently work small lots of wax. Y'ou
can have your wax floating on hot water, If you
wish, so that you need never scorch it.
o. Fewer boxes and vessels are required. All you
need is a tin basin about 21 or 22 inches square (for
L. frame), and i inches deep, to set on a common
tlat-top cooking-stove, in which to have your melted
wax, and a wash-tub, or any vessel that will answer
for a bath.
IJ. Both sides of your fdn. sheet are made precise-
ly alike, unless your mold is wrong. Two semi-
sheets are molded ; i. c, their faces, and put togeth-
er back to back before chilling, not molding one
side and pressing the other, as in some machines,
thus having wax of different degrees of hardness or
density in the same sheet.
7. The fdn. being molded, the wax is in its natur-
al state, and hence does not sag. Therefore, no
wires are needed to prevent sagging.
8. It is the "machine for the million."
A. F. BONHA.M.
Seven Mile Ford, Va., Nov. 29, 1880.
There is something quite ingenious about
your idea, friend B.; but the idea is not
new, it I am correct. It was the first »lan I
tried in dipping fdn.; but as I did not suc-
ceed, and you have. I shall have to presume
yo\i have got hold of some idea I did not
have. I do not like that about its being pat-
ented, friend B.; Imt as you have put it
there, we let it stand. It seems to me yon
have wasted just so mucli money. Friend
Faris now writes he has succeeded with met-
al plates, and if that is the case, he is, most
assuredly, away ahead of all. May God
speed and bless yoti all. my friends, in your
experiments I but I hope you won't thiiik it
will pay to have the- ideas i»atented. even if
vou do succeed.
GREAT \'IEL1» OF HONEV FRO:VI FIRE-
WEED, ETC.
fAM almost a beginner, having kept bees only .i
years. When I began, I coiild get only 25 lbs.
^"^ (or less) of surplus from a colony. I was the
seventh one in this town to try bee-keeping. The
other six had lost all of their bees when I com-
menced. Three years ago I began to study the hab-
its of my pets, and to take better care of them.
Since then I have received fi-om 100 to 125 lbs. sur-
plus per colony.
I believe that we ha\e a fine bee country here.
There are thousands of acres of hard-wood timber,
consisting of rock maple, soft maple, birch, beech,
etc.. etc. The clover very seldom winter-kills. In
the spring the fields are yellow with dandelions, fol-
lowed immediately by honeysuckle or white clover.
But the greatest plant for honey is the flreweed,
called, by some, mooseweed, bloodweed, etc. It
springs up the next year after a forest fire, and con-
tinues about 3 years, when another fire is needed to
renew it. It grows from 4 to 7 feet high, and usual-
ly commences to blossom about the first of August,
and continues in blossom 8 or 10 weeks. It bears
a bright purple flower, and somewhat resembles
phlox. In September I had occasion to visit a l;ike
four miles from my place. The whole distance (af-
ter the first half-mile) lay through a perfect sea of
purple flowers, with the honey glistening in the
blossoms, and, in some cases, a drop hanging in the
center of the blossoms. There were thousands of
acres in one solid body, loaded with nectar, and only
a few bees around the outer edges. The honey from
this plant is a pure white, and has a fine flavor. I
have sent some to the cities of Massachusetts, and
it sells well, and my customers always praise it. I
presume that this plant grows in all of the northern
timbered States. Why has it not been mentioned
among the great honey-plants? There are some bee-
keepers in the neighboring towns who are produc-
ing honey by tons; but bee culture is in its infancy
here yet. E. Tarr.
Castle Hill, Aroostook Co., Me., Nov. 18, 1880.
Well, I declare, friend T.. I do not know
but that we shall have to drop the Spider
plant, and go for tireweed if that is the way
it does every season. Your statement will,
I fear, almost set some of the A B C class
crazy. When I was in ^Michigan I saw some
of the most beautiful white honey, and of
what I should call a most exquisite tlavor
too, that was said to be flreweed honey.
The woods Avere then full of it. but it had
gone to seed, and I was under the impres-
sion that it had a white instead of purple
blossom. Are there different varieties of
flreweed V and what is the color of the blos-
som? Hurrah: Graves Botany explains it
all. The kind you speak of. friend T.,is
(hold your breath) EpUohhnn augustifoUiun.
Don't you think it ought to bear honeyV
Give us some seeds, friend T., and don't
think of monopolizing all those miles of
honey away down there in Maine.
ISSl
GI.EAXIXGS IX BEE CULTURE.
27
From Different Fields.
15LUE TIirSTLE; \Un\ TO KAISK THE
PLANTS.
^j;IX(!E it has been sliowu Dial blue this-
^ tie is jiot a thistle at all (see p. 460, Oct.
'--^ X'o. of last year), we may welcome it
among our honey-plants. I had thoiisrht of
callinp; it by another name; but as the pres-
ent one, blue thistle, is in such general and
widespread use. it would prol»ably be a hard
matter, should we undertake it.
If sown in winter, sow in a small bi>-\', not larger
than 8x10 inches, nor deeper tlian ti inches. Fill even
full with leaf mold and sand, mixed; then s<iw seed
on top. On this, put '.^ inch of same mixture, and
then with aboard press down level, then moisten a
little. On this, place a 10x12 glass to prevent mois-
ture from escaping. In 4 or ."> days, the young plants
will come up. Then remove glass, place box in a
warm window, and as the plants grow, transplant to
larger boxes; and when warm weather comes, set
out in almost any kind of soil, and by thelast of July
you will see a fine lot of blossoming plants with
plenty of bees on them. J. T-. Bowkrs.
nerryville, Va., Nov. 20, 1880.
canuy-making; a valuable siggestion.
Allow a novice to make a suggestion relating to
the formula for making candy for bees, in winter.
Instead of mixing your sugar and flour with water,
and boiling it, first mix sugar and water, and boil, as
suggested in A B C. When done, take it off, and
then, to the amount of flour that you wish, add just
enough of the hot syrup to make a liatter, with all
the lumps worked out. Then pour this batter slowly
into your syrup, and stir it vigorously; then pour.
By this method all danger of scorching is avoided.
Kirksville, Mo. , Nov 27, 1880. I. D. Pearce.
BEES LEAVING THEIR HIVES IN COLD WEATHEH.
I have a very large swarm of Italians that are act-
ing so strangely that I wish to ask you if you know
what T can do to quiet them. About two weeks ago
I noticed they were flying out. It was then so cold
that they would drop into the snow within Ave or
si.x feet of their hive, and they continued to do so
right along through the last cold weather up to last
Friday, when I fastened them in by nailing wire
cloth over the entrance. They will now come down
to the entrance and try to get out, and they will
staj' there until they die in great numbers of cold
or hunger, I can't say which. They are in one of
your chair hives, with a cushion that fills the whold"
top. I laid this off for two or three days, thinking it
might be too warm. It is now over them, with one
of your wood mats lying loosely under it, the en-
trance is all open, and they are on eight frames,
with one division-board on one side of them.
Ravenna, O., Nov. 20, 1880. J. C. Converse.
The cushion is not too warm : in fact, I
fear it is the opposite. Put some loose chaff
under the cushion so as to make all tight
above. I should be inclined to think the
trouble comes from a sort of dysentery
caused by unwholesome stores. 'When bees
are so affected as to come out of their hives
in cold weather, it is a pretty hard case, un-
less the weather changes enough so you can
take away all their stores, and feed them on
pure sugar, say a syrup made of granulated
sugar, or granulated sugar candy.
FIFTEEN NEW SWARMS FROM ONE IN ONE SEASON;
GOOD FOR TEXAS.
The queen j-ou sent to J. J. Taylor came all right.
My 154 stands of bees are doing well, and are still
gathering some honey. I have not killed their
drones yet. I had 8.") swarms of bees come out from
July 2tjth to August 27th. I extracted all the honey
from all of my young swarms twice, and all are full
now. The fore part of the season was bad. Bees
gathered very little honey till September. Since
then I have taken SiSit lbs., as nice as the nicest ex-
tracted. I find ready sale at 15c. I had one stand of
bees last spring which sent out 3 swarms. In July
they sent out 3 swarms. The 3 swarms that came
out in the spring all swarmed 3 times apiece. That
makes 15 swarms from one hive in one year, and all
in good condition for winter; that is, if winter
c<imes. Sometimes it don't come here.
E. Devenpout.
Richland Spring, Tex., Nov. 15. 1880.
BLOWING BEES OCT OF THE HONEY-BOXES.
A bellows is the best thing that I ever tried or
I read of to get bees out of open-bottom boxes. By
; blowing in at one side, the reaction of the wind will
bring them out at the other side in a stream. It is a
well-known fact, that bees, if allowed to remain long
on comb honey after it is taken from the hive, if
there is no honey coming from the field, uncap a
portion of it. Therefore, we should hasten to re-
[ move them. A bellows will do it quickly. My bel-
I lows is made of boards llxUx 'a, rounded off and
; brought to a point at one end. F. C. White.
Euclid, Cuyahoga Co., 0., Nov. 12, 1880.
Quite an idea, friend W.: but will not our
: smokers answer just as well as a bellows
i made expressly? And do you think a
! stream of pure air better than smoke? I
I often blow bees from the sections with a
' smart puff of my breath : but it is apt to
make one dizzy, to try to blow off a great
many Italians. I presume we want a pretty
good-sized l)ellows to make them "git"
"right fast."
X GOOD REPORT FROM FLORIDA.
\ As it is now Oct. s, perhaps I had better hand in
! my report, although my bees have begun to gather
quite fast in the last few days, and to-day thej' arc
fairly boiling out of some of my hives. So, here
goes: Spring count. 14; increased to 40 by natural
swarming and dividing, when they were about to
swarm naturally; comb fdn. used, 0; extracted hon-
ey, IWO lbs. : price obtained in Boston, SI. 10 per gal. :
price obtained in other parts of Massachusetts, 12c
per lb. The parties who sold the honey said, in their
returns. '"Your honey is the finest that ever came to
this market from the South, and the price obtained
is from 15 to 20c higher per gal. than other honey is
selling at here." I will also state, that if I had let
my bees do as they wished, I should have had at
least 20 swarms more: but as it took me 3 months to
got a bill of lumber from Jacksonville, I could not
make hives for them, and so I kept them back from
swarming. This has been an unusually poor year
for bees and honey here, and many have got neither
honey nor increase from their hives. I am still
ahead, although the gale that wrecked the steam-
28
(iLEANlKGS lis BEE CULTUllE.
Jan.
ship Vera Cruz and several other vessels within a
few miles ol mc, destroyed 14 swarm? lor me. The
rest are doing well, and are in good shape for win-
ter. The way the gale destroyed the bees was by
blowing down two large pine-trees upon the hives,
and crushing several of them. Then the rain
drowned the bees, and, as 1 was away from home,
the exposed honey set the rest to robbing, and I
foinid a fine "kettle of tish" (no bees) when I got
home. W. s. Hart.
Smyrna, Florida.
Pretty well done, friend II. Over loo lbs.
to the liive, and the original number almost
trebled. Perhaps we had better <yo to Flori-
da, after all, and raise oranges and keep bees.
BLACKS AND ITALIANS.
I commenced the season with 4 colonies— 3 blacks
and one Italian. The Italians swarmed May (ith, and
as they seemed very strong, I opened the hive and
took two frames that had queen-cells on them, and.
with the adhering bees, made a nucleus. This, I
thought, would put an end to any after-swarming;
but they swarmed again on the 10th, and filled the
brood-nest full of honey, but refused to work in the
boxes. The whole ten frames wore solid sheets of
honey, and they looked nice, for they were all full
sheets of fdn., built out smooth and straight. I had
no extractor, and so I took half of them away and
gave them to the other swarms, and replaced them
with frames tilled with fdn. My black bees gave me
40 lbs. of surplus to each colony, and did not swarm.
If this is the usual way of the Italians, I prefer the
blacks. W. E. Floweu.
Shoemakerstown, Pa., Dec. li, ISSO.
yUEENS BEING THIiOWN OUT OF THE IIIVE IN COLD
WEATHER.
Immediately after the recent cold snap, two of
my strongest colonies of bees, in box hives, threw
out their queen. This is unaccountable to me.
What is your theory? and what would you advise
me to do in the case? They were very strong colo-
nies, and had not been disturbed. A. M. Dunn.
Kutland, Meigs Co., Ohio, Dec. 4, 18S0.
I would not do any thing at all, friend D.
If I am not mistakeii, it is only the old queen
that is dead, and the young one remains in
the hive. At any rate, you can do nothing
now, except to mark the hives and wait un-
til spring. When the weather is warm
enough for them to tly, give them some
brood and let them raise a queen, providing
they have not one already.
SHIPPING BEES FROM THE SOUTH, INSTEAD OF FEED-
ING THEM THROUGH THE WINTER.
I apprehend there will be a good demand for bees
next season if the wint(?r holds out as it has begun.
Many colonies will die from starvation— more than
usual. There was no surplus honey in this (Kane)
county this year, and many colonies have already
starvcil. I brought I'.HI stnmg hive« to this county
last May from New Orleans for Perrine. When we
got here, many of them were strong enough to
swarm. We have received no surplus, and no
swarms ; in fact, they would not average 5 lbs. of
honey in brood-chamber in October. Many have
since starved, as Perrine would not feed them up
for winter. We do not now expect to winter through
a single colony. We do not care if they all die, as
we can restock the combs next May with strong
nuclei from the South at less expense than it would
have cost to winter thein in safety. I wanted to kill
them all in October, and save the honey for spring:
bvit Perrine did not instruct me to do so, for which
he is now sorry. These bees are on a par with most
of the bees in this coujity. Marvii:, Oatman, Thomp-
son, Way, etc., have fed largely, to keep their apia-
ries alive; but I doubt their being in good condition
next year in time for the honey harvest. Marvin
has fed 2500 lbs. of old extracted honey to one of his
apiaries of 100 colonies; but it won't pay, as the
honey is worth about as much as the hives, bees,
combs, honey, and all. It would have paid him bet-
ter had he killed the bees in October, and restocked
next Maj% befoi-e fruit blossoms.
M. M. Baldridge.
St. Charles, Illinois, Dec. 0, 1880.
T prestime our readers are well aware that
friend Baldridge has had much experience
in keeping bees, both in the North and
South ; and, although he makes some very
good points, I do not believe we shall ever
prosper by killing our bees after the honey
season is over, with a view of buying more
in the spring, shipped from the Soiith. It is
expensive and troublesome to feed back the
honey, or even a substitute, I know ; but I
should not extract, and thus l)e obliged to
feed back; that is, I should not unless it
shall so happen that bees will die on natural
stores so much faster than they do on stores
of pure sugar. Friend Jones, as I have be-
fore mentioned, is very positive that it will
])ay to replace the lioney with stores made
I'rora granulated sugar ; and as reports are
alreatiy coming in of bad losses from dysen-
tery on natural stores this winter, it may be
well to consider this matter.
WILLOW AS A HONEY-PLANT.
The best variety for bees is what is called " Pussy
Willow." It is a shrub or bush, that grows about 8
or 10 feet high, and is covered with blossoms and
bees early in spring. In fact, it is the very earliest
thing that blooms. I have one near my bees, and it
is interesting to see them at work on it. It natural-
ly grows in wet ground, but will grow in dry ground.
My neighbor has one on very dry ground, as an or-
namental bush. They can be propagated, simpl/ by
sticking cuttings in the ground. They can be fur-
nished one year old for 10c apiece. I shall start a lot
in spring. They can be sent by mail, including
packing, 3 for 25c., and atiy oae who has only one,
can, after that, grow his own by the 100 or 1000. My
bees gathered pollen this year, Feb. 2(ith. This is the
earliest year yet. M. D. Du Bois.
Newburgh, Orange Co., N. T., Dec. T, 1880.
QUEEN-CAGES FOR ANOTHER SEASON, ETC.
We started in the spring of 1880 with 15 stocks of
bees, and took 302 lbs. of comb honey, and 017 lbs. of
•xtracted, makinjr a total of 1110 lbs., and increased
to 23 stocks, and all are in good order to go through
the winter. We also raised 27 Italian (lueens. Our
main source for honey is from the poplar-tree and
white clover. The drought cut our clover crop short.
Now, allow us to ask a few questions. Which is
the best mailing queen-cage? Do you send bees by
the pound by mail, or by express? When you ship a
queen, io you leave the bees with just the wire cloth
1881
GLEA:Ni:srGS IN BEE CULTURE.
29
over them, or wrap the cage up? and when will you
have your Bee-keeper's Diary and Acoouut-book
ready? "We are waiting- patiently for one.
T. & C. l)r\Ar,i-.
Spencervillc, Mont. Co.. Md., Dec. 10, 1880.
Which is the best (lueen cage? is just the
((uestioii I would like to have answered. At
l)resent. J feel most favorably toward some-
thing like the ^Nb'Coid cage, i)ictured on ]>.
445, Sept. No. We may adopt the iilau of
letting the (jueens out, embodied in the Peet
cage. Friend Martin's remarks in this Xo.
ill regard to it, so nearly coincide with my
own experience, tliat I feel anxious to get
as many reports as we can, Itefore making
cages for another season.— -Most assuredly.
we can not send a pound of bees by mail.
JIow long do you think the department
would allow us even to send queens, should
such a thing be attemiitedV— Cover the wire
cloth, by all means. MeCord's cage accom-
plishes this nicely.— The account-book will
be out some time this winter.
ORAPE SUGAH.
I am thanklul that there is such an article as
grape sug-ar. My bees take it up rapidly out of the
barrel as it came from the factory, or in a liquid
state out of inverted glass jars, or candy, molded in
wooden butter-plates, in\'erted over the bees on the
frames in hives. 1 have no fear that feeding grape
sugar to my bees will injure the sale of my honey.
Du Page, Ills , May 18, IS.'^U. S. Anglemire.
THE PARIS machine; WHITE WAX FOR STARTERS;
GROOVINCi SECTIONS FOR STARTERS, ETC.
Concerning the Faris fdn. machine: I inclose sam-
ples, so that you can see where the trouble is. I
can not get perfect impressions on both sides by
dipping one plate; but by dipping both plates I can
get it right, except that it is a little too thick for
starters. I have no trouble with my large plates.
I have quite a quantity of this white wax (like the
spniple inclosed.) Is it not better for starters than
the yellow? When one of 1 he plates gives out, will
they both have to be put in? if not, how would you
do it?
P. S.— I forgot to say, that the sections came all
right. I was a little disappointed when I found that
you did not go as per order; but when I found that
"Parker machine" away down in the middle of one
of the boxes, and tried it,— well, I wilted. I suppose
you know better what we want than we know our-
selves; you did in this case, any how. How much
shall I send you for that Parker machine?
Lekoy Vankirk.
Washington, Pa., Dec. 11, 1880.
I think you are succeeding as well as any-
body, friend y.\ for, if you will recollect, I
have never yet decided the Faris machine to
be a success all around. There is this to
console us, however : although the work does
not look just as we would like to have it, it
is used by the bees, so far as I can see, just
about as well. White wax is not good; it is
too hard. This has l)een fully deiiionstrated
by many experiments. If the yellow is light
colored and veiy thin, it makes so little tlif-
ference in tne appearance of the honey, that
it is really no object to have white. When
one of the Faris plates gives out, I presume
you will have to make a new pair. This is
why (or, rather, the constant liability of the
machine to give out) I have declined to offer
them for sale. However, if each bee-keeper
makes his own, and can set to work and till
his machine anew as often us a plate fails. I
do not know but that it may do very well.
Now a word in regard to nice sheets of fdn.
for making these plates. As we have to
take umisual care, to get the cells perfect,
and have also to take extraordinary care in
packing, we shall have to charge, hereafter,
double ordinary prices for sheets wanted for
makinj^ plaster casts.— Many thanks for your
P. S., friend Y. Once in a great while we
have a customer ^\•ho orders his sections
grooved for fdn.; btit as Ave know very well
he is making a mistake, and the trouble of
grooving them will be more than the cost of
a "Parker machine," we have been in the
habit of putting them in without charge, as
we did yours.
A GOOD REPORT FROM BOX HIVES AND BLACK BEES,
ETC.
I Started this spring with .5(5 swarms, ail blacks, ex-
cept 3 that were hybrids, and all in box hives except
4, and those were in such bad shape that there was
only one whose frames I could remove. In June, .'>
of my swarms proved to be queenless from some
cause. Perhaps the cause was old ago of queen. I
transferred them into Simplicity hives, and had
some dilficultj' in getting them to raise queens and
build up, as there came ou a honey dearth just at
that time, and I had to feed the most of them
through July, as I took about all the honey from
them when transferred. I have had only 5 natural
swarms this season, and one of them went to the
woods. I have made one artiflcial swarm, so that I
have til good swarms; 10 in Simplicity hives, and 51
in box hives. Those in the Simplicity have not made
any surplus honey this year, as three of the natural
swarms came in August. Honey all told this year,
from new swarms and transferred, would be about
50 lbs. My 51 other hives have done better for me
this year than the average, 1 think. I have taken
5C00 lbs. of honey in ~-\h. sections from the 51
swarms. Two swarms in box hives, and black bees,
made ~50 lbs. of honey apiece in 2-lb. sections. How
is that " for high," and black bees and box hives? I
have sold almost all of it, and could sell 5 tons here
if I had it, at 14 to 15c per lb. ; of course, it is not a
very large price, but it pays at that.
I shall use the Simplicity hive after this. They
are the best style of hive that 1 ever had, and I have
tried a good many different kinds. 1 have had bees
for 23 years, but never paid any attention to them
until lately, of any amount. There has always been
trouble in getting bees through the winter here, and
I was in hopes that somebody would find some plan
that would work well without loss. I have always
let my bees remain on the summer stands with sur-
plus-honey boxes on, and the last two or three win-
ters they have done well— hardly losing a swarm.
They face the south, and are under sheds; and when
the sun shines too warmly I put boards up before
them, if it was not warm enough for them to get
back to the hi\ es. I shall pack them this winter in
straw, but shall leave them on the stands.
E. Rathbun.
Millington, Tuscola Co., Mich., Dec. 8, 1880.
30
GLEAXINGS IX BEE CULTURE.
Jan.
STINGS AND RHEUMATISM.
I saw a notice of stings and rheumatism in your
magazine. I have been stung less than 500 times;
but before being stung, I suffered from rheumatism
in my shoulder, and it has all gone, and I have
thanked the bees for it. A bee-sting poisoned me
frightfully, and, as a remedy, I find nothing so good
to keep down the swelling and allay the intlammation
as the brine of mackerel. Hub on quickly and free-
ly. Mrs. a. E. JORD.i^N.
Redding, Ct., Nov. 25, 1880.
LEARNING TO MAKE BARRELS FROM A BOOK, ETC.
I see, in Nov. Gleanings, that Mr. Isaac B. Kum-
ford, of Bakerstield, Cal., thinks he might be able to
gain sutficient knowledge from books to enable him
to make barrels to hold his honey, if there was any
work published on the subject of cooperage. I
woi'ked at the coopering business nearly forty
years, and yet never heard of a book on the subject.
The thing is entirely impracticable, any way. 1
know from expc^rience that the trade can not be
learned from books. There have been instances
where men have picked up sulticient skill to make
what we call slack work,- -potato, apple, or salt bar-
rels; but to make a barrel to hold honey requires a
tirst-class workman, and even then, about every
other one Avill leak. He had better offer some good
cooper an interest in his apiary, and get him to lo-
cate with him. I am not saying this, thinking he
will make mo an offer, for I have quit the trade, and
am raising honey. I think Northern Iowa, take it
one j'ear with another, will compare with California
as a honey country. I ha^e not had what might be
calle<J a poor season in the last ten j-ears.
Brush Creek, Iowa, Nov. !•, 1880. B. F. Little.
X"o\v, friend L., I do not want you to say
too much against booli learning, and making
things witliout learning the trade; for, first
you know, somebody will tell us of having
inade barrels that will hold honey, without
lieing any cooper at all. 1 know it requires
skill to make a barrel tliat won't leak with-
out Avaxing, for I have had some trials with
leaky barrels.
A beginner's troubles, ETC. POLLEN-GATHERING
IN NOVEMBER, ETC.
I have just stepped into the ABC class at the
foot. There is no one below me, and of course I
wish to make some advance. Tctward the latter
part of last September I received a hive of bees
from A. W. Cheney, Orange, Mass., said to be Ital-
ians, and I presume they are. I think I can see
three yellow bands, and that is all 1 know about it.
I took the hive to pieces, according to his directions,
which was no small job, every thing being spiked
together with ix'd nails, wherever there was a place
to drive one in. I noticed that the combs were not
verj- full, and one or two had no honey at all, and I
thought they would likely be short of stores before
spring; and, as you gave directions for feeding
coffee A sugar syrup, 1 sent to you last month and
got two feeders, and have given them about 13 lbs.
The bees will carry in a pint in an hour. I selected
the warm pleasant days to feed them in. Since I
began, they have appeared more lively; and when
I go about the hive they come around me and seem
to say, "I would like some more of that nice syrup
you gave us the other day." Now, right here I am
brought to a stand. (3n page .535, Nov. No. of
Gleanings, you say, in answer to a correspondent,
that there is danger in feeding liquid food to a weak
colony. I had not noticed that you had intimated
anywhere in your directions that you have given
that sugar syrup is dangerous; and I am not capa-
ble of judging whether you would call my colony
weak. I shall not feed any more until I hear or see
something in next number of Gleanings. To-day
has been mild and pleasant, and at noon, when I
went to dinner, of course I went out to see the bees.
There were a great many coming home to the hive
with loads of pollen; and Mrs. J. watched them
some time after I went away to work, and she said
that some had very large loads of deep orange color,
and some others had different shades of yellow, and
others had large loads that had the color of light
beeswax. Where could they get it? and why did
they want it now? I do not believe this is much of a
honey country, but 1 am going to see if I can get a
little. Daniel H. .lOHNSON.
Danielsonville, Ct., Nov. ii. 1880.
The pollen is all right, you are all right,
the feed is all right, aud the bees are all
right, if I mistake not. friend J. Yes, and
your wife is all right too. in taking the re-
sponsibility of watching and interesting her-
self in the bees when you are away. If I
am correct, you fed it to them a little at a
time, much in the way natural stores come
in, and this can not" very well do harm,
■i'our colony is a jiretty good one, I should
think, from the account you give, and I
guess friend ( '. was about right. It is much
better to make a package of bees too strong
than have it break to pieces and become a
wreck on the Avay.
SILVER-DKIP syrup for BEES, ETC.
Please send me your price list. I don't know yet
that I want anj' supplies for next season, but I must
have something to road these longe\enings. I have
read the back numbers of Cleanings over and over;
but too much of a g(jod thing will sour on one's
stomach, like the 12 gallons of silver-drip syrup my
bees were on May-daj'. Last year I fed them on yel-
low coffee sugar. I had to be content last spring in
seeing my bees e irrying the granulated sugar out of
the hive. I think 'b of the sugar was lost in this
way. If the silver-drip syrup does not granulate nor
give bees the dysentery, I think it the naxt best
thing to honey. I thin the syrup and fill a frame,
and hang it lichind the division-board. This I shall
do in Sept. instead of Nov., as I have done this year.
Get a few prickly ash for your honey farm, and re-
port next fall. No. of stands, '27; in good condition,
10. If next year does not " pan out " better than the
last three, look out and enlarge the Blasted Hopes
department. Loris Hofstatteh.
Louis\ille, Ky., Nov. 2t, Is.sQ.
Please report, friend II.. in regard to how
the syrup answers ; and tell us, to(f, what it
costs. I have never yet found a tine white
syrup, like that made from granulated or
coffee sugar, for instance, that could be
l)ought as chea])ly as we can buy the sugar
and make it. If theyliave a pure syrup that
won't granulate, it may be a good thing ; but
how do you know this syrup is not made
from grape sugar V If such is the case, you
can make it yourself, and save money, by the
directions I give you in our catalogiie.
1881
GLEAXIJ^GS IN BEE CULTUilE.
ni
MARKING OF HYBRIDS, ETC.
As I have seen so much about the test of Italian
bees, I would like to give my experience. Wc
bought two colonies of Italian bees three years ago
last spring. The next spring we had four: and, al-
though there were no other bees within two or three
miles of them, there were a good many jet-black
liees among the new swarms. As we supposed that
hybrids would have one or two bands, we were a lit-
tle puzzled. I wrote you about it, but got nothing
satisfactory in repl\-. Increased to eight swarms
the next season. Some swarms were almost entire-
ly black .jet-black blacker than any black bees I
ever saw, with now and then nice three-banded bees
among them. Some were mostly yellow bees, with
but a few black ones; others wore plain three-band-
ed, with a jet-black tip; and, bear in mind, the pure
black, and yellow and black ones have no downy
rings at all. I don't know any thing about one or
two banded bees; I do not find them; but, for rob-
bing, these bees arc A No. 1. Inless honey is quite
plenty, they arc on hand with their liills whenever
or wherever a hive is opened. Now, when I have a
young queen begin to lay. I watch and examine
when the brood begins to hatch; and if the bees are
all yellow, I call her pure: and if I see one or two of
the little fellows that have just crawled out of the
cells, that do not show any yellow at all, t pronounce
her hybrid. We bought an imported queen of you
a year ago last spring, and another last summer.
Their progeny, I notice, have the rings of down as
well as the yellow bands. As I hu\c never heard
nor read about hybrids being black, and as I have
had no opportunity to see any other hybrids than
my own, I would like to know if they are always so,
nr if ours are an exception. Mrs. P. P. Cobb.
Middleville, Barry Co., Mich , Nov. 8. 1880.
The explanation is, my friend, that hy-
brids are so very diverse in tlieir markings.
In some cases, the bees will nearly all take
after their male parent, to such iin extent
that a yellow (jueen may produce bees al-
most entirely black. In the same way. a
pure-black queen (mated Avith an Italian
drone, of course K may produce very finely
marked Italians, or, at least, the greater
part of them. By noticing a great number
of hybrid stocks, you will see how unlike
they are in markings. One queen will pro-
duce, uniformly, two-banded bees ; another,
all kinds of bees, from one band up to three,
and some bees entirely black : or. as you
say, Ijlacker than any common bees. This
saine law of mixed races is seen in fowls and
all kinds of animal life, and even in the hu-
man family. Nature always --sports"" more
or less in shades of color ; but where there is
a cross of two races, then she seems to de-
light in cutting up all kinds of pranks and
unexpected antics, if I may be allowed to so
express it.
DO WE WANT BROOD LATE IX THE FALL?
The question is, "Is it or is it not, a desirable thing
that queens should continue laying until very late
in the fall?" When preparing colonies for winter, it
will always be found that some of them have more
brood than others, and generally less honey; while
others are in the opposite condition. As to just
which condition is the best at that time of the year,
there seems to be considerable to be said on both
sides. Is not this late breeding unseasonable? and
is it not an expenditure of mature bees and of win-
ter stores which is not compensated for by a corres-
ponding increase ot young bees? or will the young
bees produced at this time be an element of strength
which will be needed during the winter and early
spring which is so soon to come? If breeding is ex-
tended into cold weather, will not the central cells
be occupied with brood to such an extent that there
will not be room for winter provision? and vfili not
winter, when it comes, find the colony unprepared
for winter? Is it best, or is it not best, that bees
should stop breeding as soon as the yield of honey
ceases? This question is practical and important,
and seems t<> be one which should be taken into con-
sideration when making selections for breeding
stock. A. li. Weed.
Detroit, Mich., Nov. 5, 1880.
I presume there will be a diversity of opin-
ion in the matter, friend W.: but as for my-
self, give me the bees and queens that will
raise brood at any or at all times of the year.
I will take care of the supplies and the young
bees. Now let us hear from others.
BEE talk; lazy bees.
^itw, friend Novice, does it not disturb your quiet
repose somewhat, to even contemplate such a sub-
ject? That part of animated nature, the honey-bee,
that upon so many well-fought battle-fields has just-
ly earned the title of -'busy bee," and now, at this
late date, to apply the epithet lazy bees, is more than
I can stand. I will give you one volley of experience
on this subject, and then leave it for those who arc
interested to ponder over, before abusing our (Jod-
given pets by calling them lazy.
I had a colony of nice Italians last spring that was
strong in bees; and when other colonies were storing
honey, this colony was not gathering enough stores
to keep up the consumption in the hive. Here, now,
said I, is one of these lazy colonies that I have been
reading about in Gleanings. I decided, in my own
mind, that I would not keep any queen that would
produce such workers, and so I opened the hive with
the intention of cutting off her head and givins-
them another queen; but when I got a glimpse of
the inside of their home I changed my mind very
quickly; for I could see clearly, or, at least, to my
satisfaction, where all the trouble was. The queen
that I had condemned to be executed had that hive
filled from shore to shore with brood, and it took so
many bees to hover and nurse the young brood that
field laborers were scarce. What was to be done?
Well, here is just what I did: instead of killing that
large and beautiful queen, I took away two combs of
brood, and hung combs containing honey and pollen
in their places. I then picked out two more combs
of hatching brood, and hung them on the outside of
brood-chamber; by this process I soon crowded the
queen on to five or six combs instead of ten, and had
the satisfaction of seeing, in a short time, as good a
working colony as I had in the apiary.
Bloomdale, O., Nov. 10, '80. K. B. Bobbins.
"N^ery good, friend R. It is true, we should
go slowly in condemning any queen to de-
capitation ; but what are you going to do
with the statements from tnis next brother 'r*
Head : —
REPORT OF HONEY CROP OF 1880.
Bees have done so little in this section of country,
that it is almost Impossible to find any one besides
myself who got any surplus honey from their bees.
32
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Jan^.
I wintered 49 colonies that came through nice and
strong. I got all my surplus of 10 hives (8 Italians
and 3 blacks), and 2 swarms of Italians and 1 black.
I got 100 lbs. of nice Vi lb. section honey from one
stand, and all my bees received the same treatment,
so that I am convinced there is as much difference
in bees as there is between day and night as to their
working qualities. The queen in the hive that yield-
ed so much honey is the daughter of a queen raised
from an imported mother. I claim that, by careful
selection, wo can now pick out just as good queens
as those that are imported, if not better. I intend
to raise all my queeas this next spring from these
hives, —the one that made so much honey, and from
the mother of the queen, which will be 3 years old in
the spring. The surplus amount of ten colonies was
:.'r>0 lbs. I had to feed 10 old stands and 2 young
swarms, which took about :iOO lbs. of sugar. I have
now 53 colonies in wintering condition.
Greenfield, O., Nov. 30, 1880.3 J. (". Pomjiert.
PEET CAGE.
1 would say in relation to the Peet cage, that I
have used several of them during the past summer,
and can indorse ncarlij all that is said of them. For
all purposes, there isn't a better cage in the market :
and the only failtire I made with them was in in-
troducing queens according to directions. 1 intro-
duced several safely V'y applying the cage to an e\en
frame of brood and removing the slide: but after
losing two tine queens by the bees digging under
the edge of the cage. I was in a stew about all the
rest. I prefer to hang the cage between the combs,
and not remove the slide until the propter time.
That proper time is the third day. I have intro-
duced over forty queens during the fall, losing not
one. J. H. Martin.
Hartford, N. Y., Dec. :l, 1880.
The above objection is the one I feared in
regard to the Peet cage, and that this one
thing Mould cause disappointment. As
yours, friend ^I., is the only case of failure
Ave have had reported, I thiiik we shall have
to conclude the danger is not a very great
one, even in the hands of inexperienced per-
sons. AVith a valuable queen, say an im-
ported one. I would by all means adopt the
plan you mention, of letting the queen out
myself, rather than to trust to the bees to do
it. Of course, if we do this we can not let
her out on the brood.
SEED FARMS AS HONEY FARMS.
(See p. 379, Aug. No., 1880.)
As you wished to hear more from my bees, situa-
ted next to D. M. Ferry's seed garden, I thought I
would give you their work now, while it is fresh in
my memory. Of course, I keep an account of re-
ceipts and expenses; but stilt there arc other things
we don't set down, and consequently they are for-
gotten. I commenced there with 4 swarms of what
I supposed to be Italians, 2 of the queens from your
yard, and 2 from Alley's. The two from your yard
were both hybrids; but those from Alley were just
splendid. I had some queens of Alley this summer,
l)Ut not so nice. During this summer we had 14 nat-
ural swarms from the four; have doubled up until
there are now 15 in all, all of which are strong and
rather too full of honey. We also got considerable
surplus. We have not weighed it yet, but think
there is over 100 lbs. This is the bright side I have
given; now for the dark side.
I visited the yard about two weeks ago, which, by
the way, is ten miles from here, and found a num-
ber of the swarms have the dysentery already- one
of them very badly; thousands of bees were lying
around, and their nicely painted chaff hive was all
besmeared. I think it is the honey that affects
them. There is lots of white clover in their vicinity,
but they seemed to gather none, preferring the
honey from the onions, etc. It has a peculiar taste
to me, not very agreeable : others, not so used to
eating honey, don't notice it so much. I will let you
know in the spring how they come out.
iNIy bees at home have done Aery well considering
the season. My best swarm gave me 111 one-pound
sections; another 9S, and so on down to nothing.
All my bees are in chaff hives, well painted in two
colors. I took some honey, hives, sections, fdn.,
smokers, bee journals, etc.. to our county fair; had
much the same experience that friend Hutchinson
did. I was awarded the lirst premium on honey,
but, through some mistake, I got nothing for it. I
received first premium on hives, which they paid:
some one stole my September Gleanings, which
leaves my number for the year incomplete.
M. H. HrNT.
Bell Branch, Wayne Co., Mich., Dec. 4, 1880.
REPORT FROM AN ILLINOIS BEE KEEPER.
I have never made a report since I have been in
the bee business, for the reason I knew just where
my report belonged. But I will make one now at a
venture. T went into winter-quarters last fall with
5.5 colonies: wintered on summer stands, partially
supplied with chaff' diAision-boards, with a cheap
box set on top, filled with chaff. Came through with
54; had no spring dwindling. I united none in the
fall nor in the spring, for the reason I wanted in-
crease as well as honey. In our localitj', I don't
think feeding in the fall, to stimulate breeding,
pays. Neither do 1 think spring feeding is necessa-
ry, unless it is for increase. If our bees get strong
by the first of July that is all we want. August and
September is our honey harvest. June is the time
to feed. We get no honey from linden nor white
clover. 1 raised about 90 queens; sold $40.00 worth,
used the balance myself. Proceeds and sales are as
follows:—
Queens $40.00
Section honey, 1370 lbs. at 10
Extracted honey, 3:W lbs. at 10 -
Increase, 30 colonies, worth $5. On each
Total,
Less incidental expenses.
Net proceeds, . - . .
19.20
;«.00
loO.( U
442.20
89.00
- $40;i.2O
RuFus Robinson.
Laclede, Fayette Co., 111., Nov. 39, 1880.
HOW "DOWN -EAST" ABC SCHOLARS GET A START.
I thought perhaps you would like to hear from
one of you eastern A B C scholars. I commenced
last spring with one hive of bees. They gave a good
swarm in June. I put them in a box hive, having
no other. I got a swarm of bees that were in a box
hive of a neighbor, and a friend showed me how to
transfer them. I got a large swarm late in the
fall that were on the underside of a limb of a large
tree, 43 feet high. They had seven combs. In No-
vember I took another swarm having 9 combs, from
a projection under the eaves of a house. The duy
was so cold that I transferred them in the parlor.
I now have four hives three in P^ story, and one in
1881
GLEANINGS IX BEE CULTURE.
:i box hive made in the good old way, with hand-
saw and plane. Nearly every one here keeps their
bees in box bives. E. H. Cook.
Andover, Ct., Dec (i, IKSO.
ALMOST "BLASTED HOPES."
I reckon I am in Rlasted Hopes, but still I will try
to get our. Three years ago I bought U stands of
l)ees, and ]:> since, in chaff hives. I have 27 now all
in chalf hives. One has frozen to death alreadj' this
winter, and I fear that very few bees will be left
ali^e till spring, l)ccause brood-rearing stopped ear-
lier than common, and the bees are too old to stand
a severe winter. We got no honey here in Clark Co.
this year, and our greatest bee man here (O. Olson)
has gone to Florida to try it there. liees here are
mostly hybrids and Italians. They have not done
nearly as well since the introduction of the royal
blood as before. They are death to the miller, but I
don't belie\e that, after a few years, they are nearly
as hardy or proliHc as the common black bee, nor
are they any better honey-gatherer*.
JOSKPQ Garst.
Springfield, Ohio, Dec. 10, 1880.
celebrating the fourth of .tfly.
I celebrated hist Fourth of July (or, rather, the
.")th, as the 4th fell on Sunday) by purchasing, in
Rockland Co., N. Y., my first swarm of bees. They
were black bees, in an "American" hive. Don't you
think that was a good way to celebrate the Fourth?
Some time in August I discovered they had no
queen. I at once purchased a tested Italian queen
of Messrs. A. J. King & C«., and now I have a colony
of beautiful Italians that plainly show all the three
bands. It is a rather weak stock, however, and I
have been obliged to feed some. About a week ago
1 bought a box hive of blacks, but it is too late to
transfer them this fall. The Italians are in a small
empty room in second story of house, east side. The
blacks are outdoors— protected, however. I hope to
have some good results to show next fall.
Samuel A. Miller.
nioomfield, Essex Co., N. J., Dec. 1, 1880.
I think it a tirst-rale way to celebrate tlie
Fourth, friend M.: but I am afraid if you
have put your Italians in a room, as a good
many of the .V ]> (' class do, you liave, by
your mistaken kindness, defeated any chance
of celebrating the Fourth in issi,with that
colony of bees. The trouble is, with any
room aliove ground, that you can not well
make it perfectly dark; and as soon as a
warm day comes," the bees will get out in the
room, and never get liack again. ^Vnd even
if you should make it iierfectly dark, which
I hardly ever knew a green hand to do. you
would give the bees a colder place to live in
than outdoors, because they could not have
the benefit of any sunshine. Leave the bees
outdoors, on their summer stands, ixnless
you can i)ut them iti a warm, dry, dark cel-
lar; and never, under any circumstances,
put them in a room above ground, unless it
has all the conditions of a cellar, or allows
the bees to go out through the* wall, as in
the house apiary.
hardening plaster plates, etc.
In Colby's communication, page 444, your answer
is incorrect. I was glad to see Doolittle's answers
on page 571, and I think I know why he lost his bees;
thej' didn't go into winter-quarters with enough
j'oungbees; had been queenless in the fall, or else
frames of brood had been removed to strengthen
other hives. I never lose a full hive, even if not
prepared for winter, except from want of stores;
and I have wintered, without a single loss, a two-
frame nucleus, but I never failed to have plenty (if
young l)ees in them. I always winter outdoors.
Oxford, Pa., Dec. ti, 1880. S. W. Morrison, M. D.
jSIy answer referred to. which friend M.
says was incorrect, was that I feared adding
alum to the water in which plaster was dis-
solved, for making Faris plates, would not
prevent water from dissolving them. It is
possible that the alum enters into a chemic-
al combination so as to become insoluble,
and I shall be very glad to know tliat I was
wrong. Who can report from experience?
I presume a great many can tell friend I),
why they think his bees died ; but we have
very few among us who have not been com-
pelled, sooner or later, to own up that the
bees died, sometimes, when they did not
know the reasOH why.
getting queen-cells for queen-rearing.
I was interested in reading the articles by Messrs.
Tow^lsend and Brooks, pp. 333, 303, Volume VIII.,
Gleanings, in regard to obtaining queen-cells, as I
had been experimenting in the same direction; viz.,
placing the strips of brood so that the base occupies
a horizontal Instead of vertical position. I hare ob-
tained the best results by cutting the brood-comb
into strips containing but one row of perfect cells,
and fastening these to the ordinarj' thin comb-
guides, two or three of which are then tacked to the
empty frames horizontally, and so that the queen-
colls will be built within the frame.
The principal advantages of this method are econ-
omy in the use of brood, and of time in preparing it
for the cell-building colony; also, where the queen-
cells are finished they can be easily separated with
a sharp knife, leaving each one attached to a short
piece of wood in the nicest shape for use in the nu-
cleus or nursery. For some reason which I do not
uiiderstand, the bees will build more and better cells
if the comb is placed on the strips of wood in such a
manner that the base will be below the lower edge
of the strip. To fasten the comb, I prefer to pour
the melted wa.\ on the wood and lay the comb in it.
1 think better queens are obtained by doing the
"stealing" of condemned larva? when they are three
days old, and by removing them from about two-
thirds of the queen-cells started.
E. M. Hayhurst.
Kansas C:ty, Mo., Dec. 8, 1880.
Thanks, friend IT. If I get the idea, the
comb-guides are tacked to the side-liars of
the frame ; the strip of larvte is then pretty
nearly in the usual position of a comb, when
fastened with melted wax against these
strips; and that the bees may have full i)lay
in working all around their queen-cells, the
strip of brood should be slipped down on the
comb-guide pretty well. The cells Avith
their opening uppermost will suffice to hold
the inverted ones securely ; then, after hav-
ing them start a great many from young, 3-
days-old larva?, a part of them are torn down,
that they may concentrate their efforts on
only a few. and have these few strong and
healthy.
34
GLEANINGS IN J3EE CULTURE.
Jax.
BLAClv BEES IN ITALY.
I see that friend Jones says there are black bees in
Italy. I had come to that conclusion myself. Hav-
ing bought quite a number of dollar queens of friend
Ila Michencr, that he reared from the select import-
ed queen he got of you, I was surprised to find so
many produced what I call hybrids. Friend Ila
came to show me they were not hybrids, by placing
them on the window, where he said they showed the
bands plainly enough (dirty-looking bands they were,
though.) Now, the bees produced from that import-
ed queen look just the same, and are cross. "Why!
if it were possible, I would think she had flown half
way across the Mediterranean, and mated a drone
from the African coast. I left my bees until now
for chafC packing; and, cold as it is, they will boil
out on the snow whenever the hive is touched. If
friend Jones' CypHan and Holy-Land bees beat that,
I don't want any of them. For gentleness, beauty,
proliflcness, and honey-gathering, I like the albinos;
for, although they may not gather quite as much
honey, one can work among them with so much
comfort that bee-culture is pleasure if not protit.
Anson Minor.
Low Banks, Ont. Can., Oct. 25, 1880.
You have got it exactly, friend JSI. 1'ho
hands are sometimes dingy and lirowii; hut
they are there, ])lainly enougli, wiien you
look for them right. Very likely, the prog-
eny of one queen will he much crosser than
another, for this is the case with all races of
hees, if I am correct ; hut I would prefer the
hees that make the honey, even if they are
cross, I think.
DYSENTERY IN DECEMBER.
My bees are all dying. I have lost live swarms out
of eight; two swarms died in the latter part of Oct.,
and the other three in Nov. They had a full supply
of hone3'-a sullicient amount to have fed them
through the winter. Those that have died are the
black bees. I have one swarm of Italians, which
seem to bo strong and vigorous. My neighbors' bees
are all dead. The honey looks well, and is free (rom
moth or any infectious trouble. What is the matter?
and what is the remedy, if any? James Dodd.
Clear Creek, Ind., Dec. 4, 1880.
I do not know what is the trouhle, friend
I)., tmless it is the extremely cold spell of
weather we have just had, with had stores,
or, rather, unwholesome honey, and perhaps
insulficient protection, Neighhor JL lias
just l)een in, and reports that his l)ees are
spotting the liives the worst of any thing he
ever saw or heard of, lie has never lost in
wintering, you may rememher, and was feel-
ing quite coniiderit of his ability to carry
hees tlirongh safely, any winter. His hees
are down by the river, and they filled their
hives nicely on fall tlowers, wliile we were
obliged to feed sugar to get ours into win-
tering trim. Well, ours have scarcely si)ot-
ted the hives at all, and are in excellent con-
dition. Some, in both apiaries, are yet in
the Simi)licity hives, where we had queens
we were intending to take out. He lias lost
T) colonies outright, by this aggravated dys-
entery, while ours, in the Simplicity hives.
are briglit and healthy. I attribute the dif-
ference solely to the stores. Ours, you may
remember, were fed up on candy made of
granulated sugar, and A grape sugar. His in
the Simplicity hives were much worse af-
fected than those in the chaff hives. This
seems to indicate tliat chaff hives will do a
great deal toward making poor stores Avhole-
some ; but that pure sugar is much safer, as
a general thing, than natural stores.
GALVANIZED IRON FOR HONEY UTENSILS, ETC.
In answer to I. B. Rumford, p. 545, Nov. No., I will
say, that I have used galvanized-iron tanks for hon-
ey for the last 10 years, and the tanks were as clean
and bright the last day as the first. If honey acts on
the galvanizing, it must be a very slow process, as I
have not been able to detect it during that time.
You may also inform j'our readers, that beeswax
makes a cheaper, easier, and almost as good lining
as tin for home-made wooden extractors, boxes to
carrj' combs, uncapping-box, and other utensilsthat
can be washed with tepid water. I made this year
an extractor, all thoroughly seasoned wood except
the wire cloth, honey-gate, screws, and nails, and
coated it inside with melted wax. I put a cork or
plug in the gate/r(»/»i the inside, while coating it. I
made also two tanks of .55-gallon whiskj'-barrels,
holding 600 lbs. each, and they cost me $3.50 apiece.
They have honey-gates near the bottom. The heads
were knocked out, and the barrels coated inside with
wax. Wm. Muth-Rasmus.sen.
Independence, Inyo Co., Cat., Nov. 10, 1880.
Galvanized iron keeps bright, friend M.,
just because it is all the time being slowly
dissolved hy the lii|uids it contains, or that
fall on it. Even pure water will thus dis-
solve it. It is not positively dangerous for
most kinds of food, unless they stand a con-
siderable time in it, in small quantities. If
you let a thin stratum of honey remain sev-
eral days on galvanized iron, you can readily
taste the salt that is formed 'with it and the
honey; and if the quantity be sullicient, you
will experience the bad effects of a mineral
poison. It has been almost entirely dis-
carded on this account.— ^Vaxing barrels and
other utensils has been very fully discussed
in our l)ack volumes and the A }> ('. There
is no objection to its use, except a slight
stickiness and the inconvenience of not he-
ing able to scald such utensils as we can tin.
WHAT 1 LB. OF BEES IN JUNE DID.
My bees did well this year. They made me 800 lbs.
of box honey, 50 hives. I feel well pleased with that
pound of bees I got of you. I put them in their hive
the ^Oth of June, and they filled it. On the 15th of
August they swarmed, making me 2 good swarms of
Italians. Can you beat that from 1 lb. of bees from
June 30th? L. S. Sour.KS.
North Lacrosse, Wis., Nov. ;!0, 18S0.
AN A B C scholar's FIRST SU.MMER WITH BEKS.
Good morning, friend Hoot 1 I will try to write a
few lines about my first summer in handling bees. I
commenced with 5 stands of bees in the spring of
1880. I bought chaff hives of friend Good, and hired
him to transfer them from common box hives into
the chaff hives. May 32d I bought 4 Italian queens
of friend Good, and introduced them successfully.
June Ist I divided 5 stands and made 10 of them.
June 2nd, I bought 5 queen-cells of Good, and had
bad luck with them. One was dead in the cell; one
came out missing; two were lost, I suppose in thei r
wedding trip; the other is a very prolific queen.and
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
3o
breeds very nice, gentle, three-banded workers. 1
have increased those 5 stands to 27, and taken two
late swarms from box hives that were to be killed.
I united them together, and they are doing well.
I took two from the woods rather late in the fall,
and they are doing tolerably well. I bought 10 other
stands in box hives; transferred all of them into
chaff hives, and these arc doing pretty well. Six of
the ten ha%-e not stores enough to winter; but 1 am
feeding them. I will not let them starve, if grape
and coffee A sugar will keep them. I have now 30
stands, all packed in chaff, mostly in good order.
The Cypi-ian queen that I bought of friend Jones, of
Canad.'i, is doing well. She is very prolific. Her
bees are nice, handsome, and gentle as any pets can
be. I did not get much honey this summer. It was
a poor honey season. I got about TO lbs. of honey.
I have been working for bees more than for honey.
I intend to raise honey-plants of different kinds. I
am offering buckwheat to my neighbors, free of
charge, if they will sow it. I will sow 5 acres my-
self. Wishing all my brother bee-keepers good suc-
cess, I feel very well satisfied with my bees. I think
they have done rll that was in their power.
Philip Morningstar.
Wakarusa, Elkhart Co., Ind., Nov. 22, 1880.
BRIEF REPORT.
I have been at bee-keeping on a small scale in this
county four years. I had three good seasons out of
four. The third year was a season of drought. Out
of 60 stands in spring, 14 weak ones remained at the
end of a year. These U I increased to 42 (I used old
comb), and gave about 1800 lbs. extracted honey; all
sold at an average of lie per lb. A. Hummel.
"Webb City, Mo. ■
A BAD REPORT FROM SUGAR-FEEDIKG, APPARENTLY.
I have inclosed one dollar for Gleanings for an-
other year, but I think you will have me in Blasted
Hopes long before the year is up, for my bees are
dying so fast I am afraid they will soon be all gone
I did not get a teaspoonful of honey out of 5 hives
and no swarm at all. I gave one last year's swarm
about 18 lbs. cf the best sugar I could get, and they
are dying faster than any of them. Now, I do not
want to be put in the Growlery, but the Simpson
seed you sent me did not grow. I got only two
plants, and I am not sure but they are weeds. The
Spider plant did well. The bees worked a good deal
on it. Isaac Staples.
Dayton, O., Dec. 4, 1880.
It may be tliat the sugar is not a prevent-
ive of tlieir dying in winter, friend S.; but
tliere are two points you have not made
very clear. At what time did you feed this
colony 18 lbs. of sugar? If it was early in
the season, they may have consumed it all,
and may be now on fall stores. You say
you got the best sugar you could find. Was
it as good as coffee AV ' Granulated sugar is
quite a little purer still, and friend .Tones in-
sists that it is by far the most healthful.
We are very sorry to hear of your poor suc-
cess. '
WIRE CLOTH OVIR THE BEES FOR WINTER.
Hns the experiment ever been tried, that you
know of, of substituting wire cloth for the mat over
the frames of bee-hives in winter, and then filling
the upper story with well -sifted chaff? I have
thought of this since putting my bees into their
winter-quarters, or I would have tried it. It seems
to me that the moisture, which is always found on
the enameled cloth especially, would be absorbed by
the chaff, and that dryness in the hive secured,
which seems to be regarded as of importance in suc-
cessful wintering. James McNeill.
Hudson, N. Y., Dec. 7, 1880.
The idea is an old one. friend M., as you
will see from back volumes. I used it for
one Avinter, and liked it well, only that it
was a good deal of trouble to open a hive,
and was. besides, pretty expensive. A good
many of these wire-cloth mats were sold, tin
lined. You see, you have got to remove all
the chaff every time you open the hive, or
else have the Mire cloth form the bottom of
a sort of box, as it were. If you do the lat-
ter, you will kill bees when you set the box
back, as you would not do with any soft or
yielding material, like the enameled cloth or
burlap. Besides, the bees will, at the first
opportunity, wax over the meshes of the
wire cloth, and then you have virtually an
oil cloth, or something a little harder, after
all. Wire cloth has also been frequently
suggested for the inside of chaff hives ; but
it would be more expensive than wood, and,
after it is waxed over, probably not as good
as the wood, after all.
CLARIFYING EARLY-AMBER SYRUP WITH CLAY.
The following is from The Indiana Far-
mer, and should have been given some time
ago. The ■' clay " idea has been mentioned
before in our columns.
Those who have raised the early varieties of cane
are now working it up, and the reports that reach
us of the yield and quality of syrup, are very favor-
able. The strong- sunshine and high temperature
of July.and August secured this result. We have
reports from several manufacturers who are using
the clay (the light-colored clay is preferred), and as
the juice runs from the mill it is transferred to a
proper tank, and a half-bushel of clay is mixed with
100 gallons of the .iuice, and briskly stirred until the
mixture is thorough. Jt is then suffered to stand
quiet till the clay settles to the bottom, when the
juice will be found to be as clear as spring water,
the clay having carried the gum and green coloring
matter with it in settling— thus freeing the syrup
from the peculiar sorghum taste. The juice is care-
fully drawn off from the sediment and rapidly evap-
orated to the proper consistency. If the cane is well
ripened, litmus paper will show little or no acid; a
pound or two of powdered chalk may be mixed with
each half-bushel of clay. It is claimed for this pro-
cess that it not onlj' makes a better syrup, but that
it effects a great saving of labor in heating, skim-
ming, etc. The chief objection is that it exposes the
juice so long before boiling that the sugar is chiefly
converted into glucose. This can be prevented, to a
great extent, by the use of four ounces of sulphite
of soda to 100 gallons of fresh juice. Try clay.
WIRE CLOTH FOR QUEEN-CAGES.
Don't use painted wire cloth on queen-cages. Jolt-
ing about in the mails, the paint gets crumbled off,
and drops on the candy within. Last season I re-
ceived by mail two queens, and I could see a great
many particles of paint on the candy. Is it not
probable that the bees, in licking the surface of the
candy, will eat some of the smallest particles of
paint, and in feeding the queen impart the poison to
her? G. H. Pond.
Bloomington, Minn., Dec. 7, 1880.
This matter has been several times sug-
gested, but I have never known bees injured
iby the painted cloth we have kept in stock.
A neighbor mentioned having had bees and
queen all killed by using a wire cloth that
36
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Jan.
was supposed to have contained Paris green.
If I am correct, they warmed the cages over
the stove for some purpose, and the fumes
from the Paris green permeated the wood
and candy, so as to kill every bee that was
tried, very soon after being put into the
cages. We have discontinued the tinned
wire cloth, because it is too bright for the
eyes in trying to see the bees through the
meshes. The best thing we have found is
the blued wire cloth. This is so dark, the
meshes so large, and the wire so fine, that
we can see the bees almost as well as if noth-
ing intervened at all, to cut off the view.
This is the same wire cloth as that used for
the blued-wire dish-covers. At present, it
can not well be obtained at less than about
5c per square foot, while the painted is only
3^c per square foot.
NUMBER OF STOCKS THAT CAN BE KEPT PROFITABLY
IN ONE LOCALITY.
I have about 60 swarms of bees, mostly Italians,
and I have them scattered In 4 places, and desire to
know how many are profitable to keep in one place,
and bow many will thrive in the area of their flight.
It has been not much more than starve the past
season in this part of our State. The Italians have
proved their superiority as honey-gatherers in most
instances, but the honey harvest is quite small.
AMBER CANE.
Just at this time there is quite an excitement up-
on the subject of raising Amber cane for sugar and
syrup. Some persons have experimented quite
largely, and produced a very nice arHcle. Now, I
desire to ask, through Gleanings (if any of your
contributors have experience), how an apiary would
flourish near a mill where this cane is ground and
made into syrup, or how a sugar manufactory and
apiary would be likely to work in proximity to each
other. An answer through Gleanings would be
gladly received. How would this sj-rup answer to
feed bees? This Amber cane is not the old sorghum,
but seems much superior in every respect.
"fair" treatment.
We obtained the first premium on our honey at
the Bradford Co. fair, probably one of the largesf
fairs ever held in this part of the State.
Bela Cogswell.
Silvara, Bradford Co., Pa., Nov. 22, 1880.
Locations differ; but, on an average, it
is found that about 100 are as many as it is
well to keep in one place, where honey is
the object. If one is rearing queens, he
may keep as many as three, four, or even
500, in one apiary; but, of course, he will
have to feed more than if they were scat-
tered more widely. If it were not for the
advantage of having all your bees right un-
der your eye and hand, I presume more
honey would be obtained by scattering them
in apiaries of not over 50 each, and as much
as four or five miles apart.— Early- Amber
sugar-cane has been pretty fully discussed
and reported on in our last year's volume.
At times, the bees trouble "the sorghum
mills, and at other times they do not. I be-
lieve no trouble has been experienced where
proper precautions have been taken to keep
the bees out of the syrup when they were
not getting stores from other sources. If a
nice article, it is as safe for feeding bees as
cane sugar.
IS IT AN advantage TO INTRODUCE ITALIANS
AMONG BLOCKS, PAYING THEM NO ATTENTION?
Do you think it a good plan to add a few stands of
Italians to the apiary, all the others being blacks?
Will the blacks, in a short time, run the Italians out
into the common kind? G. G. Kenyon.
Central Square, Oswego Co., N. Y., Dec. 15, 1880.
I should consider any admixture of the
Italian blood an advantage, and I do not
think the Italian blood would be apt to run
out, from the fact that almost all the bees in
the forest are now getting to be more or
less Italianized ; and some of the prettiest
marked Italians I have ever found have
come from bee-trees in the woods. Unless
you take pains to rear queens, or get queen-
cells from your Italian stocks, the work of
Italianizing would go on slowly ; and if the
blacks greatly outnumbered the Italians, and
all were left to swarm naturally, the Italian
blood might run out entirely. Inasmuch,
however, as Italians often gather enough
to survive the winter where" blacks would
starve, the cliances are greatly in favor of
the Italians running out the blacks, in the
course of time.
PREPARED PAPER FOR THE BASE OF COMB FOUN-
DATION.
As there is a lull in business just at the present
moment (although I am liable at any moment to be
called on to show dress good*, weigh out groceries,
fit a pair of stoga boots to a customer, or wait on
the post-olHce), I thought I would drop you a few
lines in regard to your observations on paper sepa-
rators, and paper as base for comb foundation. The
bees cluster in boxes more readily', we think, with
paper than tin separators; and our experience is,
they do not attach wax to the paper as much as to
tin. Our prepared paper does not absorb anu of the
wax as does a wood base; and, as the paper forms
the base, almost all of the wax is placed in sides or
contour of cells, thus saving the bees much labor.
It will not sag nor crack while extracting; and if I
succeed in making it a success, I think it will be the
"boss" for shipment.
Bees are veri) 'inict, with fair prospect of a long
winter. J. E. MoORE.
Byron, N. Y., Dec. 13, 1880.
Be not weary in well doing, friend M.
The trouble is not with paper and wood for
fdn., that they absorb the wax, but that the
bees are obliged to pile up wax on them, as
it were, to get the proper shape for the base
of the cell. This same objection holds good
for any material, that leaves a flat base to the
cell. If you will weigh a piece of finished
comb with a paper or wood base, and com-
pare it with the natural-wax base, you will
see the amount of Avax that is wasted ; or
take such a comb and scrape the cells off,
and then you will find the ridges of wax that
have been saved by a convex and concave
Avax base. Wood and paper bases are a suc-
cess.witliout doubt, only in this one particu-
lar: they are awfully expensive, when we
consider the wax that is used by the bees in
making them.
I write you in regard to Alsike clover. Is it a
clover that will stand pasturing with cattle and
sheep, and is it as^ood as our common red clover?
I want to seed 60 acres in the spring with clover for
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
37
pasturing- purposes. I have had considerable ex-
perience with the common; can't say it is very good,
especially if it is too dry. Lee Warner.
Allison, 111., Dec. 8, 1880.
Here is an answer to the above by "Neigh-
bor H." :—
If your land is a ricb, black, damp, or sandy soil, I
know of nothing that will produce more pasture
than Aisike clover. I think it would thrive on the
prairies of the west (will someone report?) I would
not recommend it for a dry clay soil, though it is
said to grow luxuriantly on the Green Mountains of
Vermont. If you are seeding for pasture alone, I
would mix the common white clover, about one-
sixth part white, with the Aisike, and you will have
bee pasture, or any other kind that will suit.
BEES THAT WON'T ACCEPT A QUEEN.
During the past summer I endeavored to intro-
duce a queen to a hybrid colony of bees. I followed
instructions in A B C; released her every 48 hours
for 33 days, before the bees would permit her free-
dom. She commenced laying in a few days. In 6
days thereafter, the bees commenced building
queen-cells; as soon as they were capped over, I de-
stroyed them. In a short time they repeated the
operation; I again destroyed the cells, but they
were determined to outwit me, and so I repeated
these operations. I then let them have their way.
In due time the cells were capped, and within i days
after capping the cells they killed the queen. The
queen was a nice one, and a good layer. Do bees
act in this way often? If so, how can we tell when
we have a queen introduced? Wm. Parmalee.
Bean Blossom, Ind., Dec. 8, 1880.
This was one of the kind of stocks I men-
tion in our directions, that won't accept a
queen at all. I have estimated that we find
such a colony about one time in a hundred.
You did the very best you could, I believe,
unless'it was to have kept on destroying the
cells until your queen had some bees of her
own hatched, and then she would have been
safe. When we meet a colony of bees like
this, all attempts to introduce a queen by let-
ting the bees liberate thein themselves, would
be throwing queens away ; and this is why I
can not think it well to advise any style of
cage embracing such a plan.
ADAMS' horse-power; home-made! ones, etc.
I see a good deal about the Adams horse-power
(see p. 393, Dec. No., 1878, and Jan. and Feb. Nos.,
1880), that it won't work. I made me one last Janu-
ary, and I have used it ever since. I am not much
of a carpenter, but I built that myself. I run a lathe
with it; the wheel is 14 ft. in diameter, which is
rather small, but does well, as I have proved by run-
ning it nearly every day since starting, and I make
saw-arbors cheaper than the most of your readers.
I make mine of wood, by screwing a piece of wood to
the arbor of the lathe, and put a saw on that, not
using the tail of the lathe at all. I don't get much
room from the lathe head, but make my hives on it
very well. H. T-. B.
Palenvllle, Greene Co., N. Y., Dec. 14, 1880.
FEEDINa NEW SWARMS, ETC.
My bees, 3 hives in number, I commenced dividing
the 1,5th of May. I divided till I got four, and then
they began to swarm; the third swarm went to the
Woods, I suppose because they had nothing to store
on. I cut the tree, and got them back home the
next day. I fed them for eight days on melted
sugar, and the eighth day they had their hive full.
I commenced on 3 swarms the 10th of May, and
now I have 11 swarms with the 3 old ones, and 2 in
the woods, making in all 13 swarms. The last swarm
I saved came out Aug. 23.
I did not aim to get any surplus honey this year, as
1 was after bees. Gilbert Summe.
Bringhurst, Carroll Co., Ind., Dec. 11, 1880.
It seems to me, friend 8., I should hardly
advise feeding new swarms, because the
bees seldom swarm unless they are getting
honey from the fields pretty freely; but as
you succeeded well by feeding, it may be all
right. My experience has been, that feeding
bees when honey is to be had, just makes
them stay at home, and they very often fail
to get as much out of a feeder as their com-
rades who are not thus fussed with get from
the fields a mile or so away.
millers on the spider plants, etc.
I am a subscriber to Gleanings, and also have
your ABC book. I have gained a great deal of
knowledge from them. I had been keeping bees for
fifteen years in the old box hives, but never got as
much honey from 6 hives as I have from one colony
in the Langstroth, with Italians, or, rather, hybrids.
I purchased a dollar queen last season, and am Ital-
ianizing. I took 90 lbs. from one colony and 60 from
another this last season, though I think the past
season has been a poor one. I prize the Spider plant
very highly. I could see the drops of honey on it
early in the morning, though I had to fight the mil-
ler and the taripin bug every night. There are
thousands of them. I burn them with a torch of
pine, at dark. J. D. Cooper.
Travellers' Rest, Gremville Co., S. C, Nov. 29, 1880.
I too, friend C, have noticed the great
moths on the Spider plants in the night;
and as I saw them, by the light of the lamp,
fill their great bodies'with the sparkling nec-
tar, while they buzzed about in such num-
bers as to make it seem probable that not a
sip could be left for the bees by morning, I
too, thought of trying some plan to destroy
them; but the only ])lan I could think of
was to raise a field large enough so that bees
and millers both could have a plenty. Per-
haps your plan is cheapest, however; but
somehow I rather dislike to lure the poor
fellows with such a tempting Horal feast,
and then burn them to death.
A "parody" on winter— and black queens.
The tlowery months of summer have come and
gone, and all nature is bound up in the iron grasp
of winter, and the hum of the honey-bee is silent in
the retirement of their waxen home, and the jingle
of the merry sleigh-bell is the order of the daj'. T
think it would be a good time to "pop the question,"
Where did my black queen come from? On the
28th day of May last, I had a very fine hive of Italian
bees; and, to keep them from ruiinlng away in
swarming, I divided them, putting the new swarm
in a hive with comb where a black swarm had died
about six weeks before. Three days after they had
been put into their hive 1 opened them up, and
found them all right and filling up with eggs. I
thought I was getting on lovely; but, to my sur-
prise, when the young bees came out they were all
S8
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Jak.
black; and in the meantime I had raised two queens
from it which also proved to be black. Could it be
possible that a queen would live that length of time
alone among empty combs? There was no new
swarm at the time. I did not see the queen when
they were divided. There was no change in the old
hive till September, when I found a dead queen ly-
ing in front of it. Shortly after, I had bees of a dif-
ferent color. My bees came out very well this
spring, considering the condition they were in the
fall previous. Most of them are very light. Six of
them died from starvation, leaving 23 alive. About
one-third of them did not swarm this summer. 1
have 43 this fall, mostly in A'ery good condition.
One-half of them will average 80 lbs. ea'ch, and I have
taken 300 lbs. of box honey. I keep them in a cellar,
ranging from 25 to 50 degrees.
Francis Graham.
Delhi, Delaware Co., N. Y., Dec. 15, 1880.
Why, friend G.,I am really ashamed of
yon. Your "parody" on winter was very
fair if you "hadn't went and gone" and up-
set it all in such an out-of-place way, and
right before all this august company too.
Just take a look at us,— sober, staid, and
respectable as we are. No wonder you
turned it off, and wanted to know where
your black queen came from. So far as I
can see, the black queen must have come
from some other hive, and got in there l)y
accident. Did not a small swarm of blacks
unite with them, shortly after your division?
It would seem such must have been tlie
case, if you found freshly laid eggs within
three days. The change in September I
should explain by saying the queen was su-
perseded, and her daughter had met an Ital-
ian dix)ne, and thus produced Italians. An-
other explanation would be, that they had
two queens in the hive all this time; but
that is quite improbable. A queen would
live in a hive alone without bees, scarcely
24 hours.
NOT "BLASTED HOPES" AFTER ALL.
We expected to go into Blasted Hopes this year,
but we had quite a "boom" during the fall months.
We took off all the surplus the latter part of July,
which amounted to but little. Upon examining
them again, about three or four weeks ago, we f oinid
the hives to contain from 25 to 65 lbs. of very nice
honey, and lience we feel encouraged to persevere.
Where the honcj' came from is a mystery to me.
There was no buckwheat within two miles of us, and,
besides, the honey is much lighter colored and better
flavored than that obtained from buckwheat.
M. C. Stevens.
LaFayette, Tnd , Nov. 20, 1880.
PLANER SAWS.
The planer saw I got of you last week cut very
nicely, but is entirely too slow. I got it for cutting
off sections so they would do without planing. I do
not like to buy a thing and then return it iniless the
person I bought of is perfectly willing to take baclt
again; if you are, please tell me what you will al-
low me for it in trade ; I do not want you to take it
back at the price I paid you for it, but am willing to
lose something for your trouble. T. FOOTER.
Cumberland, Md., Dec. 13, 1880.
The above seems to be the general verdict,
that they cut too slowly, and we have taken
back nearly every one we have sold. They
are also quite difficult to file, compared with
the coramon saws ; but in spite of these two
objections, there are many places where a
planer can not be used, where a planer saw
comes in beautifully, and on this account
Mr. Gray says he would not think of run-
ning a bee-hive factory without at least one
on hand. In regard to taking goods back :
I am always glad to take back any staple
goods that are in good order, you paying all
expenses both ways, where it will be an ac-
commodation. Goods made expressly to
your order would be of no use to us. I make
no charge for trouble.
A GOOD SUGGESTION ON INTRODUCING QUEENS, ETC.
My bees did very well as to honey this year, al-
though I had but one swarm from 13 stocks, and lost
the parent hive. It become queenless after the
swarm left it, and, being in a box hive, I did not find
it out until it was too late to save it by transferring.
I made 3 stocks by dividing; have now 15—12 in Sim-
plicity hives, 3 in box hives; were all blacks until
August. I got 3 untested queens of W. P. Hender-
son, of which I lost one in introducing, saved the
other two, then sent for three more and safely in-
troduced all of them. They are all the Italians that
are near here. I have never showed them to any
one that had ever seen any before. The plan I suc-
ceeded with the best in introducing, was to feed well
while the queen was in the cage; then when I went
to release her I poured about a gill of strained honey
along on the tops of the frames, and when every bee
in the hive got his "bill" into it, I let the queen out,
and she ran down on the combs, and I suppose she
went all through the hive before she was noticed, as
I could not find the bees paying any more attention
to her than if she had been " native to the manor
born." My idea of it is, that by running through
the hive she gets the scent of all the rest, and is ac-
cepted as a matter of course. J. L. BuGG.
Fredonia, Ky., Dec. 16, 1880.
'i^pMi fnf OMmgmg.
^gmOOKS arrived this morning. Thanks for
JSjQ&j) promptness. We began season with 19 colo-
onies; took 84T!i lbs. comb, 530 lbs. honey,
11?^ lbs. wax, increased to 47, which arc well packed,
warm and comfortable at present.
Mrs. E. M. Parsons.
Terry Station, Bay Co., Mich., Dec. 20, 1880.
good report from red CLOVER.
As 1880 is coming to a close, T will hand in my re-
port. The season opened about ten days earlier
than last season. The yield from fruit-bloom was
the best that we have had for a long time. When
the locust was in bloom, bees commenced swarming;
we had several swarms during locust-bloom. Our
hopes were then high, but they were soon to be
blasted; for white clover was an entire failure in
honey, and almost in bloom. Basswood furnished
honey enough to start brood-rearing. The 20th of
July I had a report ready for Blasted Hopes. Hark !
1881
GLEANOGS IX BEE CULTURE.
39
what does that hum of joy mean? why, honey from
somewhere, and I must find out from whence it
comes * * * * from red clover! and how they
do work! August lOih. still at work, and one hive
has sent out a rousing- swarm. I gave them i combs,
containing brood in all stages; 4 frames filled with
fdn., and 2 empty frames, and also 48 one-pound
boxes. August 20th, still hard at work on iron-weed,
boneset, goldenrod, and buckwheat. September
10th, Jack Frost settled the business on short notice.
Itesult: 12 hives last spring, 22 at present, with
abundant supplies for winter, with about 30O lbs.
surplus. My August swarm filled ten American
frames and 20 one-pound sections. November I'Jth,
bees all in good winter trim, I think. This morning
the thermometer indicated 10° below zero. I peeped
into a hive, and found the outside of a cluster mov-
ing about, and concluded I have them in very good
shape. I will tell you next spring how I succeeded
in wintering them, and how manj' section boxes I
want. S. H. L.iNE.
Whitestown, Boone Co., Ind., Nov. 19, 1880.
A SCAl.15 THAT WILL TAKE A COMMON
HIVE, AIVD REGISTER THE
DAILY YIELD.
f' TOLD you last month that I had under
way a scale that I thought would meet
— ' all requirements. It was made by our
great scale man, Chatillon, and will weigh
from i lb. up to 128 lbs. One of them is now
in the office, and, by setting it on the floor,
we can weigh the girls (the most of them) as
fast as they can step on and step off from the
platform. Of course, it will weigh boys too,
providing they do not weigh over 128 lbs. In
off the tare, much the same as the Family
Favorite scales, and a small screw just un-
derneath this quickly adjusts the scales, if it
ever gets out of adjustment. These scales
are very nicely made, and I do not know but
they are just as reliable as a beam scale, al-
though there was a prejudice against them
before the recent great improvements were
made. The screw mentioned will take off
tare to the amount of 25 lbs., and the makers
say they can make them to take off still more,
if desired; so you see we can set the dial to
show just the weight of the bees and honey
if need be.
J3y a little figuring, you can get the weiglit
of an article weighing 150 lbs., for the 25 lbs.
tare will make a little over that amount; but
of course the pointer will not point it out as
readily as it does any thing less than 128 lbs.
The scale can not be injured by an over-
strain, because the platform strikes the cast-
ings after it has been loaded doAvn to the 150
lbs. or thereabouts I have mentioned. The
smallest divisions on the dial are ilbs.; but
with practice we can get at even 2 oz. pretty
accurately, so it will answer for all practical
purposes for weighing honey. As the whole
machine is only 83 lbs. in weight, it can be
readily lifted by its convenient handles from
floor to counter, and vice versa, as occasion
may require.
There is a dial and pointer on each side, so
if you are in any part of the apiary, or even
off quite a distance, you can tell at a glance
what the bees are doing. Now, as these
scales cost me $11.50 at the factory, I can
not well sell them, after paying freights, for
less than 814.00, and I belieVethe usual price
SC VI 1 1 ol 1 J J Kl 1 PLRS.
fact, it will exactly weigh me with coat mid
hat off, as I work at the type-writer. Where
a great many things are to be weighed, such
as hives of bees, or boxes of honey, etc., it
will weigh them as fast as we can readily set
the weights down with a book and pencil.
Above, we give a cut of the same.
The scalehas a marble platform that can
be used, when not wanted in the apiary, to
set a hive on. This marble slab is neat and
convenient ; for if you let a little honey drip
on it, it can be quickly cleaned with a damp
cloth; also in weighing any kinds of food or
vegetables, you will not need to get a paper
to lay on flrst, to keep the edibles from being
soiled. A screw at the left of the dial takes
IS d5.vju. This suni IS quite nil iteui,! know,
especially for those of us who are in the
Blasted Hopes department; and if they
were to be used for no other purpose than to
set a hive of bees on in the summer time, I
should hardly feel like recommending them;
but, my friends. I do not believe there is one
of you but would save a great part of the
price of this scale, if you made it a point to
measure and weigh every bit of merchandise
you purchase during the year, and insist on
having full weight and measure every time.
I want you to do the same with me. and I
expect "to do the same with you. Let us
check each other, and have every thing right
every time.
40
GLEAKINGS IN BEE CULTURE,
Jan,
ladk-f §^pjivbii(int
IE started bee-keeping only last spring, with
one colony, and now wo have three, and
had about 100 lbs. of extracted honey. We
feel very much encouraged with our bee-keeping,
hoping we shall be able to winter our bees all right.
Mrs. H. Bangham.
Windsor, Out., Can., Dec. 'J, 1880.
NOT BLASTED HOPES (?)
Guess .vou wonder where I have been all this time.
Well, we are a large family, and we all do like sweet
very much; and so, instead of selling any to get
money to buy an extractor, or even keeping any
honey on haad to feed in a scarce time, we "just ate
all we had." I would here remark, that in three
months I increased 9 to 19 good swarms; but I had
no smoker, and no money to buy; the bees were
mostly hybrid, and stung me rather badly. I want-
ed to earn some money, and saw no way of doing it
with the bees. Having no extractor, no surplus
boxes, no money, and being a poor carpenter, I just
opened a private school, and now hav^e the public
school of this place. My experiment was not "blast-
ed hopes," by any means, because I knew if we sold
nothing we would have no income. The poor bees
have all perished but 3 colonies; one of them had
my pet queen, but she's gone. She was no imported
one, but I thought as much of her, I think, as if she
had been. Please exeuso my haste; but, being
"school marm," I have to be careful how I spend
time in writing letters. Clara Slaugh.
Daytona, Volusia Co., Fla., Dec. 30, 1880.
I think it was a ''tip top" idea, your turn-
ing ''•scliool marm," friend Clara; but I do
not quite see my way clear to approve of
your course of letting "the bees starve. P^ven
if it was "fun for you," (and it wasn't fun
either, was itV) it was death to them. You
won't do so any more, will you, even if I do
stop and not scold another word?
Or Letters from Those Who Have Made
Bee Culture a Failure.
^q|RIEND NOVICE :-Should you run short of sub-
Jn jects for Blasted Hopes, I can furnish you with
a big batch from this localit.v, right from the
State of Wisconsin, from which State you have pub-
lished some of the most flattering reports of honey
yield for the season; for instance, the report of
Frank McNay, in Nov. Gleanings, who reports
•1700 lbs. of surplus honey from 4t colonies— an aver-
age of 106 lbs. and over, per colony. Then there are
the reports of neighbor H. V. Train and C. H. G., of
Mansen, Juneau Co., and Tibbets, of Downsville.
These are all " wallopers." In the Oct. No. we have
the report of our friend Morgan, "the ABC child
that grew so fast," from Arcadia, who reports that
there was one continuous flow of honey from May
until the time he wrote, Sept. 3d, and still it con-
tinued to flow. It flowed so fast that the bees built
combs on the outside of their hives, and stored
honey under projections of hives in large quantities.
" A swarm hived July 15th, and weighed July 31st,
showed a gain of 79 lbs." Hurrah for Wisconsin!
This is the land that floweth with— with— that flow-
eth with honey. Well, hold on. I guess I have got
off the track. I started out to furnish you subjects
for Blasted Hopes; but the above don't look much
as though their hopes were blasted. I hate to do it;
it is very humiliating; but then, I will, and here it
goes: In the township of Fayette, LaFayette Co.,
State of Wisconsin, there are about 30 persons who
keep bees. They have all the way from one colony
to 75. There were, last spring, about 350 stands of
bees in the township, mostly blacks, and kept most-
ly in the old box hives. Some are beginning to use
the frame hives, and are Italianizing their bees.
From these 350 colonies, 1 think I can safely say that
there has not been 700 lbs. of surplus honey taken
this season; that is an average of onl>- 3 lbs. to the
hive. There has been but very little increase. I
predict that there will not be more than two-thirds
as many bees in this vicinity next spring as there
was last. The past has been the poorest season for
honey for many years; there was but very little
white clover, which is the main dependence for
honey here. Notwithstanding this drawback, some
of our bee-keepers feel quite hopeful, trusting that
their luck will chtuige, while others feel like giving
up the business in disgust.
Now, in conclusion, I wish to say that my hopes
are not blasted. I do not keep bees alone for profit,
but for amusement. I like to handle and fuss with
the little pets; and yet I should like to have them
pay expenses and furnish what honey 'we want for
our own use. Last spring I had 30 stands; increased
to 35; bought two queens of you with 3 lbs. of bees,
from which 1 built up 3 very good stocks. My bees
are all in the cellar. I have 8 Italians, 39 blacks. I
got about 40 lbs. of honey in 1-lb. sections from one
hive, and not more than 40 or 50 lbs. from all the
others together. The most of my bees are in Sim-
plicity hives. Dr. C. Abraham,
Fayette, Wis., Dec. 11, :8U
FEEDING COMB HONEY.
I believe Gleanings to be a safe investment. My
bees have done no good this year. I am feeding
them nice comb honey at 15c. per lb.
George G. Waddell.
Troy, Doniphan Co., Kan., Dec. 15, 1880.
1 would not do it, friend W. I am fully
satisfied that a like weight of granulated
sugar syrup will keep the bees longer than
honey, and, as a general thing, will prove
liealthier besides ; 1 lb. of sugar will make
1 2-5 lbs. of syrup as thick as honey ; and
as the sugar is now but lie per lb., the more
wholesome syrup will cost but little more
than half of Avhat the honey will sell for in
the market.
My bees nearly all died last winter. I lost 70, out
of 85 stands. The season was a very bad one for bees;
a great scarcity of honey, and my health was bad all
summer and winter, consequently, bees were not
cared for, and through neglect they died. I have 15
stands left. D. Newell.
Phillipstown, Ills., Nov. 39, 1880.
'J-'he old saying, "In trouble to be troubled
is to have your trouble doubled," seems to
be literally true in your case, friend X. It
seems to be a uniform report from the
friends, that wliere their bees liave not had
the proper care, from any cause whatever,
nn
/ vt
y^
/v-
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
41
they have died as by a pestilence. This
holds true of all domestic animals, however,
and shows that, to make them available,
they must have our best attention.
^chi and §mfk§'
II AVE worked with bees over 20 years, and used
the ehaff hive the last three years with good
satisfaction. H;ive put up 14S stocks for win-
tering, the present winter. They all appear to be in
good condition. I got a very short crop of honey
the past season. J. M. France.
I almost forgot to say, I can smoke the eyes out of
a regiment of rebels with your smoker in a hall-
minute. ' Wm. S. Robertsox.
Lostant, La Salle Co., 111., Dec. 14, 1880.
AMBER SUGAR-CANE.
Our cane manufacturer said he made the best mo-
lasses out of my "Amber" cane he had seen since he
commenced, IH years ago. N. J. Israel.
Beallsville, Monroe Co., O., Oct. 28, 1880.
Don't put me in Blasted Hopes any more. I don't
think I have lost any thing yet; for, if I should sell
out, I could get about $'50.00 more than the entire
business cost me. Lee Warner.
Allison, 111., Dec. 8, 1880.
AMBER SUGAR-CANE SUED.
From one pound of the seed which I purchased
from you last spring, I obtained 63 gallons of most
excellent syrup. J<^l,etcher E. Awrey.
Cottam, Out., Can , Dec. 6, 1880.
HONEY FROM PEACH-BLOSSOMS.
My bees made from 10 to 20 lbs. of honey to the
stand, from the peach-bloom this spring, besides
what they have gathered from other sources.
S. A. Street.
Rocky Comfort, McDonald Co., Mo., May i;3, 1880.
HONEY FROM COTTONWOOD-TREES.
Please let me know if bees work on cottonwood
trees. If you do not know, please inquire through
Gleanings, and oblige. C. W. Kennard.
Carey, Wyandotte Co., O., Nov. 24, 1880.
[I can not answer. Can some one else?!
I have 27 swarms now in pretty good condition. I
got two swarms of bees this fall for nothing. The
party was going to brimstone them, so I took my
smoker and gave them a good smoking; took them
out of his hives, and took them home in empty
hives and put them with two of my weakest swarms.
G. H. Sheeves.
Clarksburg, Grey Co., Ont., Can., Nov. IT, 1880.
DOUBLING UP IN THE SPRING.
The season has been the poorest for honey ever
known here. As I am a farmer, and do not wish
to keep a large stock of bees, how will it do to double
up my stocks in the spring, even if they are pretty
good? Some bees are dying already; some have fed
a good deal and some are feeding now.
Montague, Mich., Dec. 4, 1880. E. Z. Green.
[I think, friend G., it will do first rate for farmers,
or anybody else, to double up their stocks in spring,
or at any other time, until all are strong and ready
for business. Especially is this the case where one
does not care for increase, and seasons are as poor
as they have been in most localities for the past two
years. Strong colonies will usually make a surplus,
even during poor seasons.]
A STORY WITH "TWO MORALS" TO IT.
The particulars of our deal has beeu the follow-
ing: I sent two dollars by mail— one to pay for
Gleanings, and the other for ABC. After waiting
some time, I dropped you a line, stating the fact.
You had not received themoney, but you sent the A
B C book, paper cover, and offered to stand half the
loss. I answered, saying I would stand my own loss.
The money eanie back to me after going to Wash-
ington. I sent it again. ITpon receipt of same, you
sent me another ABC book, cloth cover, with letter
stating that I might send back one of the books; but
I concluded that, as I was dealing with a friend and
an honest man, I would give the paper-cover book
to a very poor man, as honest as he is poor, and a
bee-keeper. He once had a fair property, but the
patent-right men have used him up.
W. C. Newton.
Fulton, Oswego Co., N. Y., Nov. 29, 1880.
[You did right, friend N.; and may God bless you
for your kindness to your neighbor, and your kind
words to us. Once more, boys, beware of patent
rights.]
letting the bees starve.
My bees arc dying rapidly this fall. I have lost 0
stands already; might have saved them if I had been
able to buy the sugar to feed. But such is a poor
man's misfortune. E. L. Kregloe.
Lexington, Va., Nov. 30, 1880.
[I am very sorry for your misfortune, friend K.;
but are you sure you have done the very best you
could in the matter? Could you not have sold a part
of them at Sf)me price, and obtained money to buy
feed enough for the other part? Of course, I do not
know that you could have done better; but after in-
vestigating some cases of a like nature in our own
vicinity, I have almost always found some way by
which the sugar could have been provided. Do you
use neither cigars nor tobacco? do you never re-
main idle a day when you could earn 50c.? Are you
sure you do not invest in a single thing that you
could not have done without better than to let your
bees starve? Please excuse me, if this sounds med-
dlesome; but such questions have started more than
one brother on a better path, and they may help
more than one whose eyes meet these pages.]
quarter-blood ITALIANS.
I notice on p. 216, May No., where one of your con-
tributors speaks of quarter-blood queens. Now, I
had got it into my mind that there was no such
thing as a quarter-blood queen. Dr. Harrison, a
bee-man living about five miles from me, said tome
at one time, while talking, that, even if an Italian
queen were mated with a black drone, the drones of
that queen would be pure, and vice versa. Now, do
queens lay drone eggs without being mated? If so,
will such eggs hatch? If they will, then the drones
from such eggs must be pure, and, consequently,
there would be no such a thing as a quarter-blood
queen. Thos. R. Turnham.
Rockport, Spencer Co., Ind., Maj^ IT, 1880.
[You have got the matter a little mixed, friend T,
A hybrid queen, such as you mention, will produce
pure drones, but not pure workers nor queens. The
queens would be half blood, of course; and if they
42
GLEANINGS IN J3EE CULTURE.
Jax.
mated again with black drones, we should have hy-
brid drones and quarter-blood Italians, as the pro-
geny of such a queen. Such a hybrid queen does no
harm in an apiarj' unless she is allowed to raise
queens, as in natural swarming. Then we may
have any admixture.]
FILLING COMBS WITH SYRUP FOR FEEDING.
Do you know of any plan of filling empty combs
with honey, so that they can be used as feeders?
E. L. WOODSIDE.
Baltimore, Md., Nov. 30, 1880.
[Yes, sir; pour the syrup so as to fall a foot or
more, from a sprinkler, and you can fill a comb
completely. The plan is old, and has been mostly
dropped, because of the trouble and daubing it
usually entails, and the danger of inciting robbing.]
A CHEAPER MANDREL FOR FOOT-
POWER SAWS.
GREAT many have been asking, for
some time baclv, if we could not fur-
nish a cheaper mandrel for those who
wished to use home-made foot-power saws
like the one (or similar) described by friend
Hutchinson on page 385, Vol. VI., and by
friend Carpenter, page IBS, May Xo. for
1879. It is true, our friend G. A. T^., on page
366, Vol. A'lII., did give a very ingenious
plan by which a wooden mandrel might be
made ; but not all have skill to make even
this. Some of the friends wished us to make
them ; but if one were going into the busi-
ness of making mandrels, it would be better
to make a durable steel one.
"Well, just in the nick of time, as it were,
our friend below comes up, bringing a very
pretty mandrel, or, at least, sending us a
sample by express, which amounts to the
same thing. We at once ordered a couple of
dozen, and are looking for them daily. Here
is what he says of it, with a picture made
from it by our engraver.
DE WORTH SAW-MANDREL.
I shipped sample saw-mandrel to-day by express,
as postage costs nearly as much. The mandrel Is
subject to your alterations, if there is any. Your
price list says, 10 inches long; but as I dispense with
the journals, I make them only 7 in. long, and there
is no need of their being over 6 inches long; but I
can make you mandrels the same as sample for
$2.00; but I would want an order for more than a
dozen or so, as I would have to buy several tools
that I could not get along without. Now, then, if
you will give me a chance, I will get to work. I am
trying to build myself up with bees, and I don't
spare any time in doing so. I have 1" hives, and
will get 10 more this week.
DIRECTIONS FOR USING FOOT - POWER SAW - MAN-
DREL.
See that both boxes are level, and then tighten set-
screw only until there is no shake in the mandrel.
Apply a little oil, and j'ou will find it will work fine-
ly. Please notify me when you try it; and if it
comes in good order. Wm. DeWorth.
Bordentown, N. J., Nov. 8, 1880.
To see how the mandrel would work, when
sent out to our A B C class, I used it to till
the first order we got for one of the wooden
ones spoken of. Ilere is the result: —
I received the goods several days ago. When I
got the bill 1 was much surprised to find myself
charged $2.60 for a wooden mandrel (which I or-
dered), but when goods came I was as much sur-
prised to find a better one than I expected. Thanks
for you discretion in sending it. I put up a saw yes-
terday, and it "works like a top."
Greenville, Gn , Dec. 13, 1880. F. M. Ledbetter.
You see, I have given our friend who
made the mandrel, a free advertisement;
and I am willing to give you all one when I
find any thing that I tliin'k will ])rove a pub-
lic boon. Is not this rightV If I discourage
patents. I certainly ought to do something
else to encourage invention. Xow, here is
another point. I am going to make a pub-
lic test of your good nature,— or call it, if you
choose, liberality. I told "•right out,'' just
what these mandrels are going to cost me,
and what I am going to sell them for. It is
generally accepted, in all kinds of business,
that it won't do to let customers know what
goods cost. Why won't it doV AVell, be-
cause we are all so prone to selfishness, I
sui)pose. Xow for the test : if you know
those mandrels cost me only $2.00 each in
two-dozen lots, are you willing to pay me
$2.75 for themy I am pretty sure a great
many of vou will say 50c profit would be a
plenty. Well, I wrote the same thing to
friend De Worth, but he thought it hardly
enough, and suggested, if I am correct, thait
we should retail them for $8.00. I split the
difference, and called it, in ray editorial no-
tice last month, $2.75. As a reason for ma-
king the profit 75c instead of 50, 1 would
suggest, that the freight is to be paid on
them from friend D. to myself ; that I have
to invest cash to the amount of $48.00 each
time I order, to lie still, perhaps, several
months, besides the i)robability that some-
thing later may at any time supersede any
such goods, and necessitate selling them at
cost, or not at all. If I tell you what all my
goods cost, and what I sell them for, are you
sure you will not feel less friendly toward
me than you do now, and that I shall never
look confused and embarrassed when I own
up that I charge you $2.75 for an article that
costs me only $2.00 or perhaps a little more.
When the matter comes right out before you
all, I confess I rather wish it was put at only
$2.50 ; but friend I), does not wish me to sell
them so low, and I do not feel right to de-
cide the matter without his permission. Do
you not catch a glimpse of what a millenni-
um we should have in business matters if
there were no longer any necessity for hav-
ing any thing to be concealed V
We suggested only one change in the man-
drel sent us, and that was, that the coHar
that holds the saws be made so as to be one
piece with the pulley, except a small divid-
ing groove. If Avanted by mail, the price
will be 58 cents more ; the price to be $2.75,
unless friend D. consents to have it $2.50.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
43
lur tcmf
He that g-oeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious
seed, shall doubtless come affain with rejoicing, bring-
ing his sheaves with him. —Psalm 126:6.
QUNDAY-SCIIOOL was over ; I had fin-
O^ ished my dinner, and was on my way
'^-"^ down to visit my mother, as usnal, dur-
ing the three hours that intervene before the
young people's prayer-meeting. I had gone
about lialf a mile, and was reriecting that my
life seemed rather unfruitful in the work of
saving souls for the past few weeks. ,^Vas it
possible that, amid the cares of business, I
was losing that hai>))y entliusiasm that I had
especially enjoyed Sabbath afternoons, and
that my life was settling down to a kind of
letting the world go on as it pleased, so that
it did not interfere with my plans and pur-
poses? How many a Christian worker has
had similar thoughts! The Abbey ville school
was stopped ; it seemed no fault of mine,
but still was it not possible I could have
done more to have kejit it going? Our class
at the Infirmary is stopped too, because of
the inconvenience of finding an hour for ser-
vices not contlicting with other duties in the
short winter days. It is true, I have our
own great Sabbath-school on my hands ; but
they have abundant helps and good teach-
ers, and some way I do not feel just as happy
after the school is over as I do after my
work among those who have not had all
these advantages, and to whom the gospel
is, at least in a measure, new. I longed and
hungered, as it were, for that joyous exube-
rance of spirits that I feel after explaining
the way of salvation to some poor boy in
jail. Was there any such work within my
field that'God wanted me to do? In that lit-
tle book called the Still Hour, by Austin
Phelps, he says that a Christian has a right
to have this joyous feeling always. I firmly
believe it is possible for us to have it, if we
are right in the harness, where God wishes
tis to be. As I walked along I prayed to
have my way pointed out, and promised to
follow in it. Almost immediately my mind
recurred to a young man whom I had met a
few times, but whom I felt pretty sure was
not a Christian. Somebody told me he had
lost his property by some misfortune. I
knew he was working hard, for I had no-
ticed him pushing ahead Avith considerable
energy in different employments, and the
last time I met him he had a lemonade and
candy store next to our counter store at the
fair. My thoughts ran 'omething like this :
"Go and see this brothtr this very after-
noon."
" But I do not even know where he lives,
and I am half way down to mother's now. I
will go next Sunday."
" Next Sunday you may not feel like it ;
the roads may be bad, and your besetting sin
is to never do at all the things you do not do
on the first impulse."
I began meditating whether or not this
were not really the voice of God, speaking
sometliing as he might have talked to Jonah
when he was told to go to Nineveh. As I
pondered, I walked slow^er.
" Why, I rather think he lives at or near
B ; but that is three or four miles an-
other way, and I am now a full mile toward
mother's; besides, she is watching for me,
and will feel sadly disappointed if I do not
send her any word I am not coming. Be-
sides, it would be almost dark before I could
get there." The objecting voice almost said,
too," What in the world will he think to see
you coming away off there on Sunday, with
ho sort of a rational errand in the w^orld."
But the last observation was very feebly of-
fered. I had come to a standstill.
" Nine miles is nothing for you, my boy ;
and if you get tired, you know, from pastex-
perience, that God will give you strength
by simply asking for it. You have told
mother before, that, when you fail to come,
she must keep in mind that a call has come
for you to go elsewhere."
" Bight about, face," I turned, and I was
happy already. As I passed thej ail, I stopped
and explained to the one inmate there, who
was just about turning from a wasted life to
immortality, that I might be late before I
had my tisual talk with him ; and when lex-
plained where I felt called to go, he knew
the man, and with the help of the sheriff,
told me where lie lived. As I passed out
through the iron-barred door he said: —
" My best wishes go with you on such an
errand, Mr. Root."
" Do you not mean, friend D., that you
will pray for me while I am gone?"
I can not remember what his reply was ;
but I know, by the look in his face, that it
was not an linpleasant suggestion. As I
passed over the hills I wjis somewhat weary ;
but God gave the strength as it was needed.
To be sure, I went on foot ; for, some way,
it does not seem as if I could do good work
without the exhilaration of walking ; and,
besides, people treat me differently (at least
it seems so) when I come on foot and alone.
When on a hill, where I could see the house,
I spoke to a couple of young men, and after
I had passed I saw them watching me. Per-
haps they Avere curious to know Avhat had
brought me out of the way so much on such
a day. As I crossed the bridge near the
house, a crowd of temptations assailed me,
just as they have a hundred times before.
All joyousiless had gone, and I felt for the
time that my errand, and the whole thing,
was the biggest piece of " tom-foolery " that
lever went into before. I stopped and gazed
into the frozen river, and at the same time
gazed into these feelings in my own heart. I
wondered where they came from, and wiiyit
should be so every time. I w'as not afraid
now, for I had seen them soon give way be-
fore, to a different feeling when I pushed
ahead. I trembled some as I raised the latch
to the gate ; but I prayed more earnestly
than usual, if possible, that God would show
me plainley why I was thus called away over
here, and that liis Spirit might go before me
and make the work sure. After I had got
into the house, and received a pleasant wel-
come, the painful feeling vanished, and it
was no great task to speak.
" My friend, I have taken the liberty to
come clear over here on foot to talk with
you, and to invite you to accept Christ as
44
GLEA^IKGS m BEE CULTUKE.
Jak.
your savior and your guide. If I have made
a mistake, or if I am intruding, I will go
away at once, without another word."
"No mistake at all. Mr. Boot; I am very
glad to see you, for I know it is just what I
and all the rest of us ought to do."
In a few minutes the young men I have
spoken of came in. At tirst, I was so short-
sighted as to think this might prevent my
having my talk with him ; but almost at
once something whispered that God was
guiding it all, and had sent them. Thereup-
on I told them my errand, and that, inas-
much as Christ knew no differences, I would
tender the same invitation to them.
Pretty soon, still another yoimg man came
in, and I said the same to him, and tinally
we had almost enough gathered there for a
little prayer-meeting. After some talk with
them all, some one suggested we should
have a Sunday-school started there every
afternoon, and you may be sure I gladly
enough accepted the invitation to lead them.
After singing " Sweet Hour of Prayer." and
asking God to bless our undertaking, I came
away. As I got outdoors, I found it was
dark ; but there was no darkness on my
spirits now. Pretty soon I saw some one
coming after me. I spoke, and found it was
one of the young men I had left there. He
told me his father had recently died, and
that, while on his death-bed, with his Bible
near him, he enjoined his boys to lead
Christian lives. A few weeks had passed,
but yet he had taken no steps to unite with
Christian people. Was it accident that led
me over in this out-of-the-way place this
afternoon, or was it the still small voice that
so often pleads with us, and yet is so often
disregarded when we can not see exactly the
whys and wherefores of it V
Do any of you ask, my friends, what is the
good of a Sabbath-school, after all V ^Vell,
1 will try to tell you a little of what I hope it
will do. As I pass the saloons of our town,
I notice that very may of those who enter
are boys from the country. They live a few
miles out of town, and have always been in
the habit of getting a glass of beer when
they come to town on almost any kind of an
errand. Once in a while these boys get into
jail, and then I get acquainted, aiid have a
good talk with them. They almost always
say they have never been to Sunday-school,
and a good many times it seems as if no one
has ever invited them to come. Suppose I
could have these talks with them before
they get into jail ; do you not think it would
save some expense to our State and county V
May be it might save an immortal soul.
Will it not be worth while to try?
Again, it is a hard thing to reform a man
grown. If they are reformed, they are very
apt to get back among their old associates
unless they are pretty closely watched and
cared for. If we can take the boys and girls
before they have grown into fixed, bad hab-
its, they are far more apt to stand. It makes
a terrible wrenching of things, if I may so
express it, to take a strong man and bring
liim to Jesus' feet as a little child. Battles
have to be fought day by day that might
have been saved if he had been led into wis-
dom's ways when his mind and appetite
were young and tender. May God have
mercy on those who have grown up in their
sins!
Some of the friends will have it that I pro-
pose to teach in the Sabbath-school, and on
these pages my views, while I will not
give them a chance to answer and express
their views. They are right thus far, and
no further ; viz., 1 certainly can not consent
to have these pages filled with arguments
and controversy on theology, doctrine, which
day is Sunday, baptism, or any like matters.
It is not my business, and I know God has
not called me into any such fields. If such
subjects must be discussed, talk them over
with your pastor, or the best men in your
churches, and decide for yourselves. My
work I can illustrate best in the following
little story : —
A poor market-woman was once, in order
to get along and "keep even with the world,"
in the habit of using a peck measure that
held a scant peck. She knew it was wrong ;
but competition was so close she had to do
it, or, at least, she told her conscience so,
and so the best friends she had, together
with her foes, were treated (or, rather,
cheated) alike, day after day. Finally she
decided, one Sabbath, to go to meeting. It
some way happened tliat the sermon was on
honesty, and, although much of the talk was
beyond her comprehension, sh3 gathered
enough so that she went and burned up the
scant peck measure the v(ry first thing she
did when she got home. The next day a
friend said, —
" Why, ^lary, they tell me you have been
to church."
" Yes, I went yesterday.''
" Who preached?"
" I don't know."
" What was the text? "
" I do not know."
" What was the sermoii about? "
"• I can not remember that either."
" Why! can you not remember some story
or anecdote, or something the minister said
in his sermon? "
She declared she could not remember any
thing.
"Why!" said her friend, "it certainly
didn't do you any good, if you don't know
who preached, what he said, nor any thing
about it."
" But I tell you it did, for I went and
burned up that small peck measure the first
thing I did when I got home, and I am go-
ing to give full, honest measure, after this,
as long as I live."
Who sent home that sermon to her heart?
and whose voice was it that she heard? Was
it not God's voice? and are not such ser-
mons just the kind we %vant? Is there any
difference of opinion in this matter? Now,
if I can so write to you that you forget me,
what I say, and every thing else, except the
truth that I am endeavoring to send home
to your hearts through God's voice, which I
hope sometimes reaches you through these
pages, I am content.
Now, to those Avho are suggesting a differ-
ent course for these Home Papers, and Avho
think I am omitting important subjects, I
would respectfully suggest that my way
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
45
seems to be bearing good fruit. I can not
say tliat any one of you really burned up a
bad peck measure literally, because of these
talks ; but great numbers have written me
that they had started with fresh vigor in
serving the Lord, and some few have turned
right about, and are leading new lives. A
few days ago a good friend wrote he was not
a ]irofessor of religion, and did not attend
Sabbath-school ; but his letter seemed to
say he was not very far off from the king-
dom. I wrote him briefly, and, if I am cor-
rect, then kneeled down and prayed God to
move his heart, for I felt then vividly what
a tremendous undertaking it is to get a full-
grown man to relimiuish his stand and sub-
mit to be led as a little child. I know he
wields a strong influence in his vicinity, and
so I was more deeply anxious. Here is a
postal from him, right under my hand.
Friend 2? lo?:— Between you and my children, I am
"boxed." As I was on my way to Sunday school
Sunday morning-, I said to my oldest girl, "The next
thing after goi ting me in'^o your Sunday-school will
be getting me into your church." She very coolly
replied, "If the church can stand you, I think you
might stand the church!" 1 said nothing more
then; but before the close I had to give five dollars
towards a Christmas tree; and now they want $5.00
more for a library. What will a library for say 140
scholars cost with you— say 3, 3, 4, or 500 volumes in
neat book case? L. M. Shumaker.
North Danville, Pitts. Co., Va., Dec. 14, 18S0.
May the Lord bless that "oldest girl,"
friend S., and all the rest too, as well as the
whole school. I felt like shouting glory as I
read the card ; and were it not one of my
besetting sins to get extravagant, at times, I
do not kn'ow but that I should have done so.
I do not sell the things you mention, but I
have desired two of the best publishers I
know of to do the best they can for you.
The work that is opening before you may
take some of the treasure you have laid up
here on earth ; but when you are on your
dying bed, takin;^ your last leave of these
kind friends, with all these Sabbath-school
scholars gathered about you, a crown of
glory will be yours, and the companionship
of angels will be yours, as you cross the
dark river. " Inasmuch as you have done it
unto one of the least of these, you have done
it unto me."
Every time I get a letter from the friend
who next writes, I fall to wondering why I
could ever have done any thing that should
merit such kind words as he writes ; but at
the bottom of the letter I always tind the
well-known signature of our friend Parshall ;
and when I reflect that liis life seems, through
God, to have been the fruit of these Home
Tapers, I feel like shouting glory again.
Now a word to you, brother Root I How I wait and
look for the first of the month to hear you talk, and
how it encourages me, and I feel like grabbing you
by the hand every time I read Our Homes. My
brothers have forced on me the office of class-lead-
er, besides Sunday-school superintendent, and your
kind words does me worlds of good. May God bless
and keep you, is my prayer. After reading the last
Homes, which I did before breakfast, 1 opened my
Bible, as you spoke of " in the middle," and read
the 91st Psalm. Oh what blessed comfort and prom-
ise we find in that psalm! Read it; and I should
like all the readers of Gleanings to read it and ap-
preciate it as I do. James Parshall.
Skidmore, Nodaway Co., Mo., Nov. 11, 1880.
In regard to the matter of midnight assas-
sins: Here are two letters on the subject,—
one on one side, and another on the other:—
Is it not a Christians duty to protect his house and
family? AVhosoever stealeth, murdereth. Would
you stand back and see your wife and children
bound, and perhaps gagged and abused by the burg-
lar to complete his spoil, and offer no resistance? I
should think that takes a coward. Do you think it
is a Christian's duty to suffer himself to be robbed
of his hard tellings, and perhaps bread, and offer no
resistance? I answer. No! And I will say that I
think it Is a Christian's duty to protect his wife and
family, by crippling the midnight prowler, as it is
a warning to others to lead a holier and better life,
and pray to the Lord God for their daily bread.
Preston J. Kline.
Coopersburg, Lehigh Co., Pa., Dec. 7, 1880.
In reading Our Homes in the Dec. No., I was so
glad to see the letter of June 4th, from J. Sykes
Wilson, that I have wanted to write you on the sub-
ject of non-resistance, but circumstances prevented.
Now, you say, " What is the Christian to do when ho
finds some one with his hand in the pocket of our
trousers? Answer, any one."
Suppose it was our own brother according to the
flesh, the one we love more than life; would we
shoot? would we strike? would we not pray, rather,
that he might not be found out? Would we not say,
Omybrtoher! this not only, but my life, is thine ;
come and get it If thou has need; but do not come in
that way? If we are disciples of Jesus, laboring for
the love of God to bless humanity, we will not care
who takes the money, so we can do them good. If
we recognize tnat all there is belongs to God, and he
causes the rain to descend upon the unjust as well
as the just, I am well satisfied that. In the case
above, we should pray to the Lord for instruction,
and for the conversion of the thief; and remember-
ing, "not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,"
we should depend entirely upon this Spirit; and if
the money was taken away, wait to see the object of
the Lord In permitting such things to happen. It
might be to try our faith; it might be to bring the
thief to Christ by the workings of conscience.
There are many ways of bringing sinners to the
Lord, and our ignorance should not presume to
question God's wisdom; and the example set by
Jesus, of living to do good and bless humanity in-
stead of making and keeping money, should be more
practically considered to-day. The teachings of
Jesus are practical to those who live to do the will of
God-, but they are impractical to those who seek
rather the riches of this world. ' 'Give unto him
who asketh of thee, and from him who would bor-
row, turn thou not away." Who would steal from
any one who practices that teaching? No one ! Still
comes the question. What shall a Christian do if
some one steals his money? I hold, a Christian can
not own any money; It is all the Lord's, and all he
has to do is to ask the Lord what to do with it; and
does he not promise to instruct us on all occasions?
I am afraid that if we are not careful we will be in
46
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Jan.
the position of the priest and elders to whom Jesus
talked. (See Matt. 31:31.) I used to be an infidel
and a public advocate of infidelity, and know their
strong point is, that Christianity is not practical;
they say, "Voii Christians care as much for money
as we do, and depend as much on the strong arm of
the law by force to protect it for you." Now, I be-
lieve Christianity is practical, and wo do not need
the law; but the government of Christ is sulficient;
his kingdom has come to those who will recognize
and look entirely to him. AVho will trust the Lord
—make Christianity practical, and take away the
strong weapon of the inflde ?
I want to be a Christian, and with the Savior stand;
To live as he has taught— be guided by his hand;
For grace and love is all there is on earth worth liv-
ing for.
Though many blessings are around and many more
in store.
I would gladly give them up, or lay their pleasures
down,
To take the Christian's cross and wear the Christian's
crown;
To be at one with Jesus, Lord, in the blest abode
above.
To live in heavenly harmon3-— be filled with holy
love.
Praying that the good work j'ou have started to do
may go on to perfection in Christ, I am yours,
ISA.\C B. RUMFORD.
Bakersfleld, Kern Co., Cal., Dec. 12, 1880.
Gently, my friends, both of you, while we
reason together. You may not be aware
that this question is now agitating the great-
est minds of the world. — What shall we do
with criminals? It is not likely it will be
settled all at once ; and it may not be in our
day that it shall be decided there is a better
Avay than to shoot down for the sake of pre-
serving life. Great difficulties stand in the
way of friend R."s plan, and I will give you
one of tliem. Suppose you are a bank clerk,
and are employed to giiard the i)roperty of
your fellow-men ; are you going to tell the
thief to take it along? A great part of us are
guarding the property of others, and are in a
measure responsible. Now, in defense of —
let us say not shooting— i)lease consider that
you are in a measure responsible for every
man that turns assassin. In a great major-
ity of cases, you have open saloons in your
town where boys are trained to be assassins.
You can close these in a twinkling, if you
will, only a few of you, join hands. The
boys of your county are i)ining in solitude in
your jails, where they would gladly listen to
a kind word from any one of you, and yet
you withhold it, most of you. These boys
can be raised to a post of honor and useful-
ness—nay, tliey may be, by the love of God,
led from their bad ways, and sometimes, in
just a few months they may be at work res-
cuing others.
Well, now while stich is the case, is it not
a terrible thing to shoot these boys down?
You may say it is all very well to talk to
them while in jail, and ask me to try such
talk while they are in the acts of robbery.
Perhaps I am not equal to the task ; but I
think there are those who might do it. Per-
haps there are many of us w-ho miglit attain
to it. In any event, it is our privilege to
labor with humanity before they get to these
lengths. No man becomes a burglar or as-
sassin at once. He has to be drilled by Sa-
tan, and pass through many intermediate
stages. On another page we are told of two
of our fellow-men who are in the interme-
diate stages that lead to crime because of
their bees and grapes. It is a terrible thing
to take the life of a fellow-man, my friends,
and I Avould to God you all thought it a ter-
rible thing to quarrel with a neighbor. If it
is necessary that life should be taken, shall
it not be only as the last, the veri/ last, resortV
MR. MERRYBANKS AND HIS NEIGHBOR.
HOW FRIEXD M. BROUGHT THE "SUK-
SHINE."
f^EFORE going on with my story, I shall
f\JM have to go back a little, to show- just
why it was that even the sight of friend
M."s good-natured face brought abetter feel-
ing to both father and son. You doubtless
remember about the swarm that ran away
last summer. AVell, you remember, too, do
you not. how the horse got frightened and
broke his buggy, and he came tumbling into
the dust? Come to think of it, I believe I
Avill give you the picture again, so you will
recall the whole scene to mind.
"SWARMIXG TIME.''
Well, friend M. picks himself up, not much
w^orse for his sudden stop. Old ''Dobbin,"
as the distance widens between the general
commotion and his nag-ship, is not so badly
scared as he thought, and is easily caught by
a neighbor hurriyng to the scene of action.
a>ut the bees— oh where are they? sailing
away, a mere speck in the blue sky.
Mr. M.'s neighbor was completely discour-
aged, and as he turned away, says, discon-
solately,—
"There! that's just the Avay with bees;
there goes all honey and profit too, for this
year."'
Not so Avith friend JSIerrybanks, however.
His tumble in the dust had in no way abated
his zeal, and uiion the spur of the moment he
burst forth with, —
"They ain"t gone either; we'll follow "em
and bring "em back. If you don"t want to
go after them, I'll give you $2.62ic for them
up there on the winar, and get them myself."
I confess it was a little singular that friend
]\[. should offer just the above-named sum,
to the splitting of a cent; but as our story
proceeds, we shall perhaps find out why he
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
47
named just that exact amount. As for the bees,
no time was to be lost ; and as the offer was
immediately accepted, he started in pursuit,
while his neighbor resumed his occupation
of nailing up the hog-pen. Somehow that
hog-pen seemed to need a great amount of
tixing to make it so the pigs wouldn't get
out and make a general raid on the neighbor-
hood every now and then.
Off goes' friend M.\s coat and vest; and,
with his eye on the l)ees and his feet any-
where but on solid ground, lie starts off,
down the hill back of the church.
3rR. 3iekky];axks after the bees.
Now, since friend ]M. has become a bee-
keeper he has improved in health l)y out-
door exercise, until you would hardly recog-
nize in him the same individual that he was
when we first met him. In fact, so robust
has he become, that, when his foot hit on a
round stone which turned over, he tumbled
flat, and rolled clear to the bottom of the
hill.
''nUKKAir FOU THE IJKESi
As he picked himself up at the bottom of
the hill, and rubbed the sore places, looking
first one way and then the other, to collect
his ideas and get the points of the compass,
the first words he heard were,—
"Hurrah for the bees I''
These words came from John, his neigh-
bor's boy. xVs he heard his father selling the
bees to friend M., he set down his hive on the
top of the swill-pail, and watched earnestly
to see what M. was going to do with them
after they were bought. As he doffed his
coat, John viewed the proceedings very in-
tently, and was not slow in following after
the decamping swarm. "With his light sum-
mer clothing, he very soon outran the owner
of the bees, and the shoutthat friend M. heard
was occasioned by the sight of the whole
swarm of bees settling upon a leafy limb of
one of the highest trees in the woods. John
had caught a portion of the bee fever from
our friend ]M., and the fit was on, after his
exercise of the brisk run. On the impulse
of the moment, he climbed a small tree that
stood near Avhere the bees were swinging
from the end of a limb, and. with a 10-cent
jack-knife that friend M. had made him a
present of, he cut the limb, slipped carefully
down the tree with his prize, and, by the time
Merrybanks had found out Avhere the boys
and bees were, he was standing on the
ground, the center of an admiring audience
(of two), while he held up his prize. Our
artist has tried to depict the expression of
pride and joy that shone in John's eyes (and
mouth(V) ) as he held the limb containing
that whopping runawav swarm up to view.
JOnX WITH TIiE BEES, AFTER CLIJIBINCt
XnE TREE.
Now you know why John and friend M.
were fast friends, and why just the sight of
friend M.'s rosy face and round figure
brought relief to John that wintry morning.
Next month Ave will try to tell what hap-
pened to that bee-hive John left sitting
on the swill-pail, when he started after the
bees.
MRS. COTTON.
At the request in our last No., for facts from
those who had seut Mrs. Cotton money, from which
no returns of any kind had been received, it seems
there were, after sifting it all down, very few such.
If her fault has been one of sending goods that did
not give satisfaction, rather than not sending goods
at all, it is quite likely we have been too severe on
her. It is true she did not send me goods for the
money I sent her, but she claims now the money
was returned to me. Although I never got it, it is
quite possible it was sent, and if she has settled sat-
isfactorily with all others, I will cheerfully drop my
complaint. Now, friends, is the time to speak out,
if you have aught to say against Mrs. Cotton ; if not,
forever hold your peace.
48
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Jan,
gcmu ^olmffn.
Under this head will be inserted, free of charge, the names of
all those having honey to sell, as well as those wanting to buy.
Please mention how njueh, what kind, and prices, as far as pos-
sible. As a general tiling, I would not advise you to send vour
honey away to be .sold on commission. If near home, where
you can look after it, it is often a very good way. Bv all means,
develop your home market. For 25 "cents we can furnish little
boards to hang up in your dooryard. with the words, ' ' Honey
for Sale, ' ' neatly painted. If want^-d by mail, 10 cents extra for
postage. Boards saying ' ' Bees and Queens for Sale, ' ' at same
pnce.
I have for sale 509 lbs. honey from heartsease,
which I will deliver on board cars here for 9e per lb.
No charge for packages. James A. Gkeen.
Dayton, La Salle Co., 111., Dec. 13, 1880.
Wanted, one barrel pure extracted honey, Irom
near this place. Correspondence solicited.
J. B. Dines.
Annapolis, Iron Co., Mo., Nov. 30, 1880.
CITY MARKETS.
Cincinnati.— Honey.— Comb honey is of slow sale,
and brings 16c on arrival. There is an active de-
mand for extracted honey, which brings 8@l0c on
arrival. Choice clover honey scarce. 1 have paid
lie per lb. in several instances.
Beeswax—is quoted from 18@32c.
Cincinnati, O., Dec. 23, '80. C. F. Muth.
Chicago. — Honey.— There is plenty of honey in
this market to supply the demand, and prices re-
main the same on comb honey— 30@3ic for choice
light lots in small boxes, and 13(aMc for dark. Ex-
tracted honey, 8@l0c.
Beeswax.— •M@:iSc for light, and 15@lTc for dark.
Alfred H. Newman.
973 West Madison St., Chicago, 111., Dec. 23, '80.
St. Louis.— Honey.— Dark comb, U@16c; fancy do
17@19c; strained and extracted, 9@10 in bbl3.,"and
ll@13c in small packages.
J3eesim.c.— Prime yellow salable at 21, dark at 20c.
Dec. 23, 1880. R. c. Greek & Co.
No. 117 North Main St., St. Louis, Mo.
New York.— Ho7iey. — Best white Comb, small
neat packages, 12@18c; fair, 14@16c; dark, 12@13c.
White Extracted, 9@10c; dark, 7@8c. Southern
strained, per gal., 80@8.5c. Bee8ioa.c.— 23@24c.
The can of honej- you sent us is on the writer's
desk and will be <in his table with buckwheat cakes
by to-morrow morning, after which I can better sav
as to its merits. Thanking you for the honey, and
with a merry Christmas for all connected with
Gleanings, 1 remain
Very truly yours, A. Y. Thurber.
New York, Dec. 24, 1880.
GLEANINGS IN_B_EE CULTURE.
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER,
MEDINA, OHIO,
TE«MS: $1.00 PER YEAR, POST-PAID.
FOR CLUBBING RATES, SEE FIRST PAGE
OF READING MATTER.
nvEXsiDz^o'.^^, j^u^3\r. i, lesi.
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they
be not highmiiided, nor trust in uncertain riches,
but in the living God. who giveth us richly all things
to enjoj\— I. Tim. 6:17.
In our prayer-meetings and Sunday-schools, we as
a general thing think it batter to hear briefly from
a great number, than to have a few occupy all the
time. Now, will not the same rule apply in our re-
ports here? In my drawer are a great many long
letters — in fact, heaps of them; but the brief re-
ports, right to the point, are scarce.
In answer to many questions from those who are
thinking of going into the supply business, I would
say we can give no discounts better than those men-
tioned in the price list, unless you wish to purchase
in larger quantities than are mentioned there. In
this ease, an estimate will be given if you will men-
tion what you want, and how many. The prices are
alike to all. If you want goods at wholesale, you
must buy by the tens or hundreds.
The Sunday-School Times has no club prices ex-
cept the journals of the club be all sent to one ad-
dress. This course obliges every one who gets up a
club to do it around his own pistofflce, and gives
him good pay for thoroughly canvassing the field,
resulting in extending the circulation of the paper,
which is the sole object of giving a commission to
those who get up clubs. Why is not this a good way
to do?
A WEEKLY BEE JOURNAL.
For the first time since the world began, we are to
have a weekly bee journal, and I presume it is in the
hands of many of you by the time this reaches you.
The first No. makes a very creditable appearance,
and as it will be quite a task for friend Newman to
get up such a one every week, shall we not turn in
and give him a lift, in the way of subscriptions? If
lam correct, a sample copy will be mailed on ap-
plication.
THE PARLOR C.4.LENDAR CLOCKS.
We can furnish the calendar clocks, made by Seth
Thomas, eight-day, making calculations for leap
year, all by simply winding the clocks once a week,
for $7-50 each, if 100 of our friends want one. These
clocks are just such as we sold a few years ago for
$15 each. Perhaps I can get them for that price, if
not as many are wanted. It will be best to have
them shipped direct from the factory, in Connecti-
cut. You can simply give your names on a postal,
until we see how many will take one. They will
cost me $0.65 each, spot r;ish, at the factory.
Mr. Gr.w has greatly improved his machine for
making the all-in-one-piece section, and after it is
painted and striped up it looks so handsome we
have decided to have it pictured, together with all
the machinery for making sections, such as cutter-
head, gang of saws, planer, etc., in our next No. As
these machines are adjustable, so that they can be
used for making all manner of light wooden boxes,
they will be a profitable investment in any locality
where basswood or other nice white woods are plen-
ty. Our smallest steam-engine will run the whole
set nicely.
In answer to several inquiring friends, I would re-
ply that I have received the circulars sent out in
regard to the stingless bees of South America, but
am not favorably impressed with the scheme. Even
though Mr. Hawley be a conscientious man, I can
not but think it will be a mistaken kindness to send
him money in the way he proposes. Wo have a sub-
scriber in South America, to whom I have sent the
circular in regard to stingless bees, and we will re-
port as soon as we hear from him. If any one feels
disposed to go after new bees on his own hook, as
did our friend D. A. Jones, let him go, and we will
buy his queens after ho gets them here alive. If he
has not the means for making such a trip and stand-
ing the loss, if it prove such, he is not a suitable
person to undertake it.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
49
IN-AND-IN BREEDING.
Some of our friends are fearful that their bees
will suffer from the above cause, if they do not take
pains to change their stock often. While I am glad
to send you queens when you need them, I do not
think any one need trouble himself much on this
point, when we take into consideration the great
distance that drones and queens fly, to meet each
other. This is proven beyond question, by finding
Italian blood miles away, very soon after they are
introduced into a section. At the same time, I do
not doubt but that the many good reports from hy-
brid stocks are the result of a fresh strain of blood
given to both races.
In friend Dadant's article of last month, the word
"ring," applied to yellow bands of the Italians, was
twice printed "wing." I read it over, and knew
what word was intended, but, by some fatality,
failed to see the "w" where an "r" should have ap-
peared. Friend D. should have a little charity when
he reflects (if he ever does reflect in regard to the
matter), that, like the illustrious Horace Greeley,
his handwriting is not the easiest in the world to "un-
ravel." The point, that the Italians look darker in
the fall when they arc filled with dark honey, is a
new idea, and I think one we should take into con-
sideration. You see, if you want your Italians to
look their very prettiest, just feed them some very
white, transparent honey while you are exhibiting
them. Granulated sugar syrup will be just the
thing; then put them on the window, and you will
have "transparent bees." Thanks, friend D., for
starting us right.
Since m editorial^ in regard to Dr. Chase's re-
ceipt-book, I have had the opportunity of hearing
from another side of the matter. Mr. R. A. Beal has
acknowledged the mistake of his clerk, and sent me
a copy of the book with the patent-medicine adver-
tisements left out, to recompense me for the money
I was " out " in the transaction. Chase and Beal, it
seems, have had serious business differences, and
the result is, that there are two different " Dr.
Chase's" books. Taking a standpoint from either
side, it would seem that either party has been great-
ly wronged by the other, as is often the case with
similar troubles. Perhaps none but God knows just
where justice lies. As both seem to be fair, honora-
ble, and conscientious men, I would recommend to
them to choose mercy, rather than think so much
about justice, and certainly go so far as to decline
ever more speaking unkindly of each other to anj'
one, no matter what the circumstances may be. As
for myself, if friend Beal will forgive me, I will try
once more to have more charity for my fellow-men,
before I criticise again.
P. S.— I am "awful" glad the medicine advertise-
ments are left out, but I ain't going to ay anything
about it.
BELLING RECIPES, OR WAYS OF DOING THINGS.
Knowledge is comparatively free nowadays. A
comprehensive treatise on almost any of the trades
or industries is sold for a dollar, or a little more, and
the time has passed by when people consider it
right or honest to ask a dollar for some secret, writ-
ten or printed on a single leaf, with a promise not to
communicate the great secret to any of the neigh-
bors. Nearly all our shops and manufactories are
open to the public, and if you wish to go in and see
how a thing is done, you can do so at pleasure. If
this is not entirely the case, it is getting to be more
and more so every day. The time of paying five or
ten dollars for a recipe for bee-feed, or to make ar-
tificial honey, has passed by; and one reason for it
is, that every recipe of that kind that has come be-
fore us has proved a fraud and a swindle. I have, as
you know, paid money for these recipes several
times, and afterward printed them here; but so far
every on e of them has proved to be well known, and
in fact the greater part, if not all, that have ever
been offered for sale, are given in Dr. Chase's " Re-
ceipt Book." Now, my friends, if I stop here will
you not, you who have offered to sell secrets for a
dollar, etc., think better of it, and withdraw your
circulars and advertisements? I do not like to be
harsh, severe, and personal; but in behalf of our
ABC class, who in their honest enthusiasm are
ever ready to send their hard-earned dollars, I shall
have to speak out, if it is not stopped. Every im-
portant discovery will soon be public property, with-
out the necessity of each one sending a dollar for it.
WHAT SHALL WE DO FOR BEES THAT HAVE DYSEN-
TERY, OR ARE STARVING?
As so many bees are dying from what seems tcf be
the effects of poor stores, we will try to help the suf-
ferers furnish candy in 1-lb. bricks, made of pure
granulated sugar, for 13c per lb. The same, with y^
lb. of flour to 4 lbs. of sugar, 12c per lb. ; or with 1 lb.
of A grape sugar, 3 lbs. granulated, and '/2 lb. flour,
10c per lb. Any of the above I consider safe for
feeding bees in winter. If you wish the bees to
raise brood, you must have that containing flour,
unless you have a surplus of pollen in the hives; in
this case, I should prefer it without the flour. I do
not know which of the two latter is the better one—
you will have to test the matter by experiment.
After the bees are flying, say in March or April, you
can use one-half, three-fourths, or all grape sugar,
if you choose. Now, before you order it by mail or
express, please figure out the cost, that you may
not be disappointed. Unless you order 25 lbs. or
more, and have it sent by freight, it will, as a gener-
al thing, cost you more than to buy your sugar at
your groceries and have the candy made at home.
These candy bricks, laid right over the cluster, and
then well covered up with chaff (some coarse bag-
ging or burlap first, of course) is the only remedy I
can suggest to cure the dysentery. Of course, the
whole hive is to be packed, if the bees are not al-
ready in chaff hives. Do not attempt to save them
by carrj'ing in-doors, unless you can put them in a
dry, dark cellar, where it never freezes. If you can
not do this, give them the candy outdoors, and let
them alone. If the cluster has got weak in bees,
double them up until there is bees enough to warm
up the candy. If very badly affected, I would take
away all their honey, and put them on empty combs,
with the candy over them. It is better to put the
candy over them, during a moderately warm day;
but if they are in danger of starving, the hive can
be opened during almost any weather, without
harming them scriouslj'. If the colony is very weak,
and you have no more to put with them, it may be
better to give them only a small part of a brick, say
an ounce or so at a time, and then more as they use
it faster. Will you please report how this candy
works, as I am very anxious to save the bees, and to
save you from loss as well?
60
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
3a^.
Our California honey travels so slowly that it has
not yet reached us, though shipped as long ago as
the 8th of last November.
The North-Eastern Bee-Keepers' Association of
New York, meet in annual session at Utica, Feb.
3, 3, and i 1881.
We start the year with 2613 subscribers. Please
accept thanks for so many, my friends, after so
poor a honey season. Last year at this time we had
3444.
No MORE premiums for subscribing early; but
you can secure any of the counter goods as pre"
miums by noting the rates to clubs, on first page of
reading matter.
The Italian bees are at length introduced into
New Zealand! Fresh water was supplied them daily,
and they came through as fresh as just caged; so
we learn from the New Zealand Standard of Sept.
11th.
As THE honey season soon opens in the South, no
more discounts will be made from our price list;
but we shall watch every opportunity of lessening
the price of any article in it, as soon as it is possible
to do so.
THE WATERBTJRY WATCHES.
Over two gross of these watches have now been
sold, and the number that have been returnpd are
very few indeed, compared with what would have
been the case with any other watch of a moderate
price that I have ever handled.
I DO not know whether sections will be $5.00 per
thousand or more, after this month. It will depend
on what those who make them decide in regard to
the matter. As our own make can be either nailed
or glued, so as to make a most rigid box, for those
who want such, we think them rather superior to
those made with the V-shaped groove.
Our friend Forncrook offers sections for $5.00 per
■ thousand, during this month, and our friend Lewis,
of the firm of Lewis & Parks, comes on with the
same proposal. Now, not to be behind, we have de-
termined to follow suit; viz., furnish any section
smaller than 5x6, during the month of January, for
the same price. Those of you who have paid us
more for sections to be used next season, can have
the money repaid by making application. This price
is so extremely close that it cuts off all chance of
wholesale. We have an immense pile of seasoned
basswood, and with our new machines I think we
can furnish you the neatest all-in-one-piece sections
you ever saw.
Our lunch room seems to be a decided success.
With hot steam at her command, one of our girls
served 32 hungry people in less than two hours, and
washed and put away the dishes. Our bee friends
who come to see us, can now, after visiting all the
different rooms, take a seat with us at the noon ser-
vice, and help to sing out of the Gospel Hymns;
then, if so disposed, adjourn to the lunch room, and
refresh the "inner man," and all without going out
of the building. Friend A. Froscher, of LaGrange,
Florida, supplies us with the most luscious Florida
oranges, which seem to be one of the chief attrac-
tions to visitors to the aforesaid lunch room.
THE counter store, as It is now arranged by the
ingenuity of Mr. Gray, really reminds one of the
collections of curiosities from all parts of the world
that was to be witnessed at the Centennial, and dur-
ing these holiday times the crowds of visitors that
filled the room from morning until night, has helped
to keep up the illusion. More than once have I
knelt in that room at night, after all were gone, and
thanked God for having blessed this project too, un-
til it has gone far beyond what I ever dared to hope
it would. One great secret of the success of it is,
the scrupulous neatness with which Eliza keeps
every thing. The floor is mopped almost every
morning, the counters thoroughly dusted with a
pair of heJloics —what do you think of that idea,
housekeeping sisters?— and by the time customers
begin to come, every one looks happy, because of
the order, neatness, and cleanliness found everj--
where.
My friends, I had no idea that so many orders
would be sent in for our little book of the Home
Papers; and when I said we would try to have it out
by Dec. 1st, I did it without thinking any one would
be greatly disappointed if they did not get it quite so
soon, [t seems I have been a little mistaken in two
things: All my books before have been printed
from types; but either elcctrotypers work slowly, or
ours has much work ahead. The plates of the book
were promised yesterday. When they come, our big
press will turn the books out in a hurry. My other
mistake was in not thinking so many would want
the little book by the tens and fifties, even before
they had seen a copy. I am really afraid you will
feel disappointed when you see it. M. will very soon
commence setting the type for Part Second. May
God bless the little book, and you in your separate
homes, as it reaches you.
MARRIIi:!).
FOSTER — ROCKWELL. -At the residence of the
bride's father, Thursday, October 28, 1880. Mr.
Oliver Foster, of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, and Miss
Maria Rockwell, of Caldwell county, Missouri.—
]\It. Vernon Hauheye.
May the Lord ever be with yoii and your
fair partner in life, friend F.I
This <leiiaitnie!it differs from Humbugrs and Swindles, in giv-
intr tlie names and addresses of jjersons who. although they do
not advertise, olitain goods by making- promises wliieh they do
not Iceep, and, not only that, but they do not answer postals or
letters when written to. To avoid aceideiital in.iustiee, no one's
name will be given here before we have oursehes repeatedly
tried to get a reply from him. and, at the same time, have as-
certained from his P. M. , that he is a resident ot the iilace. and,
in short, have done every thing in our power to prevint this list
from growing; largrer. Besides all this, an additional warning
will be given each delinquent bv sending- him a printed copy of
this list, before his name comes out publiely. Those who will-
fully take another's proijcrty without equivalent, and who df-
liberatelv and purposely do wrong-, we all wish to be wamid
against, and it is only such we mean to include here.
D. Berry, Mansfield, Richland Co.. O.
J. W. Rianton. Paris, Henrv Co., Tenn.
J. F. Kramer, Clearfield, Clearfield Co., Penn.
A. J. Clark, Chatham Village, Columbia Co., N, Y.
Those persons named below claim to have sent us money,
which we have never received. On the strength of their claim,
we have sent the goods, asking for half price, and after wri-
ting them repeatedly, they fail to settle either by sending half
price or returning goods at our expense.
R. R. Higgins, Benton ville, Adams Co., O.
M. S. Kirby, Fredonia. Chambers Co., Ala.
G. Adney, Knoxville, Knox Co., Tenn.
WANTED.— A good, sturdy, sober, industrious
man, who is well posted in Bee Culture, to
take charge of an apiary at Omaha, Nebraska. To
such a man, good wages will be paid.
1-2 ISAAC EDWARDS, M. D., Omaha, Nebraska.
1881
GLEAKIKGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
55
Contents of this Number.
Bee BoTAXT 93 Heads or Graik 82
Bee Entomology 1 Kixd Words From olr
Blasted Hopes fi5 Customers 57
Ml-. Mcrrvbanks 60 Juvenile Department 78
Editorials 97, S9 ; Ladies' Department 90
Giowlert Notes and Queries 90
Humbugs and Swindles Si Keports Encoubaging 90
Honey Column 99 , Smilery
INDEX OF HEADS OF GRAIN, NOTES AND QUERIES,
AND OTHER SHORT ARTICLE
GiTcn'B ■U'irmfr Machine 79
ABC Scholars' Rep'ts 82.85.91
AdJitions to Printing-Uffloegg
Art. and Xat. Queens 82
Adv. in Reading Columns — 84
Advertisers 99
Alfalfa 91
Art. Swarm in April 87
Buckwheat, SUverhuU 92
Bitter Honey 91
Bees Killed Dy Lightning — S9
Bees and Paris Green 82
Bee Culture, Successful 72
Bee-feeder, Washboard 87
B^e-keeping.My 10 years of ..M
Bees ana Baskets 91
Bees with Dysentery 89
Bees and Grapes 88.92
Bees Under the Snow 88
Box-Elders 6S
Boxes and Separators f>6
Bovs.AVhnt to do with 96
Black Willow 83
Bottom-Bars 8.5
Calendar Clocks 97
China Letter 96
Circulars Received .58
Cottonwood 85, 86
Clovers 77
Comb Fdn..toMake 76
Combs, dead Bees in. etc — 99
Cost of Journals from Pubs. 63
Cvprian Bees at Home 71,72
Com, How to Drj- 80
Cora as a Honey-Plant 80
Cross Bees as ("iatherers 83
C ilifoiTiia Notes, etc 84
Granulated Sugar.
Hives, IJi Story 84
Heather Honey 91
Honey. Medicated 86
Honey-Plants, Exp'ts with..87
Horse -Powers 91
Hyatt vs. Italians 89
1 litroducing Queens 87
Law against Frauds 83
Labels 100
L>inch-Room 100
I,ight in the Darkness 91
Machinery for Sections 9S
Mammoth Bee-hive 78
Jtoving Bees to New Locat)on74
Mrs. Cotton's Book 62, 75
New Bees 78, 89
New Honey-Plant 92
Notes from Baimer Apiary. .59
Novel Bee-hive 61
Orchard Apiary 76
Peet Cage 59, .99
Paper Honey-Comb.etc 85
Profit on Bees 70
Progress 77
Poisoning Bees 66,70
Queen-Cages 59
Q'ns Reared at Diff. Seasons. 69
Red Clover S3
Religion and Business ,57
Rood's Ideas on Wintering.. 67
Robbing, How to Stop S3
Simonds Saws 99
Simpson and Spider Plants.. 62
, -- Sending Monev 62
California Sage 92 ] Swallows and 'Bees 82
Doolittle's Review 68 i Smoker.the Best 84
Doolittle Answers Questions. 69 j Stanley's .Stoi-y 7■^
Drones, Good Ones 76 . Starting Watches ; 99
Dollar Queens 9-lOths Black. 82 Separa tors. Perf. and Slot' g.. 70
Dead Queen at Entrance 89 , Sweet Cora 90
Early-Amber Sugar-Cane — .59 i Tobacco Column 65
Ext. vs. Comb Honey. ^. 100 | Ups and Downs of a Scholar. 84
X883..- 188X.
Italian, Cyprian,
AND
HOLY-LAND QUEENS!
Sln!?le Queen, Tested S2 00
" Untested (laying) 100
Sent by mail and safe arrival guaranteed.
8 Frame Colony 6 00
3 " Nuclei 3 00
2 " " 2 50
Safe arrival guaranteed by express.
Address W. P. HENDERSON,
l-6inq Murf reesboro, Kuth. Co., Tennessee.
BE SURE
To send a postal card for our Illustrated Catalogue of
APIARIAN SUPPLIES
Before purchasing elsewhere. It contains illustra-
tions and descriptions of every thing uew and desi-
rable in an apiary,
AT THE LOWEST P BICES.
Italian, Cyprian, and Holy-Land Queens and Bees.
J. C. & H. P. SATLES,
l-8d Hartford, Washington Co., Wis.
50
FINE MIXED CARDS, with name, 10 cents,
postpaid. M. L. DORMAN, Sinclairville,
12tfd Chaut. Co., N. T,
Entrances, Upper, and Pollen 82
Entrance of Chaff Hives 86
Fire and Brimstone 89
Faris Machine 86
Foster's Improve' ts in Ftln. .99
Foundation, Dipped 77
Foul Brood 6t
Gem Planer 97
Gardner's Big Report 90
Virgin Queens 82
AVintering 77
Wint'ng with Ch. and Cellar 83
Wint'ng Bees in a Cistera . . .75
Wiring Brood-Fra-ues 79
Winchuills 85
Wisconsin, Cold Weather 87
AVillows 91
"ttTiolesale Price of Filn 99
Comb Foundation!
In regular-sized sheets, 10x11, 8x16; 2, 12x18,
2.5 lbs. or less 40c I 50 to 100 lbs 38c
25 10 .50 lbs 39c | 100 to 200 lbs 37c
Add lOe per lb. for thin fdn. for surplus honey; 5
per cent discount if ordered before March 15. Send
for circular of Bee-Hives, Honey-Extractors, and
Smokers. Address F. W. HOLMES,
2 Coopcrsville, Ottawa Co., Mich.
WANTED.— A good steady young man who is
thoroughly posted in Bee-culture, to take
charge of an apiary; must produce good reference
as to his qualification as an apiarist. Address
2d W. G. CRAIG, Claremont, Nodaway Co., Missouri.
The A B C or Bee Culture.
Bound in paper, mailed for ?1.00. 'At wholesale,
same price as Gleanings, with which it may be
clubbed. One copy, ^1.00; 2 copies, $1.90; three cop-
ies, $2.75; live copies, $4.00; ten copies, $7.50.
The same, neatly bound in cloth, with the covers
neatly embellished in embossing and gold, one copy,
$1.25;" 2 copies, $2.40; three copies, $3.50; five cop-
ies, $5.25; ten copies, $10.00. If ordered by freight
or express, the postage may be deducted, which will
be 12c on the book in paper, and 16c each, on the
book in cloth.
Cook's Manual in paper or doth at the same price as
above.
A. I. ROOT, Medina, O.
CYrRIANS and Italian Queens or Nuclei. Des-
criptive Circular and Price List sent free.
Address JULIUS HOFFMAN,
1-4 Fort Plain, Montgomery Co., N. Y.
CHEAP sections]
jMI One-Pioce Sections. Pound and Prize size at
$4..50 per 1,000. JOHN MCGREGOR,
2 Freeland, Saginaw Co., Mich.
No. 132, Price 60c.
MAHER & GROSH, 31 N. Monroe St., Toledo, Ohio,
show here a new knife, No. 133,
metal ends, strong blades; price,
postpaid, 60c. Our goods are
hand-f urged from 7-azor steel, ev-
ery blade warranted, and ex-
changed free if soft or flawy.
F. H. Day, Wilmington, Del.,
writes, Jan. 12:— "After receiv-
iner the knife I honed it down to
a tine, keen edge, and tried it on
hard, dry white-oak; the edge
neither turned nor broke, which
is more than I can say of any other knife I ever owned." We expect to build up our trade by selling good
GOODS; will you help us? Our extra-heavy 2-blnde, made for farmers and mechanics, is the best knife in
the market; price, postpaid, 75c. Boy's knife, 2oc; ladies, 1-blade, 25c; 2-blade, .50c; Gent's 3-blade, $1.00.
Extra strong Pruner, every blade tested, $1.00. Our hand-forged butcher-knife, 6-inch blade, postpaid, 50c.
Illustrated list of knives, razors, and scissors, sent free to any address.
oG
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Feb.
Itslmn nii^^^ncf headquarters
Italian queens i
/ ^, I m tJEie boutJi tor tJis
MANUFACTURE AND SALE OF
Bee-Keepers' Supplies
SIMPLICITY AND
LANGSTROTH HIVES
And Frames.
lUEraALL.lN'ONg'M
Bred from imported mother. Safe arrival and
satisfaction guaranteed. Send for circular. Untest-
ed Queens in May and June, $1.50. July and after,
$1.(10. Tested Queens, May and .luue, $a.50. July
and after, $3.00. Select tested, $.iM.
Address— L. C. M'FATRIDGE, M. D..
2-7 Carroll, Carroll Co., Ind.
11 francs in Gold. ,
- 10
In April, - - - - -
May and June, - - -
July and August, - - - - 9 " "
September and August, - - - 7 " "
Queens which die in transit will be repl.iccd only
if sent back in a letter.
CHARLES BIANCONCINI & CO.,
2-7d Bologna, Italy.
"W. 0.1" lUKr
In 2 oz. bottles, black, violet, or blue, in H
gross boxes, per gross $4 GO
In quantities of 5 or more gross, $3,20 per Gross.
In Pint Bottles,.per doz $3 00
In Quart " " " 6 00
In Gallon Jugs " " 12 00
Green and Red ink are necessarily more expen-
sive, and the price will therefore be one-half more.
Liquid Bluing, in 6 oz. bottles, per doz 50
" " " " " gross $5 40
I will send M gross, 2 oz. inks, assorted colors,
black, blue, violet, and one bottle each of green and
red, as a trial order for $1.00.
WM. OLDROYD, Columbus, Ohio.
THE
British Bee Journal.
The British Bee Journal is now mailed to our ad-
dress in packages, each month. In order to dispose
of them, we offer them at present at f 1.00 per year,
postage paid, beginning Jan. 1881. Will guarantee
safe arrival of every No.
A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio.
IMP BO VED
Langstroth Hives.
Supplies for the Apiary. Comb Foundation a spe-
cialty. Being able to procure lumber cheap, I can
furnish Hives and Sections very cheap. Send for a
circular. A. D. BENHAM,
2tfd Olivet, Eaton Co., Mich.
3D. Si. O I •\7' DB 3>a- ,
Inventor and Sole Manufacturer of tlie
FOUNDATION PRESS.
All Presses warranted to give satisfaction. The
only invention to make fdn. in wired frames. Our
thin and common fdn. for '81 is not surpassed. Send
for Catalogue and samples.
3 D. S. GIVEN, Hoopeston, Illinois.
Having purchased from A. I. Root a machine for
making the sections, I am ready to supply them in
any quantity.
Comb Foundation, made of pure yellow wax, and
worked on shares, etc. Honey and Wax-Extractors;
Knives, Bee-!^mokers, etc., etc.
ITALIAN QUEENS AN9 BEES !
All bred from imported mothers of my own im-
portation. Dollar queens, ready April 1st, $1.10 un-
til .June 1st; after, $1.00.
Tested queens, from March 1st to November 1st.
Safe arrival guaranteed, and all queens sent by mail.
I send no queens that I would not have lor myself.
Full Colonies of Italian Bees from $.").00 to $8.50, ac-
cording to quaJiiity, etc. Earlj- 4-framo nucleus,
with Tested Queens, $.").U0— No black bees in the
neighborhood. Send for my Illustrated Catalogue
of prices, etc. Address
rAUL. li. VIAliliON,
2d Bayou Goula, Iberville Par., La.
FOR SALE!
THE CARSON CITY APIARY
and Supply Factory, consisting of 150 colonies of
pure Italian Bees, one 10-horse boiler and engine,
new and complete, with all machinery necessary for
manufacturing hives, crates, sections, etc. Dunham
fdu. machine and other implements too numerous
tomentiiin. Business been running 5 years. Local
trade, $2500 per year. A bargain.
Address— HIRAM ROOP,
2d Carson City, Montcalm Co., Mich.
Also, a Beautiful Farm of 75 acres, with No. 1
buildings included, if desired. Will not exchange
for other property. Cause,— I have lost the use of
my right arm.
GOOD QUEENS, only 80c. Send for circular.
2-3d E. A. Tho.mas, Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass.
b.asfbz:b.b.ii:s for sake.
per 101)
by oxp.
$1 00
1 00
1 50
per lOiiU
1 50
$8 00
per doz.
by muil.
Doolittle, - - - - 30c
Clarke's Red, - - 30c
Mammoth Cluster, - - 40c
Davison's Thornless, - 30c
Ohio, 40c
Ohio is one of the best ; will yield a third more than
any berry I know; is very llrm and large; one of the
best for drying; begins to ripen about the time of
the Doolittle, and lasts till after the M. Cluster. Will
pick as much as any of the varieties at a picking. It
is equal to the Gregg, if not better. If by mail, add
20c per doz. J. IRVIN JOHNSON,
2 4d Box 405, Palmyra, Wayne Co., N. Y.
WANTED.— By a young man, a place to work
In an apiary. Ample experience in handling
bees and rearing queens. Good references.
Address for one month, C. SHERRICK,
2d Care Mo. Medical College, St. Louis, Mo.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
57
28
ih Year— 65 First-Premium
Medals and Dinlomas.
Send postal card with name and address lor my
new illustrated Circular and Price List containing-
valuable information to all bee-keepers. Sent free.
CHAS. H. LAKE,
Successor to the late Richard Colvin,
2-4d 96 West Pratt St., Baltimore, Md.
SUCCESS IN BUSINESS!
THE SECRET OF A LIBERAL USE OF PRINT-
ERS' INK.
BUSINESS CARDS, Border Bristol, assorted
tints, 100, 6oc;:.>r)0, $l.:ir>. White Bristol, 100, BOc; 250, $1.
NOTE HEAUS, g-ood stock, 100, 65c; 250, .fl.25.
ENVEliOPES, ffood heavy stock, white or col-
ored, 100, 60c; 250, $1.00,— all postpaid. Sat isfactlm
guaranteed or monen refunded. Samples free. Ad-
dress S. P. YoDER & Co., Vistula, Elkhart Co., Ind.
RAISING TURKEYS
AND CHICKENS.
Send 15 cents to NATIONAL. FAKMER CO.,
CInoiniiati, and get by mail "Wl»at 20 Persons
(noted lV>r their lireat Success In Raising
Turlteys and Cliickens) Have to say." Read-
ing' what these experienced persons have to say will
give one more information how to be successful
than the reading of any Dollar Poultry Book. 2-4
HEAD(iUARTERS FOR
Pure Albino and Italian Queens and Colonies
for 1881. As I make queen-rearing a specialty, I
guarantee to those ordering from me just what they
bargain for. Circulars free. Address D. A. Pike,
2-4d Box 19, Smithsburg, Washington Co., Md.
H
ONEY-RACKS, NEW KIND. Circular free.
,2-3d E. A. Thomas, Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass.
1881 ITALIAN (QUEENS! 1881
Tested Queens $1 50
■\Varranted Queens.. 1 00
Cyprian Queens, untested 1 00
As most all the Dollar queens
I sold last year were pure, I
will warrant them this year.
J. T. Wilson, Mortonsville,
2-Vd Woodford Co., Ky.
FDN.! NEW MOLDED FDN.!
Best in the market. Only trv it. Samples free.
New machines, |5.C0. OLIVER FOSTER,
2d Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa.
/^^OMB Foundation Machines from $1.00 to $5.00.
Kj Comb Fdn., less thau 5 lbs., 40c; over 5 lbs., 35c;
over 50 lbs., 34c; over 100 lbs., 33iiic. Price list free.
Italian queens from Imp. mothers, fl. ready in April.
2tfd JOHN PARIS, Chilhowie, Smyth Co., Va.
KIOT WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS.
My nippers came all right. They look to me cheap
at a quarter, when only 5c is the price.
G. H. O'Bannon.
Dresden, Green Co , Tnd., Dec. 28, 1880.
I was fairly delighted when I opened the box. Oh
that nice little rule, only 10 cents! and the plane,
spring balance,— in fact, every thing was more than
I expected for the money. J. M. Engle.
Morristown, Shelby Co., Ind.
The watch is at hand, and a very nice little watch
it is. It is a real nice, neat, and clean little time-
piece. Thanks for promptness. The watch pleases
and suits the boy exactly. E. J. Atchley.
Lancaster, Texas, Dec. 28, 1880,
I bought your ABCafew months ago. I have
read and re-read it until I have it all, or nearly all,
by heart. John G. Fox.
Middle River, Madison Co., Iowa, Jan. 7, 1881.
One word for the Home Papers: We are without
a pastor at our church, and you have no idea how
far they go toward tilling the blank.
Moberly, Mo., Jau. 10, 1881. J. M. Epperson.
You beat the world sending things nice. I wish
you were a little nearer, so that we (that is, wife and
1) could order of you all that we have to buy.
Peru, 111., Jau. 18, 1881. Geo. Perry.
Please send us another 15-cent thermometer,
wife claims this one for her flowers.
A. P. Hartwell.
Medora, Macoupin Co., 111., Nov. 2", 1880.
My
Gleanings and goods came to hand much sooner
than we expected, and were more than satisfactory.
How they can be gotten up so cheaply, and sent 1200
miles by rail and 100 by stage in five days, is yet a
mystery. M. C. Swan.
Mason, Mason Co., Tex., Jan. 6, 1881.
Since I wrote you, I have been visited by a scien-
tific friend, who has used one of your Water buiy
watches for more than a year, and likes it first rate.
That principle of winding up without the bother of a
key is nothing less than splendid. Sel \hammah.
Fall River, Mass., Jan. 7, 1881.
I presented to my little cimsin the watch you sent,
and he thinks with myself that it is quite a treasure
for so little money; he and his father compare their
timepieces every morning and night, and his is al-
ways just right. His father's may be a little too fast
or too slow, but his Waterbury, as he calls it, is just
right. Austin M. Magee.
Cooper's, Chilton Co., Ala., Jan. 17, 1881.
Please find inclosed one dollar for Gleanings for
1881. The house has got so accustomed to the ring of
your voice, we couldn't well do without it now. The
children all talk of Mr. Root as if they knew him.
The good wife joins me in wishing yourself and fam-
ily tlie compliments of the season.
A. B. Harrison.
Walnut Creek, Contra Costa Co., Cal , Dec. 11, '80.
[May God bless the good wife and children, friend
H., and yourself too, for your very kind words,
which I can not but feel are certainly not more than
half deserved.]
The "knifes" arrived in good condition, and one
"childer" has been made happy with one of them.
I once bought a pair of "specs" for 25 cents, which I
thought was "'mazing" cheap; and, not believing
you obtained yours on the ready-made, " stoleu-
broom" principle, I can hardly conceive how or
where you find them to sell for a single dime. Topsy,
of "Uncle Tom's Cabin," when she declared that she
never was born, on being inquired of to know where
she came from, said that she " spect she growed;"
and perhaps you grow "specs" out there on the
banks of the pleasant Ohio. Selahammah.
Fall River, Mass.
I have been carefully examining the contents of
j'our ABC book, and find that in it is comprehended
the whole alphabet of bee culture. During half a
century I have had a practical knowledge of bee-
keeping, and I have sturiied about all of the bee-
books by American authors,f romthatof J. M. Weeks,
of Vermont, to the most modern works; besides, I
am acquainted with most of the European books
that treat on honey-bees. Were I now to select a
treatise on bee culture to put into the hand of anew
beginner in that branch of husbandry, I should un-
hesitatingly take a copy of the ABC
C. J. Robinson.
Richford, N. Y., Jan. 14, 1881.
religion and business.
I wish to say, I like Gleanings, and especially
your Home Papers. I fully approve of mixing re-
ligion with all our business matters. I do not be-
lieve that we have any right to engage in any busi-
ness in which we can not sincerely ask God's bless-
ing upon it. And now, friend Root, I want to say
5S
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Feb.
right here, that it is by asking and receiving a bless-
ing from God, that T have succeeded so well with my
bees, for I am an old man, and in poor health, and
God knows all my needs and hears my cries; and
blessed be the name of the Lord! Go on, brother,
doing good in the name of the Lord; trust also in
him, and verily thou shalt be blessed.
Dennis Gardner.
Carson City, Montcalm Co., Mich., Jan. 8, 1881.
CHARITY.
Please send price list, and oblige one who learned
to love you for your " broad charity." Sir, the lead-
ing theme in the Devil's programme is selfishness,
while that of the pure ia heart is " a broad charity
to all," with love to God and man. Many thanks
for kind, comforting words. J. H. Koderick.
Dodd's City, Fannin Co., Texas.
[Many thanks for your good opinion, friend R.. but
you do me more than justice. As I kneel and ask to
be shown my faults, it comes to me day by day that
a lack of charity is perhaps my greatest and most
grievous sin; and, if I am not mistaken, there are
those whose eyes meet this page to-day who man be
shut out of the kingdom of heaven by this same fail-
ing of mine, covipled with my professions.]
I am 80 glad to read of one walking in the same
path as myself, in so many respects. Yes; we
ought to have the "bell runsr" when we talk so ugly.
I have sometimes wished to bo struck dumb until I
cotild talk just as I ought. When calmness comes, I
think, pray, and ask forgiveness, and heartily desire
to be set free forever, and determine to strive hard-
er, and ask for God's help. But another storm will
come soon, and at a time when I am not readr, and
here goes again. Is this our weakness that we can
not strengthen? Shall it always be thus? Blessed
God, help 1 J.H.Roderick.
Dodd's City, Fannin Co., Tex., Dec. 35. 1880.
[May God bless and help you, friend R., for con-
fessing your weakness. It helps me, and I am sure
helps us all, t') know that some other one Is strug-
gling for the right, and is sorry for his past weak-
nesses.]
Inclosed find $1.00 for Gleanings another year. It
is of more benefit to me spiritually than any thing I
can find for the money invested. " They that do
good here, are rich in good works, ready to distrib-
ute, and willing to communicate, lay up in store for
themselves a good foundation against the time to
come."— (1. Tim. (J:18, 19.) Those who, out of com-
passion, do works of love and mercy to the poor and
needy, though it be only to the least of the brethren
of Jesus, shall receive in return a rich reward in
eternity; for the Lord will reward them for these
things, as though they had done them to himself;
and should they give to drink but a cup of cold water
in the name of a disciple, they shall in no wise lose
their reward. The exhortations, and words of kind-
ness which appear in Gleanings may be the means
of converting sinners, or at least one soul may be
saved, and that Is worth the whole world; for what
profit shall we have if we gain the whole world and
lose our soul? or what shall we give in exchange?
Nothing; lost— lost forever; lost. God help us to
rescue the perishing. Chas. Z. Dennes.
York, Pa., Dec. 20, 1880.
Your postal of the .3d inst. at hand, crediting me
with a balance of $1.00. You are a queer genus
Tiomo. Your honesty is almost painful. I thought I
closed up accounts with you st.me time ago. Now,
my dear sir, I really do not wish that dollar at all. I
suppose it is for the <iueen I shipped back to you,
and which died on your hands. Do me the kindness
to keep it, as I can not bring my conscience to think
you owe me any thing. This is certain, Mr. R. : You
are the queerest specimen of a business man I ever
had any dealings with (I speak frankly;; but I think
I would like you if I knew you personally.
My Gleanings subscription I look upon as a good
investment. I take others, but there is some thing
In the smack and general "git-up" of your paper
that I particularly like. If you will have your way
about the matter, you can prolong Gleanings an-
other year; but I would prefer you to pocket the
cash and strike a balance line between our accounts.
Freehold, N. J., Jan. 8, 1881. L. C. Lockwood.
[Many thanks, friend L.; but I am sure you do me
more than justice. My rule, to be followed in all
business transactions, has been to have each one so
that that dearest and best Friend, whom I dope and
trust is constantly by my side, may not be dishon-
ored. And now, my friend, there is a great moral
just here: You felt that my honesty, as j-ou are
pleased to term it, was singular, while others whom
I have treated in the same way, and by the same
rule (as near as I In my imperfections could doit),
have been greatly displeased. Do you not see how
different are people, how we differ in opinion, and
how differently we see things?]
I want tohavealittletalk. Intheflrstplace, I want
to thank you for the Homes. Before I commenced
to read the Home Papers I ciuld not find any thing
to interest me in any religious papers or books; but
since I have read the Home Papers I not only take a
deep interest in them but also all religious news. It
is pleasant to know a man who can put his trust en-
tirely in God. How 1 wish I could! I think I am
learning.
In reading friend Heddon's letter on "bee poison-
ing." I was reminded of a circumstance which oc-
curred while I was looking at my bees this fall. On
removing the cover I noticed the bees putting their
stings in and out. I remember I called our boy at
the time to come and look; and on examining them
closely we could see drops of some cl^ar liquid on
their stings. Neither of us felt any noticeable effects
from the poison which the bees were evidently spill-
ing.
1 advise you to get a pair of nice slippers. They
look nice; the3' are comfortable, they do not spoil
the carpets, and you can move about the house with
them, without making any noise. Although our din-
ing-room has nothing- better than a rag carpet on the
floor, mother is not pleased if we do not leave our
big boots in the kitchen, and put on our slippers In
the evening. E. Grainger.
Deer Park, Ont., Canada, Jan. 13, 1881.
[Thanks for kind words, friend G. The pbemom-
enon with the bees is nothing unusual, and 1 do not
think the poison usually affects any one in perfect
health. Yuur mother is right, and may God bless
her for her kind care in teaching her boys and men
folks neat habits. I always wear light shoes or boots
in the factory, and if I go out on the grounds when
it is muddy, I wear rubbers. Sometimes I forget,
and wear iny rubbers In the sitting-room; and, if I
am not mistaken, my wife will thank you for your
timely reproof. Are there any other wives among
our readers who feel the same way?]
CIKCIH.AKS AICD PRICE LISTS RE-
CEIVED.
From A. E. Manum, Bristol, Vt., a 32-page price
list of supplies for bee-keepers.
Salisbury & Caldwell, Camargo, Douglas Co., 111.,
send us a postal-card circular of bees, queens, fdn.,
etc.
A.J. Davis, Anderson, Madison Co., Ind., sends a
neat one page circular of bees, queens, honey, fdn.,
etc.
E. A. Thomas, Coleraln, Franklin Co., Mass., sends
a very nicely printed 4-page circular, offering bees,
queens, aplcultural books, etc.
A 12-page, map-fold circular and price list from
Frank L. Dougherty, Indianapolis, Ind., manufac-
turer of and dealer in the usual run of apiarian sup-
plies.
An 8-page circular and price list from the Olivet
Apiary, Olivet, Mich., A. D. Benham, proprietor.
James Heddon, Dowagiac, Mich., sends quite a
complete 20-page circular and price list of bec-keep'
ers' supplies.
The programme of the 11th annual convention of
of the N. E. Bee-keepers' Association, to be held in
Utica, N. Y., Feb. 2, 3, 4, is a well-printed sheet.
Around the programme proper appear eleven ads.
of our prominent apiarists and honej'-dealers.
F. A. Salisbury, G eddes, Onondaga Co., N. Y., sends
a 20-page price list of apiarian supplies.
r>ET"OTEI> TO BEES AlVO HONEY, AT^D IIOMK ITVTE«ESnrs.
Tol. IX.
FEBRUARY 1, 1881.
No. 2.
A. I. ROOT, I
Publisher and Proprietor, \
Mcdiua, O. j
Published Mouthly.
Established in 187S
r TERMS: Si. 00 PER AXNIM, IX APVAXCE;
I 2 Copies for 81. 90; 3 lor 82. To; 5 for 34.00; 10
I or more, 75 cts. each. Single Number, 10 ctsi.
-j Additions to clubs may be made at club
rates. Aliove are all to be pent to OXE posT-
I OFFICE. Clubs to different postollices, XOT
[^ LESS than 90 cts. each.
NOTES FROM THE BAXNER APIARY.
No. ]5.
QUEEN-CAGES.
^j?54 URING the past season Ihave received nueens
Wn) from several different breeders. Some of the
cages were provisioned with candy, some
with candy and water, and some with honey in a
sponge. All the queens arrived in good condition,
but none of the cages conformed to the letter of the
law. I agree with friend Heddon in saying, " I can
not help being mistaken sometimes, but I can and
will help being dishonest enough to trs' to cover it
up." For instance, last spring I thought we must
have water in our shipping cages, and I used the tin
bottles furnished by friend Root, until I saw the re-
port in September Gleanings, of friend Viallon's
candy, to be used without water, when I commenced
sending queens without water, making the candy
very soft. I have just left my writing, and "counted
up" the queens that I lost last season, and out of 245
with water in the cages, IT died; while out of 130,
sent without water, only 6 died; and I think some of
these perished from exposure to the cold.
1 have an idea, in my " thinking machine," that I
shall probably put in practice another season; it is
possible that it has been tried and discarded, but I
have never heard of it. Partly fill your cages with
candy that is very soft, just about like molasses, and
over this pour a coating of candy that is just hard
enough to stay in its place and not "run." The bees
can " drill through" this outer crust and "strike"
water. Oh yes! one thing more: I have found that
a light grade of yellow sugar is more moist in its na-
ture, and seems to retain its moisture longer than
does the coffee A sugar.
As so many of you are talking about
THE PEET CAGE,
I feel as though I must have my say. In the cage
that I received last season, the candy was broken
loose, and also broken into several pieces; but,
strange to say, not a bee was injured.
You see the candy is poured against the wire
cloth, and the least bending of the wire cloth is lia-
ble to loosen the candy; but I think this objection
might, in some manner, bo overcome. Last summer
I introduced U queens with this cage. After confin-
ing the queen with the cage, I always left the colony
undisturbed for two days, and at the expiration of
that time I never failed to find the queen released
and accepted. Somehow, without being able to say
iu»t why, 1 feel as though the cage, as an introduc-
ing cage, is all right,— per/iaps a little ahead of other
cages; but as a sZiippniff cage, I do not f/i ui/r I shall
like it.
I wonder, did anybody ever have any
BEES KILLED BY LIGHTNING?
A. C. Mosher, of San Marcos, Texas, writes that, a
day or two after a heavy thunder storm, in which
the electric fluid visited a house near by, and one
stroke of lightning sounded as though it struck their
own house, one of their strongest colonies of bees
was found dead, with the exception of a very few
bees. If the lightning did not kill the bees, friend
M. would like to know what did.
W. Z. Hutchinson.
Rogersvillc, Genesee Co., Mich.
Friend H., the objection j'ou make to the
Peet cage has been remedied, or at least it
was in those friend Peet has sent me, for the
candy did not touch the wire clotli at all, but
was "kept from it by a thin piece of wood
running under the candy. The many good
reports from the cage, as well as yours, with-
out question indicate that it has succeeded
better, all things considered, than any cage
ever before used as extensively as this has
been. It is simpler to use, in the hands of a
novice, and entirely cuts off the possibility
of the queen taking wing when first let out,
as has been the case with so many others,
besides friend Merrybanks.
m i«i *
THE EAR liY- AMBER SUGAR-CANE.
jHE cane industry is taking a grand boom this
winter. The past season has been a very suc-
cessful one, although the yield has not been
as great as some seasons. The quality has been
fine, and the demand beyond our capacity to sup-
ply, and the prices for sjTup have been such that
the business has been very profitable. In Minnesota
they have had the greatest success. They were sup-
plied with ample machinery, and turned out a fine
quality of sugar, and a refined syrup, which sur-
passed any thing in the sugar line I ever saw pro-
duced in the Xorth.
60
GLEANIXGS IX BEE CULTURE.
Eeb.
Now is the timo for parties interested in the cane
Industry to make arran^fements for next season's
operations. All who are intending to manufacture
syrup next season should have machinf ry on the
ground in the spring-, or have it ordered at least so
that your neighbors will feel safe in pLmting- the
cane. In reg-ard to mills for crushing the cane, I have
used three different makes. One was rigid, and one
was arranged with rubber springs. But the one
that I now use is the Adjustable Mill, made by the
Madison Mfg. Co., Madison, Wis.
This is adjusted by weights and levers. They will
dj one-third more work with the same power than
any mill I have ever seen in operation. The weights
and levers are to the mill what the safety valve is to
the steam-engine.
The Early-Amber variety of cane is the best. The
producer should be careful to select pure seed, and
that which has the greatest vitality, as the seed has
a great deal to do with the strength of the plant.
Seed should be thoroughly tested before planting,
by placing the seed in some favored location, and by
laying a piece of thin cloth next to the seed. You
can then at any time inspect the seed, and you can
more accurately tell the result.
Soil. Cane gives the best results on a sandy upland
soil; a clay soil gives a good quality, but not so large
a yield. Generally speaking, cane will do well on
any good wheat or corn land. W. P. Clement.
Monticello, Wis., January, 1881.
We have now for sale, syrup from the
Early Amber that is as thick as houey, and
nearly as white, and our children, on seeing
some of it brought home, thought of course
it was honey. We retail it at 75c per gallon .
or 7cts. per lb.— just half the price of honey.
We have also in stock Early- Amber sugar
that we sell at 74c per lb. at retail, or 7c by
the barrel. There may be a difference in
taste in regard to this sugar ; but for myself,
I greatly prefer it to the Southern cane sugar
for puddings, pies, or anyplace where yellow
or brown sugars are used. That sugar can
be raised at the Xorth is now proven be-
yond question ; and this sugar can doubtless
be used for feeding bees, just as well as any
sugar. As I have never seen any refined in-
to the white coffee or granulated sugars, I
presume a different process of refining is
needed ; but it will be done, Avithout ques-
tion, before another season passes. The
taste of it is rather more like maple sugar
than the sugars from the South.
MR, MERRYB.^NKS AIVD HIS NEIGH-
BOR.
FRIEND MERRYBANKS INVENTS A HIVE.
TOLD you last month, that John set the
hive down on the swill-pail Avhen the
' bees started off. Well, the pail was over
by the fence, near the pig-pen ; and now I
think I will tell you just how it came to be
on that precise spot. They had just finished
their dinner, and John's father sat down to
smoke a pipe before going out to his work
again. .While he smoked, he read in his bee
journal ; and, although lie knew it was past
the time he should be at his work, he yielded
to the temptation to sit a little longer, in
spite of the suggestion from his good wife,
that he might be needed, until he began to
feel decidedly uncomfortable, and just in a
mood for finding fatilt with somebody. As
he stepped out of the door he passed John,
who was rigging up a box for bee-hunting.
"John, have you fed those pigs tliis noonV"
Xow, .John was a very well-meaning boy,
and would jump and run in a minute when
his father or mother asked him to do any
thing for them ; but he had one very sad
fault : he could never remember any thing
very along ahead, lie always would forget
to feed those pigs, and it made very little
difference whether they squealed loud enough
to raise the roof from their pen or not, John
never heard them, and rarely remembered to
go and feed them, unless told each morning,
night, and noon. Perhaps one reason was,
that they were almost always squealing any-
how, and he had got used to it. W^ell, when
his father asked the question, he was so
used to saying, " Oh! I declare, father, I for-
got it,"" that he said so this time, as a mat-
ter of course.
His father was a little out of tune, as you
know, and, under the impulse of the mo-
ment, he gave him a cut with a halter-strap
he had in his hand, saying, —
" There I take that, and learn to remember
what you are told.-'
John went crying after the pail, but it
could not be found. Come to think of it, he
did feed the pigs, after all. promptly, just
before dinner, and there stood the pail over
near the pen, just where he had left it. So
he came back to his father, rubbing his eyes,
with the humiliating confession that he was
not derelict in duty, but forgot to mention
the circumstance, in time to avert the clip
with the halter-strap. As John looked up
at his father, and his father looked down at
John, the situation was a little embarrassing
for both parties. .John loved and respected
his father, in spite of his sometimes harsh
ways, and always enjoyed being with him
in any work or play. The father also loved
his boy, in his way ; and as he stood there
with the traces of tears on his cheeks, he re-
called to mind how very dutiful and obedient
he had always been. In fact, there Avasn"t a
better boy anywhere round about than his
boy John, as he had often said, if it were
not for his awful propensity to forget every
commission, seemingly, that anybody en-
trusted to his care. Scolding did not" seem
to help the matter any, for he forgot again,
almost before the words were out of his ears.
I am a little inclined to think the father was
then remembering how he used to forget,
too, when a boy. and how earnest, kind
words seemed to lift him up and make him
strong, more than any amount of scolding.
Should he confess to his boy that he had
been hasty ? and would he not think less of
a father who should so humble himself V Is
it really well to " own up " to your boy when
you have done wrong V As the father medi-
tated upon the consequences of weakening
the boy's confidence in liis wisdom and fit-
ness to stand in the position of father, he al-
so thought within himself, " Oh that I could
learn to be more careful, and to have perfect
command over that temper of mine!'' He
did not think, " God be merciful to me a
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
61
sinner,'" but it seems to me it amounted to
almost that.
JOnN AND niS FATIIEK.
" Papa I John ! The bees are swarming I
don't you see them V' It was httle Mary"s
voice; and, sure enough, the bees were
swarming. The particulars of the event you
have had already.
Well, after John got back from the woods
with his bees still clustered on the limb, he
gave them to friend jNIerrybanks to hold,
while he went after the hive left sitting on
the pail. The pail was over near the fence,
and as the hiv.e was lifted otf of it, some stiff
grass and weeds underneath it raised. up so
much as to upset it, and it rolled over against
the board fence. Now, the bottom board of
the fence was a rather broad one, and as the
pail rolled against it, it fell with its mouth
against this board in such a way that the
pail was all closed, except a small opening
at the lower edge. The picture will show
you just how the pail lay against the fence.
After the weeds
had risen up back of
the pail, it was ob-
scured from view so
effectually from the
inside of the fence,
that no one would
have ever thought of
there being a pail
there ; and, in truth,
neither John nor
THE NOVEL BEEHIVE, ^ig father Bver did
find the pail. After the excitement of bring-
ing the bees home, John was not even as
good as usual at remembering, and so it
never occurred to him that the pail was down
in the weeds just where it tipped over when
he lifted the hive up. After he and his
father had botli hunted for it in vain, they
gave it up ; and when the latter went down
to the grocery in the evening to get some
more " tobacker,'' he bought a new pail.
Now, one great reason why John's father
was a poor man was, that he seldom took
care of his tubs, pails, etc. When a hoop
tumbled off, it was seldom put back and
fastened ; but the utensils and tools were
mostly left out in the sun and rain until they
fell in pieces, and then new ones were bought
as a matter of course. His plea was, that it
was more expensive to fix and fuss Avith old
things than to buy new ones outright. Mr.
Merrybanks did not agree with him, and they
had often talked over the subject. Mr. M.
even went so far as to make a new stave for
a bucket, rather than to throw it away ;
and his plea was, that even if it was more
expensive than to pay lo cents for a new
pail, it got one into a way of stopping things
from going to pieces, and thus saving out-
lays to the amount of many dollars in a year.
It was ttie same way with the tinware. A
good tin pail at John's father's would often
have the bottom rusted out in about two
months, because the water was left standing
in it. or it was left with just a little in, with-
out being wii)ed out and turned over. Now,
Mrs. Merrybanks had a way of taking care
of her tinware, that I think I will have to
tell you about. She did not buy the thickest
tin pails and dish-i)ans, because she did not
want heavy utensils to handle ; but before
each article was i)ut to use, it was warmed
slightly, and a little clean lard rubbed in-
to all the seams, Avith a soft rag. This was
then rubbed off Avith another clean portion
of cloth, and the operations repeated at in-
tervals, according to the Avay in which the
article Avas to be used. The tin Avater-pail
was thus dried and ''greased " inside about
once in a Aveek or ten days, and the effect
Avas such that the pail had been in use for
years, and the bottom A\;as not rusted
even then. Mr. Merrybanks treated his sap-
pails the same Avay ; and even though they
were made from light tin, they Avere bright
and clean after years of service.
Now, a few days after that great SAvarm-
ing time Ave have mentioned, Mary and
Freddie were at play in the lot adjoining.
This lot was one where cattle were allowed
to pasture, and the grass was eaten down
closely. As they passed along opposite the
spot where that unlucky pail tipped over,
Ereddie exclaimed, —
" Why ! look'e here ! Here are bees going
out and in under the old board of this fence."
" They must be bumble-bees," suggested
]\Iary, " and they have got a nest under there,
I'll bet you."
"I'll bet you they ain't bumble-bees," said
Freddie ; "I guess I knoAV bumble - bees
when I see them, and these are real honey-
bees, like my papa's."
" Well, I know they are bumble-bees, for
honey-bees don't ever go doAA'^n into holes in
the ground and grass as these do. My pa
has got honey-bees too, just as well as yours."
John, hearing the dispute from where he
was trying in vain to dig up the great Aveeds
that had nearly SAvamped the potatoes, came
to hear what it Avas about. Both children
called out at once, —
" Say, John, ain't these bumble-beesV"
" Say, John, ain't these honey-bees?"
At this, John clambered over the fence ;
but the fence was poor and shaky, like the
general surroundings ; and as he jumped
doAvn, the fence Avas shaken so violently that
all hands soon had a pretty fair prospect of
knowing the disposition if not the kind of
bees that inhabited that old pail and were
pouring out from under the fence in a way
thatmeantonly " business." Discussion AA'as
62
GLEAKINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Feb,
dropped with a unanimity that would have
done credit to a bee convention, and all hands
cut for the house, laughing and screaming.
"Whom should they lun against, as they
turned the corner of the house, but Mr. Mer-
rybanks, as jolly and rosy as he was when
we last saw him rolling down the liillV
hive. Little did any of the parties dream
that morning that this same little incident,
or perhaps accident, was eventually to make
such a stir, not only throughout all Onion-
ville, for that was the name of the place, but
clear out into the outside world as well. As
Mr. Merrybanks has promised us a descrip-
tion of the Wooden-Pail-Cracker-Barrel bee-
hive, belonging to himself and John, for
next month, I think I won't tell you any
more about it now. It winters bees perfect-
ly (even if they haven't a drop of honey),
and costs only — dear reader," Barney" says
I have got to stop, for he can't squeeze an-
other word into this number of Gleatstixgs
'• no how."
I^f turning over the great bundles of papers that
come to me from all directions daily, I scarcely
know from whom or why, I occasionally catch a
glimpse of many g6od things. The following caught
my eye this moment, from the Philadelphia Chris-
tian Slandard :—
Xothinp can equal in power and influence a holy life. The in-
flnence may be silent, but it is luijfhty. Books anil tracts may
111' read, and their instructions and advices and appeals may be
(lisresrardcd: sermons maybe preached, and their expositions of
tmtUnnd their exhortations to repentance may gro unheeded ;
but a Christ-like example, a quiet, blameless, beautiful walk in
the path of purity, is, at least, more difficult to resist.
ARE THEY BU3IBLE-BEES OR HONEY-BEESV
Friend M. hustled the children into the
house, and the bees, after buzzing about the
door awhile, buzzed back to their pail hive.
Mary had a bee or two tangled in her flying
hair, but these friend M. got out quietly,
without even a sting, and John was the only
one of the three who got stung at all. The
bees that got out of Mary's hair, when found
on the window, proved to be one-banded hy-
brids. Friend M. lighted a chunk of rotten
wood, and after rigging out the different
members of the family with sundry veils,
the whole party cautiously approached the
pail bee-hive. A little smoke was blown in
at the entrance, and friend M. carefully
turned the pail so that a view could be had
of the inside. Sure enough , there was a good
colony. They had evidently built the first
comb parallel with the bottom of the pail,
and the next one right by its side, and so on.
The queen had commenced her brood in the
center, and circled around so that their stores
were above and at the sides. All were loud
in their praises of these beautiful " wheels "
of honey-comb and honey, except friend M.
He stood with his smoking chunk of rotten
woodiuhishand, and gazed as if spell-bound.
Mary first broke the silence, —
" I guess pa is studying up a patent bee-
hive, made out of pails : don't you think he
isV"
At this, John grabbed hold of friend M.'s
other hand and exclaimed, "Oh Mr. M.! Mr.
M.! it'll be half mine, won't it, 'cause I in-
vented it when I lost the swill-pail?"
At this sally there was a loud laugh all
around, and even John's mother joined while
she suggested he would certainly make a
great inventor some day, if every thing he
lost or forgot turned out like the pail bee-
SOME one of my kind friends sent me a little book
entitled "The Christian's Secret of a Happy Lite,"
and by so doing he has conferred a greater favor
than if he had sent me a thousand dollars (yys, a
great deal greater, for the money would very likely
have done harm; but the book will do good through
endless ages.) May God's choicest blessing rest on
the woman who wrote it, and all praise be to Him
who put it into iny power to call your attention to it.
I shall probably make some extracts from it next
month.
THE SPIDER PLANT, AND SIMPSON-PLAKT.
I WOULD not advise any one to raise plants to sell,
for last year's experiments abundantly proved that
both could be raised in the open ground soon enough
to get a good crop of honey. Of course, you will get
better plants and an earlier yield, by starting them
as you would tomatoes and cabbages, in the house,
in a hot-bed, or even in the open ground, covered
with sash, until all cool weather i.s past. We had
several thousand raised in the latter way last sea-
sou, and they bloomed nicely in the late fall months,
when needed most.
MRS. COTTON.
On page 571, Dec. No., I asked all who had com-
plaints against Mrs. Cotton for keeping their money
and not sending any thing, to write to the address I
then gave. Well, in the Jan. No., page 47, 1 said
very few had reported. The truth of the matter is,
no o?iereported. All cases of that kind seem to have
been adjusted before Mr. Holmes undertook to look
into the matter. The only thing that now remains
unsatisfactorily adjusted is the complaints of her
customers that the goods she sent were not satisfac-
tory, nor what one would expect from her adver-
tisement. My way of fixilig these complaints would
be to refund such damages as they think they should
have, or ask them to return the goods. Inasmuch
as she is not the only supply dealer who has declined
to settle with their customers in that way, she
hardly should be classed with humbugs aid
swindlers on that account.
1881
GLEANINGS IK BEE CULTURE.
63
JOURNALS €OSTI>G IttOKF- OF THE
PlJBIilSHERS THAN OF SUBSCRIP-
TION AGENTS.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE QUESTION.
^^RIENB ROOT:— I desire to talk in a friendly
jirJ way to you and friend Jones, about what you
— ' say on paffos 17 and 18 of Jan. Gleanings, and
desire a space in the Growlcry or elsewhere so to do.
Friend Jones says, "You hit the nail on the head
when you say, 'Gleanings is a standard article.' "
Now, I wish to ask, "How has Gleanings become a
'standard article' V " First, by advertising- it by the
editor; and second, l)y its being advertised by sub-
scription agents. Which has paid the better? We
will let A. I. Root answer. Under date of Feb. .5,
1874, friend Root writes me as fallows; "Our num-
ber is now 840, but wo have paid out about $150.00
advertising, so that we are not making Gleanings
pay as yet." Under date of Dec. 25, 1874, he writes;
"If you don't stop sending us full price for sub-
scriptions, M'e will reveLge ourselves by swelling
the amount on your credit page until we can put it
out on interest for your wife and family. We bhould
soon have a larger journal if we had a few more
such friends." Again, under date of Oct. 3, 1875, he
writes: "We really feel as if we owed you much for
the subscribers you have been the means of our
getting." Thus it will be seen that subscription
agents paid the better in bringing Gleanings to a
standard article. That was when Gleanings was in
its infancy, and" friend R. insisted, at that time, on
our taking 50 per cent as pay for our labor in getting
subscriptions for him; or, in other words, buying
Gleanings at wholesale, and selling at retail. As
50 per cent was more than ■vve wished to take, the
next year we conceived the idea that we could help
friend R. more by way of introducing his paper, if
we gave all our suV)Scribers 35 per cent of this profit,
and also be a help to them by reducing the price to
all such as would buy Gleanings of us. Thus we
have worked up to the present time, and the many
letters we have received thanking us for our under-
taking has cheered us on, and helped smoothe over
several losses we have sustained. Also, friend Root
has expressed his thankfulness to us for helping
him to a large circulation. But now Gleanings
has become a standard article, and as many children
forget, when grown up, the labor and kindness be-
stowed upon them in childhood by their parents, so
friend Root apparently forgets the many friends
who helped him in his time of need, and places them
in a position whei-e they will either lose all their
customers, or else get no pay for their labor. If we
place Gleanings to subscribers at 90c, and have to
pay friend Root the said 90e (as he says we must an-
other year) where will the $100 come from it cost us
to print and get 4000 club lists into the hands of
bee-keepers all over the land? If we put the price
of Gleanings at one dollar, we shall get no sub-
scribers, as they will then send to friend Root for
Ihem, just as we would go to any store if we wanted
a watch, rule, knife, etc., if we could get them just
as cheaply at the store as of friend R. And now we
come to the
inconsistency of friends root and JONES.
Friend Root refers us to counter store; that he
there sells at a profit of 10 per cent, and has thus
"builded up such a trade;" but he must have for-
gotten how he has told us, all along back, how, by
buying large quantities at wholesale, he has been
enabled to get the goods at from 25 to 50 per cent
discount, so as to sell to us thus cheaply, thu=» mer-
iting the approval and thankfulness of bee-keepers
all over the land. How many 10 per cents do you
think you would raakf^, friend R., if some one of us
should sit down and write to all the mauufauturera
j-ou buy of, and tell them you were selling goods at
retail for less than they were, and convinced them
that it would be a benefit to mankind if they would
raise their prices so that all parties would have to
pay alike for their goods? And now, friend Jones,
to carry out your theory (of "bringing the producer
and consumer, publisher and subscriber, nearer to
together, thus crowding out unnecessary middle-
men"), suppose you sit down and write to all these
men of whom friend Root buys, that their "vvhule-
sale price is too low," and thus cause a wail to be
heard from Maine to California, and fn m Cana'ia to
the Gulf of Mexico, from those who have bought of
friend Novice at the present low prices fn m his
counter store. And Nfivice says, "Amen I this is
done solely to correct the inconsistencies you have
mentioned." O consistency ! thou art a jewel.
G. M. DOOLITTLE.
Borodino, N. Y., Jan. 11, 1881.
That is right, friend D.; speak out; all
you say is true, and some more that you did
not say is true also. Wlieu 1 wrote you
those letters of thanks, you received the full
price from each subscriber; wlien you spoke
of working without pay or commi.ssion, I
suggested (if I am correct), that it was not a
good way to do, even among tlie best of
friends, and I think so still. If I am not
mistaken. Gleanings became a ''standard
article" while you and friend lleddon both
were dealing clips at it and its editor month
after month, through the A. B. J.; and it
was during this term of years that you com-
menced sending circulars to all of its old
regular subscribers, offering it to them for
75c instead of a dollar, if they would buy of
you. Letters came to me, inclosing 7.")C, say-
ing that they supposed the publisher was
able to afford Gleanings at the regular ad-
vertised price, and if he could not. send the
money back. Of course, we sent the money
back ; for if I should let one of our friends
have it at 7.5c, and charge the rest $1.00, 1
should think it litde better than stealing,
and that, too, from the best friends I have.
I might put it at 7.3c to everybody, and have
no wholesale, but this you would by no
means consent to, if you took subscribers.
Those wdio sell me goods for the counter
store do not retail, as a general thing; and
I have never heard one of them complain
because I sold them too low. A bee journal
is wanted year after year by a special class
of men, and it is an easy matter to put a cir-
cular into their hands, just about tlie time
they are ready to subscribe. Our friends
across the ocean often commission me to
purchase for them certain goods, and I can
give them as low rates on every article as
anybody else, with the exception of Glean-
ings; and it is a hard matter to explain to
them,— in fact, it can't be consistently ex-
plained, why I, the publisher, charge them a
full dollar, when it is advertised extensively
at 85c. As I now see it, it is my duty to fur-
nish Gleanings for 1882 as low as it shall
G4
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
i^Eli.
be advertised in any of tlie subscription
lists ; or, at least, so near near it that my old
friends and customers will have no reason
to complain ; at the same time, I wish to pay
(and pay well) the friends who take the
trouble to canyass thoroughly in the vicinity
of their own postofflces. The first page of
reading matter in each No. gives the terms
for doing this. Friends are often made bet-
ter friends after having had a plain, square
talk in regard to differences.
MY FIKST TEN YEARS OF BEE-
KEEPING.
SHAVE been keeping bees sixteen years. Hop-
ing that it maybe interesting and profitable to
— ' some of your ABC class at least, I send you a
f hort account of my first ten years' experience.
1. How I not into the husincsn.
I often wanted to buy honey, but could get none,
except once; I got from a farmer, who had brim-
stoned a hive, a few pounds in old brood-combs, half
full of bee-bread. It was not very good eating, but
we made the best of it. In the fall of 18(51 I met a
clergyman from the West who told me of the new
methods. I bought Langstroth's book and studied
it. I bought a hive of bees in March, 1875. I sent to
Mr. Langstroth for a sample hive, and got a carpen-
ter to make others, for ^\ hich I paid $i.T)0 apiece. I
read my book, and practic.'cd what I read. In one
year I had gone the whole round of dividing, taking
honey, wintering, etc. By that time I had learned
pretty thoroughly the theory and practice of bee-
keeping, and was prepared to advance. My bees and
hives cost me the first year $'>\. I got 80 lbs. of box
honey, which I could have sold at 40 cts. per lb. I
had four good colonics to winter, which I could have
sold for $13 apiece. Had I sold out at the end of my
first year, I would have netted $19 on the one hive.
i?eMiO)7c— Ifeel very confident that, as a general
rule, it is best for beginners to commence in a small
way with a few hives and as little expense as pos-
sible; learn the business, test their own capabilities,
and make the bees pay their own way. This would
have saved many persons I know considerable loss
and disappointment.
2. Expenses, increase, and profits.
The account I kept was a cash account. I did not
charge the bees with my own labor, but with cash
paid out for hives, queens, etc. Neither do 1 credit
them with the increase, nor with honey used in my
own family, or given to my friends and neighbors.
This amounted to several hundred pounds a year.
The cash account for ten years stands as follows:—
Year.
No. of col's.
Dr.
Cr.
1865
1
$;n.oo
$00.00
1866
4
33.00
00.00
186T
6
60.00
5.00
1868
13
80.00
1-25.00
1869
23
86.00
195.00
1870
31
58.00
326.00
1871
40
80.00
515.00
1873
34
15.00
363.00
1873
16
OO.on
223.00
1874
10
Total,
10.00
138.00
$451.00
$1890.00
$451.00
Net profit in ten years, $1439.00
Remarks.— After the prosperous year of 1871, 1 be-
gan to sell my bees, and to work out of the business.
Had I continued the next three 5'ears to increase, or
even if I had kept up the number of working colo-
nies, the profits might have been much larger. I
began to go out of the business just when I had got-
ten into a position where I could make it profitable.
The profits for succeeding years were principally
for surplus honey remaining over from 1871, and
colonies and hives sold.
3. TIow I got out of the business.
1. For reasons I need not mention, I wanted to
keep no more bees than would raise honey enough
for my family and friends. I sold some colonics in
the spring of 1873.
3. Until 1873 I wintered my bees successfully in a
good dry cellar, out of the reach of the changes of
cold and heat. That fall, owing mostly to careless-
ness, and in part to the fact that my neighbors had
for some years wintered their bees so successfully
in Langstroth hives on their summer stands, and
without protection, I left my bees out unprotected.
That was a severe winter. I lost over one-half of
my colonies, and the other half was so reduced that
it took them all summer to recover. Foul brood also
made its appearance, and I lost several colonies be-
fore I got it exterminated. My neighbors lost near-
ly all their bees that winter.
FOUL BROOD.
3. In the spring of 1873 I began feeding up the 10
colonics left, to make them increase to fill my emp-
ty hives. One day in April I found a crock of honey
that I had forgotten about. I divided it among the
10. After three weeks, when they all seemed to be
prospering, on examination I found foul brood In
every one of the hives. Then I remembered that
the honey in the crock had been saved from hives
destroyed by foul brood. I had intended to boil it
before feeding, but forgot about it. Here was
trouble— foul brood in every hive. What could I
do? Pre\ious experience had satisfied me that I
could not save them without destroying the brood,
and boiling the honey; and I was somewhat disgust-
ed with keeping foul-brood honey. Most of the
bees were old, and would not live long. I doubled
up the colonies, putting them into three empty
hives and removing them into the cellar to make
them eat what honey they had saved before I would
give them combs. I made a brush-heap, set it on
fire, and emptied the contents of the ten hives into
it, and set the hives away to freeze the next winter
before they could be used again. After two days I
brought out the bees, gave them clean hives and
combs, which had been saved after the destructive
work of the winter of 1873. In three weeks more, I
found foul brood in every hive. Ah nve ! 1 had an-
other fire. The three colonies were put into one
hive, and placed in the cellar for four days, and fed
a little. They did not get foul brood again, but died
from old age before the young bees had increased
enough to save the colony. Thus ended my first ten
years of bee-keeping.
Remarks.— 1. A man must mind his p's and q's if
he does not want to make bee-keeping a failure.
3. Some years, bees will winter well out of doors in
almost any hive. Most winters, when bees can fly
occasionally, out-of-door wintering in chaff hives, or
hives well protected, will probably prove the best.
But in winters like that of 1872-'3, when the bees
could not fly once from early in December until the
middle of March, I am disposed to think there is
nothing eqiial to a good dry cellar,
3. It makes me sad yet to think of the desolatioTi
which reigned in my apiary in 1874. I did not find it
1881
GLEAXIXGS IX BEE CULTURE.
60
so pleasant to be out of the business. I also found
that I needed the recreation, the exercise, and the
pocket-money my bees gave me. I am now trying
to winter 50 colonies.
4. I have other experiences, which I can not put in
this article.
Wishing a happy New Year and a prosperous busi-
ness for 1881 to you and all your readers, I remain,—
Milroy, Pa., Jan., 1831. John W. White.
Many thanks, friend W., for your valuable
experience, especially in regard to wintering
and foul brood. I have no doubt but that
many of us could furnish facts corroborative
of the point you have brought out so strong-
ly— the ■ importance of care and thoughtf ul-
ness, year after year, if we would make a
continued success of the business.
TOBACCO COIiVMiV.
ESEE you offer to give one of your smokers to any
one who has been an inveterate slave to the
use of tobacco, who will pledge to abstain from
the use of it. I, perhaps, have been as much a slave
to the use of it as any one, and if you will send me
one of your smokers, I will pledge myself never to
chew or smoke it again, or forfeit fourfold.
Jas. H. p. Henderson.
Co\-ington, Ga , Dec. IT, 1880.
I have noticed your offer in Gleanings, to give a
smoker to any person giving up the use of tobacco.
I have smoked tobacco for 11 years, more or less;
the last 4 or 5 years regularly. I am 27 years old;
have been discussing in my own mind lately whether
"to quit or not to quit," and have about concluded
to quit. Send along that smoker, and away goes
pipe, tobacco, aud cigars for good.
L. E. BrssELL.
Ridgeway, Osage Co., Kansas, Jan. 6, 1881.
You sent me, by request last week, a sample copy
of Gleanings, and in it I found a singular offer. To
any one who will leave off using tobacco, you offer
to furnish, free of charge, one of your smokers— he
to have his choice. Now, I have been a slave to the
weed for 18 years, although I am only 34 now; but I
am going to take you at your word. I am not pre-
pare! at present: but if the smoker comes all right,
I will subscribe for Gleanings. I want the large
size Cold Blast. I am just commencing in the bee
business. I am going into it more for the pleasure I
may get out of it than for the profit. I shall want a
queen in the spring. My wife says that the minute
I begin the use of tobacco again, she will write and
tell you of it: but I guess I have honor enough left
to pay if I fail. E. A. Em.mons.
Tampico, Whiteside Co., 111., Dec. 30, 1880.
I have got into my old path again, and have for-
gotten the many kind words you spoke to me while
I was in Medina jail. Mr. Root, I wish I could be
with you and leai'n to be a Christian ; but I never
can be a servant of the Lord as long as I live where
I am. I have left off chewing tobacco, but still
smoke some, and I hope you will forgive me for
breaking my promise to you on the smokers, and I
am willing to pay you for your smoker, as it has
done me a great deal of good. Perhaps you have
heard of my smoking the pipe; if not, this will let
you know that bad company will do almost aHy
thing. I shotild like very well to work for you in
the spring, so I could get away from the comrades I
have in this town. Samuel Young.
Chatham, Medina Co., O , Jan. 20, 1881.
I am very sorry, friend Y., that you have
gone back to smoking again, but I am very
glad that you have come rigcht out, and con-
fessed it like a man. I should be very glad
to give you work, and may be able to do so ;
but, friend Y., can I not impress on you that
it is not to me you must look for help V I am
but a poor weak erriug mortal, and if you
should depend on me alone, it would be like
the blind leading the blind. Take your Sav-
ior as your friend, and you are sure to win
immortal life in the end. If I am not mis-
taken, you have good Christian people all
around "you. friend Y., and you are holding
a little aloof from them. Xow, as you value
my advice, friendship, or wisdom, go right
straight next Sunday morning to your near-
est church. Tell the minister, and the su-
perintendent of the Sabbath-school that you
are coming right along, and want to help in
the Lord's work ; and if you do not tind it
one of the happiest Sundays you ever spent,
I do not know any thing about it. I know it
will be hard work, and that you would rather
do almost any thing in the world ; but I tell
you, we shall never get that golden crown
unless we do some hard things. Just read
this promise: —
He that overcometh, Ihe same shall be clothed in
white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out
of the book of life, but I will confess his name before
my Father, and before his angels.— Rev. 3: 5.
I am sorry, very sorry, but I fear I shall
have to charge you with that smoker until
you write me tliatyou have broken off again.
D. is just breaking off tobacco too ; and if
he sees you with a pipe in your mouth after
you have once tried, do you not see how it may
hinder instead of helping him in his new
life. By referring to p. 571 of last year's
volume, I see you were the first to accept my
offer of a smoker ; and now I am sorry you
are the first one to be called on for payment
for one.
Or lietters from Those AVho have ITIade
Bee Culture a Failuvc.
^j;(^S) EES were almost a total failure in this part of
/[jaj) the country this year; no increase, and
" — scarcely any surplus, and a good many light
swarms went into winter-quarters.
John Xoblb.
Eureka, Winnebago Co., Wis., Dec. 12, 1880.
I have lost 3 out of 7 swarms, and if this cold
weather continues I shall lose all; then what shall I
do? Nobody was looking for such a winter as this.
A. BiXBV.
Foristell, St. Charles Co., Mo., Jan. 12, 1881.
Our clover and other flowers utterly failed last
summer, so that we had to feed our bees in July and
Augvst, to keep them alive. You may set down a
large section of Illinois, under the recent terrible
drought, among the growlers; I suspect you could
buy out their bees for a tin whistle, if they have any
still alive. J. B. Turner.
Jacksonville, Morgan Co., 111., Jan. 13, 1881.
(i(;
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Fbk.
POISOM^iO BEES.
AN EXTRACT FROM THE LAWS OF OHIO.
^^RIEND ROOT:— As I have seen considerable
Jip discussion in Gleanings of late in regard to
— ' the law protectingr bees, and in regard to hives,
poisoning, etc., I have jiist been reading a portion
that is found in Ohio Laws, Vol. 68, page 87, which I
think will fit the Klassen-Krock case pretty well. It
reads as follows: —
That if any person shall steal any hive, box, bee
palace, or other contrivance containing honey or
honey-bees, the property of another, of less value
than thirty-five dollars; orif aas^ person shall steal
honey from any such hive, box, bee palace, or other
contrivance as aforesaid; or if any person shall will-
fully and maliciously disturb, injure, or destroy any
such hive, box, bee palace, or other contrivance
containing honey or honey-bees; or if any person
shall steal, or by any art, device, or contrivance, or
in any manner whate%-er. decoy from any such hive,
box, bee palace, or contrivance, any such honey-bees
with intent to convert the same to his own use, or
with intent to damage or defraud the owner thereof;
or if any person shall, by any art, contrivance, or de-
vice, unlawfully and maliciously injure, damage, or
destroy any such honey-bees by means of poison, or
otherwise, every person so offending shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof
shall be fined in any sum not exceedingonehundred
dollars, and shall be confined in the jail of the coun-
ty not less thantcn nor more than thirty days, and
pay the cost of prosecution, and shall, moreover, be
liable to the party injured in double the value of the
property stolen, injured, or destroyed.
Now, friend E., I am a littlesurprisedatthe course
you, and especially friend "Wilkin, takes on page 8 of
Jan. Gleanings, advocating the idea of poisoning
property. I think friend W. has not looked at the
laws of Ohio carefully. Of course, I do not sanction
the idea of carrying a revolver, but I should think
more of the man who would point a revolver at my
face than one who would go behind my back in the
dark and poison my property, which I think is one
of the most heinous and meanest of criminal offens-
es. A. H. DCTFF.
Flat Bidge, O., Jan. 8, 1881.
Tut, tut, friend D.I Did I say any thing
that could be construed to encourage poi-
soning bees or other stock? I am very glad
indeed to get the above law, and I am sure
we all owe you a vote of thanks for looking
it up. Now, you see, if friend Klasen had
not had a pistol along with him, we should
have had a "dead open and shut"' on friend
Krock, as the boys say. Neither 2)lstols nor
poison, are according to the spirit of tlte
Fourth of July in settling neighborhood dif-
ferences, and so I would advise both the
parties to shake hands and help each other
fix up their bee-hives and grapevines. If
they won't do it otherwise, I think it would
be a good idea to have a "donation party''
for both of them, to make up what they lost
by being foolish.
TJIVDER THE BOX-ELDERS.
fjjRiEXD NOVICE :-Situated under the shelter
of one of the many beautiful little groves so
■ common in northern Illinois, is the home ot a
plain gentleman, to whom I wish to introduce you
and your readers. He is a bee-keeper with his other
business, and to show you the style and tastes of the
gentleman I will say, his cows are Jersey; chickens,
Plymouth Rocks; bees, Cyprian and Italian; dog,
black and tan, and bis cat Malte. His home is an in-
expensive one -neat and tasty. Around his dwell-
ing is quite a number of box-clJer trees of his own
setting; and almost any hot afternoon in July or
Avigust you can find him seated in a large rustic
chair under one of these beautiful sweet-scented
trees, watching his bees and chickens, both of which
are in plain sight. It is here we have met so often
and had our bee talks, of which I may give you a
synopsis; and it is here we will introduce— Mr. Dust-
er, Mr. Root; Mr. Root, Mr. Duster. His neighbors
say, the reason he was called by that name was be-
cause he could dust around occasionally £o lively;
but I think, upon due retiection, that the reason
was, "because it was his name." Having introduced
him, we will proceed to give some of his ideas on —
BOXES AND separators.
" Well," said Mr. Duster, in answer to my inquiry,
"1 have used almost all kinds; I now use but three;
viz., the 4f.i X -IJi, the Prize box, and Harbison sec-
tion box. They all have their good qualities. You
may think strange that 1 should name Harbison's in
connection with the others. I have used the H. sec-
tion box for several years. I do not make them of
such heavy stuff as Mr. Harbison; I make them
very light; bottom-piece nearly like Prize box— leav-
ing, however, a wider space for bees to pass into the
box.
"Let me say here that I have heard a good deal
about section boxes. Well, I do not know of but this
one of Harbison's, unless j-ou call Adair's of tenor
twelve years ago one. This Harbison box is reoMy
in sections, and I know of none other that is.
" I have for years prepared the box or sections in
this way: Running a wax-guide on the top of every
section, crescent form, and '/4 inch in depth, and
placing a piece of white comb in the center, and
having at least one piece that would reach from top
to bottom as a climber. I never used separators, and
almost invariably the combs were straight and nice.
There is another thing to be said for them, — you
need no racks. I can gather more honey in this
style of box than in any other I have used, and have
it in good shape. The Prize box is good, and I do not
see why, if put up in racks ivithout separators, and
prepared the same as Harbison's section box, they
would not be filled as soon as the H. box. The two
past seasons have been so poor for honey, I have not
been able to satisfy myself in this regard. When
honey comes in slowly, and little at a time, as in the
two past seasons, there will be a great many imper-
fectly filled sections, let them be prepared in any
way or manner. The sticking of little bits of comb
to separatoi'S comes from the same cause; viz., a
small and irregular flow of honey. There is no great
question in my mind but that bees will store more
honey in sections without separators, and I mean to
test the matter the coming season more fully. I am
afraid we can not get along without separators in
our Prize boxes, but I'll venture one prophecy: The
future separator is not invented yet. One item
more in regard to the Prize boxes: I am much in-
clined to think that the entrance to the Prize box
should be more than 14 inch, and especially so if I
were going to use them without separators."
Here our talk on boxes and separators took a sud-
den turn, for in our conversation we had wandered
into his bee-yard, and as we came up to a certain
hive, Mr. Duster stopped, and, pointing at it, said:
ISSl
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
67
" I can never pass that hive without thiniing what a
hot set of hybrids I had in it last year." Lookiug at
me inquiiingly he asked, "Did my wife ever tell you
about it?"
"No, Mr. Duster; why?"
"Well," said Duster, "if she never told you, I
rt ckcn I can keep it."
" But I'll ask her now," said I.
"Yes, yes," he drawled out; "I see, I see. Per-
haps I'd better tell it myself, as women are so given
to embell'shing- things, and this scrimmage I had
with these hybrids needs nothing of the sort; so,
here goes.
"It was a hot dayin August, about this time in the
afternoon, and I had come from my business very
warm. I stripped off all my woolens, so that when I
stepped out among my bees I had on only mj' shirt
and an old thin pair of overalls, scudding under bare
poles, nearly, you see— close reefed, anyhow. Well,
I was just passing that hive, and happened to think
that the boxes were about ready to come off, but for-
got what manner of bees these were of. I removed
the cap, and ccmmenced to lift the boxes; they did
not stop like the Italians, and fill the space between
the frames, holding on to the top-bar, and looking at
you as much as to ask, ' What's the rumpus ? ' No, I
guess not I They just streamed out and up both mj*
hands and seized ' each particular hair' as fast as they
came to them, humped their backs, and I felt some-
thing! Yes, I could stand that; but they knew a
trick worth two of that. They went to work to try :
the te.xturo of mj' overalls, and just here was an ex- !
cellent opening for business, and I assure you they j
improved it. Did you ever have bees stiug you i
when (hey could just reach through the cloth to ;
your hide? Yes, T guess you remember it— just like !
red-hot needles— that's it. Y'ou ask why I did not at i
once put down the boxes and run? That's about
what they asked the Irishman who had mounted a
wild celt that ran with him under the apple-tree
limbs until he had lost almost all of his clothes.
' " Why didn't you get off? " Get off, en' by gorry, is
it? Faith, en', en' how could I get off whin I had a
tough match to stick on?— d'ye mind? ' That was
about m5' fix.
"'Mr. Duster! why don't you dust? run, or the
bees will certainly sting you!'
"I stopped just long enough f o see my wife stand-
ing on the back piazza of the house, trying to cover
a smile with one hand when it was too big to be cov-
ered by both. Run I a man never had more induce-
ments-so pressing, so warm. Run! well, didn't I
run? I dropped my boxes somewhere, and 1 con-
fess I ran — I, Mr. Duster, the bee-man. A small
out-house close by (not built for any such purpose,
though) gave me shelter. 'Any port in a storm,'
thought T. 'Hold the fort,' came from that back
piazza. You see, I had an audience too big by one.
What I said or what I tltought, while I fought the
bees in there, is no one's business, I reckon," said
Mr. Duster, sententiously.
" I've read somewhere," said Mr. Duster, " about
the devils among the swine, and huw they ran, and
so on. Now, some of these scientific fellows don't
believe it. If they had been where I was, they'd
believed that Satan was in the bees, and I think too
they certainly would have run as bad as the hogs
and I did."
At the close of (his philosophical conclusion, I
bade Mr. Duster good-day. R. H. Mellen.
Amboy-on-Inlet, 111., Jan. 12, 1881.
FRIEND ROOP'S IDEAS ON WINTERING
BEES.
ALSO SOMETnUKG ABOUT THE HIVE HE USES.
ijpiR\lJR excuse for writing this article is, we want
MM to help our fellow-beings to save their bees.
We have now had eight years, in which half
of all the bees have been lost each winter north of
the Mason and Dixon line. For fear some of our
brethren will consider us wild in our estimate, we
hand in the following, clipped from the Wauseon
Herald, a count j- paper of Fulton Co., Ohio:—
EFFECTS OF THE LATE COLD WINTER ON THE BUSY
BEES.
strange as it may seem, that, with all the care and
the benefits of experience, investigation, and im-
provements in the methods of bee-keeping, yet the
mortality has never been so great among the honey
gatherers as last winter. We have made some in-
quiry on the matter as to the extent of the losses in
this vicinity and tind that—
M. S. Pray hart :53 Lost U
AVm. Lewis " 53 " 46
Wm. Wilforrt " 40 " 35
a. W. Piatt " 25 " 2.3
Dr. Ramsev " 10 " 10
Judge Catelv "1 "0
Judson Smith "6 " (5
R. E. Terwiliger " 11 " H
Robert Bartly "6 "6
John Watkins "8 "7
J. D. Gay " U " 11
.7. W. Currv " 5 " 5
Jacob Huth "7 "7
Jacob Luke " 16 " 12
Wm. Dowel, of Ai, kept 3.') swarms of bees burled
in a cave; are all living, while out of 23 that were
left out. only 11 are now alive.
We also learn that Daniel Kepler, Secretary of the
Northwestern Ohio Bee -Keepers' Association, at
Napoleon, out of 55 lost 45; while W. F. Williams, of
Napoleon, out of 150 lost 75; and Mr. Rakestraw, of
the same place, out of SO lost 76.
The above shows how well a few apiarists succeed-
ed w'ith modern appliances two years ago. We have
spent much time during the past several years to
find out the condition of bees each spring in all the
Northern States— how wintered, etc. The first year
or two of mortality set the bee woild wild with ex-
citement, and many new methods for safe winter-
ing were heralded abroad, to the great detriment of
young apiarists,— the advccates of these different
methods not knowing themselves whether they
would prove a "bonanza" or a "Peter out." Shall
we then fold our hands and sit down contented with
chaff packing and standard hives? We have nothing
to offer as an excuse for showing our hive, for the
reason that we have tried it the past seven years,
and if "ye editor" will, we will tell you how it works
for us.
The brood chamber of this hive is 12 inches deep,
11 wide, and 18 long. It takes 12 frames 10x10 inches
inside measure, or 1200 cubic inches of comb space,
68
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Feb.
and 5 compartments around the broodnest, holding
3 frames each. It will be seen that we have 27
frames all ylike in the body of hive, or cases may be
used as shown in cat. When the 5 side compart-
ments have the cases in and the crate is on top the
brood-frame, the colony has room to store just ICO
lbs. of comb honey. When we work colonies for
comb honey on top the brood-frames, and extract
from those side chambers, we get an immense yield
of each; for by that method our colonies never
Bwarm.
When we prepare colonies for winter, as soon as
they are done gathering honey in the fall, or a little
before, we place the division board in the back
groove, see cut.
INTERIOR ARRANGEMENT OF FRIEND BOOP'S HIVE.
By the way, the side-boards to the brood-nest have
?8-inch grooves cut the same depth that the side-
boards are rabbited, to receive the brood-frames—
thus not only contracting the space bee-tight but
air-tight, by the use of the division board. Remove
all surplus frames and boxes from the side and rear
compartments; shake the bees in front, and they
will crowd themselves on to the 8 frames left, which
should contain at least 25 lbs. of good sealed stores.
Place the chaff cushion on top the frames, and fill
all outer compartments with dry sawdust packed
tight; leave them on the summer stand. If j'ou find
any weak in the spring, which Is seldom the case,
crowd them on to two combs with the division
board, and see if they do not outstrip three times
their number on two standard L. frames. Two
combs of brood and bees may be taken from this
bive every 10 days throughout the entire honey sea-
son, without perceptibly affecting the working force
of the hive. A two-frame, nuclei on two of these
frames is in better shape to defend themselves than
on two L. frames, and will do us a better job of
queen-rearing than twice their number could do on
two standard L. frames. To increase bees with this
hive, close all the entrances to the side compart-
ments by means of tin or wooden slips; drop the di-
vision board in the forward groove, and set up one
strong two-comb nuclei in each of the 6 compart-
ments. After each of the queens have been laying
about one week, sell 5 of them, always reserving the
one in the main brood-nest forward of the division
board. Open all passages and allow the bees to
communicate with each other overnight; then place
all together in the main brood department, and you
have a strong colony ready for the sections. It will
be seen, by opening 10 hives, that we can examine
the condition ol 60 nuclei, and a safer way of rearing
queens and having them fertilized, we have been
unable to find. The above is our system for suc-
cessfully wintering bees, and will answer many
questions. It is not patented, but cost us a great
deal of hard study. Hiram Roop.
Carson City, Mich.
^ ■(>■ ^
DOOLITTL.E'S REVIE^V AND COMMENTS
ON THE ABC BOOK.
Continued from last month.
COMB HOyEY.
moth worms in comb honey.
I think you miss it in not saying something just
here in regard to moth-worms that always infest
comb honey to a greater or less extent. If they
don't bother your honey they do mine; and if a man
down in Pennsylvania adopts this stylo of sending
off Lis honey, and the worms injure it, he won't feel
good, even after you tell him they don't bother
yours.
TAKING sections OFF THE HIVES, BEFORE THE
CELLS ARE ALL CAPPED.
Quinby said, and with much truth, too, that all
boxes two-thirds full of white honey should be taken
off before buckwheat honey was stored in them at
the beginning of that yield, as partly filled boxes of
white honey would bring more than when finished
out with dark honey. If j'ou will adopt the plan of
storing it in a warm room for a month, all your ad-
vice will not be needed, as in that case unsealed
honey will not heat or run in the least.
DANDELION.
This blossoms just with fruit with us, and so is of
little account, except the little they get before and
after, at beginning and ending.
Dandelion honey, after it is a year or two
old, is just splendid.
DISEASES OF BEES.
Can't you manage to tell us why bees did not
spring-dwindle prior tc ISVO? When I first com-
menced to keep bees, there were 100 swarms around
me, kept by four or five parties that had kept bees
for 30 and 40 years; and, although they kept on
using box hives, still not one of them has a bee to-
day. Tell us what did it. I confess I can't see
through it at all.
To come right down to the point, I can't
either, friend D., even after all the learned
and exhaustive articles we have had on the
subject. Once they lived almost without
care, and now they don't.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
69
DRONES.
AGE OF DRONES.
Fultz, of Muscatine, Iowa, sayp, in A. B. J. for
January, 1880, that drones live only 2-1: days, while I
claim they live to about the same age as a worker, if
the bees allow them to live that long.
FEEDiya AND FEEDERS.
FEEDING BACK.
Ha%-en't you changed your mind on this feeding
back? I have again tried it this season, only at a
l.iss, as I have to feed '2 lbs. to get one in the boxes.
Betsinger and my neighbors succeeded no better.
I agree with yoii that such is the case ex-
actly until the brood apartment is crammed;
Init after that, there are not more losses than
I have mentioned.
THICKENIKG WATERY HONEY.
If this is so, how came j'our thin honey from bass-
wood you told us about a little while before on these
pages? Why did they not thicken this in the same
way? I still believe all evaporating of nectar is done
in the hive, as I once wrote.
I should explain it thus: The basswood
yielded in such quantities that they carried
it right to the hives. The Simpson plant
furnished only a limited amount compar-
atively.
FOUL BROOD.
If you don't give them any comb, they don't want
f.ny confining, as I repeatedly found in 1871, '2, and
'3. A new swarm from a diseased hive, hived in an
empty hive, will never have the disease, unless they
get honey after the larvae has hatched from a hive
that has the fuul brood; so your "starving part "
should be left out. I ought to know, as I renovated
my whole apiary in \S',3.
FR UIT-BLOSSOMS.
Betsinger says, and I agree, that if we had the
same number of bees in a hive in apple-bloom that
we do in basswood, the yield would be as great. I
once had 8 lbs. stored in one day, with not over one-
third the bees I have in basswood. Appk' is a great
yielder of honey, sure.
Then we have a most excellent reason for
Imxing poicerf id colonies to commence the
season with."
HIVE-MAKING.
A good colony of bees nnU store almost as
much honey in a half-barrel or nail-keg., as in
the most elaborate and expensive hive made,
other thinQs beinQ equal.
If I am correct, it was E. Gallup who said this; E.
Gallup certainly said it, and Quinby may have done
so: but I do not remember that he did.
How is it, friend Root, that when you write a book
you give only a description of your hive? AVhen L.
C. Root writes a book he gives a description of the
Quinby hive only. Has not Prof. Cook set you both
a good example by giving several, and then giving
his reasons for adopting the one he uses? As j'ou
know, I do not agree with you on hives, and think
J'OU are prejudiced on many points; but I have gone
over the ground so much in the bee journals, that I
will not say more here, except to say that, if I used
the L. frame, I certainly should use side boxes as
well as top; and as I took out the full ones on top,
raise th*^ partly filled ones from the sides to the top,
placing the empty boxes at the side each time. This
is the principle to secure a large yield of box honey,
and we think we have proven it to you by our re-
ports the past eight years. Still, you do not even
mention the matter, but drive ahead as if yours was
the only way. Please excuse, but so it seems to mo.
I know you consider the interchangeable side and
top boxes complicated; but can't we well afford it,
if from 5 to 10 lbs. extra can be secured from each
stock each year thereby?
I know, friend D.,that tliis matterof hives
is a very important one, but if Quinby and
Gallup were right, as in a few sentences
back, does it really matter so very muchV I
have described minutely how to make both
summer and winter hives for the L. frame ;
but if anybody prefers any other sized frame,
they can vary the directions to suit, without
any great ditliculty. I have not described
the hive preferred by yourself, Prof. Cook,
L. C. Koot, Uadant, ilarbison, and many
others, because it would make the book too
voluminous for one thing, and because I
could not give directions for each operation
all the way through, without modifying all
the time, to suit the different hives, lie-
sides, I should perplex and confuse the be-
ginner beyond measure if I tried to do so.
Even though Prof. Cook uses your sized
frame, he uses a differently made hive ; and,
if I am correct, you would hardly agree with
his directions any more than you do mine.
Friend Cook gives a general idea of the
whole subject, without going into minute
details as I have, and his book in this respect
fills a need that many of the others do not.
In deciding to have my whole book written
principally for the L. frame. I did it with
the belief that you would do nearly if not
quite as well with that frame as with your
own, and also that by far the greater
part of our bee folks had that frame already
in use. To advise everybody to throw away
the hives they have, and adopt another,
would be a most serious matter, and I have
not intended so to do in any thing I have
written ; but I would advise all new begin-
ners to fall into the great beaten path as far
as may be, in deciding upon implements to
be used, I feel now as I did at first, that it
is best not to confuse beginners by attempt-
ing to describe more than one frame, and
the summer and winter hives for holding
this one frame. I indorse your idea in re-
gard to raising up the side boxes.
ITo be Continued.']
^ lai tm
DOOLITTLE ANSU'ERS QLESTIONS.
QUEENS REARED AT DIFFERENT SEASONS.
^^'PON recovering from a long and severe illness,
HyJ I find Doolittle has many questions to answer;
and, to answer all within a given limit, we will
try to be as brief as possible. First comes W. Z.
Hutchinson's questions on late queen-rearing in Dec.
No. After reading his report in Jan. No., we were
almost inclined to laugh atDoolittle'sadmittiug, that
"we queen-breeders have greater facilities for learn-
ing facts in regard to any specialty, etc.," when facts
would show that Doolittle raised four times more
queens before Hutchinson ever went into the busi-
ness than friend H. has in all his life. Years ago we
rode the hobby of queen-rearing, and raised queens
70
GLEANI2^GS m BEE CULTURf:.
Feb.
by the hundred, bolh in senson and out of season,
till we supposed we know something of queen-rear-
ing'. It was through these experiments that we ar-
rived at the conclusions given in Oct. Ko. of A. B.J.,
and it was only when we came to the' conclusion to
rear all our queens, as far as possible, from natural
cells, and during the honey season, that we were en-
abled to produce the results in honey, given for the
past eight years. Now, just a few words in regard
to following nature: Friend H. tells us about farmers
controUirg the stock, fruit-growers pruning their
vines, poultrymen stimulating their hens to " shell
out" the eggs in mid-winter, etc., but none of these
things touch the piiint. Now we ask. Does apoultry-
breedertry to or succeed in raising line breeding
stock from chicks hatched in November or Decem-
ber? or does the shepherd raise his choice stock
fi-om lambs dropped at that season of the year? or
the horseman his pet horses, selling for perhaps $1000
and upward, from colls fouled in October or Novem-
ber? Nay. If ho wishes stock looking toward per-
fection, he rears them at the time nature intended
to have them reared. In fact, it would be hard to so
pervert dame Nature as to have animals come into
existence at the season of the year above mentioned.
But with the bees we can compel them to rear
queens, even in mid-winter, if they have brood. And
now, fricTid H., I pr( pose that you try reaiiug some
of those line queens in January and Februarj-, as
brood can almost always be found at this season of
the year in strong swarms; and as friend H. uses
none but strong swarms for queen-rearing, it will do
no harm to feed them and rear us some just as good
queens as would be hatched out the last of June
from u'ltural cells. We think that, by this time,
friend H. has come to the couclusion that if he had
his choice he would prefer, for his own use, queens
reared in June and July, as the Creator of all things
designed they should be, and so we M'ill drop the
matter.
DOOLITTLE'S AVERAGE PROFIT ON BEES.
Next we are asked by friend H., in Jan. No., what
has been our average profit per colony since we first
engaged in bee culture. Our experience with bees
covers aperiodof 12 years, beginning with 1869, which
was the poorest season ever known in New York. Our
average profit in '69, per colony, was $3.03, and $35.40
in 1877, whioh was our best season. Our average
number of stocks during the 12 years has been about
48, and the average cash profit from them during
said 12 years has been $19.30, or an average of $9;^2.28
for each year. We have hired perhaps 40 days labor
during the period of 12 years, my wife and I doing
nearly all the work.
DOOLITTLE ON THE BEE POISOKINQ MATTER.
Next I am called upon by Geo. Ilosekclly to give
my views on the Klason vs. Krock case. We wish to
say, that the trouble all came by those few harsh
words at the outset. When will men learn to carry
the impress into practical, every-day life, of the
words, "A soft answer turneth away wrath"? etc.
When Mr. Krock told Mr. Klasen that his bcea were
damaging him, the proper thing for Mr. Klasen to
do was to have told Mr. Krock that he was sorry;
but, as he could not control his bees, he (Krock)
should be as patient as possible, and at the end of
grape harvest he would pay him for all damages.
Again, a few pounds of honey given now and then
by Mr. Klasen to Mr. Krock, and a plate of grapes oc-
Cdsioaally given to Mr. Klasen all along through
life would have so smoothed the way that Mr. Krock
would have borne much before he would havecalled
for any damage. Is not this far preferable to con-
tention and strife, and of less cost in the end? As
the matter now stands, I think the course advised
by our friend A. I. Root the better one to pursue.
PERFORATING, AND SLOTTING SEPARATORS.
Nc.vt we are asked in regard to perforating sepa-
rators, when used for box honey. We first used sep-
arators in 1872, and the thought at once presented
itself, that the more openings there were between
the boxes, and also between the surplus arrange-
ment and brood-nest, the more honey could be ob-
tained. Our first experiment was to have the tin
cut so as to leave Vi inch space at both top and bot-
tom of the boxes or sections for the bees to pass
through; but at the end of the first season's trial
we were convinced that we had much too large space,
as many of the combs jutted out beyond the sections,
both at top and bottom, so we could not crate it, to
say nothing of glassing it. Our next move was to
leave % at the top and bottom, and also to construct
a few so as to leave % slots through the separator so
the bees would be divided up as little as possible. A
second failure was the result, for our combs were
nearly as bad at top and bottom as the previous
year, while the sides of the combs much resembled
a washboard, especially those built when honey was
coming in rapidly. The next season wc left only J4
inch above and below the separator, and made a few
with quarter-inch slots in separators. We also
made our side-box hives with the division-boards be-
tween side-boxes and brood-combs slotted plentifully
with quarter-inch slots. Now, while the H inch
proved to be the right width to prevent the bulging
of the combs, yet when the season was over we could
see no difference in favor of the perforated separa-
tors. Since that time our hives have been made
without the perforations. After six years of prac-
tical work in the apiary, with those hives still in the
yard, we have not seen difference enough in favor
of those perforated to warrant making more like
them. Having the sections near the brood, with
enough space at top and bottom of the separators to
admit of the warm air generated by the bees passing
freely into all the sections, as well as to convey to
the bees the idea that they are not excluded from
the warm cluster or brood-nest, is all that seems to
be required. G. M. Dooltttle.
Borodino, N. Y., Jan., 1881.
If I mistake not, friend I)., xery fine-look-
ing queens have been raised in tlie winter,
biit I do not know how we are to tell how
good they were, because it was impossible to
have thein fertilized. — ^lany thanks for the
valuable facts given us in regard to separa-
tors. We have a machine now in our tin-
room that will perforate four sheets of tin
at a time ; bnt the expense of it is $20.00 in-
stead of five, as we hoped it might be last
month. We can now furnish perforated
separators to any who may choose to try
them, at just double the usual prices. From
experiments I have made, with and without
sei)arators, I am strongly inclined to the
opinion, that the perforations will be an ad-
vantage when a great crop of honey comes,
with cool nights. It will likely be tested
pretty thoroughly the coming season. Our
machine at present is fitted with punches to
cut I holes
1881
GLEAXINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
71
CYPRIAN BEES IN THEIR NATIVE L ANI».
By OCR OLD FRIEND FRANK BENTON.
^q LEANINGS has been a very welcome visitor in
w|5a"J my island home each month during the past
^^""^ trying season; for, though my health, my
eyes, and the work in the apiary would not permit
me to read any of the journals thoroughly, I could
still look them over and read some. Had it been
possible, I would certainly have added my testimony
in regard to many points which have been discussed
during the preceding months, especially the ref-
erences made to the new races of bees lately intro-
duced into America. My work with these bees has
led me to several conclusions which I believe, if
stated, may aid not a little those whose experience
with them has been more limited. I will tell you
first a little about the season here, that you may see
that I have had a chance to handle the bees under
various circumstances— oftentimes very unfavora-
ble conditions.
THE SEASON.
My first work with Cyprian bees in Cyprus was
done in the month of March, at Kythrea, among the
mountains of the north coast. The winter had been
one of unusual severity, and had continued long,
while cold rains had prevented the bees from flying
much during the weeks just preceding the time of
my work. Of course, as the natives cut all the hon-
ey-combs from the rear portion of their hives — clay
cylinders— just at the close of each honey season,
those colonies that had managed to survive the win-
ter and early spring were scantily provisioned, and
cross enough when touched during the chilly, rainy
weather. I had no smoker with me, but with the
greatest smudge I could raise I could not escape
multitudes of stings. After two mule runaways, in
one of which I was literally covered with bee-stings
while saving some seven or eight mules from death
by stinging, and several sleepless night -journeys
over mountains where the only passage is a break-
neck mule-path, "the Cyprus Apiary" was found to
number something over one hundred colonies. Dur-
ing the following weeks, the supply of honey brought
in by the bees was scarcely enough to favor queen-
rearing, and nuclei had to be fed sugar syrup. After
about the middle of May, very little was gathered;
and during the later months, since July, nothing;
for no rain fell here between May 10th and Sept.
15th, and with no source of irrigation, the fields be-
came perfectly barren under the fierce tropical sun
of the long summer days. The mercury rose to 114°
F., and sometimes a hot wind— the sirocco of the
African desert— blew from the south. Cool nights
began about the middle of last month, though the
days continued warm— even hot at mid-day— until
the second week of December. Cold rains and wind
followed, until to-day it Is sunshiny, and the bees
are again bringing in pollen.
HANDLING THE CYPRIANS.
After transferring a large number of colonies, and
spending some hours getting the frames nailed
down ready for their journey over the mountains, I
thought Cyprians would defend their hives against
two-legged intruders quite as well as any bees I had
ever seen. 1 knew, however, that it would be hard-
ly fair to denominate them cross, simply because
they resented handling during cold spring weather
when provisions were very limited. With a smoker
and more moderate weather, especially if I had
baited them a little with sugar syrup, I found I got
along very well in the main, but every now and
then some hive would refuse to be quieted by smoke.
Many of these instances I could not account for, be-
cause I was sure I had handled the combs carefully,
and observed all the little points necessary to suc-
cessful manipulation— at least, all I would have ob-
served with Italian or black bees. But now I under-
stand the matter better, and find that Cyprians are
less inclined to sting than Jtulians, provided they
are handled with as much reference to their pecul-
iarities as is necessary with Italians. Under allcon-
ditions and at all times of the day, even from daj-
light until nine o'clock at night, I have handled
Cyprian bees, without smoke, and with no bee-veil
nor even a hat on my head. Bare-headed, bare-
handed, with low slippers on my feet, no coat nor
vest on, my shirt cut low in the neck, and all my
garments thin, I have worked hour after hour
among the Cyprians just as fast as I could make my
limbs and body move, transferring colonies, dividing
swarms into nuclei, and putting up queens for ship-
ment, all the while shaking and brushing the bees
about ju'Jt as though they were so many Italians,
and a big basswood harvest was on hand. I say
shaking them, for they can be shaken from the
combs quite as easily as can black bees, and hrugh-
imj them is a datigerous experiment unless they are
well filled with honey. Now, it must be remembered
that all this was done at a time when no honey was
coming in, and when feeding had not been kept up
regularly, the colonies that had not been fed and
those that had having been opened indiscriminately;
the handling was often at the most unseasonable
hours of the day; and, lastly, there were often many
visitors present; yet I was rarely stung, and I rec-
ollect but one instance in which a visitor was stung.
The only points I observed carefully were the fol-
lowing:—I ope«ed the hives with extreme caution; the
quilt was removed slow! ij, and the hecs left to them-
selves for a moment before I touched the frames; then
the first frame was very carcfalhj removed, after which
no further especial caution was needed, except that
thei-e musthe no jarring of frames, either in remov-
ing them, in handling, or in replacing them. Any
one would be likely to say, "These things are all
very good to observe with any race of bees; but will
they prevent Cyprians from stinging, when their
observance in handling blacks and Italians, under
the conditions you mention, would avail little as far
as keeping these races under subjection is con-
cerned?" It seemed to answer with me, and I dis-
covered that the Cyprians were very susceptible re-
garding the sudden admission of light into the brood
apartment, and they resent in the strongest manner
any jarring of the hive or combs. I think they ore
far more likely to be aroused by either of these
things than are the Italians or blacks, and are not
as easily subdued with smoke, or, in fact, at all.
They will follow the bee-keeper with great pertinac-
ity as he leaves the hive, going a long distance, and
even through several doors, for a chance to sting.
When a hive is once thoroughly aroused, the better
plan seems to be to close it and leave it for an hour
or more. They meddle with passers-by who do not
touch them, less, even, than the Italians. The above
would likely lead to incorrect inferences should I
close this subject without statmg the conclusion
which the season's work among the bees of Cyprus
has caused me to form regarding the relative rapid-
ity with which Cyprian and Italian bees can be han-
dled; hence I state here that I fully believe I can
n
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Feb.
handle the Cyprians with one-half grreater rapidity
than I can the Italians; that Is, with proper man-
agement, a given operation in manipulating bees
can be performed with three Cyprian colonies while
the same operation is being done with two Italians.
THE MARKINGS OP CYPRIANS.
Time will not permit my treating this topic as I
would like, yet I can not forbear a word or two,
since It has so often been brought up in Gleanings
this summer. The bees of Cyprus are very uniform
—surprisingly so, I think. We obtained colonies at
many points distant from each other, and saw bees
in many places where no purchases could be made,
but all presented the same appearance, taking into
account, of course, the age of the bees and the
amount of food they were likely to have in their
bodies. The true Cyprian is a yellower bee than the
Italian; indeed, I think the average Cyprian is yel-
lower than the brightest Italian. I refer to the
worker bees alone. Its body is more hairy, and the
abdomen more slender than will be found among
Italians. When filled with honey, the worker shows
three yellow bands, as does the Italian. Mr. Curi, of
Bohemia, who first described these bees, and pro-
cured the first colony from Cyprus, stated the work-
er bee has only two yellow segments, but he surely
failed to count the end segment, next to the thorax,
without which the Italians would have but two yel-
low bands. The fourth yellow band, as with the
Italians, is sometimes seen, but a more distinctive
mark is that the segments back of the yellow bands
are so tipped with whitish hairs as to give the abdo-
men of the Cyprian a very ringed appearance. The
two most distinguishing marks are, however, the
following: The pure Cyprian is yellow on the un-
der side of the abdomen, from the tip nearly for-
ward to the thorax; and, second, the shield on the
back of the thorax between the wings is very prom-
inent and plainly yellow. On account of its shape, I
call this the crescent, and it shows that its bearers are
from the Turkish empire, or descended from those
who did come from this far eastern land. The
Cyprian drones are in general much more mottled
with yellow than the Italians; and, though they are
not uniform, many are of a very brilliant golden
hue. But I claim that the true Cyprian will make
Itself known quite as much by its
QUALITIES, AND NOT MARKINGS.
I find the Cyprians active, strong-winged, sturdy
defenders of their hives, fighting against fearful
odds to preserve an existence, exceedingly keen-
scentcd, so that no drop of sweet escapes their no-
tice under conditions which would conceal it from
other races of bees. They are very prolific, and
rear brood late in the season. We have had frost
here, yet to-day I find brood in all stages in hives of
Cyprians. One other quality of great importance is
noticeable: A strong wind is heeded by the Cypri-
ans, and, upon its approach, they gather In their
hives to avoid it; or, if the day open windy, they do
not venture forth. Those who have them in Amer-
ica will note this, and that they will not dwindle as
Italians do during the coming spring. Still another
point in their favor is, that they can be shaken from
the combs very much as though they were blacks;
but if left to themselves do not run off, having in
this particular the same disposition as the Italians;
namely, they spread evenly over the combs and re-
main quiet when the latter are handled.
Frank Benton.
Larnaca, Island of Cyprus, Dec. 14, 1880.
My experience with the Holy-Land bees
very nearly agrees with the above ; for when
I once get them thoroughly aroused and up
to the ''fighting pitch," I have never suc-
ceeded in quieting them with smoke, nor
any other means, except to close the hive and
let them get quiet themselves. I presume
most of you have seen hybrids that mani-
fested much of the same spirit. If the col-
ony is weak, there is not so much danger of
their getting thus roused up ; but when the
hive gets boiling over full, just look out how
you set a frame'down wliere it will slip and
jar. or pinch a few of the bees. Use them
well and they Avill use you well ; but woe
betide the man who is awkward or indiffer-
ent. Such people would better get some
very yellow Italians, that have been bred
several years for their gentleness and yel-
lowness, letting alone other qualities.
Knowing how anxious our readers all are
to hear every word from friend Benton, I
have taken the liberty of giving, also, the
letter below, although it was evidently not
intended for publication. Friend B. will
excuse the liberty, will he not V By all
means, let us hear of your travels in pursuit
of these new bees.
With the aid of the good wife, who has done much
writing and copying for me lately, I have gotten off
a letter for Gleanings to-day. I hope after this to
give you something oftener. You know, of course,
that my long silence was an unwilling one.
A few words as to what I have before me for the
winter will no doubt interest you.
I leave here In a few days for India and the East
Indian Islands, whither I hope to find some valuable
bees, which will, in that case, go direct to Mr. Jones,
in Boeton, Canada. The two races to be looked up
especially are Apia dorsata and Apis zonata, but I
trust others may also be f (jund. The route will be
as follows: Beyrout, Jaffa, Port Said, Suez, Aden
(Lower Arabia), Bombay (Hindoostan), Colombo
(Island of Ceylon), Singapore (Farther India), to Ba-
tavia (Island of Java), and perhaps I will visit Timor,
Celebes, and the Philippine Islands.
Besides the bees, I shall try to obtain seeds of
honey-producing plants, and shall not forget valu-
able grains.
I take with me 35 Cyprian and several Syrian col-
onies, and shall employ various styles of boxes and
manners of giving food.
I expect to return here early in 4he spring, to rear
Cyprians next year. Will write you from varlouH
points of my journey. Frank Benton.
Larnaca, Dec. U, 1880.
SUCCESSFUL! BEE CUIiTUUE.
THE NEED OF TACT IN BEE CULTURE.
^iW^R. EDITOR:— The above caption covers so
MiM. much ground, that I propose only to touch
— upon one or two branches of the subject, and
I don't propose to say a word about queens, comb
foundation, bee feeders, hives, or any of this class
of useful Implements, for all about them has been
told, and well told, very many times, by able and ex*
perienced bee-keepers. Has it not occurred to you
that men who were first-class mechanics were rath*
er more apt to fail, when trying to carry on business
"on their own hook," than the class called "botches,''
1881
GLEAKIKGS IN BEE CULTURE.
73
or even those who knew nothing of the trade? My
observation teaches me that such is the fact. I
know it is often true, that men who possess great
ability as manufacturers (in the broad sense of the
term), or capitalists, are forced at first to begin as
journeymen mechanics, in order to get their first
little "start;" but I always notice that these men of
sound financial ideas are usually poor mechanics.
The ability to earn a dollar, and that of making it
earn another, are quite different powers. Nearlj'
all our successful men have repeated the same
adage, "It was harder to get my first thousand dol-
lars than the next twenty thousand." No one sup-
poses that a company start a glucose-factory be-
cause they or one of their number knows the pro-
portion of the different chemicals used, or even their
names; no, th«y 7iuc a man who knows (?iat part to
perfection, and this fellow "lives from hand to
mouth" all his life, while the profits of his skill go to
the men who saw the commercial need; who knew
enough to keep their property running night and
day through thie busy part of the year; knew enough
to tell an honest man by looking at him; knew
enough to keep their property insured against fire;
knew enough to keep perfect system and order
throughout the factory; knew how and when to sell
for the highest price. I fancy that a man of this
kind, though ever so unscientific, "w)i7I not down."
He will catch a swarm on a bush, and then— look out.
As there is hardly a calling known to man, in
which the operatives are .so universally the capital-
ists as in this pursuit of ours, I deemed that a few
thoughts upon this important side of the business
will not bore your readers.
No one is willing to pay a higher tribute to talent
than 1 am; but I believe that it requires fact to make
talent pay a dividend. Now, in our business I call
the man who knows all about the physiology or hy-
pothenogenesls of the bee, the chemical elements of
beeswax, honey, etc., a man of talent; but the ques-
tion is. Has this genius got the tact to make this
knowledge applicable to the business he is pursuing?
It has been said that "talent knows w/iat to do, tact
knows 7iou) to do it; talent speaks learnedly; tact,
triumphantly. Talent makes the world wonder that
it gets on no faster; tact excites astonishment that
it gets on so fast."
" Tact clinches the bargain.
Sails out of the bay,
Gets the vote of the Senate,
Spite Webster or Clay."
Ready tact will often prevent a disaster that slow-
er talent finds, later, that it can not cope with. Tact
being a great aggregation of little thoughts and ac-
tions, is almost indescribable. It can by no means
be written on paper, as can talent.
The successes of tact and failures of talent are, by
the failing class, universally credited to "luck."
Poor luck I who ever heard of his getting any credit
for a success by the one who knew the most about it?
I once heard a smart practical and successful
honey producer Say of one of our leading and bright-
est men of talent, ".Give him my three apiaries, and
the best locality in Michigan, and he could not sup-
port his family. I know him; his bee-keeping is all
on paper."
If I started out with any intent to try to tell of
what this tact consists, I fear I shall have to give it
up. I am sure that it is the open sesame to success,
however, and all who need to make bee-keeping sup-
port, or help to support themselves and families,
should try to cultivate to the fullest extent this art
of handiness, quick perception, and practical way
of doing things, called tact. Honesty, caution, en-
ergy, and a will, arc all important requisites to suc-
cess. It is fatal, to suppose that mankind are all as
honest as you are, or all as dishonest as you may be.
"We need not be weak because we are honest. A
"happy man" between the radical and conservative,
is also a key to success. James Heddon.
Dowagiac, Mich., Jan. 4, 1881.
Very good, friend II. ; but what shall we
poor fellows do wlio are conscious that we
nave not tactV It seems to me the outlook
would be a little sad, if we had no way
pointed out to us whereby we might climb
above these natural lacks and dehciencies.
Let us as you say, cultivate to the fullest
extent, this art of handiness, etc., and if
you will excuse the liberty, I would like
to suggest to the boys and girls who have
l)egun to feel that they are not handy about
things, and have not tact naturally, "the lit-
tle text, —
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God,
that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not;
and it shall be given him.— James 1: i.
FRIEIVD STAINLEV'S STORY.
WHAT HE HAS DONE WITH BEES IN FOUR YEARS.
fAM, or have been, located on the prairie, with a
narrow bottom of timber reaching halfway
— ' round me, the edge of which reaches within IJi
miles. The other side is all prairie, or, rather,
farms, now. There is some white clover, but very
little ; the land is run mostly to wheat, and corn, and
red-top grass, which makes our hay. Four years
ago there was a great deal of the land uncultivated,
which produced an abundance of Spanish needles,
which is our main honey-producing plant. Buck-
wheat and smartweed sometimes yield some honey,
though I have never been able to see the bees get
more than enough to raise brood on either. Two
years ago there were 30 acres sowed the 1st of June
for fertilizing, and I could get none, though I think
it did my bees good by keeping up brood-rearing
through July and August. I have had honey stored
in June one year, and that was in 187"; and at that
time I was not well satisfied what it was gathered
from, but think from clover; but almost with cer-
tainty you can rely on having some honey the first
or second week in September from Spanish needles.
I have never known an entire failure of it, and the
partial ones were caused by cold and wet weather,
which is uncommon at that season. Bees have al-
ways been able to fill up on it. I have seen hives
that did not have 3 lbs. of honey in the brood-cham«
ber the 27th of August, storing honey in caps in 8 or
10 days, and it is very fine honey, though a little
strong until it has age. It lasts ten days to two
weeks, and then we are done unless we have buck-
wheat. There is some goldenrod and smartweed,
but they do not yield much honey here, though the
bees generally get a living until frost, which usually
comes about the 10th of October. Getting our sur-
plus so late, we need no feeding for winter. Almost
any colony will have winter stores. Well, in 1876 I
began making hives for myself, and they were liked
so well I soon engaged about 40 hives, to be trans-
ferred on shares— a hive for a stand of bees in a box
or log hive, which were then selling for S5.00 to $7.00.
Well, I got worse and worse with the bee fever;
74
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
Feb.
those 20 stands didn't give me more than 300 lbs. of
honey, but I consoled myself with the tales of some
other bee-men about what they had got, such as 800
lbs. from 15 hives, and another 8 gallons from one
hive, and another "8 caps" thought about 100 lbs.,
etc. So, In the winter of 1870 and '77 I made some.
200 hives; sold some, transferred some on shares,
bought a stand of Italians from Dadant's warranted
queen, $14.00. Some got as high as 90 lbs. of section-
bo.x honey from one stand; some not over 15 lbs. on
an average. So, by October I numbered 80 stands,
sold 20 for §=125 00. I should have stated, that in the
winter of 1876-'77 I got me a saw and sent for
Gleanings, and made me a hive as described in cir-
cular. You were then blowing the hoop hive, which
gave me the idea of a half-story, and raising it and
putting an empty one under it, and I like it rather
better than the full story. By using 2 caps or hoops,
it just holds a brood frame, so it is truly an adjust-
able hive, ^yondor if Mrs. Cotton knows it.
MlTCHEIiL.
Well, right here I will tell what a Mitchell man
wanted me to do. He had bought the right of Wayne
and Edwards counties. He heard I was trespassing,
and came over to have the matter fixed up. Yes, I
told him I was using division-boards; could not dis-
pense with them hardly at any price. Well, you
ought to have seen him smile and try to teil how in-
dispensable they are to successful bee-keeping, and
how much better I could manage my bees in an L.
hive, and proposed to sell me the right for the divi-
sion-board and hive. I then asked hira if he had
really bought the right. He said he had, and that he
would try to sustain if I would not pay for using the
board. I stepped in and got a few numbers of
G-LEANiNOS, and read from Humbugs and Swindles.
I then told him he was the man that was humbugged,
and that, instead of reading Mitchell's book, to send
a dollar for Gleanings, then he would be swindled
no more by patents. Well, he said he would write to
Mitchell, and if ho did not stop me he would not pay
him any more on it. So we talked the matter over,
and parted friendly. I was to use them until Mitch-
ell "did some thing;" after that I sold his partner
some hives, but have never heard of Mitchell " do-
ing any thing" but duping ignorant farmers.
Well, of course the 90 lbs. were from an Italian
that I raised early in the spring, and '77 was the best
year we have had since I have been in the business,
and now I thought that all I needed was enough
bees like that to get rich, or, at least, to make it self-
sustaining. So, in the fall I bought 3500 ft. of lum-
ber; made 2.50 to 300 hives; sold some; transferred
on shares, and by the 1st of August I had 110, half of
which were scattered through the country, where
they were transferred, and about that time I bought
the fdn. machine. The season so far had been a bad
one; only a little while the last of May and first of
June bees had swarmed quite lively, and now many
of the swarms were starving right in August; but I
managed to save all that I had charge of.
MOVING BEES TO NEW LOCATIONS.
Some time in July another bee-man (DalzcU) came
tip to me and Sibley, who also was a bee-man, and in
conversation said that his bees were storing honey.
After talking awhile he left us, and as he went away
Sibley remarked that Dalzell was "gassing," and
that he would bet his bees were starving, for he saw
him bring honej' to town some time before that,
that his bees ought to have had to live on. 1 re-
marked that he was near the bottoms, and perhaps
Dalzell was correct, and I believed I would go down
in the neighborhood and see if bees were doing any
better. So, in a few days I went, found some bees in
log and box hives, and they were carrying in honey.
I then made arrangements with the man to move 8
stands of mine, to tr.y the location. I took them
down in a few days, and as soon as I opened them
they seemed to scent the honey, and in 3 hours you
could not have told they had been moved; they were
rolling in honey and pollen at such a rate I did not
go back for about 10 d;iys, but they had done so well
I went and got 8 more stands that I had out in the
country that were on short rations, but I was too late
with them. It was now about the first of August,
and as blue as things looked, I went to work and
made some fdn., for I knew they would need it the
first of September. Well, there were plenty of my
bees that hadn't 5 lbs. of honey in their hives on the
20th of August, and (?(ttt was what 1 fed them; but
relief did come the 27th of August, and in ten days
they were in their boxes; but my 90 1b. hive made
only .50 lbs. Well, down I went to the bottoms, about
the 24:th or 25th of September, and found things
" lovely." The -most of those at home were just
nicely started in their boxes when the bloom failed,
and so I was not lang in making up my mind. I
went to where I had more on shares; got a load, drove
down, and the lady of the house plead to have me
take the load somewhere else, for they " stung the
children." She directed me to a man that would
take them; it was in sight. Off I put, although it
was then noon. I soon drove a trade for locating
them, and all the rest; and so I wOTked, night and
day, until I gut all moved; but I got paid for all my
work. Not as big wages as some get, but enough
for me at that time. I got $250 to $300 worth of
honey. They stored honey until hard frost. The
first two frosts didn't seem to alfect the bloom in the
bottom, while every thing on the prairie was dry
enough to burn. I will state, that the most of them
I moved 10 miles; some 17 miles; now, it was in July
of this same year, while things were so blue, that
you sent me the first imported queen (that I wrote
you an article on, and I have always thought you
ought to have published it.)
HOW FRIEND S. INTRODUCES Qt'EENS.
Well, the second one I have never written you
about. You sent her, I suppose, as she came to you,
and left me to be the judge of what she was worth,
and how was I to know how she would compare
with the lot; whether she would look like a $i, $5, or
S6 queen? But it was all the chance; then I intro-
duced her all right, and I would not fear to try a
$'0.00 one if I had her, for I have never lost one yet
that I took any kind of pains with, ana I believe I
never lost but one, and I have turned them loose at
the entrance, and in at the top, and caged them. I
just do according to the circumstances, but am al-
ways sure there is no other queen in there. Well,
now, if you will send me another one as good as this
one, you may set the price; and if nothing happens,
I shall have some early queens to dispose of from
her. I have between 175 and 180 that I raised from
her last season. I now have 240 stands ; have bought
a piece of land, and intend this summer to improve
it.
I have now got up to the fall of 1878, and have not
told what I started to tell; but if you think it will do
any good, you can put it in on one of those extra
1881
GLEAXIXGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
leaves you are going to give 113, and then I will tell
you about last year, and who should keep bees, and
who should not, and where they may be kept, and
where not ; and I might tell you how they can be
kept in this co\inty. I have never lost a stand of
bees by moth, blacks, nor Italians; and for three
years have never lost one from anj' cause. I have
Ijst queens in the winter, but I always save the
bees, and set them to work. Thos. C. Stanley.
Jeffersonville, 111., Feb. 17, 1880.
The above very good letter is just about
one year old. as you see, and it has been
waiting all this time for a i^)lace. principally
on account of its length. Ihe one friend S.
thinks ouglit to have been printed was. I
fear, passed by on the same account. Xow
let me suggest a little. Had friend S. broken
this letter up into several small ones, it
might have all lieen given during the year,
and the part of it referring to moving bees
to new i)astur;ige would have made an ex-
cellent article of itself, and might have done
a great deal of good during the past poor
season. It is my impression, that every
apiarist of -50 or more colonies Avould. in
many localities, find it profitable to either
scatter a few colonies at different points, or
to visit hives belonging to others, until the
most favored points were hunted up ; then
move a part of his bees, wliere they seem to
be doing best. A success, instead of a fail-
ure, might often be secured with compara-
tively little labor. Who will give us some
more facts in this especial matter?
RAHBLE NO. 2.
WINTERING BEES IN A CISTERN.
OUR ramble this lime leads US to the residence
of our esteemed friend Mr. B., who has over
" 100 swarms of bees in the old Clark patent
box hives. Mr. B. and brother run a large farm, and
the bees do not receive the attention they should, to
achieve the best results from them. Mr. B. is a
breeder of fine horses, and if you would converse
with him teu minutes, some way the bees would be
forgotten, and you would find yourself in the stable
discussing the fine points of that jet-black stallion
"Honest Dan," or the record of '-War Eagle," who
stands in another stall. Tbis stallion has come out
ahead in several races, and the owner is proud of his
record.
But I soon tire of horse talk, and suggest we re-
turn to the bee-yard. We start with that point in
view, but the first I know we arc in another stable,
and B. is expatiating upon the style and action of
that line black team. The pedigree is pure Rysdic
Hambletonian. When I can get a word in edgewise
I tell him my best queen " Fancy Bell " is daughter
of "Cleopatra;" she of "Gazelle," she of "Alley,"
and Alley of "Bianconeini," of Italy.
1 found, upon reaching the bee-yard, that to keep
his mind on the bees I must mix in a little horse
talk. Said I, " Mr. B., Rysdic Hambletonian, did this
swarm take the pole?"
"Oh, yes!" said he; "I got them on the mulleins
the first heat."
" Well, how about this swarm that lays out so all
over the hive?"
"Oh! that got the inside track, and took the home
stretch."
"Have you got much bottom this year, Mr. B.?"
"Not much; I wintered them in a cistern, and it
took the wind out of them, and they didn't make the
first quarter; i. e., quarter crop of honey."
In answer to my incredulous remarks in relation
to wintering his bees in a cistern, he explained that
Mr. H., a near neighbor, had a dry cellar under his
barn, and he obtained permission to use it. The
water had troubled them somewhat the year before,
and the cellar had been thoroughly cemented, bot-
tom and sidps. It was very dry, and wintered finely
until the January thaw. The proprietor had made
no provision in relation to surface water, and it ran
into the cellar, and, being cemented, i^held water
like a cistern; in fact, for the time being it was a
cistern, and began to fill up rapidly.
" Why," said I. " for the land's sakel what did you
do?"
"Oh! I put in a pump, and pumped it out. of
course."
He remarked that his bees came out considerably
demoralized. There were but few dead swarms, but
the rest were all weak, and the swarming fever
didn't possess them to a great degree.
I think the foregoing shows why everybody should
not keep bees. If his bees had come out strong, he
would, with proper management, have secured a
profitable crop of honey. Since keeping bees as a
business, we have never had a season that failed to
give a profitable return if our bees were in good
condition in the spring. There is a time during
every season, perhaps for a few days only, that
honey is secreted by some flowers; and if our bees
are ready for the yield with extra stories of empty
comb, you will find them fuU quite suddenly. Dur-
ing the past season, about the only honey we ob-
tained was from bass wood; the yield was short, and
if we had depended upon comb honey we would
have recorded almost a total failure; but by ex-
tracting we obtained almost 40 lbs. to the hive, while
our best gave us lOV. This swarm of hybrids. No. 67,
has been ahead for three years. I thought so much
of this queen I thought I would use her as I would an
old horse— keep her as long as she would live, for the
sake of the good she had done. In examining the
hive in September, I was surprised to find a young
queen doing duty. I was about to drop a tear in
memory of the old one, when, upon lifting out an-
other frame, I was rejoiced to see the familiar face
of my dear old queen. I carefully replaced the
frame and closed the hive, and, upon a subsequent
examination in October, she was still there, but very
decrepit. It seemed as though she ought to have a
cane and a pair of spectacles. We hope much from
the young queen, that she will perpetuate the qual-
ities of her mother. John H. Martin.
Hartford, Washington Co., X. Y., Jan , 188J.
— ■■■ ^
BEE-KEEPIXG FOR PROFIT; B¥ 7IRS.
lilZZIE E. COTTON.
I^^IIE book is neatly printed, well gotten
Jjl up, and would be well worth a dollar,
— ' if the same information could not be
otherwise obtained for less money, or, per-
haps I should say, with a great deal more in-
formation for the same money. In fact, the
principal fault I should find with the book is
its small size for a dollar; viz.. 128 small
pages, in light paper covers. I know that
everybody does not agree with me in pricing
76
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Eeb.
books according to size ; but for Mrs. Cot-
ton's own good, and that sales of the boolc
mav be increased, 1 would suggest that it be
sold cheaper, or more matter added to it.
People are in the liabit of getting a pretty
good-sized book on bees for a dollar, and I
fear they will be disappointed. I believe
Mrs. Cotton to be an earnest, hard-working
w^oman, and I wish to see her succeed. In
fact, I shall be glad to sell her book, if she
will permit me so to do. I am satisfied she
sees the mistakes she has made, and is will-
ing to correct them.
Her advice in regard to feeding bees sugar
syrup to produce tine comb honey will prob-
ably meet with more severe censure from
other hands than mine. The recipe for
making bee feed, for which she charged
$10.00 (see Gleanings, page 8, Jan. No.,
1874), Ave copy from page 33 as follows:—
RECIPE FOB FEED.
To eij^ht pounds of coffee crushed sugar, add two
quarts of ssofl water, and whites of two eggs; bring
to the boiling point over a flow tire, being very care-
ful not to burn it. Skim off carefully all scum or
sediment that rises, so that the feed, when cool, will
be perfectly clear and about the consistency of new
honey.
I confess it is a little hard to see how one
Avho is trying to do right should charge
$10.00 for such a recipe, but at the same
time, I do not know but that it is the best
recipe I have ever found offered for sale.
You knoAv how I have talked to you about
selling recipes in these years past. Well,
although this is an excellent bee -feed,
whether you use the eggs to clarify it or not,
I should hardly like to indorse the following,
which we tind in Mrs. C.'s book, page 39: —
The feed is of the same color as the nicest white
clover honey, and when put in boxes bj' the bees
with the honey collected from flowers (I have no
doubt in many instances in alternate layers in the
same cell with honey from flowers), it can not be
distinguished, either in color or taste, from honey
collected whoUy from flowers.
Although ]\Irs. C. does not quite say so di-
rectly, w^e are led to infer that the great
yields of box honey she has obtained (over
380 lbs. from a single hive) were secured by
feeding the bees with this sugar syrup. This
honey was all sold at 3.5c per lb. Now, if
people will buy this honey at 35c, or even 2.5c
per lb., there will be no great difficulty in
getting $50.00 profit from a single hive, as
Mrs. C. has so long claimed in her advertise-
ments. The hive Which she calls the Con-
trollable hive, is only a slight modification of
the large hive of Jasper Ilazen, and the one
later made by j\Ir. Quinby. It is simply a
very large hive, with boxes all over the top
and sides, giving ample room for a very
strong colony to store honey during a great
yield. The chaff hive embodies the same
principle, with a permanent winter covering.
Why do I consider the book a good one, and
wish to extend its saleV Mostly because of
one point. This one point is the energy and
zeal with which she recommends building
each stock up to its fullest strength by feed-
ing with sugar syrup, clear up until the
white clover opens. In fact, she insists that
the hive be crammed with bees and honey ( !),
and even commence building the comb in
the boxes, and storing some honey (!) in
them before they get any from white clover
at all. Sucli a course can not fail to give an
enormous yield, as we almost all of us know
already, if a little of the sugar syrup should
get mixed with the honey, I presume it
Avould do no great harm, for it is not poison-
ous at all. To get these great yields, she
recommends but about a dozen hives in a lo-
cality. Now, although the book says noth-
ing of the extractor or comb foundation, it
is well worth the dollar for the energy with
which she puts the points above mentioned.
A very good picture of Mrs. Cotton is giv-
en as the frontispiece of the book; and as
one takes a good look at the face of the au-
thor (which by the way is by no means an
unprepossessing one), it is with a feeling of
sadness that so much energy has been spent,
at least in part, in a mistaken direction.
STRAY THOUGHTS FBOITI ORCHARD
APIARY.
No. 1.
IMPORTANCE OF GOOD DRONE?
ANY of you have doubtless noticed that, while
some stocks will store honey all through the
season, others equally strong do nothing.
Now, I believe the cause of this is because queen-
breeders are too careless in regard to mating their
queens. I think It is just as important to have good
stoek on the side of the male, as on that of the fe-
male; and if bee-keepers would take as much pains
in selecting their drones as they do their queen-
breeding stock, I think the number of idle stocks in
the country would decrease every year.
For the past few years I have been trying, by close
and careful breeding, to secure a strain of bees that
would excel in the three most important points;
namely, industry, proliflcness, and hardiness. To at-
tain this end, I adopted the following plan: I kept
a record of all my stocks through the summer, and
marked the ones that stored the most honey under
the same favorable circumstances. In the spring I
marked those that appeared to winter the besti
judging from their condition in the fall, and also
those that bred most rapidly in the spring. I then
let the marked hives raise all the drones they
wished, and kept all others cut off. I then bred
from the best imported stock, and mated my queens
with m.v selected drones, and kept a record of them
the next j'ear as before. Those that proved the most
industrious, prolific, and hardj', I allowed to raise
drones, keeping all others cut off. By this plan of
the "survival of the fittest," I think I have succeed-
ed In obtaining a strain of bees that are industrious,
good breeders, and that will stand this cold climate
well. It has taken a great deal of pains and perse-
verance to accomplish this; but I think the result
more than pays me for my labor.
MAKING COMB FOUNDATION.
In rolling fdn. 10 or 12 ft. to the pound, the sheets
stick to the rolls badly when they come through,
and have to be picked up, which takes a great deal
of time and patience. Two years ago I thought of a
way to remedy this, which is, to fold a strip of very
thin paper over the end of the sheets. They can be
put on very fast with starch, and can be taken away
from the machine as rapidlyasthe very thick sheets.
The paper can be cut off, ancl the wa.x melted up
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
77
agaiu. I do not think the paper will injure the rolls
it It is very thin and properly put on.
WINTEKING.
I have four ventilators to my cellar, and by means
of them I can keep the temperature very even, not
varying more than three or four degrees all winter.
I believe it is \"ery important to keep bees quiet
while they are in winter-quarters, and for that rea-
son I place my hives on racks which do not touch
any partition, but stand on a stone tloor, so that
nothing short of an earthquake can jar the hives.
E. A. Thomas.
Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass., Jan. 1, 1881.
PROGRESS.
BJ' SUSPECT that we are just on the point of mak-
I ing one more good stride ahead in our knowl-
' edge of bee nature. The word is given almost
simultaneously from Minaesota and Florida, by
friend White in December Gleanings (p. 598), and
friend Boutelle, in December No. of the Bee Jimrnal.
I read the latter's article first, and had a quiet
"guffaw" over it. Pretty soon I quit laughing, and
came down to sober second thought. Why not? If
we may be allowed to assume one fact not yet pro-
ven (but not at all unreasonable), there is nothing to
hinder the rearing of drones from worker eggs to
any extent the bees desire. A bee's egg as first
formed has in it a germ that, upon being developed,
becomes a male bee. If the egg is deposited in this
condition, we call it a drone egg. The addition of a
spermatic particle while the egg is being laid pro-
duces a worker egg. A worker egg contains two
germs. It is not at all probable that the original
germ is annihilated or killed by the spermatic par-
ticle. It is simply set on a back seat by a new and
more vigorous power. It fares just as the lieuten-
ant of a military company does when the captain
arrives. If the cgptain is killid, the lieutenant re-
sumes command. Suppose, now, that a worker egg
with its two germs be left uncared for for an indefi-
nite period. Sooner or later, both germs would die,
and the egg become a mere bit of inert matter.
Germs of such different origin and character may
differ greatly in their powers of endurance. If the
oriuinal germ is capable of living a few hours the long-
er, a drone may be hatched from it as soon as the sixr-
matic particle dies. Consider further. There is a
good reason why the spermatic particle should per-
ish first. Exertion is exhaustive in its nature; and
the spermatic particle, as seen by the microscope, is
continually making spasmodic motions— like a little
live poUywog. The germ of the drone egg has nev-
er been detected by the microscope, but it probably
does not keep up such an expenditure of force.
In your reply to friend White, you unconsciously
offer further evidence. You remark, "It is not un-
frequent to find a queen that suddenly, as it were,
lays quite a patch of drone eggs in worker cells, and
this, too, at a season when drones are not needed."
That the eggs in such cells were laid as drone eggs,
l8, of course, an assumption. It is more probable
that they were laid as worker eggs, and became
drone eggs by neglect. When brood-rearing is on
the decline, eggs are often neglected, if I mistake
not; but a sudden betterment of prospects, as a
fresh run of honey, makes the bees desire more
brood, and causes them to care for and hatch eggs
which they had previously resolved to have nothing
to do with. The drone patches, according to this
theory, are patches that were neglected just a little
too long.
For the benefit of those who desire to follow up
this matter, I would suggest a simple way of testing
it. Pour a little thin honey into the lamp nursery
(in order that the air inside may be moist enough
not to dry the eggs), and put in a frame containing
only worker eggs. Remove the queen from a good
colony until they become rather eager for brood.
Give them this frame just before the time when
eggs might be expected to perish. If the eggs
hatch, and prove workers, try again with some six
hours older, and so on until drones result, or until
the point is reached when eggs can no longer be
hatched at all. The whole could be done at one
trial by inserting an inch or two of comb with fresh
eggs into the frame every six hours, until enough
time was covered.
SOVEREIGNS BORN, VS. SOVEREIGNS MADE.
It is just possible that friend Klar (page o9T, of
1880), has shown us, as he says, another step for-
ward, and a still more important one. His fact is,
that a queen of very remarkably good qualities was
known to be hatched from a worker cell. I agree
with you, that the mere position of the larva is not
likely to signify much; but that is not the point,
necessarily. The true question I take to be this:
Is this rearing of queens in woi'ker cells a mere
freak of the nurse bees (if so, a trivial matter), or is
it a remarkable outburst of the reproductive pow-
ers of nature? It is imaginable that, on rare occa-
sions, a larva might have, by birth, such tendency
to become a perfect female, such irrepressible royal
vim, as to commence developing without any special
treatment. As soon as the delicate senses of the
bees could detect the royal odor they would natu-
rally give it some royal jelly, and rim out the cell as
described. The position would be an unimportant
matter, the late feeding and cramped quarters some-
what injurious; but such innate gifts and vigor as
would show themselves by refusing to be repressed
might well outweigh, by a hundred fold, all the un-
toward circumstances. It certainly is not asking
too much of us to ask us to keep watch for these cu-
rious queen-cells, and save enough of them to ascer-
tain what sort of queens they do produce.
DIPPED FOUNDATION.
It certainly looks as if the grand desideratum was
on the door-step just stepping in— a simple, cheap,
durable, workable, and buyable contrivance, with
which anybody with ordinary "gumption" can work
up a half-dozen pounds of wax all clean, and do it
well. To sell us, each one, a pair of dipping plates,
at three dollars, will be a better business than sell-
ing a roll mill to one in a hundred of us, will it not,
eh? When we get just the right Idea about temper-
ature and manipulation and the rest, I believe foun-
dation can be made with a pair of cast-type metal
plates, if they are perfectly true and smooth. My
first essay, if I could get around to the experiment,
would be to use the plates warm, dip in the style
friend Bonham does his plaster ones, and conduct
the whole operation in a large muffler box, into
which the operator could thrust his arms, and view
operations through a pane of glass, the air inside
being kept nearly up to the melting point of wax.
THE CLO^TIRS.
Artemas Ward always had to have something in
every letter about his "kangaroo." Clover is my
GLEANIITGS IX BEE CULTURE.
Feb.
kangaroo, and it won't do to close a letter on prog-
ress without telling how 1 have "walloped" it. I
still keep my ten dififereut kinds, or sub-varieties,
endeavoring to develop each one separately, "not
knowing which will prosper, this or that." I raised
a large number of plants to select from, especially
of No. 4 and No. 9, which are the most hopeful spec-
imens. Have got ahead some this season; but it is
likely to be a good many years before the new plant
is complete and ready to introduce. I propose to
have No. 4 when finished snowy white, as to its
bloom, like the original plant; but an immensely
large percentage of the seedlings are determined to
go back and be red clovers again. I have fair pros-
pects of carrying my point in the end. Space for-
bids giving details much, but I will add a few notes
of tube lengths from nij- memorandum-book. The
average of field plants in June is 43 one-hundredths
of an inch.
Clover No. 5.— When found, 36 to 46 (very variable.)
Same, June 38th, 36 to 40. Aug. 5th, 33 to 42. Best
plant of 1880 marking as low as 33 on July 36th.
Clover No. 3.— Wnen found, .38; June 38th, 34 to 37.
August 7th, 33 to 36. Best plant of 1880 marks as
low as 30 on July 36th. Diminutive head on another
plant, '26.
As I have had a bee empty a filled clover tube for
33 hundredths deep, these figures look hopeful.
THE NEW BEES.
Ah, yes I among the minions of progress are those
new Assamese and Brazilian bees— worthless, no
doubt; but we shall be very happy while investiga-
ting them. Make way for the new bees! But we
have also made some progress in getting our eye-
teeth cut. AVe want " piles " of information about
friend Hawley before we shell out those ten dol-
lars—es. E. E. Hasty.
Kichards, Lucas Co., O., Jan , 1881.
A MAMMOTH BEE-HIVE.
A STORY FROM OUR "ABC CHILD."
THOUGHT I would report an experience I had
this season with a monster bee-hive. Our vil-
lage doctor, Mr. George N. Hidershlde, took
the bee fever ia June, and, having more money
than experience, he jumped right into the middle
of it at once. But he was not going to have any
small hives, so he hired a carpenter to make a hive
for him. It was built to hold 73 L. frames, being
the length of a L. frame, and made to take 3 sets
high. 24 each. He asked my opinion, and I told him
it would be a failure The hive done was double
walled with 6 in. chaff packing, double doors, packed
doors opening on flat side of comb, and inner doors
glass, making it an observatory hive complete. It
looked more like a safe than a hive. It was placed
in an upper story of his barn, a hole cut opposite for
an entrance, and the hive set up to the hole when
all was ready. I was employed to transfer 4 large
swarms of blacks into it, also one swarm of Italians,
which I sold him with combs and brood, 8 frames
filled. These were placed in the center, in lower
part of hive nearest the entrance. Then com-
menced the work of transferring, which was nicely
done in about four hours, and the 5 swarms nearly
filled the hive. A very close watch was kept up,
and all the black queens killed. They united peace-
ably, having been brought by wagon about 6 miles;
the 73 frames containing no brood were filled with
fdn. starters, and were put in position and they
commenced at once to slay the drones, so that with-
in 13 hours not one remained alive. Three swarms
were the large brown bee and one small blacks.
Now for results: The work was done July 13th in
the midst of the largest basswood yield. They did
not fly much for 8 or 10 days; at the end of that
time they commenced to let out, and in three weeks
every frame seemed filled with honey. In43da>s
they deserted the outer combs, and in 84 dnys were
no larger than any ordinary strong swarm. They
had 400 lbs. of honey in frames, and the bees clus-
tered in one corner. Thus we exploded the great
and mammoth swarm stories. My ideas proved cor-
rect; estimating the 5 swarms at 50,000 each, we had
250,000 bees to start with; the queen, laying her full
capacity, 3000 per day, in 43 days we have only
136,000 bees; the disturbance, perhaps, caused the
queen to cease laying her lull capacity for a few
days; this was overbalanced by the transferred
brood hatching; the 84th day we found only 50,000
bees. Now for th« doctor's figures :—
Cost of hive $34 00
Cost of 4 black swarms - - - - - 16 00
Cost of Italian swarm and queen - - - 10 00
Cost of transferring 3 00
Total $53 00
For the experiment, the doctor still says he is sat-
isfied, as he always believed he could fit up a room
and have honey by the ton, and swarms the size of
a load of haj% as we read of found in caves and
rocks. He would certainly have built his hive four
times the size he did had I not advised this smaller
one for a start. I hope all persons who believe their
uncles and grandfathers had garrets filled with tons
of honey and mammoth swarms of bees will, before
trying the experiment, stop and drop a line to G. N.
Hildershide, M. D., Arcadia, Wis., first, and hear
what he thinks of it. E. A. Morgan.
Arcadia, Wis., Jan. 5, 1881.
iSlany thanks, friend M.. Yon and the
"doctor" have given ns a very valuable ex-
periment, even ttiongh it did cost some mon-
ey. To try to help a little to bear the ex-
per S3, we have placed to yonr credit $5.00,
and you can give such a part of it to the doc-
tor as you choose. I was pretty well con-
vinced of what the result would be; but
with your yield of honey this season 1 should
have rather expected a little more than 400
lbs. from the 5 swarms all together. Per-
haps it was because they waited and lost
that 10 days in the start. We are all the
time hndiiig people as you say, who seem to
think it must be that "several swarms in a
room together would make one mammoth
swarm, and hold out thus, year after year.
HuleMk §^iimhrim^.
LETTER FROM A LITTLE GIRL BEE-KEEPER.
fWISH you a happy New Year. I have three
swarms of bees. They came out and alighted
in the grass, but they are very tame now. i
read my father's bee journals, and like to read them.
I have all black bees but one, and they are Italians.
They sting very hard, I think, but father don't think
so. Father has bees also. He has a new hive this
winter. I like bees very much, but not if they sting.
A year ago papa gave me a sw^^rm, and it increased
1881
GLEANINGS IK BEE CULTUKE.
79
to two swarms, and did not swarm this year. I like
father and mother very much. I like to read and
sing. I go to Sunday-school. I like to go to school.
I try to obey my teacher. Mamma has no swarm of
bees, but would like to ha%-e ons very much. They
are very nice. I am seven years old. I himt bees
with father. I got stung on the finger. Bees gather
honey on flowers; we hare sweet flowers. L. O.
Lindsey is my father. He keeps bees, and they
sting very hard, but not so hard as some. Some
bees arc very tame, and some are wild. The ones
that live in the woods are wild, and the ones that
live in hives are tame, and don't sting so much as
those that live in the woods. The swarm that came
out and alighted in the grass is in a red hive. I have
two big brothers, and they have one swarm apiece.
Papa has more than any; they have plenty of hon-
ey; he packs them in chaff : he put two swarms in
a dry-goods box, and heaped snow around it. The
lightning struck our house on the 6th of November.
We were all in the kitchen, but no one was hurt.
My brothers had just got home from school. It ran
down the rod, and four other places on the house.
It tore the rods and eavc-?p()uts off the house, and a
stone out of the woodhouse wall, about four feet.
Louie M. Lindsey.
Corry, Eric Co., Pa., Jan. 1, 1881.
Well done, Lottiel Why, that is a tip-to])
letter, and I will go right this minute, and
tell Stella to send yon one of the best of
those Sunday-school books, and you can
show it to your Sunday-school teacher, and
tell her your friend A. I. lioot made you a
present of it. Let me see— I guess 1 will
send you theone about the-'Buttoned Boots.''
See if you don"t think it funny about the
little girl that lost her uncle's watch, and
then found it in such a queer place a long
while after. Xow. if I read your letter to
Blue Eyes, I wouldn't wonder if she w^ould
write one to you. What do you think about
itV Every time you write me a letter telling
about your father's bees, I will send you an-
other book (just as I offered Freddie in Dec.
No.), and I would like one every month.
I have nothing of interest for you this month.
We are having extremely cold weather here, which
will be very hard on what bees are left. The major-
ity of the colonics over the country are dead already,
and reports coming in of others dying. W^e do not
know what condition our bees are in, for papa will
not let us go near the apiary, or disturb them in the
least. We had a Chrietmas-tree at our church. I
got a sack of candy and an orange. The candy was
this cheap 'stuff, painted in all the colors of the rain-
bow, and not fit to eat. Freddie L. Craycraft.
Salem, Ind., Jan. 11, 1881.
Yery good. Freddie, and we have sent you
your book. I think your father is just about
right in refusing to let you disturb your bees
during cold weather. "By the way,' my little
friend, I am almost afraid you are in danger
of getting into a way of fault-finding. Some-
times grown-up folks And fault with what
God sees fit to send them, and I know a man
real iceU, who gets into such ways of think-
ing and talking sometimes. You see, the
candy was a present, and we should be care-
ful how we find fault with presents. If vou
buy some candy, and it is not Avorth "the
money you paid for it, then just "go for"
the man of whom you bought it, "lively";
but always make the best of every thing you
find on the Christmas-tree. Isn't that the
best way':*
GIVEN 'S DEVICE FOR PUTTING AVIRES
INTO BROOD FRAMES.
|q?lRIEND GIYEN has invented, as an ad-
^' jnncttohis machine for making fdn.
' right in the frames, a machine for ])ut-
tiug the wires in also. The plan of it seems
to be to draw the wires into the top and bot-
tom bars before the frame is made up. The
cut below, and the explanation he gives to
follow, will, I think, make the general fea-
tures of the apparatus plain.
GIVEN'S FRAME-WIRING MACHINE.
The two arms above the seat-board are separated
by springs. They are made to open 13 inches, but
the machine can be set any distance under that.
They are pulled together by the foot-lever. The up-
per and lower bars of the frame fit in these arms,
and are held by springs on the outside and two pegs
and a groove in the inside. When pulled together,
these bars are just Va inch apart. The wire is run
through both holes in the pieces at once, bj' using a
harness needle.
First, draw one arm's length through; press the
needle back, catching the slack on the other thumb;
draw in the slack, and with the other thumb draw
in another arm's length; this arm's length is
dropped over a very light spring, scarcely seen,
djwn by seat board. This spring will easily pull
up, and the wire slips off it, when it's too short to
kink. We go on with the first arm's length, and
_C^sew back, placing the other thumb in the
slack, and pull in the wire off first spring,
and put it on another spring on the oth-
er side; then we proceed and sew back
ind forward, leaving slack each time,
ind fasten the last end with a small tack.
The wire is seen about thus: Now, the
two thumbs are placed in A, and it slacks ;
the foot-spring lever is let up, and the
long slack is pulled in by the thumbs,
and left on the last thumb; this la the
d
c:
^
3
80
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Feb.
middle of the frame. The spring separates the
pieces, and all the slack is taken up excepting what
is on the thumb. Now there is almost enough slack
on the thumb to allow the pieces to separate to these
set distances.
We rub the finger down on the wires, and with the
aid of the springs, this slack is soon pulled in, let-
ting the last arms strike first, then what is needed is
pulled in from the spool, then we pull in enough
from the spool, and break it, to run the angle wires.
They are run thus, with us, and the end is fastened
on the same tack with the other end.
Hoopeston, 111. D. S. Given.
[HOW TO PREPARE AND DRV CORN.
ALSO HOW TO COOK IT AND .
SSEE by Gleanings that you wished to know
something about drying corn. I do not know
that I can enlighten you any on the subject,
but I have experimented considerably in that line,
and have finally adopted the following as the best
method: In the first place, pick off all the silks, and
have your corn as clean as possible. Now, do not
cook or scald it in any way while on the cob. Take
a sharp knife, cut the corn so as to cut the kernel
about half way down to the cob, or in other words,
cut the kernels in the middle, so that one-half the
corn is left on the cob; then turn the knife over;
with the back of the knife scrape the remaining corn
from the cob. Do not hold the knife as though you
were trying to cut with the back; but as you scrape
the cob with the back of the knife, incline the edge
of it from you, and you will readily see that you will
scrape all the corn from the cob without getting any
of the cob, and only about one-half the hulls will be
cut off with the corn. After your corn is cut and
scraped off in this way, place it on plates or any
clean tin shallow dishes; then place it in a stove,
oven, or other dry, hot place until the corn is cooked
which will take but a few minutes. You will know
when cooked by the watery appearance, instead of
the white, milkj' appearance it has when first cut off
the cob, as it is only the milk that is necessary to
cook. If it is not cooked in this waj' it is apt to sour
before it will dry. After it is thus scalded, as I call
it, with hot air instead of water, it may be put out in
the sun and dried in any way you please; but do not
allow it to get wet with rain or dew while drying.
Beware of drying by the stove, as a little careless-
ness will result in getting the corn burnt, wtiich will
in a greal measure destroy its flavor.
Now, friend Root, it may not be out of place for
me to suggest, that all kinds of dried fruit, and corn
not excepted, should be put up in tight paper bags,
and kept in a dark room or closet, in order to keep
it from getting wormy, as the moths love corn and
fruit as well as honey or honey-comb. To prepare
dried corn for the table, put it to soak in a little wa-
ter for a few hours (say over night) before you want
to use it; then put on the stove, add a little milk
and butter; season to taste, and just bring it to the
boiling point, and it is done. Follow the difections,
and if you do not like it, sue me for damage.
I have not written the above for Gleaninqs ; but
if you think it is any thing new, or worth publishing,
I have no objections, as I believe the saying, "His
light is none the less who lights his neighbor."
T. A. R.
Well, well. Novice, what will you be up to next?
You are a funny one, surely, to run a bee journal.
First course, honey ; second, dried corn, and relig-
ion for dessert. But what if you do? bee-keepers
can not live on honey alone, and need love to God
and man, and to deal justly and love mercy. We
are not one of your feminine friends "who have
nothing to do," for we are as busy as a bee in a tar-
bucket; but yet we have found time to tell you how
we dry com. There is no fruit or vegetable that
loses flavor sooner, when pulled from the stalks,
than sweet corn and peas. So when we purpose dry-
ing corn, we rise early, gather, and boil until the
milk is cooked; cut the berries off, and get to drying
as quickly as possible. As fast as it is ready, it is
put into a pretty hot oven in bread-pans and pie
tins piled up zigzag, and stirred frequently. Put in
the oven in this way, it will hold all that can be cut
off from two bushels of ears.
As the moisture escapes it shrinks, and can be put
into fewer utensils, and much less fire will be neces-
sary. If we have attended to our corn faithfully,
by night we put thick brown paper in the bottom of
the oven, and empty all the pans upon it, except
one that remains in the upper part of the oven.
We burn coal, and the remaining fire keeps the oven
warm all night. In the morning the corn will be
ready to put up in brown paper bags, and tied up
tightly. Corn dried in this way will be delicious,
and not get worm}', as flies have had no opportunity
to lay their eggs in it.
We've not a "capacity," but our partner has, and
he says that "bees gather pollen from the sweet-
corn tassels, and also work for honey upon the
leaves— more especially upon the axils close to the
stalks, where the dew runs down." The action of
the dew and hot sun combined upon the sweet
stalks may cause a sweet substance to exude, which
the bees gather. Mrs. L. Harrison.
Peoria, 111., January, 1881.
"Mrs. Liicinda Harrison, as sure as you
are alive,'' said I, as I got to the end of the
letter. Well, now, my friend, I am real
glad I wrote about corn, for it is the longest
letter we have had from you for many a
year, and I have written about almost every
thing that bears, even remotely, on bee-cul-
ture, just on purpose to draw out something
good from somebody. Letters from busy
lolks are just the very best kind of letters —
when we can succeed in getting them to
write.
CORN AS A HONEY-PLANT (?)
I have just read your article in Gleanings, page
11, Jan. No., about corn as a honey-plant, etc., and,
although not one of the " feminine friends," I think
I can tell you the best method of drying the corn,
and would take a contract to furnish s'ou a ton at
prices given in circular sent. If you have never
used any evaporated fruit, you can not imagine how
much better it is than any kind of sun or oven dried.
I have used the evaporator described in circular the
past season, and believe there is none better; they
dry apples, peaches, berries of all kinds, tomatoes,
pumpkine, squash, string beans, corn, etc., perfect-
1881
gleain^ings in bee culture.
81
ly. One would, no doubt, keep several of your boys
and girls profitably employed some time after the
busy time of honey supplies^s over. A largo crop of
berries could be raised for the honey; and what ber-
ries are not disposed of profitably green, could be
dried at paying prices. Full directions accompany
each machine, for preparing all kinds of fruit and
vegetables.
I have 46 swarms of bees in the Root Simplicity
and Chaff hives, packed in chaff on summer stands;
last season was a poor one for honey in this section.
The thermometer has been 20° below zero part of
the winter, but I have faith that most of the bees
will come through all right yet. C. L. Brooks.
Deansville, Oneida Co., N. Y., Jan. 2, 1881.
Many thanks for circular, etc., friend B.
The price quoted on sweet corn is J U to 15c.
At 10c, it ought to sell "lively ; " but as dry
shelled corn brings only about 2c per lb., it
seems to me it could easily be furnished at
that price. A real nice brand of sweet corn,
such as I have mentioned, would be excel-
lent food even at lUc per lb., and I do not
think it would be very expensive, compared
with other foods either. Who has some for
sale? Go to work and get some ready for
market, and I think I can find you custom-
ers.
I send you a small sample of our evaporated
corn by mail to-day. Tnj it. It is all disposed of
for this year, but next year we shall be glad to sell
to you if we can agree upon a price. W^e make this
a part of our business— evaporating corn, apples,
and pumpkins. N. F. Case.
Glensdale, Lewis Co., N. Y., Jan. 3, 1881.
The corn is most excellent, friend C, and
we could hardly tell it from corn that had
just been gathered from the field. If any-
body has any for sale as good as that, I
should like figures on it.
Pertalnlnsf to Bee Culture.
CAUTION TO DEALERS.
BjTKR. EDITOR:— A little over two months ago I
fj^ received my first lesson, and I think the last
one, while I remain a supply dealer in apiar-
ian supplies. Mr. W. L. Woodward, formerly of
Salford, Ont., wrote to me, stating to me that he had
275 lbs. of beeswax for sale. I offered him 28e per lb.
cash on delivery ; but he thought thar, as we had had
dealings with each other the last two years, I ought
to remit first, which I declined to do, as it would
amount to $77— he being a stranger tomepersonallj',
and I to him ; so, finally, he said if I would remit $28
he would forward the 275 lbs. of wax at once, on re-
ceipt of money, at the same time stating that two
other parties were after it, at the same offer. I re-
mitted the $28 in a registered letter; he received it,
and that is the last of it, for he left Salford for parts
unknown. He stated he gathered it for me through
the country. M. Richardson.
Port Colborne, Ont., Dec. 6, 1880.
After getting the above, we immediately
wrote Mr. Woodward, as he is one of our
subscribers ; but getting no reply from him,
we wrote his postmaster, inclosing a postal
for reply ; but after w^aiting quite a time
without getting a reply, we wrote to a sub-
scriber there, and got the_ following: —
In answer to yours of the 29th, would say in refer-
ence to Woodward, he was not counted a responsible
man when here. He took all the honey-comb, and
queen bees, and left the others to starve. I heard
he went to California, but don't know his present
address. He has swindled others as well as Mr.
Richardson. He is entirely deaf. If you wish any
more information, I shall be glad to give it to you.
Salford, Ont., Jan. 5, 1881. John Gregg, Jr.
As the matter now stands, it seems to me
that our bee friends need to be warned
against trusting any man of the name given
above, should he turn up in any new locality.
If it were possible to find his address, I
should much prefer trying to hear from him
personally, especially as his deal with us has
always been honorable. The transaction, as
detailed by friend Richardson, is of a most
aggravating character, and the poor man
must have undergone some severe tempta-
tions before he yielded to this bad impulse.
If any one can give us his present address, I
will do all I can to help him to reconsider
his bad start, and come back to the right
again.
Now, friends, allow me to suggest, in sim-
ilar cases, where you do notknow each other,
you just send your money to a bank and di-
rect them to make the purchase, or put the
whole transaction in the hands of the ex-
piess company. You can do this, and still
have the wax or honey shipped by freight.
It seems that Mitchell is not out of bus-
iness yet, for two circulars, dated Jan., 1881,
have been sent in by friends who have re-
ceived them. I find nothing that requires
notice, except the following on a little slip
of paper, pasted in the front: —
NOTICE.
We would announce to the bee-keepers of the fol-
lowing-named Counties— Randolph and Jay Coun-
ties, Indiana; Mercer, Auglaize, and Shelby Coun-
ties, Ohio, that we will visit the counties named as
follows: —
Portland, Oswalt House, Tuesday, Jan. 11, 1881.
Celina, Miller House, Wedaesday, Jan. 12.
Wapakonetta, Heinrich House, Thursday, Jan. 13.
Sidney, Read House, Friday, Jan. 14.
Winchester, Franklin House, Saturday, Jan. 15.
We extend a cordial invitation to every one that
is interested in the busy bee to call on us; and we
would say to those who are using our hive, or any
part of it, without a right to do so, that you are re-
quested to meet me and settle up, or we will bring
suit in the U. S. Court against you. Many of you
have said that we have no patent on our hive. If
you will call, we will show you our patent. We re-
quest our friends to report all infringers. Any par-
ties using the so-called Root's Chaff Cushions are in-
fringers of the worst kind. We are sorry that we
are thus compelled to assert our rights.
N. C. MITCHELL.
Well, I am sorry too, Friend M. I had
hoped you would come out straight too, and
that we might take the head of this depart-
ment and put it away up on a high shelf,
perhaps never more to be needed. I can
hardly think any of our new beginners will
be so foolish as 'to pay you for tiie right to
use a division board when you do not even
speak of making me settle. You know I am
infringing the "worst kind."
82
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Feb.
From Dilfereut Fields.
SHOULD DOLLAR QUEENS EVER PRODUCE BEES
NINE-TENTHS BLACK?
fjRIEND ROOT:— The queen you shipped me
"* May Ist came all right. I removed the queen
— ■ from a populous stock, and introduced her in
a cage 48 hours, and then released her, when she was
received all right. I looked at her in about an hour,
and shut up the hive for good, thinking it all right;
and ten days after I found her dead at the entrance.
I opened the hive and found just one queen-cell, and
no eggs nor larvte. I ordered another dollar queeu,
and from her progeny there is not more than one
bee in ten that shows the Italian mark. Where did
she come from? Perhaps it is too much work; but
why is it not well to keep track of dollar queens—
where they come from, and then we would soon
learn who breeds for purity. I don't find aay fault,
but some one has got their Italians strained down
below par.
It is my opinion friend L., tliat no queen
raised from an imported mother should do
as badly as that; yet the results of crossing
are so diverse that it may be possible, after
all. We have the names on a book, telling
where every queen we have sold came from,
and we have decided pretty well already
where Ave can not afford to buy in tlie future.
There is talk now of guaranteeing the pur-
ity of all dollar queens next year ; and if we
do this, queen-breeders will be pretty sure to
get the black bees out of their neighborhoods
more effectually another season.
EAVE SWALLOWS EATING BEES.
Theeave swallows have made havoc with my bees
for a few years past. They nest about J4 mile away,
under the eaves of the barns, over a running stream
of water; and to get rid of them I know but two
ways. One is to shoot them; the other is to take a
long pole and teach their young to swim before they
are old enough to eat bees. The old swallows catch
the bees to feed their young. I tried the former
way, and it cost me a dollar to kill sixteen with pow-
der and shot, and I am a good marksman too. At
that rate it would cost several hundred dollars to
getrid of them, besides my time. That won't pay.
Please inform me of abetter way.
Are you positively. sure, friend L., that the
swallows were eating bees ? It js well known,
that they destroy large numbers of insects,
and I think we should be very careful before
we decide upon such a destruction of them
as you speak of.
ARE BEES FOND OF PARIS GREEN?
Is it careless to use Paris green on potato tops, in
the vicinity of my bees?
I do not believe bees will ever touch Taris
green unless it is mixed with honey or syrup.
UPPER ENTRANCES, AND POLLEN.
Are bees more apt to carry pollen in the surplus
boxes when they have an upper entrance?
An upper entrance would certainly make
it more likely to have pollen stored in the
surplus receptacles.
VIRGIN QUEENS.
Will bees accept a yirgin queen the day they
swarm? If so, please inform me. I introduced sev-
eral last season, but not one lived.
The bees that have swarmed out will al-
most always accept any kind of a queen ; but
those that remain in the hive are just as
likely to refuse a new queen as if no swarm
had issued, so far as my experience goes.
I went into winter-quarters with IT stands of bees
—one in chaff hive, 11 set in boxes packed with
chair, and 5 exposed to the weather, one of which is
frozen up solid. Zero weather here for the last
three weeks. Mercury 23° below zero—the coldest
yet. No signs of a thaw, and very short of water.
E. W. Lund.
Baldwinville, Mass., Dec. 15, 1880.
AN ABC SCHOLAR'S REPORT.
1 commenced with 3 swarms, waich I took on
shares in 1877; but the story would befooling if I
told the ups and downs until now. I will say, If I
had taken the A B C or Gleanings,! could have
made a better report. I have sold over $100 worth
of bees; had last year 1000 lbs. surplus; this, 1500 (.500
extracted, 1000 comb;) sold for 13'/2 extracted, 15 to
16 in sections. I have now over 80 swarms in the
cellar. By the way, I have always kept my bees in
the cellar, in the winter, I mean, and have never lost
a swarm by disease, and but one in any way, and
that was by using an old hive with a mouse-hole in
it. You can guess the rest. One year ago last win-
ter manj' lost their bees in this vicinity. One of my
neighbors lost 31 swarms— all he had. I saved 31— all
I had. This year was a poor one with us here; no
surplus until about the 10th of August. My surplus
was all from less than 40 swarms. One made 144 lbs.
in large frames, my best. D. Houghtaling.
Dimondale, Eaton Co., Mich., Dec. 26, 1880.
ARTIFICIAL AND NATURAL QUEENS.
As friend Doolittle Is sa. ing so much about dollar
queens, I wish to say a word. Novv, I feel sure that
queens raised according to the rules in the ABC
are better than queens raised under the swarming
Impulse. Bees often swarm without having started
a queen-cell; the swarm finding themselves queen-
lass will set about raising queens from larva that is
ready to be capped over for a worker. The result
is, you have a queeu about half worker. She will
live about six weeks, and die. Then what is the
matter? Don't know. Mr. Doolittle says that the
queens raised according to your plan are raised by
old bees. I think not, for young bees are hatching
every day, and many of them have just learned their
course. Now, queens raised in the natural way, I
think, are often put on short rations, for the hive is
full of brood, and the bees have all they can do to
give them all a little. I shall raise all of my queens
according to the ABC book. I don't wan't to find
fault with friend Doolittle, but I don't think he
ought to be quite so stiff in the neck, and hang off
so much on one side. I don't raise queens to sell-
probably never shall. G. A. Wrksht.
Nicholson, Wyoming Co., Pa., Jan. 13, 1881.
Gently, friend W. You know friend D.
gets the honey, and as long as he does that,
he has a right to be " stiff-necked " if he
chooses. When we do as well as he does,
year after year, we shall have earned the
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
83
right to be so too ; but as it is we are glad to
hear from him, even if we do not just exactly
agree with all the deductions he makes.
RED CLOVER AS A HONEY-PLANT.
Friend Doolittle says (on page21, present Volume),
bethinks "there is nothing in the world that se-
cretes as much honey, year after year, as red clo-
ver." In this he is perfectly right; but when he
says, "Still, it is of little use except to the bumble-
bee," in my mind he is a little wrong.
What were the bees doing when friend Doolittle
"got off his mowing machine"? (See Gleanings,
page 152, Dec. No., Vol. III.) There he tells us, Ital-
ians were working on red clover, four miles from
their home, and he even saw blick bees working on
that same red clover.
You have my views on page 164, Gleanings, May
No., Vol. VII., and I still think that if we have good
Italians there Is no honey-pl int equal to red clever.
But the heads must be small, or the corolla will be
"so long the bees can not touch the honey."
I will tell you how to manage it. A few years ago
I was crossing one of neighbor Henry Root's fields,
and there I found our nice Italians, and hybrids too,
working. Why I the whole field was a perfect hum.
I wondered why they did not work on my own fields;
but I soon found out the cause. We had always
sowed our seed too thin, and the ground was rich;
consequently, the heads were 1 irge.
Moral.— Get your neighbors to sow more seed than
usual, even if you have to "furnish the extra seed
gratis. It makes better and finer hay, does not
freeze out so easily, and in no way interferes with
raising seed, and you will be delighted and well re-
paid. ILA MiCHENER.
Low Banks, Ont., Can., Jan. 10, 1881.
A NEW WAY OP STOPPING ROBBING, ETC.
I started last spring with 3" stands, all Italians, ex-
cept one black and a few hybrids; lost none through
wintering the last two years. I winter them on sum-
mer stands, with chaff on top of frame, which I
think is a good way in this part of Pennsylvania. I
do not keep bees for profit only, but more because I
like them. I increased by artificial and natural
swarming to 40 stands, and got between 800 and 900
lbs. of honey, all comb, in frame and sections; also
some in boxes. The season was so poor that I have
to feed some of my first natural swarms that came
out as early as May 9th, and are not self-siistaining;
but I expect to get them all through. A good many
of my neighbors did not get any honey at all. We
have to depend on clover entirely for surplus, and
the nectar failed, and hence a poor season.
The queen which I received from you some time
last July proved to be pure and prolific.
I will here give you my way of curing robbers,
which always proves satisfactory to me whenever I
try it. When the robbing commences, and the stock
to be robbed does not fight the robbers away, I close
up the entrance pretty small; then I take a small
piece of broom corn (which I like best) or quite a lit-
tle whip, and stick it in at the entrance, and shako it
pretty often. That makes them so cross that they
will mount a robber before he is halfway down to
get in; but put on a veil, or they will take you for a
robber. If they have full sway of a colony before I
find it out, I close it up entirely till next morning,
when I make them defenders before the robbers are
up. Sometimes it must be done pretty often before
they stop it.
BLACK WILLOW.
You spoke about a willow-tree on page 599, in last
No. of Gleanings, that was budded with a kilmon-
ark. That willow is called black willow about here.
I have raised from just such a nursery tree, budded
the same way (and the top dried), a good many trees.
They produce the earliest natural pollen (and honey
too) that the bee can get in spring. They are raised
the same as grapes, bs' cuttings, and grow very fast,
and will bloom about a week or two. Mine are just
swarming with bees almost as soon as the ground
opens in spring. I generally top my trees in the
spring after the pollen is all gone. I will send you
some cuttings if you wish to have some.
Val. D. Urich.
Myerstown, Lebanon Co., Pa., Dec. 28, 1880.
A LAW AGAINST FRAUDS IN WEIGHT, ETC.
I inclose $1.00 to continue Gleanings. Will you
not urge all j'our readers to join in petitioning,
through their representatives in Congress, for a law
to protect us against short weights, short count, and
short measure, and' particularly against adultera-
tions in all we eat, drink, or wear? that Congress
pass a law requiring that every package destined for
sale shall show exactly its weight, measurement,
count, or composition, so each consumer can see ex-
actly what he is buying, selling, or using; so the
people may know exactly what they are using, and
the pure and the adulterated articles would be put
upon their individual merits, and there could be no
premiums in the way of profits to deception and dis-
honesty? Without such restriction, these evils
must go on increasing, until every pure article of
consumption will necessarily be driven out of the
market, and the buyers left entirely at the mercy of
dishonest manufacturers and speculators. Surely,
Congress can not refuse to grant us such relief if
the people will show that they need it.
W. R. Whitman.
New Market, Ala., Dec. 27, 1880.
With all my heart, friend W., and, while
Congress is getting around to it, let us, each
and all, reform ourselves in every thing we
make or sell. If any one has a "peck meas-
ure"' that don't hold out, let us '^burn itup."'
CROSS BEES GATHERING MOST HONEY.
I wintered four swarms last winter. They in-
creased to nine, and made 200 lbs. of comb surplus
honey, most of it in 1-lb. sections. Mine are com-
mon blacks, and the best swarm to gather honey is
the worst to sting me if they can get a chance, and
they watch close for a chance too, unless the honey
is coming in freely.
WINTERING WITH BOTH CHAFF AND CELLAR PRO-
TECTION.
My bee's are wrapped up in a cloth, and oat chaff
is packed around them, top and sides. They are in
Simplicity hives. I took out the brood frames, and
took a cloth that would go over the remaining
frames and down on the sides to the bottom-boards,
and then packed in the chaff. I wintered them in
my cellar last winter, packed in that way. My cellar
is damp, but my bees were dry all winter. The chaff
took the moisture, and I never had so few dead bees,
nor had them winter so well before.
I sent to you last spring for hives and other fix-
64
GLEA^maS IK BEE CULTURE.
Feb.
tures, and they came all right and were satisfactory,
and the freight charges were quite low; and, as luck
would have it, my order went In when the rush
went, and the consequence was, that I had to hive
some of my bees in my old box hive without any
brood frames.
ONE AND A HALF STORY HIVES.
I like the one and a half story Simpliolty with the
28 one-pound section-crate very much; but I should
like it better if the cover, or the upper story, was
high enough to take on two sets of those crates, and
then, when the bees have got far enoiigh along,
raise one crate and put one under. H. M. Guild.
Chester, Windsor Co., Vt., Dec. 17, 1880.
A story and a half hive, with two tiers on,
would be virtually our regular two-story hive,
friend G.; and if you will look into the mat-
ter, you will see that it would make a much
more complicated and convenient rigging, to
make the cover still taller, and get your boxes
properly held in ])lace,than to make another
story, just like the lower one, in the usual
way.
ADVERTISING IN THE READING COLUMNS.
What in the name of common sense has come over
some of the bee papers? I refer principally to the
unbusiness like "free space" given through the
reading columns of certain bee papers, which are
nothing more than covert advertisements. For in-
stance, something like this: —
"I received 3 blank queens early this spring, from
Mr. Blank Blank, and although the colonies c on-
taining these queens were no stronger, and had no
better chance than Italians that were alongside of
them. They gathered more honey, and were easier to
handle than the Italians. Blank Blank.
"Blank Blank, Oct. 13, 1880."
Now, I would ask any one (except the two Mr.
Blanks) if such is fair dealing with advertisers and
subscribers? If so, I have not another word to say.
I have noticed that other journals, representing
other industries, do not wrong iheir patrons in this
way, and am free to confess that I can't understand
why bee papers can'i do business on business prin-
ciples. Gleanings, I lay no charge of this kind to
you, and yet I should fear to scrutinize your back
pages too far upon such a search, for fear I might
find some.
Right here, I firmly believe, I should throw the
pen aside; but a "wee small voice" says, "Tell
brother Root for this time, ' don't advise us to have
charity.' " Charity is one thing, and business is an-
other; and let us place each under its proper head-
ing. R. C. Taylor.
Wilmington, N. C, Nov. 10, 1880.
But for all your caution, I fear I shall ask
a little charity, friend T.; not only for the
journals, but for their contributors. Where
a letter is written, plainly with the inten-
tion of advertising, I shall refuse it, even
though I am offered more than our regular
rates for every line of it. In fact, advertis-
ing dodges shall not go into the reading col-
umns at any price ; but where a bee-keeper,
in making his report, naturally speaks of
the supplies he has purchased of different
ones of our number, I have no objection to
his doing so. How else shall we know who
does business in a careful and conscientious
mannerV I know the editor may be accused
of partiality in so doing ; but if he is con-
scientiously working for the good of his
readers, the best he knows how, he should
not be troubled, even if some fault is found.
I have all along been in the habit of freely
advertising articles of great merit, where I
thought the owner was conscientious and
unselfish. I advertised friend Given's press
that way, and I also took the liberty of crit-
icising it afterward. Do you not wish me to
do just this way?
UPS AND B0WN8 OF AN A B C SCHOLAR.
I have kept bees more than thirty years, but in the
old box hive, and on the old-fogy style, until the
spring of 1875, when I began with the Langstroth
hive and two stands of bees; increased from 2 to 6
stands, but got no honey this year. May, 1876, start-
ed out with six stands; increased, mostlj' by divid-
ing, to 15 stands; took 600 lbs. of honey, mostly ex-
tracted. May, 1877, began business with 15 colonies;
took 1460 lbs. extracted, and 40 lbs. comb or box
honey; increased my stock from 15 to 35 stands;
lost 5 stands in wintering; came through to May,
18T8, with 30 live stands; took this season 2300 lbs.
extracted, and 50 lbs. box honey; increased my
stock from 30 stands to 15, mostly by dividing, but
had only a few swarms. Packed them for winter on
their summer stands in the best condition I ever
had bees— at least, that was my conviction. But,
alas! May, 1879, found me with but 15 stands alive,
and 4 of them nearly gone, and more honey left in
the hives with the dead bees than I knew what to do
with. I extracted 400 lbs. of honey, made by divid-
ing 6 new stands; lost, in wintering, 7 stands. May,
1880, 1 had but 14 left alive. Got no honey this year,
but increased my stock to 28 stands. Just before
the weather turned cold, I packed them snugly in
the cellar in a dark room by themselves, to stay un-
til some time next April, dead or alive.
J. C. Phillips.
Westchester, Butler Co., O., Jan. 1, 1881.
CALIFORNIA NOTES, KTC.
We have had a long, steady rain, which has start-
ed the sages and early honey-plants; and if the
weather continues warm and damp, bees will be
making tbeir own living in 6 or 8 weeks, and early
swarms will be coming out by the first of March.
The indications are now good for the best honey
season we have had for several years; and you
need not be surprised at reports of 300 and 300 lbs. of
honey to the hive. Bee-men are happj', and hire-
making will soon be the order of the day.
which is the best smoker?
Now, Mr. Root, I want a smoker— one that will
burn anything, from dry rotten wood to stovewood;
make lots of smoke; blow the smoke well in any
position; not get out of order every five minutes,
nor go out as soon as laid down. Now, what kind
would you advise me to get?
I have had roses in bloom all the year, and the
bushes are now sending out buds in profusion.
Corn, potatoes, and early garden stuff are coming
up. Now beat that if you can in Medina.
Carpenteria, Cal., Dec. 19, 1880. E. CaDWell.
Really friend C, I wish you had not asked
me that question about smokers; for I
would much rather you would, after looking
over the prices of different makes, order the
one you think you would like best. What
shall I tell him, boys? Somebody having no
smoker for sale, please answer.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
85
AN A B C scholar's EXPERIENCE.
I thought I would saj' something about my bees.
I have 25 stands of bees. I began in the spring of
1879 with 3 stands; in the fall I had 6. That was a
Tery poor honey season. I got no honey, but fed 100
lbs. of sugar; so you seel made nothing that season.
In the spring of 1880 I bought 10 stands, $5.00 each.
Another very poor season; had 16 in the spring of
1880; took 100 lbs. of cap honey. I took that in May;
got no more that season, but fed some sugar in the
fall. I started in the winter with 25 stands. I put 16
in boxes; packed hay all around the gum; put
cushions on the frames; left 9 on their summer
stands; those I left on their summer stands were
the strongest and best stands. They ha%'e had two
flies since I put them away for winter, while those
in the boxes have had no fly at all; but they all
seem to be doing very well. I don't know whether
to let them stay in the boxes when spring comes or
not. As soon as su^ar-making comes on, I will com-
mence to feed, as my bees didn't breed later than
August. I fed them in the fall, but they didn't com-
mence to breed. My bees were not as strong as I
would have liked. White clover was a total failure
both years. I do hope next year will be a. good one
for honey. The honey I took in May was from poj)-
lar. Gleanings is worth all it costs. It is very in-
teresting. D. F. Steele.
Gosport, Owen Co., Ind., Jan. 2, 1881.
BOTTOM-BARS TO FRAMES, MADE OF THIN HOOP
IRON.
I am an A B C student, but liave no other than the
old box hive, and wish to make a beginning soon, if
I have to make my own hives and frames. How
would a tie used for baling cotton do for the bottom
and sides of a frame, riveted to a wooden top-bar?
When dipped into melted wax it would not rust.
. J. H. Roderick.
Dodd's City, Fannin Co., Tex., Dec. 25, 1880.
Frames made as you mention will do very
well, only that they are liable to be bent, or
the comb injured in setting them down ; in
fact, frames may be, and have been, used
with no bottom-bar, and there is no objec-
tion that I know of, except the liability to
injury while handling. The general verdict,
after a time, is, I believe, that a light strip
of pine is best, all things considered. You
see much depends on the bottom-bar, to keep
the rest of the frame straight and firm.
PAPER HONEY-COMB, ETC.
Won't you induce Mr. Gray to make a machine
that will turn out artificial honey-comb complete-
made from shellac tissue paper, and In a way simi-
lar to that described in Quinby's "New Bee-Keep-
ing," which uses tin? I am sure it would be a suc-
cess, for I have used a small square of hornet's-nest
comb, inserted in ordinary brood comb with success.
After "uncapping" it to !i in. depth of cell, I just
dipped the rough edges in melted wax, to make the
bees think they were composed of that material all
the way to the bottom. The shellac would serve to
hold the strips together in this case, as the solder
does In the other. These little bottomless cells could
then be stuck to a flat sheet of shellac paper (one
set on either side), then by touching the edges to
melted wax your comb is finished. The machine
should turn out these bottomless cells in webs of a
certain width, and an indefinite length, like a loom,
in order to make it pay. Don't let Mr. Gray alone
till he produces this comb, for it is almost impossi-
ble to make a paying business of producing honey,
without some such cheap comb, and which can i\ot
be destroyed by worms. F. Della Torre.
Aiken, S. C, Jan. 1, 1881.
Your experiment has been made before,
friend D., and it is pretty well known that
it will succeed. You are right; if some
sort of fdn. could be produced that needs
only to be dipped in melted wax to make it
ready to hang in the hives, it would be a
boon indeed. The difficulties m far have
been that the bees would object, and tear
out our artificial substitutes. The fact that
hornet's-nest comb will be used by the bees,
is a fact that has often made me feel some-
thing of the kind, made entirely of the same
kind of a papery substance, would eventual-
ly be the thing used. Making it in the way
Mr. Quinby made his tin combs is too slow,
and it does not give us the proper shape for
the bottom of the cells for economy of space
and material in the bee hive.
BEES ON COTTONWOOD, ETC.
I see on page 41, Jan. No., 1881, that friend C. W.
Kennard wishes to know if bees work on cotton-
wood. They certainly do; but whether they get on-
ly pollen, I can't say. I have a large cottonwood
within 20 feet of my shop, and in early spring, when
it blooms, it's a sight to see the bees work on it.
The bloom is easily blown off, and I have seen 5 or 6
bees on one flower on the ground.
Friend Root, I am so glad friend Given is among
us again ! don't let us lose any of these bee veterans
and inventors. I can't do without Gleanings, and
don't want to lose their counsel.
WINDMILLS.
Friend Root, can't you give us an article on wind-
mills? Tell us all about a 2 or 3 horse-power mill,
the best and easiest managed— price, etc.
A. S. Davison.
AuUville, Lafayette Co., Mo., Jan. 5, 1881.
As our older friends remember, Glean-
ings was first printed on a press that ran by
wind power; and, in fact, our whole bee-
hive factory was run in the same way. So
long as I did the work myself, and could
wait until the wind blew, it answered very
well ; but when I was obliged to hire hands,
and they were obliged to wait, or work with
a low and irregular speed, it began to be
rather expensive. If I am correct, there is
no way yet invented by which wind power
can be made to give a regular, steady mo-
tion like steam, although it will do very well
when there is wind enough, as there is many
days in the spring and fall. The wind is
also much more reliable in some localities,
as on the prairies of the West. Pumping,
and grinding grain seem to be the legitimate
work of windmills at present ; sawing wood
can sometimes be done very profitably by
wind also. ^ ^
HONEY from COTTONWOOD-TREES, ETC.
I think bees get little or no honey from cotton-
wood in this locality; but I do know that they get a
"right smart chance" of propolis (see A B C, p. 145)
from cottonwood in the spring.
Bees have had only one fly since about Nov. 15th.
I notice one or two colonies have been coming out
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Ebb.
this cold weather, and have specked the snow badly.
Almost all of them fall to get back into the hive.
All are chaff packed. The colony with imported
queen has not lost over 25 or 30 bees so far.
J. B. MCCORMICK.
Neoga, Cumb. Co., Ill , Jan. 10, 1S81.
DO BEES WORK ON COTTONWOOD-TREES?
is asked in this month's Gleanings. I will answer
for one. They do, and in large numbers, creating
that joyous hum we always hear when the liltle fel-
lows are gathering pollen freely. The bloom is sim-
ilar to the willow, except much larger. It produces
no honey; but I think that a few large trees near the
apiary is quite a help, as it blooms just after the
elm. There are two kinds; one produces light yel-
low, and the other dark red pollen. S. A. Shttck.
Bryant, 111., Jan. 5, 1881.
another report from COTTONWOOD.
Bees do work on cottonwood, especially the "bit-
ter" kind. There was a great flow of the so-called
honey-dew on the cottonwood this season about me
for miles around -so that it dripped from the leaves.
n. H. C. Bbeece.
Greenwood, Custer Co., Col , Jan. 10, 1881.
MEDICATED HONEF, ETC.
My bees are flying to-day, but there is nothing for
them to gather. The first two weeks of this month
they carried in pollen rapidly from the "broom"
weed. The years 1879 and 18S0 were exceedingly dry
here, and the honey crop was consequently short.
In some neighborhoods, however, the yield was very
good.— I will say in regard to medicated honey, that
I have taken some 300 lbs. of honey this fall, gath-
ered from the senna flower, but can not discover any
of the medicinal qualities of the leaves in it.
W. A. McPhail.
Pleasanton, Atascosa Co., Texas, Dec. 2T, 1880.
THE FARIS MACHINE.
In January No., page 29, you say you have not de-
cided that the Faris fdn. machine is a success. AVe
have made it a success; we got a frame cast to hold
the plaster. We can turn out fdn. as perfect and as
fast as any roll machine in use. It will not sag in
warm weather, and the bees work it out faster than
that made on the rolls, as it is softer, and the grain
of the wax is not broken.
Bees that are in chaff hives are wintering as well
as could be expected. This is a very severe winter.
J. Russell.
Lifford, Ontario, Can., Jan. 9, 1881.
I am very glad to bear of your success,
friend R., but I think you will iind the plas-
ter plate objectionable before you have made
very much of a quantity of fdn. I presume a
cast-iron frame, properly made, would go a
great way toward remedying the difficulties
I have mentioned.
CHAFF hives; BEST POSITION FOR THE ENTRANCE.
Friend Root:— J have been engaged for some time
manufacturing your chaff hive, from a pattern you
sent me some time since. In so doing, I have been
led to think considernbly about its construction. It
is certainly a grand hive, ingeniously constructed.
But while it Is almost without a fault, I have been
led to change it a little to suit my own notion. It
may not be considered by you or others any improve-
ment at all, for, you know, doctors differ, and so
may apiarians. My improvement, or, we may call it.
change, consists in placing the entrance, not in the
end, but in the Side. According to model sent me,
your entrance is opposite the ends of the frames. In
the lower department. This necessitates the bees
traveling the entire length of the hive to deposit
their load, when engaged in filling the back ends
of the frames, and this distance is augmented still
more when engaged in filling the back sections in
the upper story, making a distance of about three
feet they have to travel in going from the entrance
to the upper sections. This distance must, of course,
be retraced. Wc have thus a distance of about six
feet that every bee must travel in depositing its
load, and returning. This distance is considerably
reduced by placing the entrance in either of the
sides, so that the bees will strike the center of the
frames, whenever they enter the hive. I know it
may be replied, that the tunnel is longer, through
which the bees have to pass to strike the sides, than
to enter at the ends; but this distance is consider-
ably less than to travel the whole length of the
frame. Besides, it improves the wintering qualities
of the hive, and will enable it to bo used in carrying
out Mr. D. A. Jones' idea about perforated tin or
zinc divisions, to prevent the queen from depositing
eggs in the same comb in which the workers are de-
positing honey. Still further, it obviates the objec-
tion sometimes urged about the eave of the cover
causing the rain to fall more violently on the en-
trance than on the other sides. I have been manu-
facturing the hives, modeling Ihem after the above
notion. If you think these suggestions worth any
thing, give them a place in Gleanings.
Wm. Ballantine.
Sago, Muskingum Co., O., Jan. 10, 1881.
The position of the entrance, not only in
chaff hives, but all other hives, has been
much discussed. While there are some rea-
sons besides the ones you have mentioned
for having the entrance at the sides of the
combs, there are other ones for having them
in the way 31 r. Langstroth gave us the hive
called after his name, with the entrance at
the ends of the frames. I believe it is gen-
erally thought that the bees gain access to
any of the combs more readily by this latter
plan than by the other way, and that tliey
also have less trouble ui hot weather in ven-
tilating from the entrance, as no other means
of ventilation is, as a general thing, now
used. For the same reasons, it has been
suggested that an entrance at the sidcR of
the combs is a warmer arrangement for win-
ter. I confess, friend ]>.. I can not quite see
how the bees are saved very much travel by
one arrangement more than by the other.
the PEET CAGE.
I commenced this letter to tell you about my suc-
cess with tae Feet cage. Last season I used it alto-
gether, and of all the queens I introduced in my api-
ary, I lost but two. I sold 5:5 queens to J. J. Rohrer,
South West, Ind., that I' introduced the same way,
and last but one, and there was not one lust out of
42 others that I sold to different ones of my neigh-
bors, and Introduced myself. Now, remember,
those queens were introduced at different times of
the season, and to all different kinds of bees. Friend
A. P. Blosser, of Goshen, Ind., had the biggest loss
of any one I know of. Out of about 50 queens
bought from me he tells me he lost six or seven, in-
1881
GLEA^^IXGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Iroduced with the Pect cage. To take everything
into considcratiim, I think the Poet cage comes very
near being just the thing. I. R. Good.
Nappancc, Ind., Jan. 10, 1881.
EXPERIMENTS VTITH HONEY-PLANTS.
I send you a few seeds of the Iris Lcvvujata, a plant
of the order of touch-me-nots, but much more beau-
tiful, and a great hcc-pJant. The Rural New-Yorher
sent me six seeds; only throe of them eame up, and
the bees were sucking them till the great frost in
November. I sowed two rows, 300 feet Ijng, in sweet
Basil. I have gathered over a peck of them to sow
next spring. They are good bee-plants. I sowed two
acres in Alsike clover from August to middle of Sep-
tember last, and turnips with the clover seed, so as to
come on in succession. I sowed a great many Spider
plant seeds from the lise plants that came up. I
shall sow 4 bushels of silverhuU buckwheat, begin-
ning, as soon as all dangerof frost is over, with ahalf-
bushel, and continuing with the same quantity every
8 days till all is sown. I sow on highlj- manured land.
In like manner I shall plJnt 2 acres of the great
Russian suntlower. I have planted out upwards
of a thousand Cuthbert raspberry plints, but not
more than 50 will be of any benefit to the bees this
coming year. I have sown five acres of land of Ital-
ian-clover seed with wheat. I have saved a great
many Susette Fontaine mustard seed to sow In the
spring. A little cousin of mine in Mississippi sent
me a few seeds in 18T8, in a letter. She says that it
Is a cross between the colewort and mustard. Be
that as it may, it has leaves about ~ feet broad, and
It grows from 8 to 10 feet high in good rich land,
and is the strongest mustard I ever tasted. I will
send you some if you wish them. On the sides of our
roads we have growing a plant which grows about 3
or 3 feet high, blooms very early, and remains
in bloom till checked by the frosts about the last of
November; we call it sheepmint. It is a great bee-
plant, and so is the mustard. Did you know that
bees gather honey from the bloom of the tobacco-
plant? I raise a great deal of pearl millet. When
in bloom it gives the largest quantity of pollen, and
a great deal of honey where the fodder comes from
the stalk. The sourwood, tulip poplars, and Judas-
trees flourish in great quantities on my farm. Se-
quoia. The viol;'t-colored l.ivender, and the broad-
leaf thyme, of which I sow a great deal, are splendid
bee plants. Well, you see this ABC scholar is pro-
viding magnificently for his Italians, even growing
five acres of grapevines in the Concords, the Dutch-
ess, the Lady Washington, with gooseberries, cur-
rants, and Kittatinny blackberries; and yet he does
pot know that he has a single bee living. The last
time I saw them was on the 16th of December. I fed
them well, gave them '2 lbs. of coffee sugar, A No. 1.
They were very lively then, and appeared like 2 large
swarms. That in the Simplicity hive was rather the
larger. I have a splendid house for them, well cov-
ered and inclosed; stuffed around the hives with
oak leaves up to thetop, with separators and cush-
ions in the large hive, two doors, with lock and key.
WASHBO.A.RD BEE-FEEDER.
I sawed a common washboard, that was not tinned
in two parts, each holding 1 lb. of dissolved sugar.
None get drowned in these. Wm. S. Fontaine.
Reidsville, Rockingham Co., N. C, Jan. 4, 1881.
I fear, friend F., some of your invest-
mcDts will be only money out of pocket.
Our half-acre of ISIammoth Russian sun-
flowers hardly attracted the attention of the
bees at all. I have also expended nearly
$50.00 for raspberry plants, and got nice fine
plants too, but I do not believe one in ten
is now growing. Go carefully, boys, on
these new things.
THE COLD WEATHER IN WISCONSIN.
The mercury froze up again last night at 10 p.m.,
and continued to be in that state until 8 a.m. to-day.
I think that it probably would have shown 50° had
we any way of measuring it. This is the coldest
spell ever known in this country. Since the first it
has not risen above zero during the day, and has
ranged from 30^ to 40 below every night. Can bees
be expected to come out alive out on summer stands?
Mine keep up a buzzing noise all the time, but I
think it will give them dysentery. Birds, fowls,
and pigs, are freezing to death. E. A. Morgan.
Arcadia, Wis., Jan. 10, 1881.
I do not think the extreme cold will harm
the bees if colonies are strong and well
packed in chaff hives, friend M. The buzz-
ing is all right; they always do this when
it is so very cold, and I do not think it will
result in any great additional consumption
of honey, if protected as above.
INTRODUCING QUEENS.
The three queens which I bought of you last fall,
were introduced to colonies in the following manner
with success: Deprive the bees of their queens as
usual; take hive, bees, and all, indoors; takeall their
frames out, and place them around the hive in any
way so their frames will be secure. Bees will soon fill
themselves with honey, and begin to look up their
queen. I then place the cage containing the queen
to be introduced near them on the floor. The bees
will soon cluster on the cage ; then replace the frames;
shake the bees off' the cage in front of the hive; re-
lease the queen, and all will enter, apparently with
joy. Carry the hive to its former place; raise the
window and let the remaining bees go home, and
then the work is done. Wii. Parmerlee.
Bean Blossom, Ind., Jan. 11, 1881.
Taking the bees away from their hive, or
away from their combs, will often make
them accept a queen Avhen they would not
otherwise ; but it can be by no "means relied
on in all cases. Reports of such experiments
are valuable, inasmuch as they give us facts
that enable us better to understand the hab-
its and disposition of bees. ]\Iany thanks,
friend P.; but I would not advise you to
risk a valuable queen thus, without careful
watching.
making an artificial swarm IN APRIL UNINTEN-
TIONALLY.
I can't find any thing in A B C or Gleanings that
fits this case: Last spring, the latter part of March, a
neighbor had two black and one Italian stocks of
bees standing on their winter stands, on the south
side of a building. About the 1st of April the two
blacks were moved 10 rods away to their summer
stands, and the Italians left for parts unknown for
want of stores (too early in the season to live out
here.) The hive that the Italians occupied was left
on the winter stand, with empty combs. Bees came
back from the blacks that were moved to summer
stands, and occupied the empty combs, and I sup-
88
GLEAl^mGS IN J3EE CULTURE.
Ebb.
pose must have carried honey enough from the orig-
inal hives to live on till they commenced work out
of doors. They carried in honey and pollen enough
topartly fill 5 Gallup frames. They lived that way
for a month, when I introduced an Italian queen.
She was accepted in good faith, and still lives, and
they are a thriving colony. There are no bees near
that could have come from any other yard. Some of
your readers here would like to know how it was
done. George E. Northrop.
Southport, Fairfleld Co., Ct., Jan. 13, 1881.
It is all very plain, friend oST., except on
one point, and this is, the difficulty of ex-
plaining where the honey came from to sus-
tain them, until it could be had from the
fields. Unless you know positively to the
contrary, I would suggest that the Italians
swarmed out, before they were quite out of
lioney, as they often do in early spring, when
weak. The blacks came back to their old
stand as a matter of course, and, finding no
hives, both went into the only hive remaining,
and finding at least a small patch of brood,
went to work to take care of it. The stocks
moved were probably quite strong, and so the
two together make a very fair new swarm. As
they were all fiying bees (the whole force of
two colonies), they gathered and stored hon-
ey from the first bloom out; and, having
little brood to feed, filled the frames, as you
state, very quickly. Either they failed in
raising a queen, or your fertile one killed her,
and then they were a fair colony. 1 have
once known bees to carry all tlieir stores
over to another hive, where there was a
queen, and it is therefore not impossible
that the bees you mention did not carry hon-
ey back to the'ir old locality, if you are posi-
tive the Italians, when they decamped, left
none. The plan was, in fact, almost exact-
ly the one I give in the A B C for making
artificial swarms, only it was done rather
early in the season.
BEES UNDER THE SNOW.
In reply to Charles B. Ellis, on page 5'J2, you say
that bees are better off covered with snow, etc. Now,
I think you are mistaken, as my grandfather lost 100
swarms of bees, 40 years ago. They were standing
In a bee-house, four feet from the ground. There
was a board one foot wide that was hung on hinges
In front of them. He neglected to shut it down that
night, and the snow drifted in and closed the en-
trance of the hives and smothered them.
W. w. Bliss.
Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co., Cal., Jan. 10, 1881.
I must think you are mistaken, friend 13.,
about the snow killing the bees. Thousands
of colonies are now covered entirely with
snow, and I never heard of its doing any
harm, unless the snow became so wet as to
settle down so the water from it ran into the
hives, or closed the only openings. In all
modern hives, there is abundant ventilation
up through the chaff coverings, even though
the entrance be closed hermetically. It is
possible the hives you mention were made
so tight, and waxed above, that the snow
smothered them ; but I can hardly see how
it could be. Prof. Cook once poured water
all over a hive, and let it freeze on ; but it
did not harm the bees. Under a snowbank
is almost as good as buried in the ground.
THE BEES AND GRAPES; AND HOW TO SAVE EX-
PENSE OF GOING TO LAW, ETC.
I to-day have been reading about the troubles be-
tween friends Kroek and Klasen, which I very much
regret. No doubt friend Krock has been very much
annoyed, and perhaps damaged, by friend Klasen's
bees, and also by his don't-care and saucy manner;
but I fear that friend Krock put it rather " thin "
where ho admits the " accidental " poisoning. I hope
he will not set any more Paris green and mashed
peaches and grapes where bees will find them. I am
sorry friend Klasen went into the vineyard with
that pistol, and hope he will throw it away. I am
opposed to going to law if it can be avoided, and it
can usually be done if meu will only wait to cool off
and reflect. I never advise men to go to law, but
advise them to each select a man, and these two men
select the third man, and they shall hear both sides
of the matter in dispute, and shall render a verdict
accordingly, which shall be final,— first having the
parties enter into a written agreement to abide by
such decision; and I think that would be the better
plan in this case.
I fear I shall lose all my boes. Nov. 18th the ther-
mometer ran suddenly down to 20° below zero, and
caught them scattered all through the hives, freez-
ing thousands of them, and it still continues cold.
This morning the thermometer went down to 17° be-
low. H. H. Fox.
Tribulation, McDonald Co., Mo., Jan. 10, 1881.
BEES AKD GRAPES.
I have the very best opportunity for making ob-
sei-vations in regard to bees eating grapes. I am lo-
cated in the immediate vicinity of quite a number
of vineyards; have kept bees a good many years. I
had, during the grape season of last year, something
over 200 swarms. I have two small vineyards ad-
joining my apiaries (about 1 acre each.) I raised a
fine crop of grapes last year, a part remaining on
the vines until frost. Tho most experienced grape-
growers in this vicinity, whose opinions upon this
subject are highly credib'.c, are settled in their con-
victions that bees eat only such grapes as have had
their skins punctured or broken.
There is one other thing, also, about which there
is no disagreement: they arc oftentimes quite an-
noying about the packing-house and in the vineyard,
for they are ready in an instant to appropriate every
grape that becomes broken, no matter how small
the break or puncture. I consider this question of
no little importance to both bee-keepers and grape-
growers, as some very grave charges have been
made in this matter against the bees.
H. R. BOARDM VN.
East Townsend, O., Jan. 17, 1881.
BEES AND GRAPES.
I have had, for the past year, 75 colonies near and
among a quarter of an acre of old bearing vines;
and, although last year, and especially the fall, was
a poor season for honey-gathering, I considered the
grapes damaged very little by them. One of my
men says they never break optn a grape, but only
suck the juice where they are already open; but he
has observed the yellow-jackets, and thinks they do
open the grapes. Now, if they are so destructive,
why did not so many bees destroy mine? I think, as
you say, a little Christian charity for each other
would have got along with the matter without diffi-
culty. A. D. Benh.vm.
Olivet, Eaton Co., Mich., Jan. 18, 1881.
1881
GLEANINGS IN J3EE CULTURE.
89
FIKDING A DEAD QCEEX BEFOKE THE ENTRANCE.
lam a uew hand at bee-keeping'; i. e., in frame
hives. My bees are all packed in frame hives in the
cellar, e.xcept four, which are in chaff hives, and I
find that one of them is queenless. I chanced to see
her as I cleared the dead bees out to day. Now, will
you be so kind as to tell me what to do? Can I g-et a
queen in time to save them, or shall I have to give
them brood from some of my others, when it is
time? A. W. Merrill.
Parkman Cor., Piscataquis Co., Me , Jan. U, 1881.
I do not think you need to be alarmed,
friend M., for in all probability this was on-
ly an extra old queen, unless you should find
the colony very much reduced. In the lat-
ter case, unite them ^Yith some other weak
colony. If they are really queenless, it will
do no'harm at present. They are just about
as well off, to start no brood until they be-
gin to fly. "When such a time comes, give
them a little brood from another colony, and
if they rear a queen that does not get fertil-
ized, "kill her and let them raise another.
The second one will probably become fertile.
It will help matters, if they are not very
strong, by purchasing a queen for them of
our Southern friends ; but we have as yet
never been able to get any before some time
ill April. Who among you will be first to
report having new-laying queens ready to
send out V Such a one shall have a free ad-
vertisement.
MORE N«W BEES.
My report for 1883: 17 stocks, with an average of
50 lbs. to the stock.
The bees are having a 1 jng cold pull of it this win-
ter, and unless they can have a cleansing flight be-
fore long, there will belotsofbse mourners next
sprin?. Althoush it may be hard on the bees, this
snow is splendid for wheat and rye.
I have made arrangements to have some bees sent
from Tahiti, an isl.md in the South Sea, and would
like to have your opinion, and directions for ship-
ping bees that distance. The time from Tahiti to
San Francisco is three mouths; but I think that,
with candy and bot lie, we can get them through. I
should like to have the name of some responsible
bee-keeper who could receive them at San Francisco,
give them a fly, recruit them up, and mail them to
me.
I will also try to And out about those "bobtail
bees" of Brazil, if such there are. W. Buger.
Conklin, Broome Co., N. Y , Jan. 19, 1881.
I have g"iven all the directions I am able, on
page .581, Dec. No. By all means, let us tind
out all we can about all the bees on this little
world of ours. I would suggest the name of
Andrew White. 31.3 Yallejo street, San Fran-
cisco, Cal., as a proper person to take charge
of the bees on their arrival.
WHAT TO DO WITH BEES THAT H.4VE THE DYSENTERY.
My bees had the dysentery the worst I ever saw.
I went into winter-quarters with 13 colonies, and be-
fore January I had lost 6, and 7 had died on account
of the cold weather and dysentery, so I had to prac-
tice something to keep up my 6 colonies. I put them
in the cell ir, took out their stores, and gave them a
frame of candy, and the same time I fed them syrup
in which I put a few drops of mint. Both were made
of granul.ited sugar. I also gave them all the venti-
lation I could to get out the foul air. In about a
week they were all well, and their excrements are
now dry, and the bees are all well up to date.
I wrote this, that others might save their bees. I
hope this will prove a good testimonial in regard to
the soundness of your advice in January No. of
Gleanings. Wm. K. Deisher.
Kutztown, Berks Co., Pa., Jan. 24, 1881.
fire and brimstone. 4
My heart bounds when you touch a sympathetic
chord in defense of the bees. I always had a terri-
ble dread, when a boy, of a lake of fire and brim-
stone, which we then hoard so much about; and, al-
though we do not hear so much of it nowadays be-
cause it is getting unpopular, yet the dread still
sticks to me. I hate even the scent of a match in a
room now. I never got out with the bees when they
were mad, and trying to have their way, so that I
felt like sticking a match under their nose. I saved
the lives of nine swarms a year ago last fall, which
one of my neighbors was going to kill. I took honey
to winter them on, which I had saved for family
use; this last fall I took 20; 7 I bought; the rest
were given me; they were all light in store; and
with shame I will confess I have let two of them
starve. It was very late, and frozen up hard when I
got them, and I overlooked two, and did not give
them honey. I have plenty of sealed stores for
them. This is my feed for bees— they like it; they
made it, and I like to let them eat it. I hear of
many in this vicinity losing their bees by dysentery.
Mine are in tolerably good order yet— no signs of
dysentery, only in one case. The complaint is about
as general in cellars as in chaff hives out doors.
D. HOUGHTALINQ.
Dimondale, Eaton Co., Mich., Jan. 19, 1881.
As the fear you mention seems to have
worked wholesome results, friend II., I do
not see but that the best thing you can do is
to go on ; for it certainly will be a fine thing
for the bees that are doomed to such a death.
WHY friend HYATT DON'T LIKE ITALIANS.
I purchased two nuclei of you last spring, one for
myself and one for my neighbor. My neighbor's
filled the hive, but not one pound of surplus. He
divided them, and in a short time one stock robbed
the other. There are a few in the old stock alive
yet.
Now for my own: They filled the hive, and threw
off a good swarm, and that swarm gave me another;
that made me 3 stocks. In the faU I returned that
swarm to the original one that they issued from, but
I think I did wrong, for they would have wintered
alone. I think that for supply men, the Italians are
the bees, but not for me; uuless I want my farm
all covered over, I want no more of them.
My first Italians, two of them, swarmed the 15th
day of June. They filled their hive, but not a pound
of surplus. The same day a native swarm came out.
They tilled their hive, and six 3;4-lb. boxes, both in
the same kind of hive. Neither of the Italian stocks
made an ounce of surplus. I put two boxes on the
nucleus that was half full of honey and comb, but
they would not touch them; at the same time, the
hiv-e was full of honey. The natives are ahead for
me. G. Hyatt.
Three Mile Bay, Jefferson Co., N. Y., Jan. 18, 1881.
I think all the trouble is, friend II., that
you have not yet got used to the Italians.
More than one has decided just as you do at
first ; but they all take it back after a more
thorough acquaintance with the Italians.
90
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Feb.
^^dfl^^ni
f THANK you for the lessons of faith and charity
you give us; and may God bless you, and fill
— ' you with his Spirit. The Nov. No. just an-
swered some questions in part that I wished to know
about. Would friend Jones please explain his way
of feeding bees on sugar— whether in candy or syrup,
in winter, out of doors, or in cellar, as he says, in
Nov. No., he wintered 160 swarms on sugar? The
care of beos is to me a pleasant recreation, although
it is a science of small and nice cares, and it has
much to learn.
This spring I had 14 swarms— 8 in the new Lang-
stroth hive, 5 of which gave me over 200 sections of
honey, and one old-fashioned L. hive, which gave 40
lbs. box honey. From one hive I tooli two frames of
honey and brood— one to each of two others that I
was feeding in the spring, and it gave me a small
swarm the 8th of June. Then I put the new swarm
in place of the old one, so it should not swarm again.
It never seemed to do well, and I think the queen
was lost when on her wedding tour ; fiually the other
bees robbed and destroyed the swarm.
The yield of honey from apple-bloom was extra
good this spring. No rain fell till out of bloom.
White clover was abundant, but fresh showers dur-
ing the day hindered the bees from collecting. It
seemed to me that there was not as much honey as
usual in the bloom. I had only two first swarms,
and one second swarm. The hives seemed so full of
bees In May that I looked for swarms. My seven
swarms in box hives are fit only for Blasted Hopes.
Makv a. Munson.
Independence, Cuyahoga Co., O., Dec. 8, 1880.
now FRIEND JONES FEEDS GRANULATED
SUGAR
If I am correct, my friend ]SIr. Jones does
all his feeding in warm weather, during the
fall. He feeds the sugar in the form of a
syrup, and feeds it by pouring it on the bot-
tom-board of the hive. Of course, the hive
has a permanent bottom, made tight by
melted wax, if not already made so by the
bees, and the front end is slightly elevated,
while feeding is being done. The syrup is
poured in just at }iight. The idea although
it has many good features, has also its ob-
jections, such as holding rain-water after
storms, etc. It is a plan that has been many
years in use, but I believe has not, of late,
had very much favor. If I am wrong, will
friend Jones please correct V
'i^lierl^ ffif OMMgmg.
5650 LBS. OF HONEY FROM 53 COLONIES OF COMMON
BEES IN ONE POOR SEASON.
HAVE sold, of comb honey in sections, 2153 lbs.
that I have an account of. I also sold about
20O lbs. in brood frames. I have also sold be-
tween 9 and 10 barrels of extracted. Well, to make a
long story short, I think it safe to say that I ob-
tained 5650 lbs., which would be 107 lbs. for each old
stock that I had in the sprmg, which was 52— mak-
ing, at prices obtained, about $550.00. How is that
for a poor season, and black bees at that— or, rath-
er, what they call black bees around here; but I call
them brown bees? Any how, they can't be beat for
work by any thing I have ever seen yet. I put 92
colonies into winter-quarters, with plenty of honey
for winter, and expect to extract about 2 barrels ia
the spring. Dennis Gardner.
Carson City, Montcalm Co., Mich., Jan. 8, 1881.
When the spring opened out I found myself with
20 colonies to begin the season with. Eight out of
20 were so weak in bees that it took the whole honey
season to build them up to anything like a fair stock
of bees. It will be seen that I reduced my number
to 12; from the 12 I took 850 lbs. comb honey in 1-lb.
sections, and increased to 45 strong swarms. My
bees are wintering nicely so far this cold winter.
Thomas Chilly.
Grafton, Lorain Co., C, Jan. 17, 1R81.
FROM 1 TO 4, AND 50 LBS. OF HONEY IN ONE SEASON.
I wintered one swarm last winter in a Langstroth
hive, which gave two good swarms in May, and 50
lbs. of box honey; one of the May swarms gave a
swarm in August, and it filled its hive by the 1st of
October. John G. Fox.
Middle River, Madison Co., Iowa, Jan. 7, 1881.
S<^4^ (tnd (Imrie^s.
NEW COVER, ETC.
SN regard to Gleanings' new dress, I will say that
it is perfection— stylish and artistic, and I can't
see how anybody can find fault with such a
splendid cover. Give us, my apiarian friends, as
much practical informa(i(jn through Gleanings as
you did last year (with the honest teacher's help),
and I should think all ought to be satisfied. Now,
Mr. Root, give us an illustration each month of some
apiary, and a cartoon, and I for one am willing to
pay 50 cents more for Gleanings per year.
Preston J. Kline.
Coopersburg, Lehigh Co., Pa., Dee. 7, 1880.
I sold all my honey at 18 and 20 cts. per lb. (box;)
2-lb. jars at 40 cts. (extracted). Casper Capser.
St. Joseph, Minn., Dec. 23, 1880.
We are having a very cold winter. I have some
fears for our bees. It has been below zero from 5 to
26 degrees. D. A. Pike.
Smithsburg, Md., Jan. 4, 1881.
sweet corn FOR BEES AND " FOLKS."
How many bushels per acre will sweet corn pro-
duce? How many bushels of green corn will it take
to make one of dried? F. J. Wardell.
Uhrichsville, Tuscarawas Co., O , Jan. 5, 1881.
[Who will answer?]
I do not see why friend Johnson, of Danielsonville,
Ct., can find any fault. I sent him, as a personal fa-
vor, one swarm of Italians and a wintering box for
$0.00, and I warranted them to winter all safely. If
they do not winter, I am to send him another
swarm. A.W.Cheney.
Kanawha Falls, West Va., Jan. 10, 1881.
[I think he did not mean to find anj' fault, friend
C, and I presume he did not intend his letter for
print. You certainly did a great deal more than I
should want to, especially during such a winter as
this.]
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
91
My 50 swarms of bees are ia grood condition to date.
I think this winter will call for another cartoon for
Blasted Hopes. L. D. Gale.
Stedman, Chaut. Co., N. Y., Jan. IT, 1881.
I began bee-keeping last spring by taking a hive
on shares. I got about 30 lbs. of honey, and two
swarms from it, which I thought was doing pretty
well for last year. We shall probably get more bees
in the spring. I use Mrs. Cotton's hive, and, so far
as I know, it is a good one. Chas. O. Meloon.
Portsmouth, N. H., Jan. 8, 1881.
It has been cold here; 24° below zero has been
touched. Box-hlvc bee-men are reporting heavy
losses of bees. Mine in chaff hives are still able to
raise a whiz-z-z. They haven't had a good fly for
nearly two mom hs. How do your Palestinites seem
to stand severe weather? J. W. Carter.
Pleasant Dale, Hampshire Co , W. Va., Jan. i;!, '81.
[Palestine bees are "O K" so far.]
REPORT IN BRIEF OF AN A B C SCHOLAR.
In 1878 T got '.i colonies In box hives, and lost them
all by dwindling in March, 1879. I then began again
and got my first colony, a swarm, June 28, 1879; got 25
lbs. comb honey in 1879, and 149 lbs. ditto in 1880,
mostly 1-lb. sections: 81 lbs. extracted in 1880. How
is that for an A B C scholar less than two years old?
Milton Kru.m.
Hurleyville, SuU. Co., N. Y., Dec. ."?, 1880.
SCOTLAND HEATHER-HONEY.
As far as I can lejira from various districts in
Scotland here, bees are all in excellent condition, in
which I hope they will continue till spring. The
last heather-honey harvest here was the best for
upward of 50 years. The weather has been stormy
for the past 10 days, but more settled and mild to-
day. John D. Hutchison.
Glasgow, Scotland, Dec. 14, 1880.
I have been looking through my bees, and 1 find
they are standing the winter very well. They have
a sufficient amount of honey to last them until
spring, and I also notice eggs and young brood in
the combs. I am glad to tell you that I have been
successful. I also profited by giving my attention
to them during the leisure hours I have had from
my farm. J. W. Traylor.
Mt. Joy, Delta Co., Texas, Jan. 14, 1881.
I should like to ask you a question if it isn't too
much trouble; that is, will It do to turn bees on the
honey or in the hive that our bees died in?
D. C. Stringe.
Clinton Falls, Putnam Co., Ind., Jan. 12, 1881.
[It will do no harm whatever to pvit your bees in
the hive where other bees have died, after the
weather gets warm.]
bitter honey.
Bees last year increased from 14 swarms to 47;
sold 13 tested queens, and took 400 lbs. of hone5', and
might have taken 400 more, but the honey was so
bitter we could not Sell it, so left it for the bees.
We think it was made from a yellow weed that
grows very plentifully in our streets. I Intend to
remove them into the country, 3 miles from Ft.
Smith, and see if the quality of the honey will not
be improved. Stacy Pettit.
Ft. Smith, Ark., Jan. 17, ItiPl.
home-made horse-powers.
Will H. L. B., who speaks of his Adams horse-pow-
er in Gleanings, page 37, please give your readers
a description of his power, showing how the rim, or
felloes, were made? of what kind of lumber?
whether he had to strengthen it with iron rods for
ties, etc., so that a person with or without the aid of
a carpenter could make one the first time trying?
Lucius Snow.
Blakesburg, Wapello Co., Iowa, Jan. 12, 1881.
[Will H. L. B. please answer?]
Will you tell us in next Gleanings what are the
peculiar properties of the little piece of steel or
iron that comes with the magnet? It seems to have
ways of its own. J. E. Dart.
Farmer City, 111., Jan. 8, 1881.
[It is, or should be, simply a little piece of pure
soft iron; it has no property different from any oth-
er iron, and is simply put on the magnet to unite
the poles, and thus hold or keep the magnetism. I
have been thinking of giving some of the experi-
ments that may be performed with one of these lit-
tle magnets, if we have a sufficient number among
our readers who would be Interested in the matter.]
ALFALFA AS A HONEY-PLANT.
Do you grow alfalfa clover on your honey farm?
If you have not, doubtless some of your readers in
Ohio have. Will It pay for bee pasture and feed for
stock, or will Alsike pay better? I have about 15
acres to sow to clover next spring.
J. C. Phillips.
Westchester, Butler Co., O., Jan. 1, 1881.
[We have a small patch of alfalfa, and It does pret-
ty well so far as forage is concerned, especially in
the way of standing drought; but although it has
been in blossom two seasons, I have never yet seen
a bee on it to my recollection. It may be that it is
because the plat is small; still, I can not think
bees would find very much honey on it, or they
would be there sometimes.]
bees and baskets; more about willows.
I here inclose a cutting taken from a small tree
growing in my garden. It was in bloom last spring,
and the bees seemed to be very busy on it. It was
given to me by a Mr. Samuels, of Clinton, Ky., about
10 miles from here. Mr. S. is one of the proprietors
of the Mississippi Valley nurseries. I also inclose
their description of it, cut out of a catalogue:
Viminalis— Basket Willow. Bee Willow. A rapid growing
tree with catkinlike ttoweis in early spring. A grood shade tree,
and the Hower.s are valuable for bees. The twigs are excellent
tor inakinR ba.skets.
It is of a very thrifty growth, and blooms young
and early. Eli Reeves.
Cayce, Fulton Co.. Ky., Jan. 15, 1881.
[Here is the point, friends. We will grow willows
to make up baskets during the winter, and to fur-
nish the first honey and pollen in the spring. Wil-
low baskets are the most durable known, are they
not? and there is always a good market for them, if
made cheap enough. Who will tell us more about it ?]
LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS.
One of our little girls got snake-bitten, and all to-
gether kept Mr. Mosher so much at home that he
could not make a living for his family. Now, we
are all well again, and he has not time to write, so 1
have to do his writing for him. He told me this
morning that he expected we should have to do
92
GLEAKINGS IK BEE CULTURE.
EeB.
without Gleanings, for awhile, but I would rather
live on half-rations for a month; and as I have a dol-
lar of my own, I will send for it any how, and I in-
tend to take in sewing and make money and send to
you for an Italian queen and 1 lb. of bees in the
spring. Mrs. A. C. Mosher.
San Marcos, Hays Co., Texas, Jan. 11, 1881.
BEES AND GKAPES.
THE PREMIUM ARTICLE.
Have those silk handkcrchiePs, of which you
speak, a picture of a bee on? William Folts.
Great Valley, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., Jan. 5, 1881.
[No; but I thank you for the hint. If we ever get
such a one, you shall have it.]
CALIFORNIA WHITE SAGE.
Will the California white sage do for common use?
I have a few plants growing, and it seems to me to
have a better tlavor than the common sage.
Chas. Kingsley.
Greeneville, Greene Co., Tenn.
[Who will answer friend K.? We had a plant in
the greenhouse, but the "big freezes" was too much
for it.]
SILVERHULL BUCKWHEAT.
I was advised to sow it on the 30th of June; but if
It can be sown on the 10th, or earlier yet, it is bet-
ter, because it will be in bloom if the basswood is
blossomed out, and will not bo as apt to freeze before
it is ripe. Honey from the silverhull is much light-
er than that of the black. The millers claim that
the silverhull gives from 10 to 15 per cent more flour
than the black. Ernst S. Hildeman.
Ashippun, Dodge Co., Wis., Jan. 18, 1881.
OR HGNEY PUHTS TO BE NAKED.
A NEW HONEY-PLANT.
I WILL send you some of the weed that the bees
are getting honey from. It commences to bloom
the middle of Sept., and blooms till Dec. Frost
don't hurt it. Nothing but a freeze will hurt it. This
weed we call flaxweed. It resembles the common
flax, but it brushes out more. You can sow the seed
I send you. Sow as soon as you get them. It grows
here all over the face of the earth. It is easily killed
out by cultivation. II. Devenport.
Richland Spring, Tex., Nov. lo, 1880.
Here is Prof. Beal's reiily:—
I have spent an hour over it— all the time I can
now spare. It is not described in my books; or if it
is, I get on the wrong track some wa}'. It is much
like goldenrod of some species. With more time I
know I could get it straight; but 1 do not feel as
though I could afford to neglect my other work for
this. Identifying plants is mostly drudgery.
W. J. Beal.
Agricultural College, Lansing, Mich.
I have published the above, that our friends
mtfy not trouble our kind friend by i)lants of
little value as honey-i^lants. I have sent him
a dollar for the time spent on this one, and
will willingly do the same with all that
promise to be important. Send as many to
us as you please, for we have time and the
necessary books, and can identify a great
number of them ourselves.
LTHOUGH not called upon in the matter of
Mr. Klasen and Krock, my experience, in
~^^^ pretty much the same thing, might benefit
both parties, and a good many others who might get
into the same fix. Mr. B., a real good neighbor
across the street, having a fine large garden and or-
chard, complained to me, off and on, during last
summer, that my bees were injuring hi3 peaches,
grapes, etc. I tried to explain to him that a bee can
not pierce the skin of fruit, and that bees are very
useful in fertilizing the flowers of fruit-trees and
even grapevines, as best I could: but finally he came
to me and said, " Mr. Schneider, I am trying to make
cider; but we hadtoquit on account of the bees an-
noying us; besides, I hired a man, and have to pay
him. I can not stand it any longer; you will have
toshut up your bee-hives, they are beginning to be
almost a nuisance."
At this time I wa? very much tampted to give Mr.
B. some such answer as Mr. Klasen did to Mr.
Krock, when he told him to tickle the bees a little
behind, whereby he could tell them apart; but,
thank God, there w^is another voice in me that com-
manded, "Hell on, and be gentle now!" I therefore
told Mr. B. that others have bees in the neighbor-
hood, besides myself; but as my bees are nearest
him, I would do any thing he thought proper for me
to do, only I could not shut up my hives. I then
proposed to furnish screens for doors and windows,
but he said he Lad no vacant room to make his cider
in. As he hnd quite a small cider-mill, I told him
that if he would agree to make his cider after dark I
would haul him over my large mill, furnish him a
man, and help along myself until all the cider was
made. This proved to be more than satisfactory, as
Mr. B. accepted only of the cider-mill, but declined
the help; and we are to-day, if any thing, better
friends and neighbors than before the dilliculty
arose.
Now, by this I do not mean to show what Mr.
Klasen and Mr. Krock should have done at the criti-
cal moment; but since both have made mistakes in
the matter, they should have a meeting, not with
lawyers and constables, nor with might and power,
but with a determination on the part of each one of
them to make a sacrifice, in order to regain peace
and good will toward each other; pay the damages
mutually, and listen to that voice that undoubtedly
exists in both, and cries, "Hold on! be gentle now;
go no further! bring it before disinterested friends,
and let their decision be final." A. Schneider.
Louisville, Ky., Jan. 20, 1881.
Well done, friend 8.! That is what I call
carrying religion into business, and that
kind of a spirit would get along almost any-
where. If you will accei)t it, I will credit
you with $0.00 for the al)ove article, and
thank God for having put it into your head
to send it, besides. Why ! such a monitor
within your heart to wani you, when anger
is pending, is worth more than (can't I be
extravagant just tliis time, dear friends? I
feel just like saying) ten hundred thousand
million dollars in the bank. Your letter
makes me feel that the " song the angels
sang" has come to pass— "peace on earth,
good will toward men."
1881
GLEAKINGS m BEE CULTURE.
93
|?fr f «»i#.
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing',
and that there be no division among you; but that
ye be perfectly joined tog-ether in the same mind
and In the same judgment.— I. Cor. 1:10.
fIjH E Sabbath-school mentioned last month
is growing and prospering finely. I
— ' found over a dozen little girls and boys
waiting for me when I came at the appoint-
ed hour the Sabbath following ; and, what
was better still, a great many of the parents
were there with them. If you want a Sab-
bath-school to be a success, you want old
and young too. We first sang,—
" I am so glad that our Father in heaven,"
from the Gospel Hymns, and then I told
them we would open the school with a peti-
tion to God to bless our work, and to show
us what he wished us to do, and why he had
called us together. Did not God call us
here, my friends? If not, M'ho did? I told
them how it was that a thought came into
my mind to come over there, when I was
out in the country in another direction, and
that when I turned about and came, I found
some friends gathered together, who asked
me to come over and start a school in their
midst. Some of these friends were there
before us. If it was not God, or the Spirit
of Christ, that put it into their minds and
my mind, what was it?
After the opening prayer, we read the les-
son together, and then the school was divi-
ded into classes. As between 30 and 40
were present, we had five very fair classes, —
three of the children, and two Bible-classes.
As there was no schoolhouse near, we had
to use a private house ; but by dividing off
into different rooms, and bringing boards to
put across the chairs, we had things ar-
ranged very pleasantly. After a half-hour's
talk between the pupils and their teachers,
we all gathered again into the largest room,
and each child came up before the table
where I sat, and repeated a text. Some of
them gave several verses of their own se-
lection. The very smallest ones repeated
little texts that their mothers had taught
them. After a few Sabbaths, more of the
parents came in. Quite a number of these
people seldom went to church, and a few of
the men there, I knew, were in the habit of
taking God's name in vain, or at least had
been in former years. These little texts,
coming from such childish voices, were a
power, as any one who has heard them, can
testify. One wee little chick came up bash-
fully, toward the last ; but when she turned
around and saw so many eyes upon her, she
could not remember a single word. In pity
for her, I asked if no friend of hers could
not start it for her. After a little pause, a
man stepped up to the door from one of the
back rooms, whom I had failed in getting to
come in with the rest, and he suggested to
her the first words of her verse. But she
was so much frightened now, that she could
not even say them after him, and so he gave
the beautiful text, one word at a time, him-
self. It was the first time I had ever heard
him use such words as those, with any such
gentle accents, and I wondered at the time
if it were not possible that even that little
child, standing there before us in mute si-
lence, might not be the means of leading
that great strong man even into the kingdom
of heaven. I selected the very prettiest card
for her, and told her that God was just as
well pleased to have her come up on the
floor and try, as if she had repeated the long-
est A'erse of any one, and she sat down feel-
ing happy, after all.
I learned the names of all of my juvenile
class the first Sabbath, and before closing I
suggested that we should have Frankie, who
is about 11 years old, act as treasurer; and
so we passed around the hat, and obtained,
if I am correct, 26 cents. Oscar, of about his
own age, was appointed secretary, and was
desired to write a letter for some lesson pa-
pers. I submitted to the school a library of
ten books, which they were to read through
and report on the next Sabbath, and then
purchase if it was the wish of the school.
All were approved, and the treasurer paid
me 45c for them, for which I gave him a
written receipt. One of the ladies present
volunteered to hold a singing-school for them
eveiy Wednesday night, where they might
practice and J earn hymns for the Sabbath.
As the pieces would then be already select-
ed, I would have but little to do. I would
urge, in all mission schools, or in schools of
any kind, having the labor and responsibil-
ities divided around as much as possible,
and, as far as may be, letting it rest on young
shoulders. Boys and girls almost always
want something to do, and some light office
of this kind will many times hold them and
make them love to attend, where they would
not otherwise. I am by no means the only
one who is in danger of getting dull and
sleepy if I can't be "• doing something."
Do you not see, my friends, how Sabbath-
school work tends to make us all of "the
same mind," as in our opening text, and to
dispel discord and contention ?
Well, I mentioned, last month, stopping
to see my friend in jail, to tell him why I
should be later than usual in making my
visit that night. After I got back, I told
him all about the work, and he in turn
told me more than he ever had before about
his past life. There are some such good les-
sons in it, that I think he will pardon me if
I give a part of it here.
D. is a bright-looking young man of about
30. I think he tells the truth when he says
he always found plenty of work, always
wore good clothes, and always had at least
some money in his pockets. It was not much
over two years ago that he was employed in
a neighboring town, and had fair wages.
His employer was in the habit of sometimes
taking along a jug of cider when they start-
ed out to Avork. This is nothing very un-
usual in our community, or at least it was
not a few year ago. I am not sure but that
■we have farmers who do the same thing now.
His employer was a yoimg man, and a farm-
er's boy, and probably had been brought up
to so doing. This particular day, they took
the jug of cider along with them after their
work was done, and with it between them,
94
GLEAKINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Feb.
played cards, pretty Avell along into the night,
lu one sense, this was nothing so very ter-
rible either, because it is not so very uncom-
mon.
A few years ago, I went one Sunday after-
noon to see a bee friend. Of course, this was
before the era of Sunday-schools and such
like dawned upon my life. Not finding my
friend among the bee-hives, I wandered
through the orchard, and, hearing voices,went
over the hill, and found four or five men and
boys sitting on the green grass, playing cards,
with a jug in the midst of them, containing,
I suppose, cider. " Well, what of it?" Why,
nothing particular, and yet the scene has oft-
en recurred to my memory. At that time I
was pretty well known as a skeptic, but still
it was also known, I believe, that I did not
drink cider nor play cards, and the group
seemed to rather stop their merriment as I
came up. Pretty soon they broke up and
went away. It may be hard to put your
finger on any precise sin, right there; 'but
still, my friends, without any regard to what
you believe, would you not a little rather
your boy should not be found in such com-
pany V it would be a little rough to call these
men and boys either intemperate. Sabbath-
breakers, or gamblers ; but, my friends, was
it not just a little start toward "the stone jail
in which D. and I Avere sitting that Sabbath
night ? Header, do you know what it is to
feel,—
Where is my wandering boy to-night—
The boy of my tendei est care,
The boy that was once my joy and light,
The child of my love and praj^er?
Let US go back to D.'s story. After they
had played until the employer went home,
D. drank still more deeply from the jug. In
a stable near by was a horse that 1). some-
times borrowed. Near by was a wagon, be-
longing to another acquaiutance. D., under
the influence of the cider, put the horse into
the wagon, without saying a word to any-
body ; took a load of stuff from the shop, be-
longing to his employer, and, not forgetting
the inevitable jug, started off' in the night.
About daylight he drove into a town sufii-
ciently far away to be safe, and bargained
for the stuff at a fair price. The purchaser
not having the money in his pocket, went
out for it, but was cautioned against buying
the goods. He went back and spoke to I).
about telegraphing to where he came from,
to see if it was all right. D. assented ; but,
anticipating trouble, walked to the nearest
station, took the first train, and left horse,
buggy, and all. Before going out of the
State, however, he stopped, got work again,
but soon afterward, in another drimken
spree, got into trouble again, which sent
him to the penitentiary. Before going, how-
ever, a kind lady visited him in jail, and
told him of a Savior's love and a new life.
U. promised her to go to prison and behave
himself, and when he got out he would try
to be a man and a Christian. He kept this
promise, and one who knew of the facts told
me that when he bade the boys good-by as
he left at the expiration of his sentence, he
said, "Boys, I am going out, but never to
come back here again. And the reason I
shall never come back here is because I am
going to behave myself and become a good
man."
Alas for good resolutions! D. had not
yet stepped out into the open air, a free man,
before a warrant was served on him for
horse-stealing, and he was taken up and
lodged in oui^county jail, where I first found
him.
Now, my friends, the whole point of my
discourse comes in right here. J^. was de-
spondent and discouraged. He was in the
attitude of nearly all I meet in our jail, and
not very far from the attitude of some out
of jail. He insisted that the world is unkind,
uncharitable, and corrupt; that the prevail-
ing tendency of mankind is to "■ kick a man
when he is down," to use a common ex-
pression, and that when really he makes an
effort to reform and lead a "new life, he is
met straightway by some underhand clip or
set-back, that "makes it a wonder anybody
ever succeeds in stemming the current of
evil that is met everywhere. My friends,
have you ever talked or thought that way V
Oh that I could persuade you to believe me
when I tell you it is the promptings of Satan
himself that gets you into these moods, and
that makes you judge so harshly of the
world, of which you are a member! In do-
ing this, you are placing yourself with the
great army of criminals ;ind guilty men, who
invariably talk thus. When I have a class
of saloon-keepers in jail, as I have now at
this moment, their talk about hypocrites,
and denunciations of church-members, and
even ministers, is such that I have to insist
on their stopi)ing, or I could not get in a
word. W^hat does this indicateV Are these
men better than those they so bitterly stig-
matize? Well, now, for a contrast, just go
and talk with some one who is a real, hon-
est, earnest Christian worker. I have often
spoken of a young friend who is fitting him-
self in college for mission work in Africa.
I have spoken of liis successful work with
our boys in jail. Do you think he spends
time in talking about the hypocrites he finds
in the world? He has just passed the holi-
days with us, and I have had long talks with
him, but I never heard him utter a word
against humanity. I never heard him speak
of ever having known a hypocrite. J5ut, my
friends, I have heard him, with bowed head,
speak of his own sins, and beg of me that I
would join with him in praying that (iod
might keep him from any temptation that
would mar his usefulness to his fellow-men.
His whole life seems wrapped up in the
work of leading men to repent, but no word
of censure or reproach ever ])asses his lips.
He reproves and rebukes sin, but the one re-
proved is ever his friend afterward. Some
there be, it is true, who at first laughed at
his meek, inoffensive ways; but when he
left, I am sure that from almost every heart
went up a ''God bless Mr. House!"
Well, when I first met D., he was settling
down, as it seemed to me, in a hard, bitter,
stony spirit, toward everybody. It was not
so much what he said, as a hard, bitter curl
of the lip, when he said, " Oh! I know ; you
need not talk to me ; I know all about it, and
that is just the way it goes always. If they
will let me try, I will show them I can be
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
95
just as good a man as any of them ; but if
they think to mal^e nie better by sending me
back to prison, I do notknow whether I shall
ever try again or not."
I could lift him up a little while ; but be-
fore my next visit he would get away back
again, and so I asked M. to go in, ana others
of the young men who belonged to our young
people's meeting. Their bright young faces,
and their trust in God, had its effect, and D.
was rising up to where he could begin to
hold on to the Savior, who died for just such
as he.
AVell, on the evening I have mentioned, D.
gave me a fuller history of his troubles than
he had done before, and I was encomaged to
seehim take the blame himself as he had never
done before, instead of laying it on others.
After he had finished, I spoke in a kindly
Avay, and said, " Why, is it possible that you,
D., really you, took your employer's property
in the way you have mentioned, and tried to
sell it?"
"It is true, Mr. Root; and to come right
down to the facts, I do not deserve the com-
panionship or recognition of a single good
man or woman ;" and he bowed his head in
real thorough conviction of the great sinner
he had been agaiust God and his fellow- men.
I do not mean these were his precise words,
but it was the substance of them as nearly
as I can recall it. A little later, he on bend-
ed knees asked God to be merciful unto him
a sinner. D. had passed from death unto
life, and it only remained for him to show
God and the world that he could live what
he had professed. Not only did angels min-
ister unto him spiritual comfort, but kind
friends began to be visible to him all around;
and as the new life unfolded, he saw the
world was full of people who "bear long, and
are kind."' D., instead of considering the
world as his natural enemy, was beginning,
as in our text, to have cgniidence in it, and
to be in the "same mind and in the same
judgment." Will any thing else but the
Bible bring a man out and up in the way I
have described y I jnayedwith and for D.,
and then I wrote a letter to the man who
owned the horse, and another to his old em-
ployer, and God heard and answered our
prayers, and D. was given only 4U days in
our jail, and then he is coming to work for
me. Do you wonder I went home that night
praising God for having turned me around
in the road, and shown me what he would
have me do V At such times, it seems to me
that I can get at least a glimpse of the prom-
ise found in the chapter following the one
containing our opening text,—
Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have
entered into the heart of man. the things which God
hath prepared for them that Ijve him.— 1. COR. 2:9.
M. went and vLsited him, and finally Mr.
House followed up our efforts until 13., in-
stead of saying he would not go back to Co-
lumbus any more, on his knees asked God to
keep him in jail until he saw it was best for
him to come out, and he would say, " Thy
will be done."
Now, my friends, it is not the boys in the
jail alone who need our opening text, but
sometimes it is church-members, and those
who call themselves Christian people. Some
friends came in just when I was writing, and
I asked them about the Sabbath-school in
their neighborhood. They said it was given
up, and the preaching too, because the peo-
ple could not agree. These were Christian
people too, but of several different denomi-
nations. Away down in Missouri I heard of
a similar case, where the Sabbath-school was
dropped, and it could not be kept up, be-
cause some belonged to one churcu and some
to another. There were people enough to
make a good congregation, but they could
not forget their differences even long enough
to listen to one sermon a week, and so they
— well, I am not sure I know just what
they did do. Dear reader, is there any such
state of affairs in you vicinity ? and are you
sure it is not to you that God is directing me
to read this little verse to day V
Now — I — beseech — you, — brethren, — by — the —
name— of— our— Lord— Jesus— Christ,— that— ye — ail
—speak— the— same— thing,— and— that— there— be —
no —division— among — you ; — but — that — ye — be —
perfectly -joined- together— in— the— 8ame— mind
— and— ia—the—same— judgment.— 1. Cob. 1:10.
Most of you know our neighbor Mr. "W.II.
Shane, whose reports have been given for
several years past in our joiu'iial. A few
weeks ago a little girl m our Sabbath-school
asked her teacher if they might have chil-
dren's prayer-meeting in the afternoon. She
came to me with the request, and I gave no-
tice that one would be held that afternoon.
Quite a number of children were present,
and many of them signified, that first day,
that they would like to be little Christians.
The meeting was kept up, and a few Sab-
baths after, a wee little girl belonging to
friend S. came to the meeting. Small as she
was, she seemed to realize the full import
and the solemnity of the occasion ; and when
opportunity was offered, she arose for the
prayers of her little mates. On going home,
she told her mamma what a real good meeting
they had. A week later, and the little one
M^as prostrated with a severe earache, which
failed to succumb to the usual remedies. I
called to see her, when it was feared she
could not get well, and she lay like a fair
llower in her little crib, insensible, for it had
gone to her brain. " lias she spoken of dy-
ing?" asked I.
"Only once," said her father, "and then
she asked her mother if little girls ever died
with the earache."
A few days later, and I heard she was
gone. I called again, to say what words of
comfort I could to the poor father. "Did
she speak before she died?" said I.
" 1 es, " said he, and his countenance
brightened. " Shortly before she died, there
came a change ; and as w^e gathered around
her, she opened her eyes so intelligently, and
looked from one to the other. The pain
seemed gone, and we waited to hear what
she was going to say. Her lips moved, and
as we listened in breatliless silence, she
spoke clearly and distinctly, —
' Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep ;
If I should die before I wake,
1 pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen.'
" The last word came clear and plain, and
that was all."
As I told of this in our Sabbath-school,
96
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Feb.
and afterward to that school over among
the hills, which now numbers toward forty,
strong men and women were moved to tears.
It was the little prayer her motlier had
taught her to say before she lay down at
night. Has any one the hardihood to say
that God, the creator of the universe, did
not hear this simple little petition from the
dying breath of the work of his hands ? Can
we not, my friends, so live that our dying
beds may be like that V
Except ye become as little children, ye can not en-
ter the kingdom of heaven.
FKOM THE WORKERS BEYOND HIE SEAS.
As the following treats of bees as well as
mission work, I presume it will be read with
interest by all our readers. It is an extract
from a letter seat to one of our bee-men from
his brother, who is a missionary. Sending
our iournal free to missionaries may not be
so biad an idea, after all ; but I confess it did
not occur to me how much help tliey might
give us in the way of looking up the diifer-
ent races of bees that are to be found on
our globe. As w^e catch glimpses of their
work from these extracts from their letters,
we feel better acquainted with them, and
more like praying for them intelligently.
I was invited into the house of a tea farmer, a
Cantonese. I noticed that there were several bees
around, and just then he asked me to change my
seat. I had been sitting with my back against the
table, and as I changed he pointed to a drawer in the
table, which seemed to be lull of bees. He drew it
out an inch or so, and, sure enough, there was a
swarm of bees. He informed me that they settled
there last year. They seemed very gond natured.
One alighted on his neck, and his little boy began to
call out; but he quietly waited a moment, and off it
flew. As I came past the other houses on my way
back, I was invited in, and found a man trying to
read a book I had given him. I sat down and ex-
pounded it. He asked, " What is God?" and I tried
to explain to him. Then he asked if I hid any more
curious things. After awhile I took out a jiocket-
compass, and a knife with a magnetized blade. They
knew what the compass was, but did not know the
principle on which it works, nor any thing about
magnetism. Of course, they "ai-ya-d," and won-
dered, and admired. They passed around some rice
turnovers. These are mjide of a glutinous rice,
boiled, and then pounded into a hard dough. The
inside is filled with a conglomerate of bean sprouts,
greens, red pepper, garlic, salt fish, pork, and I
don't know what else. They were piping hot. The
first few mouthfuis tasted rather strong; but the
taste improved as I ate, and I disposed of two and a
half, withovit trouble.
There was one man on the boat said to me one
evening, that he would like to go with me to foreign
lands; would do any sort of work for me if I would
take him. I began to moralize on going to heaven
as infinitely better. He said up in heaven we could
see all lands at once. He asked how long one would
have to practice Christianity before he could ascend
to heaven. I replied, it was after death. He an-
swered rather sadly, " When I die. I won't be." The
Buddhists and the Taoists both believe in the possi-
bility of translation, if one can only becnme perfect-
ly abstracted, and stay so long enough.
Focchoo, China, March 1, 1880.
WHAT TO DO WITH THE BOYS.
As you are a Sunday-schoc 1 man, Mrs. T,. wishes
me to ask you how to entertain and instruct a class of
—well, I'll call them" street Arabs," for mi st of them
ni'ver attend church, and none of them attended
Sunday-sckool until she called on and persuaded
them to attend. The class now numbers 21 pupils,
from four to eleven years of age; and how to enter-
tain them sorely perplexes her. W. W. L.
Otwell, Pike Co., Ind., Dec. !», 1?80.
Your wife has struck on one of the bard
problems, friend L. I told you last month,
that the question of what to do with
criminals is one that is now puzzling our
greatest minds. Well. it is not unlikely that
your wife has to do with criminals in their
earlier stages, and therefore I would bid her
God-speed, and tell her not to be discouraged,
even though her work seems the most hope-
less. ^\ny thing is better than giving tliem
up and letting them go. If she has got 21
that care to come and listen to her, she has
already proved her ability. I need hardly
tell her that the first thing is the Bible for a
daily teacher, and much earnest prayer to
God for help. She seems to know what a
power there is in visiting them through the
week, because, if I am correct, it is in that
way she has brought them in. If they will
look at books and papers, these are excellent
mediums for catching and holding their at-
tention. If they won"t, interest Ihem with
curiosities; show them simple tricks and
experiments ; post yourself on the leading
events of the day,— the news for instance;
study the especial forte, or hobby, of each
member of the class ; learn their names, so
you can call each one by his es])ecial famil-
iar title ; set them to work, and, through it
all, strive to show them of the spirit and
love of the ]\Iaster. Avho is calling to them
through their better selves. Teach them
how to be brave and magnanimous ; teach
them the true elemei.ls of gentility and re-
tinement ; get acquainted with their parents,
brothers, and sisters, and call on all you
help. (iCt everybody to help that you can
lay hold of ; get the boys themselves to labor
for the salvation of each other : and every
time you get discouraged, and feel like giv-
ing up, go to that Master and beg and plead
for them. Hold on and importune, and when
you see one soul safely into the Idngdom, it
will give you a joy that will brighten your
whole life thereafter. Our friend ]\I. has a
class of little girls in that school over among
the hills, and the light and hope that beams
from his face as we go home after the school
is over is — I can't tell it, but the Master can.
Hear him:—
1 thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
because thou hast hid these things from the wiseand
prudent, and hast revealed themiuitobabcs.— Matt.
11 : 25.
WHAT SHALL WE DO WITH THE MIDNIGHT AS-
SASSIN.
1 must confess I was somewhat taken aback when
you said, " Perhaps it would be best to shoot theman
that had his hand in our trousers pocket." I really
did not expect such advice from a teacher. When I
am at work at the mill, and come home, [ find the
boys have brought in all the axes and bolted all the
doors. Their ma asked Ihem why they did not do it
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
97
when pa was at home. They said, "Nobody can hurt
us when pa is here."
Can we not put that trust in our heavenly Father
that our children put in us? None need fear when
the Lord is near. When the war was over, and I was
coming- home on the steamer, it was so crowded I
was compelled to lake deck for my place of rest.
Just as I had got to sleep, I was awakened by a man
trying to get his hand iato my pocket, and one hand
on my collar. What was I to do but say, "Lord,
save or I perish"? and the thought struck me, I
would give up my money and save my life; so I
thrust my hand in my pocket as quickly and as best
I could, to give up the coveted treasure. ]t would
have done you good to have seen him run. I guess
he thought "perhaps" 1 would shoot.
Spring Station, Ind. Geo. W. Stites.
Very good, friend S., and I am very glad
indeed to have this side of tiiis subject
brought out. I would suggest, that some
might say that it was the fear of the pistol
after all that saved yoiu- money, and perhaps
your life ; but as Vou had no thought of a
pistol, and was only trusting God, it seems
to me your prayer was plainly answered. I
know Avhat some of you will say ; but, my
friends, let us have a broad charity for each
other on matters of this kind, fm* our opin-
ions and our methods of acting would, I
know, differ very widely on such matters.
I presume it woiild be well to ask you to
keep cool while reading the following, and
to look out you are not swayed by these nat-
ural feelings that well up so naturally while
you form in your own mind an opinion as
to what you would have done under the same
circumstances. Bear in mind, we are coolly
and deliberately discussing the subject of
crime, Avith a view of deciding how best to
treat it. just as we would do in regard to the
yellow fever.
Since reading your Dec. No., there was a little oc-
currence that gave additional interest to your
question, " What is the proper thing to do in case
you find a man with his hand in your pocket?" (A
lady suggests that the proper thing is to "screech.")
I will briefly state what I wish to bring to your no-
tice. We have seme fine turkeys, and, hearing a
distui banco among them about 11 o'clock at night, I
jumped out of bed, putting my head out of the win-
dow. I soon saw the cause, and called out to the
persons to leave. They commenced to call their
dogs, pretending that they were hunting; but I
could see no dogs. They passed on to our next
neighbor's, and went through their outbuildings,
leaving open doors and gates, and ia an hour and a
half returned. I got up, but ciuld not see them. I
laid down again; then I heard the turkeys shriek,
"quit ! quit 1" and, on looking out, saw one man run-
ning along the fence, under the cover of the shadow
of it. I called out to him to "move on," three
times; but he stopped with three or four companions
under the tree where the turkeys were roosting, and
seemed determined to have one. I told my brother
to lire his revolver to see what effect it would have.
As soon as he fired they called us names, and threw
clo3s and stones at the house. We then told them to
move on or we would fire closer the next time, and
they, not doing so, my brother fired again in their
direction; then they left our place, and gathered up
chickens and turkeys from the neighbors. Did I do
the proper thing? In all, there were five or six of
them. We saw five. I would like to have your opin-
ion. I believe it is right for a man to protect his
property, always in a legal way when it is practica-
ble; in an emergency, the best way he can, accord-
ing to his judgment. In support of this view, I give
one section of Bishop Hopkins on the ten command-
ments. Comment on the sixth commandment:
"Yea, we find, Exod. 23:2, that God allows the kill-
ing of a thief if he breaks into a man's house by
night, but not so if he attempts it by day. And pos-
sibly the reason of this law might be, because, when
any cometh upon another in the night, it might be
presumed that he takes yie advantage of the dark-
ness, not only to steal his goods, but to harm his
person; and therefore God allows it as lawful to kill
such a one as a part of necessary defense; from
which I think we may safely conclude, that it is law-
ful also to kill those who attempt upon our goods,
when we have reason to fear they may likewise de-
sign upon our person." In the light of the fore-
going, I think 1 was justified in my course. God
permits men to own property, and also to protect it.
We should form our conclusions, not from a single
passnge of God's word, but from the general tenor of
the whole, as it is its own best interpreter.
John Baird.
Elm Grove, Ohio Co., W. Va., Jan. 6, 1881.
Now, friends, did friend B. err in letting
them off so easily that they might go and
steal his neighbor's fowls, and go on in such
work unpunished ? or was he wrong in us-
ing a pistol at all, and in having one about
the house V What are you going to do when
you tind yourself in just such a predicamentV
By a recent arrangement, the manufactures of our
planers have enabled us to offer the Gem planer at
the same prices as we have been selling the Lillipu-
tian. The Gem is a much better machine, for, be-
sides being heavier, the bed raises and lowers for
stuff of different thicknesses, instead of having the
cutters movable, as is the case with the Lilliputian.
Where plaining is to be done, one of these machines
will pay for itself in a very little time.
THE SETH THOMAS CALENDAR CLOCKS.
About 25 have applied for one of these, and the
order is already at the factory. In answer to many
questions, I would say, the clock is 8-day, spring
strike. The height is 20 inches, and the diameter of
the dials, eight inches. The case is beautifully fin-
ished in mahogany and rosewood, with a sort of oc-
tagonal top. The works are heavy steel and brass.
The calendar tells, in large plain figures and words,
the dayof the week, the day of the month, the month
of the year, and makes all the changes for the dif-
ferent numbers of days in each month, even to giv-
ing February 2d days one year in four, without a
single motion or bit of prompting on your part, only
to wind the clock once a week. If the clock runs
down by carelessness, you can set the hands of the
calendar just as easily as you set the hands of a
common clock. This latter feature is a late inven-
tion. Every clock is guaranteed by the Seth Thomas
factory, and their name attached to any clock is
about the highest praise you can give it. Send on
the ST 50, and you can have your clock by return ex-
press. If ordered with other goods, they can go
safely by freight, as each one is securely boxed by
itself. Thej' will be shipped from here.
98
GLEANINGS IX BEE CULTURE.
Eeb.
WIACHINEKY FOR MAKING 0:^E-PIECE
SECTIONS, AND HOW TO USE IT.
THE WAY WE AVORK AT OUR SHOP.
aT takes three different machines to make
these sections to advantage, besides the
— ' usual planers and cut-off and ripping
saws. I have explained to you in the A B C,
and in Gleanings about a year ago, how
the bolts of pieces of plank were to be cut off
and dovetailed across the ends. We here
give you a picture of the gang of eight saws,
mounted on a table, ready for use.
spurs, to cut the end of the Avood down
squarely. These are also adjustable, for
grinding and setting. The machine is mount-
ed on a frame, similar to the one above. The
expense is exactly the same, — $30.00 for the
whole machine, or only i?22.00 without the
table.
SIACniNE FOR CUTTING THE GROOVES, OR
DOVETAILING, IN THE ENDS OF
THE FLANK.
Our friends often complain of tlie expense
of this machine ; but unless it is made very
strong, with a heavy mandrel, and wide pul-
ley for the belt, much trouble will be expe-
rienced in having the mandrel heat, the saws
smoke, etc. The whole expense of the ma-
chine, nicely fitted ready for use. will be
S30.00.
CUTTER - HEAD FOR MAKING THE EN-
TRANCE FOR THE BEES.
After the bolts are grooved with the above
machine, the passage for the bees is cut in
each piece. This can only be done nicely
and rapidly with a cutter-head, as shown.
Just the head and mandrel are shown,
that we may understand clearly the con-
struction. It is as you see, really a small
planer, having adjustable knives to be taken
out and ground and set, like any planer
knives. Besides these knives, there are four
GRAY S IMPROVED MACHINE FOR MAKING
THE ALL- IN-ONE-PIECE SECTIONS.
The three saws are set on an arbor so as to
be adjustable at different distances, as they
were last year ; but instead of a drum to feed
the pieces, we have a table that slides back
and forth. The stripes are placed in a sort
of hopper, which you see rising above the
rest of the machine. Well, this sliding table
pushes one piece for vard so as to slide un-
der the saws. This iillows the pile to drop
down, and the slide then pushes another
against it, and so on. The mechanism that
moves the slide is as follows : On the oppo-
site end of the mandrel that holds the saws,
from the driving pulley, is another smaller
pulley. A belt from this goes on a wheel
seen in the lower part of the machine. On
the shaft of this wheel is an endless screw,
working in the teeth of a wheel attached to
an upright shaft. On the top of this shaft
is a crank that carries the sliding table by
means of a pitman. The machine grooves
40 sections a minute. After some rather ex-
pensive experiments with saws made of teeth
Qt different patterns, we have got one that
cuts a clean, smooth groove, without any
fibers hanging. Two of the teeth are large
half-circles, something like a chopping- knife,
and then comes on a straight square tooth,
to scrape out the wood. Next, two more
knife-teeth, and so on. The speed of these
saws is about -l-.OO per minute. Eor making
Farmer's honey-boxes, or boxes of any kind
requiring wider stuff, the pitman is detached,
and the sliding table is moved by hand. The
machine, as it is now made, can not well be
furnished for less than about ST5.00. The
handle at the right, is for stopping the feed;
the rod in the centre, is to be pressed Avith
the foot, when putting in more strips.
1881
GLEAININGS IN BEE CULTURE.
99
GIEAWIWCS m BEE CULTURE*
-A.. I. I^OOT,
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER,
MEDINA, O.
TERMS: $1.C0 PER YEAR, POST-PAID.
FOR CLUBBING RATES!, SEE FIRST PAGE
OF READISG MATTER.
3vcx;3=>z3>a'.i^, 3f<je::o. i, isox.
Finally, by brethren, be stroiig- in the Lord, and in
the power of lii3 might.— Eph. 6:10.
"We have now 3563 subscribers, which is 921 more
than we had last month. Thank you.
Look after your bees, and don't let them die; they
will probably be scarce and high in price in the
spring.
Fkiend Deworlh has consented to have the price
of his mamirel put at $2. .50, as I sugg-ested lust
month, instead vt $2. 75, and therefore $2..50 is the
price.
Our friends will see by our price lists, that we
have succeeded in getting a reduced price on the
Simonds saws that enables us to place them as low,
or lower, than the common saws usually found at
your hardware stores.
Did you ever! We have just receired from the
manufacturers a solid cast-steel adze-eje hammer,
weighing 1 lb. 5 oz., that we can sell for only 35 cts.
The hammer is exactly like the T,")-cent one; only the
polish is not quite as good. If wanted by mail, post-
age will be 21 cents.
We have added to our printing-ollice a tine new
TJnlversal printing-press, especially for printing let-
ter-heads, postal cards, bill-heads, etc. For speci-
mens of our work, see the stationery we are now
using. We shall next month have small job print-
ing added to our counter store.
•WHOfjESALE PRICES ON COMB FOTTNDATIOV.
In answer to many inquiries in regard to the above,
I would remind our friends that Inasmuch as fdn. is
offered in quantities for 35c, while the wax itself is
25c, there is no chance for awholesale price. If you
wish to sell fdn., you must buy a mill or machine for
making it.
Several friends have asked us to keep their
names going, and they would remit soon. Well,
when they remitted they sent it to Doolittle, with-
out saying a word to us. Do yon not see, friends,
how this '• makes troubles come"? Nobody has au-
thorized you to send money to friend D. that you are
owing us.
OUR OWN BEES ?
Well,, the most of them are wintering finely under
the snow-drifts. Some of those in the house apiary
are dyin < badly with the dysentery. Very likely it is
because the snow-drifts can not cover them up, and
because the hives do not get warmed up by the sun
and dried ovit by the winds, as do the chaff hives. If
you haven't got a house apiary, don't builJ one.
When any watch is first wound, it frequently
needs a little shaking to start it, and especially is
this the case with the Waterbury watches, owing to
the nature of their peculiar escapement. I say
shaking, but it would be more proper to say " twirl-
ing." Several have returned their watches, saying
they would not " go " when wound, but it was only
because they did not start them. One came clear
back from California.
Our friend Oliver Foster has made very decided
Improvements in making fdn. We can hardly say
by the dipping process, for he doesn't dip his plate's
at all; he, on the contrary, dips the wax on to the
plates. The plates arc kept constantly in water, or,
rather, partially submerged in it. He sent us excel-
lent samples of full-sized sheets, and I have ordered
a machine. A full explanation, with drawings, will
be given next month. I need not say that any thing
coming from friend F. is free to all.
THE PEET cage.
We have decided to adopt, for the coming season,
the Peet cage, with the water-bottle omitted. The
candy of which friend Viallon gave us the formulae
on page 427, Sept. No. for last year, has answered so
well that we have decided to adopt it. at least for
the present. I/CSt it may be thought we are
appropriating friend Feet's cage without permission
or recognition, I will state that I have paid him
$25.00 for his invention— not that he did not give it
freely to you all, but that he accepted the gift as a
token of our appreciation of his services. I think
we all owe him a vote of thanks besides. Do I not
hear a second? All you who wish to tender thanks to
friend Peet for his excellent shipping and introduc-
ing cage, as well as to friend Nellis for his zeal in
bringing it so thoroughly before the public, please
say — '• Ay I " I shan't offer any " contrary."
WaAT TO DO WITH COMBS FROM WHICH THE BEES
HAVE DIED.
I PRESUME I shall have to keep repeating, every
spring, that combs and honey from which bees have
died are excellent for new swarms, or even for put-
ting a pound of bees and queen on, before new
swarms come. A great part of thQ ABC class (and
some others?) will have hives with the bees all dead
every spring: and from reports, I think there will
be an unusual number this spring. The hives may
stand right where they are, if you are careful to
close them up, so that no bees can possibly get in
and carry off the honey left, as soon as they begin
to fly. When it gets warm, it will be well to lift out
the combs and brush out the bees; then you can set
them back, and let them remain until you are ready
to put more bees on them. Don't let any robbers
get In, and you will be all right. If you have not
got bees on all the combs by May or June, you will
have to keep a little watch, and see that the moth
miller does not get to working on them. The combs
filled with stores are worth half the price of a hive
of live bees, on an average. There is going to be a
great call for bees by the pound in the spring, and
our friends in the South should be able to do a nice
trade on them early in the season. The fact of the
bees having died on these combs will not hurt them
a particle for use in the summer time, not even if
they died with the worst kind of dysentery, but they
may not be well to use for another winter. Get ail
svich stores used up in rearing bees and brood.
Under this head will be inserted, free of charge, the names of
all those having honey to sell, as well as those wanting to buy.
Please mention how much, what kind, and prices, as far as pos-
sible. As a general thing. I would not advise you to send vour
honey away to be sold on commission. IE near home, wnei'e
you can look after it. it is often a very good way. Bvall means,
develop your home market. For 2d cents we can furnish little
boards to hang up in your dooi-yard, with the words, ' ' Honey
for Sale, " neatly painted. If wanted by mail, 10 cents extra for
postage. Boards Baying ' ' Bees and liueens for Sale, ' ' same
p 'ice.
I have for sale one barrel of nice white granulated
linden honey for sale at 10 cents per pound, includ-
ing barrel. Nathaxiel Murhay.
Ada, Hardin Co., O.
T have for sale 700 lbs. good honey, gathered from
fall flowers, in one 22-gal. keg; the rest in 2-gal. tin
honey-pails, at 1,3c per lb., money in advance. We
will dcli\er on board cars. $1 50 extra for keg; cans,
25c apiece extra. Dayid Kirk.
Columbus, Chex-okec Co., Kansas.
I have 4 barrels of light extracted honey, clover
and basswood mixed. Barrels iron bound, painted,
and waxed; will sell for 9!ic on cars here.
F. K. Johnson.
Box 354, Union City, Branch Co., Mich.
I ha\-€ about 1000 lbs. section and 1000 lbs. extract-
ed white clover and linden honey for sale.
H. R. BOARDMAN.
East Townsend, Huron Co., O., Jan. 26, 1881.
100
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Feb.
CITT MARKETS.
Cincinnati.— Jlojiej/.— Comb honey is of slow sale,
and brings 16c on arrival. There is an active de-
mand for extracted honey, which brins'S 8@10c on
arrival. Choice clover honey scarce. J have paid
lie per lb. in several instances.
Beesicax— is fjuoted from 18@22c.
Cincinnati, O., Dec. 23, '80. C. F. Muth.
Writing on the 24th inst.. friend Muth
says:—
Market for comb honey is dull, supply about out.
We have refused to paj- 16 cts. per lb. for best. De-
mand for and sales of extracted clover honey is very
lively, in barrels and small packages. We pay 8 to 11
for extracted honey. Our trade in 1-lb jar honey is
iocreasing. I predict, that before many years roll
around, extracted clover honey will bring a better
price than comb honey.
Thanks, friend M. I have for some time
been coming to your opinion in regard to ex-
tracted lioney, and our little lunch-room is
giving me an opportunity to watch the ver-
dict of a large number of people. At first.
they take comb honey, at 20 cents per lb. ;
but after they have tasted both a few times,
they almost without exception decide in fa-
vor of the extracted, at 14 cents. This is
largely owing to the fact that our extracted
honey is good clover and basswood Califor-
nia honey. For convenience of the clerk, we
have all kinds ])ut up in 2-lb. cans and pails,
at a uniform price of 14 cents per lb., can in-
cluded. If the honey is to be taken in the
hand, a pail is chosen ; but if to be carried a
distance, or packed with other goods, the
" soldered-up-tight "' cans are taken. We
also keep it in 1-lb. tumblers at 20 cents, tum-
bler and all, and then give five cents for the
tumbler when it is returned. As we buy
most of the honey we use now, and we want
to tell the full truth about it, Ave have a label
printed for our 2-lb. cans and pails as follows:
TWO POUNDS
CAIAFORyiA MOUNTAIN-SAGE HONEY,
FKOM THE APIARY OF
It. WiUvin, San Diego, Cal. .
AND PUT VF BY
A. I. K o o T, Medina, O.
If this honey does not please in every iiarticular. cu.stoni-
eis will confer a favor bj' I'etui-ning it.
We will furnish the same with source and
address left blank, for 25 c. per 100. If you
take a whole thousand, we will put in the
source and address ; but as they are made
large enough to go clear around the cans,
you will have to pay 10 cts. per 1000 extra, if
wanted by mail. Instead of gumming them,
we brush them on with a solution of dex-
trine, brushing over the front as well as back
of the label. The labels should be thrown
right into the gum, and picked out and
brushed on, one at a time.
Chicago. — Honey.— There is plenty of honey in
this market to supply the demand, and prices re-
main the same on comb honey — 20@2-'c for choice
light lots in small boxes, and i2@Uc for dark. Ex-
tracted honev, 8f5.10c.
Beeswax.— 20^3c for light, and 15@lTc for dark.
Alfred H. Newman.
972 West Madison St., Chicago, lU., Dec. 22, '80.
Under date of .Jan. 21th, Mr. Newman
says:—
The quotations on honey and beeswax for this mar-
ket are unchanged. Light comb honey is a little un-
steady, and the supply is equal to the demand.
St. Louis.— iIo?iey.— We have but little change to
note in our market to-day. The stock of good white
comb honey is light, and all offering is readily taken ;
extracted is wanted, and finds ready sale in both
small and large packages. We quote comb, choice
white in sections, 18@20c; larger packages, 15@lTc;
dark comb, as to shape, 15'(|.17c; extracted, small
packages, 10® 12' ic; in barrels, 8@l0c.
Cole Bros.
No. 213 North Second Street, St. Louis, Mo.
New York.— Hodcy.— In reply to your favor of
22d, permit us to give you the following quotations:
Best white clover, put up in neat packages, 17@18c;
fair clover, 15®16c; dark buckwheat, 12@13c; light
strained, 9@,10V2C; dark strained, V@*^c.
Trusting that this will be satisfactory, we remain
Yours truly, H. K. & F. B. Thurber & Co.
New York, Jan. 24, 1881.
fpIERE is quite a number among you, my
friends, who are making it a study to
■ — ' live with economy ; not only economy
in cash out, but economy in labor, for the
housekeeper of the family usually has the
hardest lot, in the way of work, of any one
of you. In view of tliis. I know you will be
interested in our experiments here in the
problem of living cheaply, ^lost of our
hands carry their dinners, and I have tried
to see if we could not furnish them a dinner
at less expense than they could take the
time to carry it from home. Bread and but-
ter seems to" be the staff of life; but as we
have not trained our steam as yet to do bak-
ing, we took a short cut something like this:
Bread at the baker's costs not less than 5c
per lb., while wheat is worth at the ware-
house across the way, only about If c ; be-
sides, 1 lb. of wlieat will make a great deal
more than 1 lb. of bread. AVell, you can buy
cracked wheat, with the hulls taken off, at
your groceries, for about 5c per lb. One
pound of this wheat, with 4 lbs. of water,
boiled in our 2oc farina kettles, makes 5 lbs.
of excellent wheat pudding, at a cost of only
ic per lb. Just set it on the stove, and it re-
quires no care whatever ; and, when done,
pour it into ten of those little half-pint pans
that we sell at the rate of 2 for 5c. When it
gets cold, it will turn out nicely, making ten
little loaves, as it were. Turn them out on
plates, set them in tae oven until they are
warm enough to melt butter ; butter them
nicely, and then put on your clover, bass-
Avood, or California honey, as you choose.
One of these little loaves makes a pretty fair
lunch ; and if you ever ate a more delicious
dessert, you ought to give God thanks after
your meal, as well as before. Now, I haven't
told it all yet. If you get some nice clean
wheat and grind it in a coffee-mill, you will
find it just about aS good, unless you are fas-
tidious about a little bran, and the expense
is only about 2c per lb. instead of 5. Now,
let us go a little further. Butter is just now
pretty expensive, and honey may be also, for
some of you. Dispense with both, and in
place spread your loaf with the 7i-cent Am-
ber sugar that I have mentioned elsewhere,
and pour on a little milk. I am so fond of
the Amber sugar, that I really prefer this
1881
gleani:ngs in bee culture.
101
last dish to the butter and honey. Wliat do
yon suppose such a meal costs? Why, I
would almost undertake to feed a hungry
family of ten, with 10 cents' worth of wheat,
sugar, and milk. Well, now, good friends,
you who are trying to save money by close
living, even this is not all. If you substitute
nice white corn in place of the wheat, you
have another dish for variety, and this costs
only about half as much as the wheat does.
Warm ui) these corn loaves with milk, pep-
per, salt, and a little butter, and you have an
excellent breikfast dish. I h-^ive just been
talking of taking our lunch-room over to the
fair grounds next fall, to show them how
quickly our smart girls can feed a multitude
with the good things God has provided for
us, and that, too, at a price that will aston-
ish as much as did the household conven-
iences last fall. '' Lou " says if we will give
her steam to cook and wash the dishes, and
plenty of help, she can manage it.
Butter anihonpy shaU he eat, that he may know
to refuse the uvil, au<l choose the good.— Isa. T:1u.
%mi^nlmu.
1881.
May 10
CONVE1NTIO]¥ DIRECrORY.
TIME AND PL\CE OF MEETING.
Corthmd Union Bee-keepers' Association,
Cortland, N. V.
May 11.— Southwestern Wisconsin, at Darlington,
LaFayette Co., Wis.
Feb. 34.— Washtenaw County Bee-keepers' Conven-
tion, Court-House, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Feb. 9.— Southern Michigan Bee-keepers' Associa-
tion, Battle Creek, Mich.
Recent Additions to the
COUNTER STORE.
FIVE-CENT COUNTER.
Postage. ] [Pr. of 10, of 100
3 1 Biscuit-Cutter | 33 | 3 00
1 i Charm Knives; a beauty; in pearl and
shell handles, to hang on the watch-
chain I 45 I 4 30
3 I Corn for planting, 3 kinds good for
bees; 54 pint of best Early Sweet
Concord, or Early Minnesota Sweet,
or Mammoth Sweet, the last is the
best, but it is not early I 3.5 | 3 00
10 i Clock or other shelves, a neat shelf to
go with the 5c brackets | 45 | 4 35
OLASSWARE.
I Honey Tumblers, with tin cover, holds
I exactly 1 lb., 6 dozen in a box for
I only $3. 75
6 i Metallophone, or toy piano; a piano
for only 5 cents | 40 | 3 75
3 I Nail Sets, best cast steel, tempered . . | 33 | 3 00
1 I Pencils, red one end blue the other,
the best pencil of American Lead
Pencil Co., excellent for marking
slates to hives | 40 | 3 50
3 I Pilgrim's Progress, from this world to •
that which is to come | 47 I 4 .50
9 I Stands, for hot dishes, bronzed : . . | 40 I 3 75
3 I Tart-Cutters I 35 I 3 35
] I Tweezers and Ear-spoons | 40 3 50
3 I Watch Chains, polished steel, neat
and pretty | 40 | 3 75
6 I Wall-tenders, rubber capped, to screw
in the wall to keep the door from
striking i 30 13 75
TEN-CENT COUNTER.
16 I Brackets for holding clocks or other
shelves, per pair, 4x6 in 1 90 | 8 50
35 I Clock, or other shelves, a neat shelf
to go with the 10c brackets | 45 | 4 75
• 0 I Coal Shovels, wrought iron, with a tin-
covered handle to prevent their get-
ting hot I 85 I 8 00
4 I Dish Cover, blued wire, 6 in | 75 1 7 00
11 I Hammer, Shoe, small size; nice for
women and children — they can't
miss the nail | 80 | 7 50
GLASSWARE.
I Plain Goblet with engraved band | 85 | 7 50
I Lamp hand, no burner or chimney. . . | 85 | 7 f 0
3 I Rules, 3 Foot, Pocket, Box-wood | 90 | 8 50
2 1 Saws, Bracket or Piercing, 6 ditferent
sizes for bracket work or sawing
metals, 1 doz. tor 10c. (For frames
for the same, see .50c counter) | 8i) | 7 50
I Soap. '• Gest's" Great, great in size
of bars as well as in quality. It will
not chap hands in cold weather. Bars
weigh II4 lbs | 75 | 7 00
I Soap, Oatmeal "Ureme" 3 cakes in a
nice box for 10c | 86 | 8 00
FIFTEEN-CENT COUNTER.
33 1 Brackets for holding clock or other
shelves, per pair, size 6x8 In.,
very handsome. Neat and pretty
shelves with drawer for above,
same price | 1 30 I 13 00
4 I Dictionary, cloth bound, 35,000 words
and phrases, and illustrated with
350 engravings, wonderful for 1.5c. . | 1 45 | 14 00
13 I Egg-beaters, "Family," a regular
ftfty-cent article ! 1 10 | 10 00
5 I Files, double-ender, 7 inch, with
handle | 1 30 | U 25
1 Glycerine for making cheirogaphs,
and to keep hands from chapping,
etc., in large 4 oz. bottles | 1 35 | 11 00
4 I Knife, 2-bladed, well made | 1 30 | 13 00
15 I Spoke Shave, all metal, a good tool. . 1 1 30 1 12 50
Twenty-Five Cent Counter.
6 I Butcher Kni%-es 1012 in. long, J. Kus-
sellCo.'s best | 3 00 | 18 00
18 1 Glue, 1 pound, for making Cheiro-
graphs, or Carpenter's use; an ex-
cellent article | 3 00 | 18 00
10 I Hammers, cast steel, riveting, for
machinists | 3 10 | 20 00
GLASSW iRE.
! Honey Dish with cover, a magnifi-
cent piece of glassware, new de-
sign, just out I 1 75 1 16 00
Thirty-Five Cent Counter.
7 I Files, lightning cant, best for circu-
lar saws, 10 inch | 3 00 | 39 00
34 I Glue Pots, family, very handy | 3 10 1 30 00
1 Hammers, cast steel, riveting, for
machinists | 3 75 | 36 00
11 I Hammers, fine steel, finely finished,
although rather small is the best
hammer that can be bought ! 3 25 | 31 00
3 1 Rules, 3-foot, brass-lined complete | 3 00 | 38 00
riFTY-CENT COUNTER.
7 I Saw Frames, Steel, for holding
bracket saws found on the 10 cent
counter | 4 00 | 37 50
Seventy-Five Cent Counter.
35 I Honey Gate, extra large, whopper;
tinned outside and in; and will
screw into a barrel or solder into
a can nicely | 6 00 | 50 00
A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio.
JOIN our club and get free one pound package of
a NEW SEEDLING potato— the finest we ever
saw — or 30 Strawberry plants of varieties that sell
for 50c to $1 per doz. Particulars free.
1-3 P. SUTTON, Ransom, Lack'a Co., Pa.
102
GLEAKIKGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
EeB.
>»<
C^*9/o
FOU 1S81
^^-
O
IS ITO W HEADY !
Every Bce-kcepcr who expects to purchase
a dollar's worth of
Bee-li:eej>ers'
SXJ I* PL I E S I
should read it. Send us
YOUR NAME !
ALSO THAT OF YOUR
BEE:-Kc:E:PI^G fkiends,
PLAINLY WRITTEN on a postal card, and
it will be mailed you at once. Address
11. A. IJUKCH &. CO.,
SOUTH HAVEN, - - - - MICH.
SXSCI'XOlNrS dte HITT-ZES !
We have concluded to extend the time another
month. We will make the "Boss" Sections during
the month of February, any size up to 5x6 for $5.00
per 1000. Material lor Lnngstroth hive. 50o.
JAMES FOKNCROOK & CO.
Watertown, Wis., Feb. 1, 1881.
Tal;e JVot ice.— Patent pending on the "Boss" One-
Piece Sections. 2d
Clla||TML||P||a
I will send, postpaid, to any part of the LTnitcd
States, 10 nice little trees, g-ood roots, one year old,
for 30c, or 100 for $3.50. Seeds, ppr packasre of 50,
25c. Seeds germinate as easily as corn. The Catal-
paisone of the hest hce-trccs\ Hangs full of long
clusters of yellowish-white blossoms, very fragrant
and ornamental, and yielding a heavy flow of honey.
Wood very durable, shoots from young trees making
grape-stakes which last for vears.
2-4d H. M. MORRIS, Rantoul, Champ. Co., HI.
1881.
Send for our new Circular and Price List of Full
Colonies, Nuclei, and Queens. We guarantee satis-
faction. S. D. McLEAN & SON,
2-7d CuUeoka, Maury Co., Tenn.
FOR Catalogue and Price List of young Sour-
wood, Black Locust, Buckthorn, Buckbush,
and other forest trees and seeds.
Address CHAS. KIXGSLEY,
1-3 Greeueville Greene Co., Tenn.
FRUIT _
JreIsXch£jper)5mnXeveH
As I am going out of the nursery business, I will
sell apple-trees at the following low figures:—
4 years old, 6 to 8 ft., ... $5 00 per C.
3 " " 5 to G ft., - - - $4 00 per C.
2 " " 4 to 5 ft., - - - fSOOperC.
If taken by the thousand, 20 per cent discount.
Any parties wanting 10,000 of the three different
sizes, a deduction of 25 per cent allowed. No better
trees are grown in the State than I offer. I have
also pear and cherry trees, and other nursery stock
too numerous to mention, at very low figures.
2-ld J. B. MURRAY, Ada, Hardin Co., Ohio.
FOR SALE OR RENT !
I will sell or rent my shop on easy terms. Built
last year, expressly for manufacturing bee-keepprs'
Supplies; or I would take in a partner for a term of
years— one capable of running that business. Shop
well located, and business well started. Capital re-
quired In either case, about ?500 down. Send for
price list of Bees. Queens, and Apiarian Supplies.
2-3d I. S. CROWFOOT, Hartford, Wash. Co., Wis.
C. OLM'S COMB FOUPATION lACHlHE.
9-incIi.-Price $25.00.
The cut represents the 9-inch machine; the cheap-
est made until now. Send for Circular and Sample.
2d €. Oli.TI, Fond du Lac, Wis.
FOR WHAT THEY'LL BRING!
Thirty colonies of bees, Italians and hybrids, in
good hives, and first-class condition, for sale for
what thev will bring Address
3 C. L. STR.\TTON, Ktioxville, Knox Co., Tenn.
CHAFF HIVES!
A SPECIALTY!
SEND FOR CIRCULAR.
J. V. WATTS,
LUMBER CITY,
2-1 Clearfield Co., Pa.
FINE Concord grapevines, $1.00 per dozen, post-
paid: 85 other varieties, very low. Also 5000
fine basswoods. 5 to 10 ft,, 75c per doz.; $5.00 per 100.
2d F. L. WRIGHT, Plainfleld, Livingston Co., Mich.
DON'T buy any Italian Bees until you have read
mv circular, which contains something new.
2-3d E. A. THOMAS, Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass.
Bee-Keepers' Supplies
It will pay you to got our prices before purchasing
your Supplies. Good Langstroth Hives with 8-inch
cap, frames, quilt, etc., in the flat. 60 cents each.
Manufactured from good pine lumber. Workman-
ship unexcelled. Crates, Sections, Extractors, and
Dunham Foundation, a specialty.
HIRAM ROOP,
2-6d Carson City, Montcalm Co., Mich.
1881
GLEANIXGS IN BEE CULTURE.
107
Contents of this Number.
INDEX OF DEPABTMENTS.
Black List —
Bee Botany —
Bee Entomology —
Blasted Hopes 149
Cartoon —
Editorials ] 53
Heads of Grain IM
Honev Column 153
Humbugrs and Swindles 131
Juvenile Department 142
KindWords from CustciiijrsllO
Ladies' Depaitment —
Lunch-Room 132
Notes and Queries 143
Reports Encouraging 142
Smilery —
The Growlery — •
Tobacco Column 144
INDEX OF HEADS OF GRAIN, NOTES AND QUERIES
AND OTHER SHORT ARTICLES.
ABC Scholar in Louisiana. 119
ABC Scholar in California. 124
ABC Scholar with Box Hvsi:«
ABC ChUd.Our 13;
Apiai-y, How to Build up 138
Artiticial Swarming 138
Artificial Comb Honey 139
Battery Swindles 152
Best Bees to Winter 115
Blasted Hopes. Cause of 123
Building Bee-Housees 135
Bees and Grapes 152
Bees b.v the Pound 114
Bees Complaining 140
Black-heart 140
Buckwheat 141
Bees Freezing 141
B . ' s Dileriiina 141
Candv for Dysentery 126
Caste'Uo ' s Report 150
Cellar Wint ' g .... 128, ia5, 136. 143
Circulars Received 1.52
Corn-cob vs. Chaff 135
Cotton Seed 143
California 143
Chinese Tea-Plant 144
Dipping Ffbi 143
Deaf and Dimib Fiiend 135
Dried Com 133
Dooiittle' s Review 127
Dysenterj-. Cause of 116
Enemies of Bees 123
Experience not found inB'ksl32
Four-frame Extractors 140
Foul Brood 118.131,143
Foster's Fdn. Machine 112
Feeding Ext. Honey 126
Flanag.an's Visit to Fair 1.30
Fr's without Bottom-Bars. .137
Glass-Tumbler Feeder 122
Hasty 's Report 115
Heddon vs. Chaff Hive 116
Heddon 's Hive 116
Hains Feeder. Improv't on.. 122
Hives, Unpainted 134
Honey-Dew in the East 119
Honey- Dew in Oregon 121
Honey Gran, in Combs 136
Honey for Sore Eves 144
Ladd's Story 133
Location for Apiarv 135
L. Frames for Cold Climate 136
Langstroth. Xews from 143
JlerrN'banks' Neighbor 1.50
Jliles"' ' •Wonderful' 'Success 121
Maple-Sugar Candy 1.34
NaU-box.A New 122
New Tools 113
N.E.B.K. Association 129
Notes from Banner Apiai-y . .111
Onions as a Honey-Plant 117
Orchard Apiary 126
Oatmeal for Food 1.32
One Swarm for the Lord 1.39
Pine Grosbeak 123
Peet Int. Cage 113
Perforated Separators 137
Pollen and Dwindling 151
Portulaca 139
Queens. How I Raise 1.34
Qu ^stions on a Postal 1.39
Rape 140,141
Ramble No. 3 125
Robbing, How Stopped.. 123, 143
Report for 1880 125
Simpson Seed 1.52
Stanley's Story 115
Spider Plant 115
Sicunk Cabbage 1.37
Sweet's Report 138
Sugar Syrup for Winter 116
Swarming Mania 132
Selling Bees ." 138
Source of Honey, How to tell 140
Seps. of Paper and AVood 141
Snow's Report 144
Talking to Bees 138
Under the Box-Elders 119
Viallou's Candy 144
Wax vs. Wires 139
Wintering Bees 116, 119
Wild Cucumber 143
rtttt?t?<tte t Tested, $2.00; Untested, $1.00. War-
l^UC»C>lVO ♦ ranted, ^1.3.5. Plymouth Rock efrgs
fur hatching-, SI. 25 per doz. For price of hives and
other supplies, send for circular. Address
3 HARTWELL BARBER, Adrian, Len. Co., Mich.
XOGX.- -XOSX.
ITALIAN QUEENS!
Single Queen, Tested $2 00
" " Untested (laying) 100
Sent by mail and safe arrival guaranteed.
8 Frame Colony <> 00
3 " Nuclei 3 00
2 " " 3 50
Safe arrival guaranteed by express.
Address W. P. HENDERSON",
l-6inq Murf reesboro, Ruth. Co., Tennessee.
YonmstMoiillItolflyoiiso!
For combs sagging, warping, and breaking- down
in the hive if you don't use foundation in wired
frames. It is ahead of any thing in the foundation
line for brood frames. 1 hIso make a very superior
thin foundation for sections.. Send for circular of
Apiarian Supplies to J. A. OSBORNE,
3 Rantoul, Champ. Co., III.
BE SURE
To send a postal card for our Illustrated Catalogue of
APIARIAN SUPPLIES
Before purchasing elsewhere. It contains illustra-
tions and descriptions of every thing new and desi-
rable in an apiarj%
AT THE LOWEST PBICES.
Itilian, Cyprian, and Holy-Land Queens and Bees.
J. C. & H. P. SAYLES,
l-Sd Hartford, Washington Co., Wis.
DUNHAItl FOUNDATION, 35 Cts. Per l.b.
Wax worked up, 10 cts. per lb. Cash paid for
wax. For particulars address
3 R. HYDE, Alder ly. Dodge Co., Wis.
CA FINE MIXED CARDS, with name, 10 cents,
nil postpaid. M. L. DORMAN, Sinclairville,
vU mtd Chaut. Co., N. Y,
The A B G of Bee Culture.
1881 QUEENS ! QUEENS ! 1881 sSt& IT^iSS'^ol
We are prepared to furnish Queens in April, Ma.v,
and June. For tested Queens, $2.50; aifterward,
f2.00; untested, .Sl.OO. Queens reared in full colo-
nies from imported mother. In addition to our im-
ported Queens, we have some fine Queens in our
apiary from some of the leading breeders of the
U. S. We not only select our imported Queens to
rear Queens from, but we select the best imported
and the best home-bred Queens we have to rear
drones from. We allow no colonies to have drones,
except such as are from the choicest of our Queens.
Satisfaction and safe arrival of all Queens guaran-
teed. No circular. HALL & JOHNSON,
3-4d Kirby's Creek, Jackson Co., Ala.
Bound in paper, mailed for $1.00. At wholesale,
ime price as Gleanings, with which it may be
clubbed. One copy, $1.00; 2 copies, $1.90; thi
ies, $2.75; live copies, $i.00; ten copies, $7.50.
The same, neatly bound in cloth, with the covers
neatly embellished in embossing and gold, (me copy,
$1.25; 2 copies, $2.40; three copies, $3.50; five cop-
ies, $5.25; ten copies, $10.00. If ordered by freight
or express, the postage may be deducted, which will
be 13c on the book in paper, and 15c each, on the
book in cloth.
Cooke's Manual in paper or clotli at the same price as
above.
A. 1. ROOT, Medina, O.
No. 132, Price 60c.
MAHSR & GROSH, 34 N. Monroe St., Toledo, Obio,
— show here a new knife. No. 132,
metal ends, strong blades; price,
postoaid, 60c. Our goods are
hand-f urged from razor steel, ev-
ery blade warranted, and ex-
changed free if soft or flawy.
F. H. Day, Wilmington, Del.,
, writes, Jan. 12:— "After receiv-
I' ing the knife I honed it down to
' a tine, keen edire, and tried it on
bird, dry white-oak; the edge
neither turned nor broke, which
is more than I can say of any other knife I ever owned." We expect to build up our trade by selling- good
goods; will you help us? Our extra-heavv 2-blade, made for farmers and mechanics, is the best knife in
the market; price, postpaid, 7.5c. Boy's knife, 25c; ladies, 1-blade, 2.5c; 2-blade, 50c; Gent's 3-blade, fl 00.
Extra strona: Pruner, every blade tested, $1.00. Our hand-forged butcher-knife, 6-inch blade, postpaid, 50c.
Illustrated list of knives, I'azors, and scissors, sent free to any address. »-«
10s
GLEAKIKGS IK BEE CUL'TUJtE.
MAit.
QXTXSXIISrS !
11 francs in Gold.
- 10
iTwa:r»orLTEiD
In April,
May and June, - - -
July and August, - - - - 9 " "
September and October, - - - 7 " "
Queens which die in transit will be replaced only
if sent back in a letter.
CHARLES BIANCONCINI & CO.,
2-7d Bologna, Italy.
"W. 0.^" lUE.
In 3 oz. bottles, black, violet, or blue. In J4
gross boxes, per gross $4 00
In quantities of -5 or more gross, $3,20 per Gross.
In Pint Bottles, per doz $3 00
InQuart " " " COO
In Gallon Jugs " " 13 00
Green and Red ink are necessarily more expen-
sive, and the price will therefore be one-lvxlf more.
Liquid Bluing, in 6 oz. bottles, per doz 50
" " " "• " gross $5 40
I will send M gross, 3 oz. inks, assorted colors,
black, blue, violet, and one bottle each of green and
red, as a trial order for $1.00.
WM. OLDROTD, Columbus, Ohio.
Orders may be sent to me when more convenient.
A. I. ROOT.
HEADQUARTERS FOR
&
Imported and home-bred; nuclei and full colo-
nies. For quality and purity, my stock of bees can
.not be excelled in the United States. I make a
specialty of manufacturing the Dunham foundation.
Try it. If yon wish to purchase Bees or Supplies,
send for my new circular. Address
Itfd DR. J. P. H. BROWN, Augusta, Ga.
Before Purcliasing
any Italian or Cvprian bees, send for our 20th annu-
al price list. Full colonies. Nuclei and Queens, at
greatly reduced prices. Also headquarters for Api-
arian suoplies in New England.
WM. W. CARV & l^ON (formerly Wm. W. Cary),
3tllnq Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass.
28
th Year— 65 First-Premium
Medals and Diplomas.
Send postal card with name and address for my
new illustrated Circular and Price List containing
valuable information to all bee-keepers. Sent free.
CHAS. H. LAKE,
Successor to the late Richard Colvin,
2-4d 96 West Pratt St., Baltimore, Md.
THE
British Bee Journal.
The British Bee Journal is now mailed to our ad-
dress in packages, each month. In order to dispose
of them, we offer them at present at $1.00 per year,
postage paid, beginning Jan. 1881, Will guarantee
safe arrival of every No.
A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio.
RASFBERRIES FOR SALE.
Dooiittle, -
Clarke's Red,
Mammoth (^luster, -
Davison's Thornless,
Ohio,
jiC-I' iloz.
by mail.
- oOc
30c
- 40c
• 30c
- 40c
per 1000
$1 00
1 00
1 50
1 50
$8 00
Ohio is one of the best ; will yield a third more than
any berry I know; is very firm and large; one of the
best for drying; begins to ripen about the time of
the Dooiittle, and lasts till after the M. Cluster. Will
pick as much as any of the varieties at a picking. It
is equal to the Gregg, if not better. If by mail, add
30c per doz. J. iRVIN JOHNSON,
3-4d Box 405, Palmyra, Wayne Co., N. Y.
IMP BO VED
Langstroth Hives.
Supplies for the Apiary. Comb Foundation a spe-
cialty. Being able to procure lumber cheap, I can
furnish Hives and Sections very cheap. Send for a
circular. A. D. JJENHAM,
2tfd Olivet, Eaton Co., Mich.
HEADQUARTERS FOR
Pure Albino and Italian Queens and Colonies
for 1881. As I make queen-rearing a specially, I
guarantee to those ordering from me just what they
bargain for. Circulars free. Address D. A. Pike,
2-4d Box 19, Smithsburg, Washington Co., Md.
1881 ITALIAN QUEENS! 1881
Tested Queens $1 50
Warranted Queens.. 1 00
Cyprian Queens, untested 1 00
As most all the Df liar queens
I sold last year were pure, I
will warrant them this year.
J. T. Wilson, Mortonsville,
2-Vd Woodford Co., Ky.
Eggs for Hatching !
I was awarded first premium on Brown Leghorns
and Black B. R. Game Bantams, at N. Y. State Fair,
Albany, in Sept. last. Am booking orders now, to be
filled in rotation, at the foUowiDg very low prices:
Brown Leghorn Eggs, - - $1 00 per doz.
B. B. R. G. Bantams, Imported, - 1 50 " "
With my style of packing, in new baskets, eggs
will go safely any distance, and hatch. I guarantee
safe arrival. C. W. CANFIELD,
Athens, Bradford Co., Pa.
N. B.— Above prices take the place of prices given
on last cover of this journal. 3-6d
WESTERN BEE-KEEPERS
Can save money by sending for our now illustrated
Circular and Price List of Apiarian Supplies; Nute
and Letter Heads. (Jard/<, etc.
BRIGHT BROTHERS,
3-4 Mazeppa, Wabash Co., Minn,
TAKE NOTICE!
I will work this summer for some good straight
honest bee-keeper, reasonably, as I understand all
of its branches, and have had long experience. Ad-
dress O. DOUGLASS, Whitmore Lake, Mich. 3d
CSECTIONS ]rAHD^ HIVES Q
I \r T IP
We will make the dovetailed, or "Boss" One-
Piece Section, any size up to 5x6 for $5.00 per 1000.
Material for L. hive, .50 cents.
JAMES FORNCROOK & CO.
Watertown, Jeff. Co., Wis., March 1, 1881.
Take iVotice.— Patent pending on the "Boss" One-
Piece Sections, 3d
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
109
PUI\E STOCK! |M Koncoo njfu Mn
I shall devote the coming season to rearinerj*** IIMIIUIIU VI IJ^ IIEUI
H0I7 - Land Queens
for sale. They will be reared in an apiary by them-
selves, away from other bees. The price will be as
follows: —
Dollar Queens, before June 15, - - - $1 25
Each, after that date, 1 00
Tested Queens, after June, each - - - - 2 50
Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed.
I. R. GOOD,
3-8d Nappanee, Elkhart Co., Tnd.
15 ONE-GENT STAMPS
will pay for our exhaustive pamphlet on raising,
handling, and marketing extracted honey.
COLOyiES WITH
IMPORTED CTPRIAN AND
ITALIAN QUEENS
OF OUR OWN IMPORTA-
TIONS, GUARANTEED
PURE AND GENUINE.
Our Comb Poundation was awarded the diploma at
the N. E. Bee-Keepers' Convention held in February.
Smokers, Knives. Extractors, etc. Price list, with
3 samples of foundation, free.
CHAS. DAD ANT &.SOX, .
3d Hamilton, Hancock Co., 111.
HOIVXE JSJT LAST!
Having bought the planing mill of H. C. Smith,
and supplied it with new and improved machinery,
and experienced workmen, I have 30,000 feet dry
white pine lumber, and got the Simplicity Bee-Hive
pattern of A. I. Hoot, and manufacture "the Lang-
stroth Hive and Apiarian Supplies. Send and get a
Price List. SID. D. BUELL,
3-5d Union City, Branch Co., Mich.
COMB Foundation Machines from $1.00 to §5.00.
Comb Fdn., loss than 5 lbs., 40c; over 5 Ihs., 35c;
over .50 lbs., 34c; over 100 lbs., 33h'c. Price list free.
Italian queens from Imp. mothers, fl. ready in April.
3 JOHX FARIS, Chilhowie, Smyth Co., Va.
33. s. oiT7-i:3>a-,
Inventor and Sole Manufactnrer of tlie
FOUNDATION PRESS.
All Presses warranted to give satisfaction. The
only invention to make fdn. in wired frames. Our
thin and common fdn. for '81 is not surpassed. Send
for Catalogue and samples.
3d D. S. GIVEN, Hoopeston, lUinois.
CHEAP SECTIONS!
All One-Piece Sections. Pound and Prize size at
f 4.50 per 1,000. JOHN McGKEGOR,
3 Freeland, Saginaw Co., Mich.
Pure Bred Plymouth Rock Fowls
and eggs for hatching. Ambcr-cane seed, and
Dhoura. Send card for circulars, etc., to
3-4d N. J. ISRAEL, Beallsville, Monroe Co., O.
A No. 1, by mail, prepad, splendidly rooted, prices
awav down. Send for descriptive price list.
R. SHERFY (Round-Top Nurseries),
3 Gettysburg, Adams Co., Pa.
CYPRIANS and Italian Queens or Nuclei. Des-
criptive Circular and Price List sent free.
Address JULIUS HOFFMAN,
1-4 Fort Plain, Montgomery Co., N. Y.
I breed pure Italian and Cyprian bees for sale. I
warrant my '"Dollar" queens to be mated by pure
yellow drones, and guarantee sale arrival and per-
fect satisfaction.
Tested Queens, in May - - - $3 CO
in June - - - - 2 .50
after " - - . - 2 00
"Dollar" " in May - - - - 1 50
in June - - - 1 25
after '• - - - - 1 00
Bees, per lb., same prices as Dollar queens.
Please address all letters plainly to
3-5d E. M. HAYHURST, P. 0. Box 1131.
GUARANTEED
Italian Queens!
I guarantee all my queens to be purely mated
from imported mother. Safe arrival and satisfao
tion guaranteed. Send lor circular. Untested
Queens in Mav and June, $1 .50. July and after,
51.00. Tested Queens, May and June, S2.50. Julv
and after, $2.00. Select tested, S3..50.
Address— L. C. M'FATRIDGE. M. D..
2-Td Carroll, Carroll Co., Ind.
XZIVE ^ArnrFACTVRZSRS.
Also imported and home-bred Queens, Full Colo-
nies, and nucleus colonies. Bee-Keeper's Supplies
of all kinds. Market price for beeswax.
3 NICHOLS & ELK INS, Kennedy, Chant. Co., N. Y.
GRAPE SUGAR
For Feeding Bees !
Send for our Price List before you buy.
3-5d I. 1.. SCOFIELI>,
CHENANGO BRIDGE, BROOME CO., NEW YORK.
VAN PRANK'S DIRECT DRAFT
GOLD-BLAST BEE-SMOKER!
Simple and durable and not liaMe to get out of re-
pair. Price $1.00. Write for a liberal discount on
M doz. lots. Single smokers sent bv mail on receipt
of S1.15. Address W. W. VAN FRANK,
3d Newberg, Cass Co., Mich.
S5 C0Ij01vriE."3
of Italian Bees in good condition, for sale; also two
Faulkner Bee-Houses. Will sell cheap.
Address MRS. WM. STUMP, IS* Scott St.,
3d South Pendleton, Cincinnati, O.
Seeds and Plants!
My combined catalogue of Seeds, Plants, and Agri-
cultural Implements, free to all applicants. Every
thing warranted. WM. F. ELWOOD,
3d P. O. Box 526, Rome, Oneida Co., N. Y.
OHOIGE ITALIAN BEES
AT ZERO PRICeS
Dollar Queens, only SOc; Tested. $1..50. Ten-frame
colonies, $5.T5 to $s.'00. Every thing first-class, and
equallv low. ^^Send for circular, and save money.
3tfd E. A. THOMAS, Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass.
STRAWBERRir FLAIffTS!
Miner's Great Prolific, and Crescent Seedling, the
two grpat market berries. All the best kinds by
mail. Prices very low. Send for price list.
3-4 W. d. POST, Essex, Middlesex Co., Ct.
no
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Mar.
THAT CALENDAE CLOCK.
Last December one of our friend- ar.,v> d me what
I could get 100 calendar clocks for. After some cor-
respondence t learned I could get them so as to sell
to our bee friends at the price given below. The
following is a description of them.
The clock is S-day, spring strike. The height is
twenty inches, and the diameter of the dials eight
Inches. The case is beautifully finished in ma-
hogany, rosewodd, and black walnut. The works
are heavy steel and brass. The calendar tells,
in large plain figures and words, the day of the
week, the day of the month, the month of the
year, and makes all the changes for the differ-
ent numbers of days in each month, even to giv-
ing February 29 days one year in four, without a
single motion or bit of prompting on j'our part, only
to wind the clock once a week. If the clock runs
down by carelessness, you can set the hands of the
calendar just as easily as you set the hands of a
common clock. This latter feature is a late inven-
tion. Everj- clock is guaranteed by the Seth Thomas
factory, and their name attitched to any clock is
about the highest praise yoii can give it. Send on
the $7.50, and you can have your clock by return ex-
press. If ordered with other goods, they can go
safely by freight, as each one is securely "boxed by
itself. They will be shipped from here.
Feb, 1, 1881. A. I. HOOT, Medina, O.
Feh. OtTj, ISSl.— The above was given in our Feb.
Gleaninos, but now the following is at hand, from
the Seth Thomas Clock Co.:—
New York, N. Y. , Feb. 2, 18S1.
A. I. Root, Esq. :—
Dear Sii-,— We hereby withdraw our quotation madp. you Dec.
21, 1880, for our No 5 Parlor Calendar, in lots of 100. We do
this because we understand you advertise to retail tlicm for less
than the trade can buy them. Yours rcspoctrully,
Seth Thomas Clock: Co.
You will see, my friends, that my good intentions
in the way of selling you clocks at a low price are,
for the present, frustrated in spite of any thing I can
do. The regular wholesale price of the clocks to
dealers is $8.00, and my offer was a little under this.
I am very sorry for this unlooked-for mishap, and
all I can do now is to make the price of the deck
f 8.50, instead of $7.50.
P. S.— Several have asked for alarms added to
these clocks. With the experience I have had as a
jeweler, 1 would not advise such an arrangement,
but would rather have the small nickel clock we ad-
vertise for an alarm clock. This can be carried
about anywhere like a watch, and can therefore, if
you choose, be placed right at your head, in your
sleeping apartment. Price $3.25; by mail, |3 40.
KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS.
The 13 Waterbury watches all sold at a good profit,
and have given good satisfaction to every one.
Arcadia, Wis., Feb. 7, 1881. B. A. Morgan.
The A B C is, in my estimation, the most valuable
work of the kind published. I would not think of
excbanging it for five times the cost, and do without.
Somerset, Pa., Jan. 31, 1881. A. H. Ferneh.
I must say the A B C is the best book on the sub-
ject I ever read. Jt explains every thing so plainly,
that any child can understand it by the aid of the
nice engravings it contains. Oh how I wish I could
spend a busy summer day in your apiary! I bought
this book for my neighbor; but if I could not get
another, I could hardly let it go. I learned more on
one page than ten times the cost of the book, and
that is lit making hives, frames, and sections.
Wm. K. Deisher.
Kutztown, Berks Co., Pa., Jan. 39, 1881.
Dear Sir.'— When writing to you, I say "DearSir;"
but I feel like saying "Dear Brother." Many thanks
for promptitude. Wii. W. MoClaran.
Marshall, Tex., Jan. 26, 1881.
[Say "Dear Brother" by all means, dear brother
M.; and when the time comes that you get tried
with me, and I need reproving, then bv all means
remember to say, "dear brother Root," when you
administer the reproof.]
I have succeeded, by disposing ot some unprofita-
ble property and close attention to business (outside
of the bee business which has been more of a
recreation than serious business), in freeing my-
self of the greater part of my indebtedness, and
I trust that, if I ain favored by a kind Prov-
idence, in another year or two I will be a free
man once more; and when i attain ihat long-
striven-for condition, I seriously contemplate giving
my whole attention to the bee business, trusting
that, by that time, I shall have attained sulficient
knowledge and practical experience to enable me to
conduct it successfully.
Now, why have I written in this manner to one
who has never seen, and probably cares nothing for,
me? Simply for the reason that I do believe you
care for me and my success; not, perhaps, as an in-
dividual, but as one of a large class whom j'ou have,
by precept and example, induced to try a new pur-
suit—a pursuit that can not help, in the very nature
of things, if he be observant and thoughtful, leading
him to a better acquaintance with nature, and
through nature to the Author and Giver of all good.
I have been for years trying to live a Christian
life, and 1 assure you the Home Papers have helped
me no little, and I am sure I am only one of many
thousands who can thankfully say the same; and
from my heart I say, go on; follow every leading of
Providence, and success will surely crown your ef-
forts here and hereafter. If I were as well assured
that I were where I could be the most useful, I
would be happier, and necessarily a better man; but
"'tis a long lane that has no turning," and I think I
see indications of a change, and that for the better;
it seems at times to be so unwise to labor so hard
and long for success in mere money-making, that
dwarfs and numbs and deadens allot our better feel-
ings. But pardon me for detaining you so long with
merely personal things. Put this in the fire, and I
will not trouble you in this line for at least another
year, if ever. But take courage in your good work
inasmuch as you have helped one poor fellow to
strive more earnestly to "do justly, love mercy, and
walk humbly before God." E. T. Flanagan.
Belleville, Ills., Feb. 5, 1881.
[May God bless you for your kind words, friend F.
I do remember you, and pray for you ; and T have
thought of you every time I see anything from you
ever since you told me about your business troubles.
Try now to help others, in the way God has so gra-
ciously helped you, and make the beautiful little
text you close with, your guiding star through life.l
i>E"VOTEr> TO BEES AiVD iiOK^EY, A]^r> iTo^m t>"t>::tsestw.
Vol. IX.
MARCH 1, 1881.
No. 3.
A. I. B.OOT,
Publisher and Proprietor, \
9IedLna, O.
Published Monthly.
Established in 1873
r TERMS: $1.00 Per Akkum, in Advaxcb;
I 2 Copies for Si. 90; 3 for $2.75; .5 for 34.00: 10
I or more, 75 cts. each. Single Kumber, 10 otii.
■{ Additions to clubs may be made at club
rates. Above are all to be i<ent to OSE POST-
OFKicE. Clubs to different postoffices, KOT
[ LESS than 90 cts. each.
NOT£S FROM THE: BANNER APIARY.
NO. 16.
SOME HAKDT, OR PERHAPS LAZY " FIXIN'S."
!ELL. wife, what shall I write about
next?"
" Why, can't you think of any thing
more to write abont? Well, I thought that you would
get all ' written out ' after awhile. I guess that you
had better write and tell Mr. Root about that stool
that you were going to make last summer, and ha^e
strapped fast to you."
"No, I shall not say any thing about that (but it
isn't because I am afraid that folks will laugh at me,
you needn't think), but I guess that I will write and
tell about having nuclei on 'stilts.'" Your plan,
friend Root, of fastening the nuclei to the grapevine
trellises, and using the hive below as a seat or table,
is a good one; but if one has six or seven times as
many nuclei as full colonies, some other plan has to
be adopted. Last season my 80 nuclei were placed
directly upon the ground; and, as I examined each
nucleus every third day, besides catching queens
and inserting cells between times, I found the stoop-
ing very tiresome. To rest my weary back I have
frequently gotten down upon my knees, and, in ex-
treme cases, I have sat "flat" upon the ground;
and, as I n^ared the end of my task, I would count
the number of nuclei yet to be visited, much as the
schoolboy counts the days just before vacation.
Now, just look at the inclosed
pencil sketch, and you will see
how I intend to arrange my nu-
clei the coming season. The
stakes and seat are made of cull
lumber. The stakes are just the
right length to bring the hive at
a convenient height for working
while standing upon my feet. Do
you notice those two little strips
tacked to the sides of the hive,
their ends projecting beyond the
end of the hive? Well, these pro-
jecting ends are to hang frames upon. Inside the
projecting end of the strip, fastened to the back of
the hive, is tacked a piece of wood IJi inches wide,
otherwise the space between the two projecting ends
would be too wide to hansf the frames upon. I said
QUEEJI-REAHING
HIVE.
both of these strips were tacked to the hive; but it
isn't so, as the one on the front of the hive is fas-
tened with a screw. It rests upon a nail, and can be
turned back out of the way when I wish to close the
hive.
And did you notice how the cover is hinged on?
Just two strips of wood tacked to the ends of the
cover, letting them run down slanting until they
reach the front edge of the hive, where they turn
upon screws. The holes in the ends of the hinges
are just large enough to slip over the heads of the
screws, and, by springing the hinges out a little, I
can, if I wish, remove the cover in an instant.
When the hive is opened, the cover forms a nice
shelf upon which I can set my smoker, box of brood,
or lay queen cages or cells, etc. When caging
queens I shall hang up the frame, and sit down and
take my ease while catching the queen and the 30 or
40 bees that I am sometimes obliged to send with the
queen late in the season.
I have just "figured up," and the cost of the ma-
terial for these "flxin's" will be about ten cents
per hive. Perhaps I shall whitewash the "stilts."
Perhaps, friend Root, you will think all this too
much " machinery," but you will, I think, admit
that it will be " handy; " and it was, I believe, from
yourself that I obtained my first ideas of having
things "handy;" and it has now become such a
" hobby " with me that a visitor seldom " does " my
establishment without exclaiming, f»om one to a
dozen times, " Why, you have got every thing handy,
haven't you? " W. Z. Hutchinson.
Rogersville, Genesee Co., Mich.
Very good, friend II. There is no danger
of getting too many helps of the kind you
speak of, if they are really helps, and not
hindrances, when we take the whole into
consideration, cost of keeping them in re-
pair, etc. I have invented a great many
helps and new plans ; but somehow, as the
years pass, the greater part of them get laid
aside, and just now we are bringing our bees
out of the house apiary, that we thought
was going to be sucn a great help (in just
the way you are talking about), and putting
them in hives out-doors, because they not
only winter better, but every one of the boys
declare it is less trouble to handle them.
Very likely your arrangement will be liked
112
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Mar.
for queen -rearing; but I fear you will have
to pull it up every winter, or the frost will
make havoc with it. It is an excellent plan,
nevertheless, to consider and discuss all
these matters; for it is the real practical
work of our favorite pursuit; how to handle
a ^reat number of colonies without hired
help is just what we all need to know.
^■•■<
FKIEND FOSTER'S FDN. MACHINE.
THE NEW FOUXDATION MOLDS.
^p\,EAIl EDITOR AND FRIENDS:— I hope that
WM your bees are all as comfortably packed this
— very cold winter as ours are. We are now
settled in our new home, and of cour e are perfect-
ly happy.
I have been Improving the winter months by per-
fecting the method of making fdn. at one operation,
and have succeeded beyond my most sanguine ex-
pectations. By the way, friend Root, since the Faris
machine was described in every particular, save the
leather strap, away back in 18T8 (Aug., page 255), and
since friend Harrison's machine was the same thing
with two covers to his "book" instead of one, did
you not greatly misrepresent the matter on page
582, Dec, 1880? I originally Invented the machine in
1878, and there gave it to the public; therefore, any
patent issued upon the machine itself Is " null and
void." Take and use it freely; but please let's not
try to cover it with patents.
^1
MAKING FOUNDATION WITHOCT EITHER DIPPING OB
ROLLING.
In my last article I contemplated a machine for
making wired fdn. at one operation. I now think
that wired fdn. will soon be a thing of the past, as
my experience for the past three years, with the un-
wired dipped fdn. in deep frames, has satisfied me
that it can be used as thin as desired with no danger
of its sagging even in the hottest weather. The ma-
chine as heretofore used has the following objec-
tions, which I have fully overcome:—
1. It is so heavy, if made sufficiently strong, that
it is very tiresome to lift it from the wax to the wa-
ter and back again.
2. We must wait until it stops dripping after dip-
ping, which consumes time.
3. As both sides and all of the edges of one mold
and its frame go under wax, it is obvious, that the
wax is cooled and the water warmed twofold more
than they would be if the wax only touched where it
is to stay, thus consuming more wood and ice.
4. It takes longer to cool the mold and clean off
the wax.
5. Dipping both plates, as per friend Bonham,
page 26, partially obviates the difficulty; but "the
remedy is worse than the disease," as it makes two
sheets, which are imperfectly united, and takes
double the wax.
6. The leather straps, as per friend Faris, prevent
the mold from opening wide, and make it difficult to
remove the fdn.
7. If the face gets too wet, as it does by dipping,
the impression is imperfect.
All of these dilBculties I have overcome in my new
fdn. mold, described as follows:—
The frames are made of strips of wood ''8x2 in.
They must be very strong and thoroughly braced
with iron rods running through the casts, to prevent
the least warp or twist to which the plaster is in-
clined. The frames are hinged and tilled in the usu-
al way. They are each two inches deep for the
sake of strength, but the plates need be only ?^ or 1
in. thick.
The molds. A, while open, lie flat on the surface of
the water in the tank, B, face up. The one at your
right is fastened in the tank with one inch between
its frame and sides of tank. The other turns on
the hinges, and, when resting upon a support in the
tank, the face of each plate is level with the other'
and about }i inch above the surface of the water all
around. The face keeps just wet enough by absorb-
tion, and is constantly cooling and moistening. The
wax is applied to the stationary plate by means of a
wax fountain, C, which distributes it perfectly in a
" twinkling," and the other plate coming down sends
the surplus wax, if any, right into the water. The
wax-fountain, C, is kept in the wax, D; it is taken
in the right hand when the mold is worked with the
left. It is placed in position over the lower plate. A,
the ends of the bar, E, resting on the edge of the
tank, B, upon which they slide, and which holds the
fountain level. By raising the handle, C, the wax
pours from the row of holes at F. It is drawn with
an easy motion across the plate, beginning at the
hinges. The moment it is off, the upper plate comes
down by the left hand. In a moment it is ready to
open, and a perfect sheet of fdn. lies before j'ou,
with only a slight margin. When this is removed,
all is ready for another. The edges of the lower
plates are slightly raised to prevent the wax from
overflowing, and the upper one fits over, something
like a Simplicity-hive cover, G, throwing the wax
down so that one can work in his " hi-oadcloth" if he
likes. As there is next to no cleaning up of scraps,
and no lifting, the work pushes right along. I think
J can make up 75 lbs. per day of perfect fdn., L. or
any other size.
DIRECTIONS FOR USING FOSTER'S FDN. 5IACHINE.
Place the tank on a box or stand, level with the
stove. The piece of tin on the edge of the tank
should project inside the wax-pan on the stove. Lay
the strips of wood across the ends of the large pan,
and rest the wax-pan on them. Use the fountain in
either side of wax-pan you like, the lumps of wax in
the other. The fount runs on the track both ways,
Avith the handle level when not "pouring." The
screw in the tank holds the bed-plate securely In
18S1
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
113
place. Be sure to let the mold tliorougMy soak (cov-
ered with water) before beginning, and if it gets too
dry bj- rapid work, sponge it off. Keep ice or snow
under the bed-plate. You can "hurry" the cooling
of tne marginal wax after pressure by dipping a
block or something into the water, thus raising the
surface to the face of mold. I would not let the
mold mold freeze while full of water.
I hope soon to produce a machine with metal face
that will work this way. 1 will re-fill frames with
p' aster for f 1.00.
I hereby make these inventions public property.
YmU can make the machines yourselves, or I can
f U' nish t hem as follows: —
One pair of molds, $3.00; water-tank, $2 00; double
wax-boiler, $2.C0; wax fountain, $1.0). All com-
plete, packed in tank as shipping-box, $10 CO. Fdn.,
per lb., 40c plus 10c for each package. Price is for
L. size. Oliver Foster.
Mt. Vernon, Iowa, Jan. 22, 1881.
We have the machine here with us, and it
is a success without question. The figure
at the upper left-hand corner is to show how
the plaster plates close together. AVell. after
the sheets are made, they have to be trimm-
ed, and the trimming takes more time
than to make the sheet. Mr. Gray took a
look at it, and soon made a pair of plates
with galvanized iron around the edges, so
that when the plates were closed, the surplus
wax could all be taken off clean, leaving the
sheet all ready to be put right into a wired
frame. The only trouble is now the frail
nature of these plaster plates. We have a
pair of metal ones, but they won't work, be-
cause they are not porous, like the plaster,
to hold water; also, we want to combine
this idea with that of the Given press. Do
you not see again, friends, how all this prog-
ress is the work of many hands and brains ?
It is but a few numbers back, that a suggest-
ed putting the wax on with a broad brush,
and Mr. said a year ago, that wax
could be poured on the plates through a nar-
row slit. Friend Foster has invented the
fountain and the row of holes, and it works,
too, like a charm. I have placed to his cred-
it, for the same, $25.00, although I shall not
make any of the machines, and very likely
the whole may be laid aside in a few months
for something still better.
THE PEET INTRODUCING CAGE, AS AVE
JTIAKE IT.
fllE cut below will make the whole mat-
ter plain, almost without a description.
• The cage is about 2i,x4i inches. The
side pieces, are made of strips 7-32x9-16. The
side pieces are each 4* inches long. The end
pieces are each 2i long by i inch thick ; you
will see this brings the thickness of the ends
1-16 less than the sides, to let the tin slide
run over the ends. The end piece that holds
the candy is made from a piece IxU ; but
before nailing the box together, a place is
sawed out to receive the candy, so only about
i of an inch of wood is left on the bottom
and end. With a very fine saw, grooves are
made for the tin slide to run in ; this slide is
bent as shown, for convenience iii withdraw-
ing. A comer is clipped form the othef end,
that the cage may be opened so one bee can
be put in at a time, when cagiug the bees
and queen.
feet's intkoducixg and siiiphing cage.
The tin points are for fastening the cage
securely into the comb. Directions for do-
ing this are pasted on the cover of the cage,
seen in the foreground. These are simply
pieces of basswood,of the cage, one of which
has the grain of the wood running crosswise,
to prevent the liability of damage in the
mails. The other little board we drop on
our grooving saws, to cut the ventilating
holes shown in the picture. When ready to
mail, the tin points are turned down, the lit-
tle boards placed on each side, and the whole
wrapped in stout flour-sack paper, after
which an opening is cut or torn right over
the ventilating slots. It will be observed we
have no bottle of water in this cage. The
reason is, that friend Viallon's candy seems
to hold moisture enough without it. We
will give the recipe for this candy again, as
it may not be familiar to some of our new
readers.
Take 12 ounces of powdered white sngar, 4 ounces of Louisiana
brown sugar, one table-spoonful of flour, and two tablespoon-
fuls of honey, stir well together, and add just enough water to
make it like thick mush; then bring it to a boiling point, or If
too much is added, boil it a minute or two; then stir it well un-
til it Ijegins to thicken, and pour quickly a table-spoonful into
each cage.
The peculiarity of this candy is, that it
never dries, but remains soft and pasty, but
yet not enough so to daub the bee.
NEW TOOIiS.
PLANEUS USED BY MANUFACTURERS OF
BEE-HIVES.
fLAST month mentioned that we had
been enabled to substitute the Gem
— ' planer instead of the lilliputian, which
we have sold for the past few years. As
several inquiries have been made about this
and the Pony planer, I have thought best to
give you drawings of each. The cheapest
planer made is the Cigar-Box planer, shown
in our price list, and used, principally, to
plane stuff for sections. These planers are
designed for planing cigar- box lumber and
other kinds of planing where very smooth
planing is needed. The 9-inch is now offered
for §55.00 net. It planes only | in thickness .
The next and largest size Cigar-Box planer,
12-inch capacity, is S70.00 net. Counter-
shaft for either of the above is $12.00. It
114
GLEANmGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Mar.
has two feed-rollers and two speeds of feed.
It has a pressure-bar between the back feed-
roller and the cutter-head that holds the
lumber to within } inch of the cut of the
knives. Pieces as short as 4 inches can be
planed iu this machine without chipping the
ends. It will plane from ^ to 4 Inches in
thickness. The cutter-head is made of steel,
and the cutters capped very close, to prevent
tearing the lumber when it is very cross-
grained. The tight and loose pulleys for
counter-shaft are 6 inches in diameter, and
3-inch face, and should make 1000 revolutions
per minute.
The next is the Gem, of which we have
been speaking, and of which a cut is shown
below.
THE GEM PLANEE.
This is a new pattern of planer, combin-
ing many points of the Pony, some of the
Lilliputian, and some not possessed bv
either. It has two feed-rollers, one before
and one behind the cutter-head. The posi-
tion of the cutter-head is not changed for
different thicknesses of planing, thus giving
the same tightness of driving belt, no matter
from which direction it is belted. It has two
speeds of feed, obtained by the use of cone
pulleys. It is very easily adjusted, requir-
ing the tightening and loosening of no bolts
or screws to change foi- different thicknesses
of planing. It works well on either hard or
soft wood. Four sizes are built, to plane
12^, 10, 18, and 20 inches wide, and up to G
inches thick. Prices are $55.00, $70.00,
$77.00, and $85.00 respectively: counter-
shaft, $15.00 more.
The next is the Pony planer. Perhaps it
may be well to remark, that the 24-inch Pony
planer does all the planing for our bee-hive
factory, with the assistance of a 9-inch Cigar-
Box planer for sections.
They will plane 6 inches thick, and as tliin
as i inch, and in quantity from 8000 to 18,000
feet in ten hours, and plane smoother than
the average of high-priced planers. Their
extremely low price brings them within the
reach of those of small means, and their
size adapts them to many small shops where
a large planer could not be used, and their
simplicity renders them easy to be operated
by the inexperienced. Improvements have
been made, so that there are no screws or
bolts to be loosened when the machine is
changed to different thicknesses. Pour sires
are built, — 16, 20, 24, and 30 inch. Our prices
are as follows: 16 in., $125.00; 20 in., $135.00;
24 in., $150.00 ; counter-shaft, $20.00.
.-^x
PONY PLANER.
In regard to the power required to run
these planers, the Gem and the Cigar-Box
are, either of them or both, run nicely by
the two-horse-power engine we advertise,
and the larger engine will be ample to run
any of the Pony planers ; in fact, the smaller
engine would answer, if no great amount of
work were to be done. The prices I have
given are special rates to our bee friends;
they are not usually sold so low.
The demand for bees by the ft. is going to be im-
mense, and I must again enter my protest against
your insisting that they shall all pass through my
hands. As they must all go by express, and as the
charges will necessarily be high, we can not think of
two shipments. Quite a number have offered me
bees at half my advertised prices, but I can not do
it, even at that. You can ship directly to consum-
ers as well as to me. Losses will come, I know; but
let each party make up his mind to bear more than
his share, and to have lots of charity and sympathy
for those who lose, and we can help each other great-
ly. Let us first agree upon a few simple rules, such
as, that the shipper agree to deliver the bees alive at
the nearest express office, and no more; that the one
who orders must give his town, county, and State,
and both express and post oifice. Cages for ship-
ment are a very easy matter to furnish, by simply
looking at the cut in our price list; viz., a couple of
sections with a band of wire cloth between them, and
a bit of leather for a handle, so that they may be
lifted when handled, without being tumbled about.
This is for Vi lb. of bees. For 1 lb , use three sections
and two bands. Each section is to contain two cakes
of the Viallon candy. If it happens that water is
needed, each section may also contain a tin water-
bottle, as advised last year. We can furnish cages
for Y2 lb. of bees, for 10 c. ; candy included, 15 c. For
1 lb. of bees, 15 c. ; candy included, 25c. Cages with-
out the candy can be sent by mail for 5 and 10 c. ad-
ditional for postage. All who will undertake to fur-
nish bees at the prices we advertise, can have their
names given without charge in our April number.
Bees are not mailable, except the few that accompa-
ny a queen when sent by mail.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
115
FBIEND STANLEY'S STORY CONTINUED.
WHAT HE "didn't" DO IN 1880.
!ELL, well! that old letter is scratched up out
of the basket after 13 months' confinement
for its length; good! Well, 1879 was a fair
year. I wintered all through, even 3 and 4 frame
nuclei, end had 125 to begin with, including the 30
nuclei. I hired a man to watch them and hive them
Avhen they swarmed, and put in starters in boxes,
and I visited them when I could, staying with him
one or two days in a week (I had to do all the manip-
ulating of them.\ until about the middle of June.
After that I spent most of my time there, and I got
50 lbs. of honey to the hive — ?,' box, and ?a extracted ;
T5 increase, some of the 75 being mere nuclei. I also
transferred some 75 or 80 stands of bees, and sold
nearly 100 empty hives ; with what I had, and those on
shares, all together gave me, in the f pring of 1880, 340,
50 of which were very weak and short of stores; but 1
lost but one by starving, and it was overlooked. (I
will just state here that 40 of them came from with-
in 3 miles of Dr. Newell's, who, I see, reported his
all dead.) I doubled back to 215 in April; gave up
every thing else, and we (myself and wife) went to
bee-keeping for a living, and the result is, we are on
short rations; 10 lbs. of box and IVi of extracted,
and not of good quality at that; but it is mostly
sold at 20 cts. for box, and 15 for extracted. I ran up
to 280 in Aug., and doubled back in Oct. to 3c5, all
with plenty of honey.
WHAT THE BEES HAVE DONE IN 1S81 SO FAR.
Jan. 30th was the first day since the bees were shut
in that they could fly; and as I was 10- miles away,
as soon as I ate breakfast I started for my bees. I
had that evening and until 2 o'clock the next day
to look; and for the first time I then saw and felt
what it was to see dead bees; .50 Btands frozen dead,
and all weakened down; I think the hives will aver-
age 20 lbs. of honey to the hive now. I think some
froze in November. I could scarcely miss any honey
out of some hives. I could not help thinking of A.
Grimm's observation to a friend when I looked at
those nice combs of honey; viz., "Won't I have a
nice time raising bees next summer?" I was not
surprised at the Idss, and am very thankful it is no
worse. Thos. C. Stanley.
Jeffersonville, 111., Feb. 8, 1881.
THE SPIDER PliANT.
PL.4.NTS RAISED UNDER GLASS, AND THOSE RAISED
IN THE OPEN GROUND.
S I have before promised I will now give in my
report on Spider plant for last season. Of
the 5-cent package of seed I got of you I
planted about one-half of them late in March in a
box under glass— not in a regular hot-b3d— from
which I raised about 50 plants; the rest of the seed
I planted early in May in open ground, and got also
about 50 plants from them. Nearly all were trans-
planted when about 3 inches high; the first bloom
appeared about July 15th. Bees did not notice them
for a week or more; the first planting did not bloom
over two weeks ahead of the rest, although planted
nearly 8 weeks first. All plants bloomed until the
late hard frost killed them. When the weather was
wet, or moderately so, that big drop of honey would
always begiu to show at about 4 or 5 o'clock p.m.,
and keep increasing until dark— or, I rather think,
until daylight next morning; for in the morning
thousands of them could be seen,— I would say as
large around as a common lead - pencil, without
straining the matter at all. I did several times take
off stems with the drop of nectar, and take it to
show some of my neighbors, but would have to han-
dle them very steadily and right side up, or the drop
would spill out. I observed that, whenever the
ground got dry the drops would not appear in pro-
portion to the dryness, until there would be none at
all, when a good rain would produce them again. It
is scarcely necessary to say, that the bees worked
upon them just in proportion as they produce the
nectar. In the fall I had plants that spread at least
over 5 feet of ground, and an inch and a half stock
at the ground. From the hundred plants, I saved
about 10 lbs. of seed. I consider the Spider plant as
very valuable as a honey-plant for cultivation.
A. A. Fradenburo.
Port Washington, O., Feb. 14, 1881.
SOITIE EXCEPTIONAL FACTS.
raiEND HASTY'S REPORT OF THE WINTER.
fjTfr'Y-P to Feb. 11th, the death-roll in my apiary is 15
lj!J out of 104. Dysentery and its consequences is
^■^ the c<»use of the most of it. Some strong col-
onies, very warmly packed, got a drift of dead bees
clear up among the frames, that couldn't well be
poked out from the entrance. Next the living bees,
still strong, got in a rage at finding themselves pris-
oners, or possibly at the smell, and made such a heat
that they melted the combs down. A little queer for
such a cold winter, is it not? The colony I meant to
rear drones from went this way; also one with a
fine Italian queen from W. Z. Hutchinson.
Part of the hives were not very warmly packed.
These ate honey at such a rate that several of them
starved before I got wind of what was going on. I
thought I was making examinations enough to be
quite safe; but there was a corner where I didn't
look.
With one exception, all these 15 extinct colonies are
blacks. The hybrids, numbering 37 (more than a
third of the apiary), have lost only one; and that
one was weak and in a bad condition last fall. As a
general thing, I plumply don't believe that hybrids
winter better than blacks; but here is the fact not-
withstanding.
DO THE BEST HONEY-G.ATHERERS WINTER AS WELL
OR BETTER THAN OTHERS?
The stands that made the most honey have suffered
the most. The honey record of the 15 is as fellows :
Three of them made more than three times the aver-
age of the apiary; five others made about twice the
average, or upwards; three others made consider-
ably more than the average; and only four made
less than the average.
This time I will not theorize on these facts, but
just stop short. Would like your experience, friend
R., whether colonies that make the most honey are
generally more apt than others to give one the slip
in winter. E. E. Hasty.
Eichards, Lucas Co., Ohio.
My experience has been rather to the con-
trary ; and if I am not mistaken, those col-
onies that every year were strong, and every
year gave a good surphis, always wintered
well, unless they were divided, or otherwise
tinkered with. 'You are doing pretty well,
friend II. , but we do not want you to let any
more die through neglect.
116
GLEAN^GS IN BEE CULTURE.
Mar.
^VINTERING BEES.
M S near as I can "glean," one-half to two-thirds
Jrf^ of the colonies in this county are now dead.
— ^^ 1 have not lost any yet, out of the 2J0 or over,
that I am keeping. I think some 5 or 6 show signs
of dysentery. When I see signs of this disease on
the outside, I know just what kind of bees will be
found within. I am not afraid of any scj-ious loss,
even if winter lasts till May 1st.
CAUSE OF DYSENTERY.
I have observed numbers of dead colonies, and I
am more than ever convinced of my previous opin-
ion, that the cmise of dysentery is an undue amount
of animal or vegetable particles, so to speak, in the
honey the bees are wintering on— probably the for-
mer—a liacferto that infests honey while in the blos-
soms, or otherwise; that the greatest agyracations
of the disease are cold and confinement. Cold, be-
cause of the more honey consumed, and confin9-
mert. which prevents the voiding of the poisonous
accumulations. Cold and confinement, without this
bacteria, will not cause dj-sentery. These bacteria,
without cold and confinement, will not show them-
selves.
The above is the only theory I can imagine, that
will fit all the cases that have come under my obser-
vation. I helieve it, because we so plainly see this
great law in the animal and vegetable world, that
one life exists at the expense and death of another.
Man comes into the category as no exception.
SUGAR SYRUP OR HONEY FOR WINTER STORES.
In my judgment, the best preventive is perfect
stores, which may consist of that substance which
contains the greatest amount of oxygen with the
least amount of residue. No doubt that a syrup
made from pure refined cane sugar is the nearest to
the above description of any practical material we
can use. This, however, does not argue the use of
the sugar syrup in all cases. Many seasons, and aU
seasons in some localities, the honey is of such good
character that bees winter well upon it, even when
unprotected, and during severe winters.
COMPARATIVE COST OF EACH.
Now that the syrup costs all or more than the cost
of honey, and that we must empty the combs after
all gathering ceases (and the bees rob so badly) and
then do the feeding, I am persuaded to take the risk,
after I have protected the hive as much as I can
consistently, rather than to extract and feed. I de-
light in light hives in the fall. When the cause of it
is that the bees put "too much" above, then 1 will
make up the deficit with properly prepared sugar
syrup. Where honey is very much more convenient
and cheaper, and you wish to feed it, heat and skim
it before so doing.
THE HIVE ALONE NOT A PREVENTIVE.
The idea that any style of hive induces or will pre-
vent dysentery, should be laid away among the old
superstitions. That some styles of hives will better
enable the bees to get at their stores in winter (and
thus prevent starvation where plenty of honey is
therein contained), is true. Also that some are bet-
ter adapted to the convenience of the bee-keeper,
as well for iMckiny as for manipulating the brood
and surplus cotabs, is also true. Different bee-keep-
ers have different and chosen methods and preferred
styles of hives. Our experience has been with large
numbers of colonies, and we consequently do not
attach any other business to the one of honey-pro-
ducing, nor do we need to. It not only has had to
support itself, but a growing family, and capital be-
sides. But to the best methods of protecting the
hives for wintering on the summer stands.
REASONS WHY FRIEND H. DOES NOT WANT A CHAFF
HIVE.
To begin with, I can not aiTiliate with the chaff
hive. It will not do me for a larger business; it
costs too much; it is not so durable and strong; it
is too heavy; it is not thick enough on its sides. I
can not adopt a hive that makes me work through
one story to handle the combs in another.
FRIEND HEDDONS HIVE.
The cut shows you the style of hive that I use and
prefer, and now I will try to explain to you the meth-
od I use to protect from 300 to 500 of them in the
cheapest, safest, and most practical manner, as
viewed from my standpoint.
The cut shows you the cover to the rim-cap, which
is a common cap (without top or bottom) but this
rim is not shown. Please imagine the surplus sec-
tions off the hiv^; also the honey-board.
First, I lay two pieces of basswood, previously
bentbowing thus ^, across the hive, each end fast
within the side walls, and the bows about six inches
apart. (The bows are 12x78x3-16 before bent, and the
hive is IIH inches wide in the clear;) then a piece of
burlap, or any other cloth. Now put on the cap-rim,
and fill with dry chatf or planer shavings, and piace
on the cover shown in cut. Now, is not the tup well
packed? Now, what is the cheapest and best method
to protect the sides? I first make a "bridge" that is
composed of two little boards PsxSxllis, and two
pieces '/4x7ix" inches. The boards are so nailed to
the pieces as to form a bridge and alighting-board,
both; and when adjusted can not move from its
proper position, as the projecting ends of the pieces
run into the entrance one inch.
Next I make a rim of cheap boards; by " rim " I
mean a box open top and bottom, about 18 inches
wide, all but the front end, which is composed of a
narrower board only 13 inches wide. Set this rim
over the hive, and draw the bottom edge of the nar-
row board up tight against the bridge-board. Now,
you see the sides and back end rest upon the ground,
and the narrower front end upon the bridge pieces.
Now fill between the hive and outer rim (we use a
five-inch space on sides and back, and 3 inches in
front), with sawdust or chaff. If chaff is used it
should be packed very firm, and a little straw the
last thing on top, and earth upon that to hold it
down, and exclude the air better. We much prefer
sawdust, as it is a little better conductor, and is just
a splendid litter for the apiary ground. Now we
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
117
place over all our wide shade-board, and that ends
the job.
You will see that we make the cap rim serve the
double purpose of surplus in summerand protection
in winter. Further, that the liltle bridge and the
roujrh board-rim are our only outlay; that the saw-
dust i> just where we want it when we are through
with it in the spring; that the chaff or shavings
{ibove are easily held in a small bin. The board-rims
are piled up out-doors.
We have now used this method three years, and
alongside of costly boxes made all nice and light,
and painted, and it is as perfect in its results as the
more ccstly and complicated method. The earth
does not dampen the sawdust. The rain does not
wet it. We have not described this plan without
first knowing that it was cheap, practical, and as
safe as any out-door method of wintering. We have
found planer shavings fully the equal, if not supe-
rior, to chaff, as an absorbent and protector, and
with us they come much cheaper. We maintain
that walls of sawdust are better than chaff because
they are a better conductor of heat. Chaff walls are
better than a dead air space, just in proportion as
they are a better conductor. A wall that is a partial
conductor is capable of absorbing heat from the
bees, which would otherwise escape by circulation
through the entrance, during a higher degree, of
temperature; also of absorbing much heat from
every ray of the winter's sun that strikes It. Dur-
ing the breeding-time of spring, are these slowly ab-
sorbing walls of much value. No side absorbents
are required when the whole top of a flat hive is ex-
posed to them. We think the day is close at hand
when side absorbents, division-boards, side storing,
and short or deep frames will have but few if any
advocates. We consider the L. frame by far the
best shape; but if only equal to other styles, we
would as surely adopt it as we would have a wagon
tracked the same width that other folks used.
Every implement I ever saw or heard of, that was
made to accomplish many objects, was like the
stove-hook, pie-tin holder, glass-cutter, tack-ham-
mer, screw-driver, and, and -(ours is lost; it never
was used)— good for nothing really. The hive is no
exception to that rule.
In this article Lhave given you my reasons for the
opinions I have been forced to hold, from actual ex-
perience. James Heddon.
Dowagiac, Mich., Feb. 13, 1881.
In regard to the comparative cost of sugar
or honey, I would add, that even granulated
sugar can be bought now for only 94c. per
lb., in New York ; and as 1 lb. of sugar
makes H lbs. of very fair syrup, the cost is
only about 7c. per lb., while good white
honey ought to bring at least 10c. Perhaps
this difference would hardly pay for uncap-
ping the honey and feeding it after all, un-
less we were pretty sure the honey was not
as good food for the bees as sugar. — In re-
gard to the chaff hive, I would remark that
our honey reports for a few years past seem
to indicate that the chaff packing is about
as important in summer as in winter. If one
stands up while he handles the frames,
by leaning against the edge of the chaff
hive he can reach down into the lower story
almost as well as if no upper one were in the
way ; but where the frames are handled a
great deal, as in queen-rearing, and one sits
on a stool, he can certainly get along faster
with a one-story hive only. I do not like the
idea of those great roagh'boxes. and the task
of patting tliem on and taking them off every
spring and fall, friend H.; bat very likely it
may suit you and a great many others, bet-
ter than tiie more expensive and permanent
chaff hives. I should be inclined to give
chaff the preference over sawdust; but if
you succeed in wintering your large apiary
clear through in that way, we shall have to
say as we do with friend Doolittle, that suc-
cess is the best proof we can have of whose
ideas are the right ones. Let us know just
how many you save and how many you lose
by May first, will you not, friend 11. V
ONIONS AS A HONEY-PIiANT.
f' WANT to pi mt an acre of onions. Would
the "English multipliers," or potato-onion e
not
sets,
be the best and surest crop for first season? or
would you think the Fiat Italian Tripoli the best in
seed or sets? I know this does not belong to bee
culture, but I thought you could give me the in-
formation, and price per bushel or barrel of sets,
and might furnish them cheaper. I got Early- Am-
ber sugar-cane from j'ou for just one-fourth what
seed-stores sell it at. G. A. Willis.
Enfield, 111., Jan. 21, 1881.
As I have had no practical experience
with onions, I submitted the above letter to
neighbor IL, and here is his reply :^
The multipliers, or potato onions, are an old stand-
by; come off early, and are good for summer and
fall markets; but it is more work to set them out,
the sets cost much more* than the black seed, and
they will not yield nearly as much per acre. The
great onion crop of the world is raised from the
seed. I would not recommend the Flat Italian Trip-
oli, as they grow too large and coarse, and are apt
to crack open; are not good yielders or keepers.
The best and safest varieties, in our opinion, are the
Yellow Danvers and Wethersfield Red. The land
must be very fine and rich; manure from under an
old stable is best. Sow in drills about 14 inches
apart as soon as the ground will work, in March if
you can. In raising seed, select the onions of a fair
size; these with small tops; plant in drills from 3 to
5 inches deep; hill them up as the tops grow heavy,
to keep from falling down; they make a beautiful
flower-bed, and the honey will glisten in the large
white blossoms from morning till night. The seed-
stores sell onion seed from ?3.00 to $5.00 per lb.
With the experience I have had, I think it could be
raised for 25 or .50 cents, at a fair profit. H.
Boys, would you like to be told of a plan by which
you could be almost sure of having any business
man in the land hasten to do your bidding with alac-
rity almost as soon as you made your wishes known?
Well, it is partly accomplished by having a reputa-
tion of never ha\ing been dunned. I do not mean
that you should never go into debt, but that j^ou
should always make an agreement as to just when
you wish to pay, and then always be on hand with
the pay, unless frcchj granted permission has been
given you to let it run longer.
118
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTpRE.
Mar.
w
FOIL BROOD.
HOW DISTINGUISHED ; HOW CURED.
ffj^E are requestPd by severnl to g-ive an article
on foul brood. Well, what are we going to
do? We have several articles blocked out
in answer to as many questions, but we can't get
time to write them. We are booked as a corres-
pondent to six different papers, and have a corres-
pondence of from 10 to 30 dally, besides the work re-
quired at all seasons of the year to make a success
in managing 100 stocks of bees. Well, we are going
to request all of our correspondents to put their
questions on a separate sheet of paper from their
letter, and leave room under each question for the
answer, thus saving us the trouble of writing both
question and answer, thus hoping to gain time to
write more articles, or at least fill our present en-
gagements. All questions thus arranged will be
cheerfully answered. If of general interest, we
shall reserve the right to answer through the bee
journals-
FOUL BROOD.
Father kept bees when we were about ten years
old, and it is one of the pleasint memories of the
past that frequently come up before us, of the nice
white box honey that was taken from ihe bees in 16
to 20 lb. boxes that went to buy the family the com-
forts of life. This was when the bees were prosper-
ous; but the time came when no swarms issued, and
the bees got to robbing each other in the fall, and, as
a last resort, all were brimstoned one cool morning
the fore part of October. We were anxious to see
the inside of a bee-hive, so were close at hand when
father announced that ho was about to take the
honey from the hives. The hives were turned over,
when our olfactory organs were greeted with a
stench never to be forgotten. An examination re-
vealed combs filled with dead brood which was one
putrid mass, with hei-e and there a vacant cell from
which some bee, more luckj- than his fellows, had
hatched. Thus hive after hive was split open with
but little variation, except in a few of the stronger
colonies, whose cells were probably quarter filled
with this dead brood. We have given this to show
you foul brood in its worst form as it used to scourge
N. Y. State in 1855 to 1865, when box hives were used.
HOW DISTINGUISHED.
Foul brood as above is first discovered by finding
a few cells in a hive, containing brood with sunken
caps, and probably a small pin-hole near the center.
Upon opening the cell the larva is found stretched
out at full length, dead, of a dark brown color, dy-
ing from one to three days after being capped over,
we should judge. If the larva has recently died it is
in shape as perfect as the live larvas are; but those
alive are white, while those dead are of a light brown
color at first, but soon change to a dark brown, and
finally to nearly black. Upon touching a dead larva
it is found to be a salvy mass, and the whole hive, if
far advanced, emits a very disagreeable smell. The
disease progresses, as a rule, very rapidly; and irom
a few cells in the spring it so spreads that by fall
nine-tenths of the cells will be filled with dead lar-
vae, the smell of which is worse than carrion. Thus
what should have constituted an Increase died, and
as none are removed from the cells, the bees grow
less and less until all are gone, unless the apiarist
comes to the rescue. We have been thus particular
in describing the disease, so none can mistake it;
and also because there is another disease similar,
called foul brood, which is not foul brood. With this
last-named, the caps to the cells have very much
the same appearance as in the genuine, but the dead
larva is of a grayish color, and instead of being
stretched out at full length in the cell, it is drawn up
in a more compact shape. After a time it so dries
up that the bees remove it, and no harm seems to
arise from it, only as there are a few larviB that die
here and there through the combs at dififerent peri-
ods; sometimes never to appear again, and some-
times appearing with the next season; hence we
hear persons saying, "My bees had a few cells of
foul brood which I cut out, and all was prosperous
again." All cutting out of cells with the genuiae is
of no avail, as the germs of the disease are in the
honey. Also the dead lar^'a never dries up so as to
be removed entirely, although some strong stocks of
Italians come very near doing so at the approach of
cold weather in the fall, when but few cslls are in
the hive at that season of the year.
HOW CURED.
We have never experimented with acid, and from
all accounts we should say it would be better, in this
day of comb fdn., to use the old way,— melt the
combs into wax, and give the bees fdn. The old way
is this— the same we used to eradicate it from our
apiary: when a swarm is believed to have the gen-
uine foul brood, mark the hive, and if there are bees
enough to ward off robbers, let it entirely alone for
a month, when it should again be examined, and (if
in the breeding season) the genuine will have pro-
gressed so you will be sure that it is foul brood,
while the other may be all gone, or remain about
the same. The genuine means progress every time,
although in some cases a colony may hold out over
two seasons. As soon as it is determined that the
disease is foul brood, shake or drive the bees into a
clean empty hive, and render the combs into wax,
and boil the honey at once before you forget it.
Don't set it away thinking you will do it some other
time, for if you do you may repent at a great loss
some future day when, through some mistake, it
gets inside the hive* again. Boiling such honey de-
stroys the germs of foul brood, and makes it as good
as ever for bees. If in time of plenty of honey, so
there is no danger of robbing, drive or shake off
three-fourths of the bees, and leave the remainder
to care for the brood. In 21 days treat as at first
given, and your disease is gone as far as that hive is
concerned. After the bees have been in the clean
hive long enough to have the larvaj hatch from the
eggs laid in the new comb the bees have built, j-ou
can then give fdn., empty comb, or frames of brood,
the same as with any healthy stock. Burn the
frames, or throw them into a kettle of boiling water
after the foul-brood combs have been removed, and
scald thoroughly any thing that has the foul honey
upon it, and set the hives away for one year, when
they are as good as any, as far as our experience
goes. Right here we wish to say the disease is. in
the honey; and if you let a robber get a load of this
honey, or carry it on your fingers, knife, or any
thing else, to a healthy hive, that hive is doomed.
We have now told you how to cure one hive, so of
course you know how to cure a hundred; and if we
had a hundred hives we should go to work in just
the way given, knowing we would succeed; but if
we were satisfied we had only two or three hives in
a yard of from 50 to 100, we should adopt the resolu-
1881
GLEANIisGS IN BEE CULTURE.
119
tion of the N. E. B. K. Association, which was this:
" ResoJvcd, That this convention believes that foul
brood is a very dangerous disease, and that we ad-
vise all to be careful in experimenting in regard to
its cure. If but two or three colonies are afflicted
in any apiary, destroy hives, combs, and all." We
would do this for the reason that we should consider
the risk of experimenting, or trying to cure the two
or three, greater than the value of them. We are
happy to announce that the disease has pretty much
disappeared in Xew York State.
Borodino, N. Y., Feb. 16, 1881. G. M. Doclittle.
TINDER. THE BOX-ELDERS.
AN ABC SCHOLAR IN LOUISIANA.
LLOW me the liberty of giving you my expe-
rience in bee culture for the last two years,
as I have been in your ABC class for twelve
months, and to ask what steps to take next. Two
years ago I began to take quite a likiug for bees. I
had one swarm in an old box hive to start with; the
first thing, I went in the woods to hunt for a few
more during the summer. I found five and hived
them in boxes of my own make; but I could not ex-
amine them, as they did not have frames in their
boxes, so I rode o%-er to see one of my neighbors
who had six swarms in what he called Simplicity
hives, and I was much pleased with them. They
had glasses in them that enabled me to look at them
without moving the bees. I made six exactly like
his, and moved all mine into them by smoking, and
breaking the old boxes to pieces. Being ignorant of
the business, I lost all the young bees and comb. I
was not aware that there was any such thing as
transferring, which I have learned since. After
all, they went to work, and in six weeks they had
their hives full of comb and honey. I had them in
a row 7 ft. apart, in nicely painted hives. On the 1st
of September, 18T9, we had a severe storm that blew
them on the ground upside down, killing many of
the bees and crushing the comb. I went to their as-
sistance, placed them up again, and put them in a
row behind a large tree, to protect them from the
wind as much as possible, as it was blowing a per-
fect gale. Unfortunately, the tree blew down, and
crushed the last hive and bees underground, just as
if Providence had ordered it done so. I did not do
as Blasted Hopes did — leave for Kansas. I said,
better luck next time, and concluded to get the
ABC and learn as I went. In Jan., 1880, I bought 6
swarms for S15, and commenced again. They were
all black. In April I made 4 artificial swarms, and
they did well. What I wish to know is t|hi8: how
many times can I make artificial swarms out of the
same old swarms? Last year I made an artificial
swarm out of one of my artificial swarms as late as
the 5th of August, and they are doing well. I in-
creased my number up to 22 strong colonies, for
which I give your ABC credit and good luck to-
gether. M. A. Garrett.
New Iberia, Iberia Parish, La., Feb. 15, 1881.
I can not well say how many times you
can increase, friend G.; but as you have
tried making a ss\arm from a swarm, I
sliotild think yon would be pretty good au-
thority in the matter. From your letter, I
should opine that I could do a pretty large
business increasing in your favored locality,
even if the wind does blow sometimes. Why
not set your hives right on the ground, then
they can never fall down?
HERE is nothing about our homes more restful,
more pleasing to the eye, than a well-trimmed,
well-kept lawn; and it is within the reach of
almost every one who owns an acre of land and has
a desire to make heme pleasing and attractive. It
is inexpensive, likewise, and, when once established,
"it is a thing of beauty and a joy forever" to its
possessor.
These thoughts passed through my mind as I
opened the gate and stepped out upon the neat,
shaven lawn of our old friend Duster, who, by the
by, was swinging under his favorite box-elder trees,
in his hammock, with one leg carelessly hanging
over the side, while his lawn-mower, close at hand,
told what had been his occupation. After the usual
greeting, Mr. Duster at once introduced the subject of
WINTERING BEES IN CELLARS.
"I have been thinking of the matter since our last
talk, and the different reports and ditferent results
by individuals of which we read, and have come to
about this conclusion: that those who have reported
wintering in cellars as a partial failure, the fault is
in the cellar and not in the method. Any and every
cellar will not do; and if the cellar is not clean, dry,
and sweet, and likewise free from all frost, there
will no doubt at times be partial failures. I have
never lost a stock of bees in all these years that I
have wintered in such a cellar, and I am sure of all
my bees coming out in the spring alive and strong,
as the spring season comes. Comply with the con-
ditions, or, rather, requirements of their nature, and
we are just as sure of wintering them as we are our
sheep, calves, or any tender stock which we properly
shelter and care for in our cold winters. I do not
want to seem too persistent or dogmatic about this
matter of cellar wintering; but I do want those to
know who will take the pains, that there is but little
risk in wintering bees in this way— that's all."
Now let me say right here, that I have been in Mr.
Duster's cellar the coldest days of this cold winter;
there was not a particle of frost or moisture in it ; it
was as dark as a dungeon ; the bees were perfectly
quiet, and the air seemed dry, warm, snd pure. I
could have sat down in it in comfort but for the
darkness.
HONEY-DEW IN THE EAST.
"You ask me," said Mr. Duster, "what I know
about honey-dew. I can recollect seeing it, when a
boy, in Massachusetts; but it seemed different from
any thing I have seen in the West. I found it there
principally on the leaves of the shell-bark walnut—
sometimes on chestnut. On the walnut leaves, at
times it would be in quite large drops as late in the
day as 1 o'clock p.m., and be so thick at that time
the bees could not take it up. I never saw it there
except in the fall of the year— say the last of August
or first of September. Now, under this very tree
where we are sitting I have seen it dropping in fine
light-colored spray until the grass under the tree was
quite sticky with the substance; and every morning
for some hours the bees would be very busy gather-
ing it from the leaves of the trees. The leaves
seemed varnished with it; never saw it in drops as
in the East. Usually it comes in May cr June on
these box-elders, and some seasons it comes two or
three times, giving the bees quite a harvest. I al-
ways found aphides at such times, but I also found
them, as well, at other times. I am inclined to think,
in the case of these trees (if no others), that the
120
GLEANINGS IN BEE CXJLTURE.
Mae.
weather and condition of the sap have a good deal
to do with It. We tap the rock-maple; if the condi-
tions are right, we get a flow of sweet sap. The
aphides may be the tappers in this case, and at cer-
tain times the sap, being in a right state, hence the
honey-dew. The veins of the leaves may burst, too,
under certain conditions of the sap and weather;
and 1 incline to think we get the dew from both
causes.
•'And now a word about the
BOX-ELDER.
" Its true name is ash-leaf maple. I think a good
deal of it, and so do the bees. It blossoms quite
early in the spring, and if the weather is favorable
the bees Mill just cover the trees, gathering honey
and pollen nearly all day. In the spring I have only
to strike a narrow-bladed hatchet into the bark and
the sap will flow abundantly. The bees soon find it,
covering the body of the tree in their eagerness to
obtain it. There has been but little said about it as
a honey-producing tree, but I place it among the
best. It is a handsome tree, either on the lawn or
roadside. You can plant the seed like corn, and it
will come up regularly, growing very rapidly, and
soon making a beautiful tree.
"I told you," said Mr. Duster, "when you were
here the last time, a little experience I had with a
bad lot of hybrids. Well, this time it is another fel-
low—Zach Brown— 'Old Zach,' as he is commonly
called. One colJ day last winter I found old Zach
and two or three of his cronies in one of our stores
hugging close to a hot stove, and telling yarns. Old
Zach was JLjst closing one about the way he could
handle bees. Why, he could scoop 'em up in his
hands, carry 'em in his hat, they'd never sting him—
oh no! etc., etc.
"Well, last summer as I was returning from dinner
to my business, I heard a most terrible din just
ahead of me, and I soon found the cause was the
swarming of some bees belonging to a young widow
lady; and all her lady friends, some four or five
women, were at it with every conceivable thing that
would make a noise -and they made it I If I thought
bees could be stopped and made to alight by this
process, I would certainly hire a woman to manufac-
ture the noise; such energy, such persistency— whj-,
one of them asked me, after the bees had alighted.
If she had not better keep an old sheet-iron or tin
waiter she had, a rattling! I told her I thought it
would do as much good now as ever. I meant to be
a little sarcastic; but I'll be blamed if she didn't
take me at my word, and at it again she went. Yes,
give me a woman for a racket of this kind. The bees
had alighted in the worst place possible— on the
body of a small tree, among the thick small limbs,
and about twelve feet high. I saw at once I was in
a fix, being the only man present. Already I had
caught the young widow's soft pleading e3-e3 resting
upon me; I knew their meaning as well as the next
man. Who don't know the meaning of a widow's
eyes, if she means it? and I saw she did. I looked at
the widow, then looked at the bees; looked at the
bees, then looked at the widow, and I might have
looked a little foolish besides, between-times. But
as good luck would have it, I just then thought of
old Zach's story. So I told her that, as my business
was very pressing, and not knowing, as well as some,
how to hive bees, I would send a man who knew all
about it. She looked her thanks, and I looked for
Old Zach. I found him and one of his cronies on the
street, and he was willing and ready to go. Crony
and I went too. Business, with me, seemed drlfer-
ent under the circumstances, you see. Old Zach,
after looking at the situation of things, and taking
two or three big pinches of snuff, concluded he would
stand on a chair and hold the hive bottom-side up
under the bees, while some one would shake the
tree, and he would catch them, as ho could just reach
up to where they clustered. I had another pressure
of business about that time, "SO I went a little way
up the street, then crossed over to the other side,
and down opposite the bees; got behind a big cot-
tonwood-tree and— awaited events. Old Zach was
already on the chair, with the hive nearly over his
head and under the bees, and his crony friend had
hold of the tree ready to shake. Old Zach gave the
word, and down came the bees— about one-half in
the hive, and the other half on Old Zach. He got
down from his chair ' sort of spry,' and he really
looked astonished! but whether it was the small
quantity of bees he caught in the hive, or the large
quantity that was in his hair and all over him, he
gave me no time to ask; for up the street he went
as fast as his legs could carry him, and with a good
portion of the bees after him and on him. He tacked
short at the first corner of the street he came to, as
though he thought he could dodge them and throw
them off the track. He soon disappeared behind
some buildings and it was the last I saw of him for
several days.
"Just then my attention was called to the demon-
strations of his friend and crony. He was a man
tall, lank, and lean, with a long neck, scraggy, bony
shoulders, and hips the same, and his knees the size
Of small tea-kettles— all joints with a little bone be-
tween. Well he was balancing himself on the front-
yard fence and holding on to the upper rail with his
great bony hands, and as he see-sawed back and
forth, his head nearly touched the ground in the
yard, while his feet were high in the air over the
side-walk; and as they came down upon the walk,
he would give such a guffaw as would have aston-
ished man or brute, while at the same time he kept
talking between-times, as he could get breath, and I
could hear something like this: 'Did you see them
bees after Old Zach? haw, haw!— streaming out after
him like a Chinee's pig-tail— haw, haw! He could
scrape up bees iu his hands— could carry 'em in his
hat, eh? haw, haw! I seen 'em in his hair, and—'
here he stopped suddenly his sec-sawing and talk,
slapped his lantern jaws first with one hand and
then with the other. 'Bees!' was all he said, and
away he went down the street, swiugiug his legs and
arms in the air in all directions, looking like so many
old-fashioned flails. He, too, suddenly disappeared
around a street corner with all his unexpressed
comments with him, and I'll venture to say he never
did so much work in so short a time before in all his
life."
Here I bade Mr. Duster a good-afternoon, and we
parted. II. H. Mellen.
Amboy-on-Inlet, 111., Feb. 13, 1881.
I most heartily approve of your ideas
about la wns; t'rintl M., but really I can not
say that I do about leaving the widow with
her bees flying round in the air without any-
body to put them in a hive for her. If she
lost them, just tell your neighbor Duster
that I think he ought to give her another out
of his own fine apiary, and not a hybrid stock ■
either.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
121
FRIEKD MILES' "\* ONDERFUI. » SUC-
CESS AVITH BEES.
A STORY WITH A MORAL, FOB THIS SEASON.
HAVE never given you a report of my wonder-
ful success in bee culture. I have kept bees
three years, beginning with two swarms. ]
knew nothing about bees except that they would
sting me every lime they saw me, run as I might.
But though I lived in constant fear of honey-bees, I
did so love honey that I was persuaded to give a
good cow for the two swarms, in early fruit-bloom.
They were very small and weak, and had not a bit
of honey. I knew this; but as plum-blossoms were
coming out I supposed they were just going to scoop
in the honey. So, with this sweet, comforting
thought I went about my farm duties. There came
on a long cold rainy time, with hardly a sunny day;
it hindered my pljwing a great deal. I kept that in
mind, but I never thought of its keeping the bees
from their work, who needed every hour much more
than I, for they were living from hand to mouth.
One day I felt a great longing for a taste of honey,
so I took a plate and knife, bee-veil, and cotton rags,
and went out to rob my pets. The first thing I saw
of my bees were a great many dead ones about the
entrance and on Ihe bottom-board; my first ex-
clamation was, "My bees are dead!" I lifted out
the middle frame; a few bees were clustered on it,
with just barely perceptible life, and not a particle
of honey. The terrible truth at once flashed upon
me, "My poor darlings are starvingi Of course,
bees can't gather honey in such cold wet weather!
What a mean old fool I have been, that I did not
think of this!" I ran to the house and got some
sugar and hot water in a cup, and stirred it as I ran
back; then I immediately began to sprinkle the bees
and combs of both hives, as they were both in about
the same state of dissolution. In a few minutes
they were all buzzing with joy all over the hives. 1
should have been thrashed for neglecting those bees
in that waj% but there was nobody able to do it
except myself, and I hadn't time. But I fed them
from that time until warm weather, and in the
course of the summer and fall they stored up honey
enough to winter them. I left them out on summer
stands, and they came through all right. I borrowed
a bee-book of a neighbor— the first book I had ever
seen on the subject. It was a Mitchell book. I was
greatly interested, and learned how to manage my
bees, raise queens, and divide. Of course, I thought
Mitchell was the boss bee-man, and his hive the best
hive; so I made several M. hives and divided my
bees, making, in the course of the honey season,
four new swarms, six in all. I wintered them in the
cellar and fed them some. They came through to
spring weather nicely; but after I set them out
they dwindled and robbed each other badly; but I
watched them and fed them, and finally got some
honey to eat. Last spring I set out nine good
swarms, but they dwindled down to five — not for
want of honey or sugar syrup; I think it was rob-
bing that used them up. I have now nine (five are
Italians), once more buried in the snow, well packed
in chafC hives, surrounded and covered over with
hay, and over all is the snow, a foot or more. I
don't know anything about how they are getting on ;
I have not seen nor beard any thing of them since
November.
I have never sold a pound of honey. We can eat
more than any apiary of bees can gather. I have 50
or 63 lbs. in the cellar, that I intend to feed back in
the spring, or trade it for sugar to feed.
Pawnee City, Neb., Feb. 14, 1881. C. R. Miles.
THE HONEY-DE\t'S OF OREGON.
NOT ONLY IIONEY-DEW, BUT CANDIED
HONEY HANGING FROM THE
TREES LIKE DEW.
SHOPE the following can be fully substan-
tiated. I give you all the facts in my
^^ possession, and" hope our readers from
Oregon Avill do all they can to help us to get
at the full truth of the matter. If there is
really a locality where honey -dews come
every season, for several months in the year,
it were certainly wjell to have some of our
bee men wake up and have this new El Do-
rado worked up and developed. I visited the
Centennial, but must have missed the speci-
mens alluded to. Does an>- one else remem-
ber of liaving seen them V Can anybody send
me any of tliese specimens V Well, just read
for yourself.
I clip this from the Willamette Farmer, published
at Portland, Oregon, under date of Jan. 21, 1881. If
there is any thing in the article which you can use
in anyway, do so; if not, throw it into the waste-
basket. Eugene Secob.
Forest City, la., Feb., 1881.
During the summer and fall of 1S75, while engafced in collect-
injf, classifjinp. and arranging material for Oregon's Centenni-
al exhibit at Philadelphia, in 1876. my personal investigation
and letters of inquiry often brought me information of i>roduc-
tions and the peculiarities of certain localities, that I imder no "
other circumstances would have obtained.
By special request from the Botanical Department, to have
theconifiers of Oregon cla.ssified, and specimens on exhibition
at the World's Fair in 1876. I visited several of the coa.steo>in-
ties. as well as quite a number of localities along the snow-lino
of the Cascades, and among others a wild countr)- east and
south of what is known as the ' • Palmateer Settlement, ' ' and ly-
ing between the North Fork and the main Clackamas River.
Here, I had been informed, I could find the • ' Abi Xoblis. ' ' or
"l.irch;" also the "Rhododendron" and the " Ceanothis
Oderatis," or "Mountain Balm."
The most cordial hospitalitv was tendered me by all the front-
ier settlers I met, and abuhd.ant Information and assistance
freely given me to assist ill increating the importance of Ore-
gon's exhibit.
Among other rarities on the table wherever I dined, I noticed
an abundant supply of honey, in beautiful white combs, and I't
the most delicate flavor; and on inquiry was told that tins belt
of countn-, for several miles in width, and extending along the
little valleys and foot-hills far into the Cascade Mountains, was
subject at night to a fall of honey-dew during the months of
June. July, and August, and not unfrequently the deposit is so
abundant" that in the morning it resembles hoar frost, and
drops from the leaves and boughs of trees when the sun rises.
The statements of all with whom I conversed on this subject
were so direct that they should not have left the shadow of
doubt in my mind of the fact: but on mr return, in expressing a
little incredulitv at the house of Mr. Mills, on the amount that
fell in that viciiiltv, "Oh yes!" said Mrs. Mills, " such is really
the case; and I have some very fine sjtecimens given me by my
brother, who spends a great deal of his time hunting and pros-
pecting in that part of the counti-j-. " - ,
■With this she brought from her parlor several boughs of cedar
covered with a thick coating of ciTstallized honey-dew, strongly
resembling boughs that had been dipped in melted white sugar
and then hung up and allowed to cool. Mrs. Mills kindly funush -
ed me with a small package of these boughs carefully wrapped
up in fine paper, which I took to the Centennial, where they
were examined and conuuented upon by the thousands who daily
thronged the Oregon Exhibit.
I have since ascertained that this honey-belt extends to the
east side of the Cascades, but not so abundant as in this section
of country I have already described. I also learn that it is no
uncommon thing for bees in the I'almateer district to fill their
hives, and then commence building and storing their honey on
the outside, on any thing near the hive where they can hang
their comb.
And now-, Mr. Editor, might not some young man who is wait-
ing for something to turn up, do well to post himself on bee-
keeping and try the business of practical bee -husbandry ; the ex-
pense would be small, and the experiment easily tried, and it
properly conducted would doubtless prove as remunerative as it
does in many ijarts of California. A. J. Dvflr.
The editor of the Farmer adds:—
We have a word to add to Mr. Dufur's interesting communi-
cation. We remember that he told us of those facts at the
time, and showed us the leaves, frosted with honey-dew. He
also told us of seeing, in the same locality, honeycomb filled
with hone.v, weighing 40 or aO lbs. that the bees had made be-
tween rails in a standing fence. This illustrates the prodigal
supply of honey in that region. Last suinmer we bought a box
of rich honey of a fanner who must live within tliis honeydew
region. He'assured us that it was much more delicious flavored
than California honey, with which our market is well supplied,
and we found his statement correct, for the honey was most ex-
cellent, and after it was gone the best of California comb honey
went begging on our table.
Will friend Secor please accept thanks ?
122
GLEAKINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Mar.
A Fl'RTHER IMPROVEMENT ON THE
HAINS FEEDER.
I.ITE directions I have given for filling
the Hains feeder, are, as you know, to
imff>erse it in the syrup while held by
one corner, as you may" remember. Well,
a great many do not like this way, and I rec-
ollect that one of our friends in Canada, who
attempted to do this with thick honey, was
not only disgusted with such a sticky way of
doing things, but 1 do not know but that he
came pretty near being- disgusted Avith the
whole race of Yankees, on account of their
flimsy, dauby, and slip-shod way of doing
things. It is true, he did not say all this,
but I am a little afraid, from the way he
wrote, that he came pretty near thinking it.
If he didn't, I beg his pardon. You may re-
member what I have said about our grooved-
board feeder being such a splendid way of
feeding grape sugar, for all we had to do was
to fill the jar with lumps, pour on some
water, and then invert it. It all works hand-
somely, except the inverting part. In fact,
this inverting part seems to be an objection
to all of the atmospheric feeders. Well, a
few days ago a gentleman who was visiting
us was telling me of a feeder he used, but I
had heard of and seen so many feeders. I
fear I did not pay very much attention to it,
thinking it would probably be too much ma-
chinery, like the greater part of them; but
when he said he could fill and invert it witli-
out spilling a drop, I asked to see one. It
seemed, wlien examined, but a common
Ilains feeder, and so I asked to see him fill
it full of water, and then invert it without
spilling any. .Sure enough, he did it, and
he explained to me that it gave the bees a
larger feeding ground than the usual Ilains
feeder. Come to look into it, I found where
the secret lay. After he had gone (!?o.00 bet-
ter off, for his invention) I made one after
my own fancy, as per the figure below.
I simply got a honey-
tumbler f ro'm the 5-cent
counter, and asked the
tinner to drive his 2-
inch hollow punch
through its tin cap.
Then he made a little
pan, 4 inches square,
with sides i inch tiigh ;
with a pair of tinner's
snips and a soldering
iron you can make theni
•■' like smoke,'' of a sheet glass-tumbler
of thin light tin. The feeder.
tumbler ca]i was then placed in the bottom,
raised on four bits of folded tin, and sold-
ered fast. It was then filled Avith water, the
cap with its stpiare pan attachment placed
over it, and, sure enough, it could be invert-
ed very easily witliout spilling a drop. If
you can't make them, Ave Avill make them
for you for luc each, $1.00 per dozen, or $7.00
per hundred. These hold a little more than
half a pint ; pint size, just double the money.
As the glass is not mailable, Ave shall use
a tin tumbler when ordered by mail. Post-
age on each will be 5c. What shall we call
this feeder? To call it after the inventors'
names it would be the ''Ilains, Finch and
Crane, Root feeder." You see, my part of
it Avas in thinking of making it out of tin-
topped honey-tumblers. Messrs. Finch and
Crane, of Strongsville, O.. invented the idea
of having it open, to put in the sugar, and
invert Avithout spilling. To cut it short, I
haA^e called it the glass-tumbler feeder. Put
in some sugar, i)our on some water, then put
on the cover and tuni it over, and tell the
bees to come to supper. If you put it in the
upper part of the hive, you can bid them
come to dinner if you clioose. It Avill also
work Avith very thick honey or syrup ; but a
little Avater put in Avould perhaps make it
work faster. No bee cnn ever get daubed
or soiled by any possibility. Now, really,
do you not lliink it is a handsome feeder for
such a little bit of money? I should not
wonder if it would please our English,
friends aAvay across the water. I do not
blame them one bit for wanting nice, strong,
and substantial things. My wife is one of
England's daughters, you see. and she has
talked to me so mucli I begin sometimes to
really think I may yet turn out ''right
smart."'
A NEAV NAIL-BOX.
S our lives are smoothed by little things, I will
mention a convenience which I have never
seen used but by myself, although perhaps
everybody knows of it. I have had them in use
many years. Square empty oyster-cans can almost
always be procured in abundance. Now, take them
and cut away one end and a part of one side, as seen
in the picture; then take a strip of wood Jax'a, long
enough to go across the end inside. Bore a fj hole
through the center, and tuck it in at the end thus:—
NORMAN CLARK'S NAIL-BOX.
and you have a tack or small nail box which, when
laid down, is right to take nails from; and when not
in use they may be hung on nail?, in a row, one for
each kind of nail^, tacks, and screws, brad?, etc.
They will hold about 2 lbs. each.
Sterling, 111 , Jan. 25, 1881. Norman Clark.
Many thanks, friend C. I would suggest
that, after the boxes are nicely hung up in a
row, Ave have a A'ery plain and conspicuous
label over each, that the boxes may all be
put away in the same relative position, so
that you can at any time lay your hand in-
stantly on just the box you Avant. Under no
circumstances pei'mit nails of different kinds
to be put in the same box, for it is more than
they are worth to sort them out so they can
be used conveniently. We have tried it
here, and knoAv just Avhat it costs, especially
Avith tacks and small wire nails ; and yet ev-
ery ncAV handAvill, if not AA'atched, almost
always put a handful of these small tacks or
nails in some otlier nail-box than the one it
belongs in.
1881
GJiEANIXGS IN BEE CULTURE.
12S
ENEMIES OF BEES AMONG THE BIRDS.
THE PINE GROSBEAK.
SSEXD a packag-e by mail that contains the heads,
and sample from the crops of a male and female
— ' bird that, during certain months, seem to pre-
fer worker bees for a diet. S. W. Sherfey.
La Mcsilla, Dona Ana Co., Xew Mex., Jan. 18, 1881.
AVe forwarded the above to Prof. Cook,
who replies as follows : —
The birds are grosbeaks, as denoted by their- large
bills; and, from the color and shape of the heads,
they appear to be the Pine Grosbeak {Pinicola Cana-
densis.) The male of these birds have a head of
brilliant carmine, and the female of brownish yellow.
The material from the stomach consisted of the
remains of beetles, grass-hoppers, and bees. The
sting, pollen-baskets, and jaws, were those of the
worker bees.
The Pine Grosbeak, according to Cones, inhabits
the northern parts of America, extending down
south through the Sierra Nevada Mountains even to
Mexico. It visits the northern United States in
winter. We have them in our museum, taken in
December in the pine forests of Michigan.
If this is the bird in question, it would seem curi-
ous that it should be injurious to bees, as it usually
comes where bees are kept in winter, when bees tly
very little, and it takes, probably from necessity,
little food other than seeds. But it belongs to the
Finch family, the birds of which live on either in-
sects or seeds, according to circumstances.
It is now an accepted fact, that difference of habi-
tat may change even the color of birds a'tad other
animals; and so it is not hard to believe that our
Pine Grosbeak in New Mexico may live in the cool,
congenial atmosphere of the mountains, and fly
forth to the warmer plains for its food. Thus a new
habitation may have changed the bird's habits.
Of course, there is a bare possibility that these
birds are not the species I take them to be. It is im-
possible to decide positively with only the heads. If
Mr. Sherfey will send the birds entire, I will pro-
nounce with certainty as to the species.
A. J. Cook.
Ag. College, Lansing, Mich., Jan. 31, 1881.
r
BLASTED HOPES.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE CAUSE.
IE have one of the finest fields in the world
for a subject in Blasted Hopes. More than
one-half of the bees in this locality are
dead, and I do not think one-third of the remainder
will live till spring; yet I see nothing to discourage
the intelligent bec-keei^er. I have visited many bee-
keepers in the last year, and have not found one that
takes the journals and keeps up with the times, and
manages his bees intelligently, that has not made a
profit from his bees the past season. Nature is only
doing what the apiarist has neglected, in pruning
out the worthless bees. A good colony of bees will
gather honey enough any season to \Vinter them.
We have got to be more careful in rearing our
queens, and keep none but the best. There can be
but one object in keeping bees, and that is for the
honey they can gather. Queen-rearing may be prof-
itable for a time, but that is far from being perma-
nent. Before we make bee-keeping the success it
should and doubtless will be, we have got to turn
more attention to improving our stock of bees.
This can not be done by the reckless management
we now have in queen- rearing. Each bee-keeper
must strive to improve his own stock. This should
be done by breeding from the best stocks we have,
and none other. We should work for the very best
honey-gatherers. No intelligent bee-keeper will be
long in discovering that some colonies are far supe-
rior to others. Let him breed from these, and when
he finds he has a better kind, then take it for his
queen-rearing. When he wants new blood, let him
buy a queen of some one he knows to be a success-
ful bee-keeper, even if he has to pay the price ot an
imported queen. Do not work for beauty in color:
that should be no object. I have had far better luck
with the dark-colored Italians than with the light.
The best colony I have is of the dark color, and the
third generation from the imported queen. I be-
lieve we can improve more from the home-bred than
from the imported. I believe they are better after
they become acclimated. I breed only for their
honey- gathering and amiability. I can handle my
best colonies without veil or smoke, and with no
fear of being stung. I have not fed a pound of sugar
or syrup in the last two years. My average for the
past season was 23 lbs. comb honey, and I packed
them for winter with 25 to 30 lbs. to the colony. I
could have done far better than this by feeding; but
I was putting them to the test of what they could do,
and I can do better than this without feed. I would
have no use for a colony that could not gather
enough the poorest season to winter on. I have
never lost a colony of bees in wintering.
Fairland, Ind., Jan. 22, 1881. L. R. J/^CKSON.
HOW AN A B C SCHOI.AR STOPS ROB-
BIKG, ETC.
^^^HE ABC came to hand Saturday, and I came
J-*[[ nearly staying up all night reading it. I
would undoubtedly have become oblivious to
every thing had not my " better half " admonished
me that it was Sabbath morning. Well, It is just
splendid, and I can't help expressing my satisfac-
tion to you. I am a beginner in bee-keeping, and I
can appreciate such a help as your A B C is.. I have
5 colonies, and I do not e.xpect to keep more than
that number, as my time to attend to them is very
limited, as I am foreman in a manufacturing estab-
lishment in town. I have read that portion of your
A B C relating to "robbing," and I will give my
experience in that line.
Last year I had a very strong colony of blacks in
an American hive. The queen was clipped. On a
Saturday, in the early part of June, they swarmed.
I move J the old hive away and put another Ameri-
can hive in its place, filled with Dunham fdn. The
bees had clustered on an apple-tree not far off. As
soon as I laid the queen-cage containing the queen
on the alighting-board, they came back. I released
the queen, and all was right. Previous to swarming
they had stored considerable honey in top box. In
the evening I took the box off, took out about 10 lbs.
of honey (there was considerable honey left), and
put the box on the new stand. The next day as I
came home from church, I noticed an uncommon
number of bees flying in and out of that hive. I
knew there was something wrong, but did not know
what it was. After mature deliberation, I conclud-
ed that some of my neighbor's bees were robbing
the honey left in the top box. I was sure they were
124
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Mar.
not my other bees, because they were Italians and
the robbers were black. I closed the entrance, but
that would not do, for it was very warm. Finally I
took off the top box, turned it upside-down, and
smoked the bees out (it was literally full of bees),
and took the box in the house. By this time it was
evening, and the robbers went home. In the morn-
ing they returned in great numbers. I was afraid
they would kill the queen, and so I opened the en-
trance fall length, took some grass and weeds, and
laid it before the entrance, so that my bees had
plentj^ of air, but could not get out, and the robbers
could not get in, though they would try hard to get
through the grass. By this time the robbers were
literall.v swarming arotind the hive. I took an old
wash-basin that had many little holes in it, and fixed
it above the entrance, and filled it with water, which
caused a continuous shower on the grass before the
entrance. This settled them. They tried the other
hives, but my Italians slaughtered them unmerci-
fully, and that was the end of it. Please tell me if I
have done any thing which you would not have
done. Please accept my sincere thanks for your
ABC book, and I will try to remaio your very obe-
dient scholar. F. C. GaStinger.
Keiaton, Ohio, Jan. 31, 1881.
If the bees were gathering honey at the
time. I should hardly have supposed robbers
would have found their way into the honey-
box, under the circumstances; but as they
were blacks, it is quite likely the Italians
were getting honey while the blacks were
robbing. You managed as well, perhaps, as
any one. would have done under the circum-
stances.
^ 1 8 1 <>*i
HOW AN A B C SCHOLAR SUCCEEDS IN
CAI^IFOKNIA.
^T will be remembered that friend Bridges,
Jl Avho writes the folloAving, is the unfor-
— ' tunate brother who lost his house and
chilflren by fire, as mentioned in our Decem-
ber No.
Friend Root .'—According to promise, I will give
you a report of my success with bees, honey, etc.,
the past season. But had I made it out last fall be-
fore that sad accident which took away my children,
I should have done so with far more enthusiasm
than I can now. I believe I have never told you
that I was only an A B C scholar— that the past sea-
son is all the experience I ever had with bees. Pre-
vious to buying my bees, one year ago, I knew noth-
ing whatever about bees. I did not know a queen
or a drone; I never saw a swarm of bees hived until
I hived them myself in my apiary; I never saw any
bees transferred until I transferred my own; I nev-
er read any thing on bee culture until I subscribed
for Gleanings last March, and got it just before my
bees commenced swarming. I did not have anybody
with me that knew any more about bees than my-
self. So you may guess there were many times
during the season when I had to use my wits to the
very best advantage. Although a journal and a
work on bee culture are indisjiensahle articles, yet I
believe if one were to take a whole catalogue of
books and journals he would still need a good deal of
what might, in homely English, be termed "gump-
tion," if he aspires to successful bee culture.
I bought my bees from forty to fifty miles away
from home, and after deducting out the "stealings,"
and what died out and were robbed out for want of
care. 1 hauled them safely home during the winter
and spring months. I got through the spring with
100 stand?, many of them very weak and in poor
condition. About forty of them were in old boxes
and barrels, which I transferred all right, though
some of them I didn't get transferred until they had
swarmed two or three times, which left the old
swarms verj' weak. I increased by natural swarm-
ing to 160 stands; but if I had allowed them to swarm
less, and doubled up a good many of the weaker
ones, I should have made more honey. A great
many of the old stands didn't have the lower box
half full of combs, and but little honey to start with
in the spring. I had no combs at all, nor fdn. for
any of the top boxes, nor any for new swarms; and
so you see they all had a late start for making honey.
A great many of them I did not put top boxes on till
the honey season was half over, and many more un-
til nearly over; and about 20 stands did not get built
up soon enough to store any honey in top boxes,
though I got combs enough built out by using some
strategy to supply the whole 160 stands with top
boxes filled with combs. I extracted, during the
season, 150 cases honey, each case containing two 60-
Ib. cans. You will see, by figuring up, I had nine
tons of honey. I did think I would extract again in
October; but the honey (goldenrod) was dark and
poor, so I left it in the top boxes; some of them
were about full, and are now. I probably left, in top
boxes, 1500 or 2000 lbs. for spring feed. I had tried
out 125 lbs. of the whitest wax I ever saw that was
not bleached; but it was destroyed by the fire. 1
intended to make me a machine a la Far is, and make
all the comb foundation I should need for next sea-
son; but my bees will have to do it themselves
again, as I have but a few pounds of wax left. I
must tell you
HOW OUR BEES SPENT THEIR CHRISTMAS.
We had just had about two weeks wet, rainy
weather in December, when one day the sun came
out for an hour or two. I went to the apiary, and
the bees were carrying in yellow pollen, while be-
fore the rain they had got nothing but a little white
pollen. I could not think where it came from, as
there were no new fiowers out. The next day was
Christmas; it came off warm and pleasant, and the
bees were working as in May weather. I stood be-
fore one hive, with watch in my hand, and actually
counted 2i bees, heavily laden with pollen, enter in
one minute, besides many were bringing in honey;
and this all came from desert sacre- aplant Ihad sup-
posed worthless, as old bee-meu have toll me that
bees never work on it. Chas. Bridges.
San Fernando, Los Angeles Co.,Cal., Jan. 27, 1881.
You are right, friend B. "Guijiption" is
exactly the word; and it is juaj. what is
wanted. Not a few of us know,4)y expe-
rience how you must have got around to
have accomplished so much in your first
year's work. Ever since we got that honey
from friend ^Yilkin, I wonder, every time I
hear a report from California, if the tons of
honey secured are all like his. If it is, well
may it have a world-wide reputation. Per-
haps the plant you mention has never yield-
ed honey or pollen before, so as to be no-
ticed. Every season seems to bring to view
some feature in bee botany never noticed
before.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
125
RAlTIBIii: NO. 3.
KINGSBURY AND BUCKWHEAT, ETC.
^f ] HOULD you stand in our apiary and look away
^^ to the west, your vision would be interrupted
'~-^ by a range of mountains, blue and hazy with
the intervening- twenty miles. Could we look over
this barrier and to the northward, our sight would
descend upon the famous Adirondac Park, of north-
ern New York, with its rugged mountains, beautiful
lakes, and spruce and cedar scented forests. Start-
ing from our home, with these mountains in view,
we pass the boundaries of our town and enter the
township of Kingsbury. The greater portion of this
town is quite level, and was formerly designated as
Pitch Pine Plains. The Hudson River is its western
boundary, and in olden times it was the thorough-
fare of contending armies. Heroes of the Revolu-
tion, and previous wars, here faced death, and it
may be truly said, that these ancient roads were
tracked with blood.
The principal village in this township is Sandy
Hill, and it takes its name from the nature of the
soil. One of the principal crops of this township is
buckwheat ; and if some of our friends who are
skeptical in relation to the secretion of honey in
this plant would come to this place, where a la»'ge
area is annually sown, they would find more or less
honey gathered from it every year. In our own lo-
cality, only twelve miles distant, but a few acres of
buckwheat are sown. Our bees probably find from
ten to twenty acres to forage upon, and we could
put the yield down as a failure, as we seldom get
more than a taste of buckwheat honey, while our
neighbors in Kingsbury are reveling in its produc-
tion, and the hives are becoming filled from top to
bottom, and we have seriously thought of carting
over about fifty swarms and setting them down in
the midst of these hundreds of acres of snow-white
blossoms. And here is another point for those who
believe bees fly a score or two of miles for honey.
These fields are perhaps ten miles in an air-line from
us, and we can testify that our bees do not collect
honey at that range. We think five miles a good
working distance.
Mr. Seth Devine is the most extensive bee-keeper
at present in Kingsbury, having over 100 swarms;
but owing to light yields of honey and low prices,
and other business on his hands, he does not give
much attention to his bees. I believe at swarming
time he tells his neighbors to bring on their hives if
they want a present of a swarm of bees.
In the pleasant village of Sandy Hill we find seve-
ral bee-keepers. Mr. Horace Harris has a small but
fine apiary of black bees. He is enthusiastic over
his pets, but thinks he will be compelled to sell out
his entire stock on account of the effects of stings
upon his wife and children. The effect is of such a
nature that death would result if remedies were not
at hand to counteract the poison. Mr. Thomas, of
the same place, has been compelled to give up keep-
ing bees on this account. Having been stung upon
the ear he was rendered insensible-; and but for im-
mediate medical assistance would have died.
Mr. Harris claims that his bees use much more
water while at work upon buckwheat than at any
other time during the season. The pools around his
well are thronged with them.
Mrs. David Hall is another bee-keeper with a
growing apiary, left her by her husband, who died
suddenly several months ago. She heroically takes
her husband's place, and is quite skillful in their
management.
Mr. Ira Brayton is another patron of Gleanings.
His apiary is in charge of his son, who is so unfortu-
nate as to be deaf. He can not interpret the lan-
guage of the bee from the contented or angry hum
of its wings; but his eye is quick to discern the
movements of his wicged stock, and thus their
moods are understood. We wish this young man
success, and not only the ability but the opportuni-
ty to manage a large apiary.
There are several other bee-keepers in Kings-
bury whose homes we have not visited, but know
that warm hearts are ready to entertain us the
same as we have been by others of the fraternity.
Success to the bee-keepers of Kingsbury !
Near Sandy Hill are located the grounds occupied
by our county agricultural society, of which we told
you in Riimble No. 1. We paid them for the privi-
lege of selling honey and other bee-keeping articles,
and could have done a good business if the location
agreed upon had been given me. We were so dis-
gusted with otir treatment that it is doubtful if we
ever exhibit any thing in the bee line at a county
fair again. It don't pay. J.H.Martin.
Hartford, N. Y., Feb. 1, 1881.
Friend M., if the managers of your county-
fair sold you a location, fairly and squarely,
and then gave it to another party Avho
offered more, they should be "straightened
up." and if you will give me their address, I
will try to do it if no one else will. I am
sure it is a misunderstanding. — Thanks for
vour report on the buckwheat district of
'York State.
REPORT FOR 1880.
17,003 LBS. OF HONEY FROM 250 COLONIES.
fHAVE heretofore refrained from writing any
thing for the bee papers until I got sufficiently
posted so I would not have to take back any
thing I might write; but after an experience of 25
years, I begin to fear I shall never learn it all, and
may as well, therefore, contribute my share of ex-
perience to the general fund.
I commenced the spring of 1880 with 250 swarms—
80 of them black, the rest Italian and hybrid; they
were divided as follows: 6 miles west I owned a half-
interest in 80 black swarms; 6 miles northwest, a
half-interest in 30 black swarms. These two lots
were watched and hived by the parties where they
were located, they owning a half-interest in them.
The rest of the 250, viz., 180, were mostly Italian and
hybrids, and divided into 4 lots— 40 at home, 24 two
mites north, 41 three miles southwest, and 00 five
miles south. The home lot was divided for swarms;
the rest we ran for extracting, and depended on
keeping the swarms from absconding by keeping all
old queens cropped, and giving plenty of room ; and
where they showed a persistent determination to
swarm, we gave them two hives of comb, which gen-
erally kept them, and gave a better j-icld of honey
than where only one super was used.
Probably our entire loss from swarms leaving
would not exceed 10, which is not so bad when we
consider the number, and that there was no one to
regularly watch four of the lots more than to tell us
which had swarmed and gone back during our ab-
sence, if they happened to see them.
126
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Mar.
As soon as weather would permit in spring, we
commenced to spread tlie brood in the stronger, and
give brood to the lighter; and from the middle of
April to the middle of May they seemed to do well;
but the cold and wet weather then commenced, when
they went down hill instead of up; and before they
could live again, we had to feed 6J0 or 700 lbs. of
honey.
We did not lose any swarms entirely by starvation,
but I have no doubt that more feed would have paid
good interest on the investment.
White clover was a failure, having, like the winter
wheat, mostly winter-killed. We got 2 bbla. of honey
before basswood, which was largely sumac. Bass-
wood bloomed heavily, and we were in hopes of a
large yield from this source; but when I tell you
that we had rain on 7 days of the 16 that basswood
was in bloom, bee-keepers will see that it was not
the most propitious for a big yield;] and yet, by hav-
ing over 200 swarms ready with 'the second stories
on, ready for every drop, and giving them prompt
attention, we succeeded in securing 12,000 lbs. of
basswood and 5000 lbs. of buckwheat and fall flowers
mixed. The basswood was fair for quality; the late
was very thick, and good quality for late honey.
We had far too much rain for a good yield; still, for
this year of failure, I am well satisfied with the
result.
It took a good deal of figuring, and I might add
traveling, too, for the seventeen thousand pounds,
having the bees in six places.
If 200 to 400 stocks will do well in one place, as
some contend, I traveled much more than was nec-
essary. There may be places where 200 to 300 colo-
nies may thrive; but my opinion is, that 100 or less
will do better, and give better returns than a larger
number.
I have 23 swarms that I have moved twice this
winter; the first time, Nov. 15th, moved them 5
miles, and put them in a neighbor's cellar; and Jan.
18th I moved them home into my cellar.
If this lot does extra well, so that I am satisfied
that winter moving is what they need, I will report
in the spring. I will add, that my increase was 100;
I therefore went into the winter with 350, 35 packed
in straw and chaff, out of doors; the rest in cellars.
AVe have had a very steady, cold winter, from zero
all the way down tQ 38° below.
Bees are wintering only moderately well. ' I have
swept up about 3 pecks around 90 swarms, so far, in
one cellar; I can not tell as to those outside as yet.
Ithaca, Wis., Feb. 1, 1881. S. I. Freeborn.
STRAY THOUGHTS FKOM ORCHARD
APIARY.
No. 2.
FEEDING BACK EXTRACTED HONEY.
^F course, bee-keepers should endeavor by every
means in their power, to increase the demand
for extracted honey at a fair price; but when
it falls below that, it must be worked off in some
other way. Even if we run for comb honey, there
will always be more or less extracted on hand at the
end of the season, from unfinished combs and hives
that were not strong enough to work in boxes. At
the present market prices, in localities where there
is but little home demand for extracted, I think it
will pay the apiarist to feed it back and let the bees
put it into combs. I never had very good success in
feeding back until last year, when I adopted a new
plan with very good success. I selected one of my
strongest, heaviest hives, and took out all the brood
except one frame of larvjE, nearly ready to seal,
and changed them for frames of solid honey from
other hives. A colony prepared in this manner will
be obliged to put all the honey they get into the
boxes, and will not waste anj' in unnecessary breed-
ing. I then selected the best of my unfinished box-
es, and tiered up according to the strength of the
stock, giving all the bees a chance to work. 1 fed
from a closed feeder on the outside of the hive, as
fast as the bees would take it, keeping honey in the
feeder night and day. As fast as the sections were
filled I removed them, putting others in their place
until all were finished, when I removed them and
changed the combs in the hive back to the hives I
took them from. I then gave the stock brood
enough to make up for what they had lost while I
was feeding them, so that they lost nothing by be-
ing fed. Now for the result: Counting the weight
of the sections before they were put back, in with
the exti acted, I found that it took 155 lbs. extracted
honey to make 100 lbs. of comb. As I sold my comb
honey for 20c per lb., and as extracted sold slow at
9 and 10c, I think it has paid me to feed back.
I advise bee-keepers who are not sure of a home
market, to try feeding back by theabove method. I
feel sure you will be well satisfied with the result.
' E. A. Thomas.
Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass., Feb. 1, 1881.
Thanks, friend T.; bnt I am sure the
greater part of that 15o lbs. was put in other
combs than tlie sections— in the hive some-
wliere ; for in making a similar experiment,
while the whole hive, feeder and all, was on
scales, there was scarcely any decrease in
weight while the honey was being taken
from the feeders and sealed up, in the unfin-
ished sections. Even after you have a hive
filled with combs of sealed honey, they will
manage to stow away a great deal in the
different corners and crannies of the hive.
CANDY FOR DYSENTERY, ETC.
ALSO SOMETHING ABOUT " LONG NOSES."
EN Jan. No. Gleanings you ask for reports on
"candy for dysentery." I have 10 swarms out
of doors, and 5 in the cellar; 2 outside are not
packed, one of which (a very strong swarm of hy-
brids) became uneasy at Christmas and kept up a
loud buzzing until the middle of January, when they
showed signs of dysentery— flying out and spotting
the hive, and blocking up the entrance with dead
bees. I thought of giving them candy; and when I
read your advice in Gleanings I was determined to
do so. After making the candy I went to the hive,
shoveled away the snow, took out the chaff in the
upper story, and lifted the quilt a little; but the
bees were bound to come out and fly away, and so I
got the smoker and loaded it with rags; but the
smoke seemed to have no effect on them. Come out
they would; but I put the candy in, at all events,
but lost quite a small swarm of bees. After closing
the hive, I cleaned the entrance again; when, hap-
pening to get my nose (which is a rather long one)
near the entrance, I noticed that an awful stench
came out with the air from the hive. To tell you
that I was astonished will not express it. I was
electrified, and so excited that I trembled all over.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
127
It was an awful smell. It being a hive of your make,
I lifter! it up and found about an inch of dead bees
on the bottom-board, all putrid and stinking-. No
wonder the poor little things wanted to get out ; and
no wonder they got the dysentery. After cleaning
off the bottora-board I put the hive back, and in two
hours they were as quiet as ever bees were, and are
80 yet— no more signs of dysentery. I have treated
those in the cellar the same way, with the same suc-
cess. As I have bad a good deal of experience in
making and feeding candy, I would like to tell you
about candy and brood-l-eariug and moisture in the
bee-hive. You have suggested taking away their
combs, and giving them new. I do not think it nec-
essary, as the bees will not eat poor stores if they
have good candy.
Now, Mr. Root, I want to thank you for teaching
me to use a Simplicity hive with a loose bottom. I
thank you with all my heart. W. "W. Wilson.
P. S.— Do not publish this, as I have studied bees
far more than grammar. W. W. W.
Hartland, Waukesha Co., Wis., Feb. 4, 1881.
You see, friend W., that notwithstanding
your plain and explicit P. S., I have gone
and flatly disobeyed you, by publishing your
letter. My only excuse is, that it is not good
grammar we want, so much as practical
facts from real working bee-men. — I agree
with you, that your bees needed to have
their liives cleaned out, much more than they
needed candy ; but why, let me ask you, did
they get into such a state of affairs? How
did an inch of dead bees come on the bottom
board? It is my impression that, had they
been given a chaff hive instead of" the un-
Erotected Simplicity, these bees might have
een alive and on the combs. By all means
clean out tlie hives, whenever there are dead
bees enough to make them smell badly. Do
not complain of having a long nose, friend
AV. It served you well then, and doubtless
has done the same many a time before.
You see I know, for I am somewhat so my-
self. Let us continue to keep our noses pok-
ing about the entrances.
— m » — —
BOOLITTLB'S REVIEW AlVU COMMENTS
ON THE ABC BOOK.
Cn^itinued from last month.
EXTRACTED HONEY.
DOOLITTLE'S ARTIFICIAL HONEY.
Take and make a syrup of A sugar, of the consist-
ency of honey; then for every 5 lbs. of this syrup,
put iu 3 lbs. of clover or basswood honey, and thor-
oughly mix, and there is not one in twenty but will
prefer it to clear honey, and not one in ten that can
detect it by the taste.
RIPENING EXTRACTED HONEY.
I am just one of those persons who have proven
to their entire satisfaction, that there is no differ-
ence between honey extracted before it is sealed
and ripened in an open cask or can in a warm room,
and that sealed by the bees, and ripened in the hive.
EXTRACTING UNRIPE HONEY.
I think your honey, when first gathered, must be
very poor stuff, or else you are carrying this thing
too far. We have tiered up hives, as you tell, and
left till October; then u*ed in the comb, and extract-
ed it by warming the combs so we could, and for the
life of me I could see no difference between this and
some I warmed that was taken before it was sealed.
Both were so thick you could turn a saucer over, as
you tell, and not have it run out, and so clear you
could read through it six inches deep. Just tell your
readers to extract when they will, but ripen in open
cans in a waim room.
dadant's honey-pails-
Candied honey in Dadant's pails is selling well in
all the markets we have tried, and it is by far the
nicest way to put it up.
Don't say tin cans are "next best," but saj, <7i6
way to keep honej' is in tin cans holding 300 lbs., in a
warm dry room, with a cover made of your duck
cloth. If you want to sell it in that shape, fill the
Dadant pails just before it ceases to run, and set
them away.
HIVE-MAKING.
THE 1-LB. SECTION BOX.
Would it not have been well to have told your
readers that Manum, of Bristol, Vt., made a section
that was nicer than any thing could be that was
planed, and that, too, with nothing but a saw, and
that it held 15i£lbs. ? that Betsinger made prize boxes
that were very nice that held ~}i lbs. glassed? that
Hetheriugton, the largest bee-keeper in the world,
used a box still different that Thorn & Co., and Thur-
ber & Co. pronounced the best for New York market
of any thing there was used? How should I know of
any thing but 1-pound boxes if I did not read it else-
where outside of this book? Many can not afford to
buy several books, and so want to be posted by read-
ing one.
I have described but tlie one section, for
the same reason I have described but one
hive. I do not wish to confuse my reader
and leave him in a broad sea of uncertainty
as to what style he had best adopt. Should
he choose the liiv§ I have described, and
then try to use some of the other forms of
sections, without experience, he would be
likely to have the same troubles so many of
us have gone through with in patching up
and trying to make system out of chaos.
Harbison produces more comb honey than
any yoit have mentioned, and he uses still
another box ; but I have not described it. I
have once given a letter from Thurber, say-
ing the 1-lb. section sold the best of any in
the market; but he may have given differ-
ent opinions at other times. Hundreds who
had no knowledge of bee culture at all, have,
by following the plain and direct teachings
of the ABC, succeeded at once, rejoicing at
every step ; but had I taken in all these
other points (and I grant they are important),
I can have no idea that such would have
been the case. As it is, every implement,
box, frame, and tool, fits exactly with all
there is in the book. Had I described and
advised the things used by others (even
though they are better, mind you), such
could not have been the case.
H0NEY-C03IB.
BEES PACKING IN THE COMB COMPACTLY.
Betsinger says that the bees never pack them-
selves in the cells except in cases of starvation. I
am not posted, so can not say from my own ex-
perience.
As I have often pulled combs apart in win-
ter, and found them thus, I can not quite
agree with friend B.
128
GLEAKIKGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Mar.
IS IT THE RESULT OF AGES OF SURVIVAL OF THE
FITTEST?
Now, really, friend Root, do you think bees build
comb any differently than they did when the great
Creator pronounced all his works good? That there
is a difference in the qualities of bees, I know; and
so I believe there was then. If God knows the be-
ginning from the end, he knows just what is wanted,
and so makes it good. We have no reason to believe
that there has been much improvement made, as a
whole, since the creation, if any thing; for wherein
one point is gained, another is lost; for instance,
man has perhaps a better intellect to-day than he
had 3000 years ago, but he does not live a tenth part
as long. So with our choice breeds of cattle, sheep,
etc.; the more choice they are, the more petting it
takes to keep them up, while the lean, uncouth
"scalawag" will live and thrive anywhere.
MAKING BEES USE LARGER CELLS.
We tried to so improve the bee as to make them
take cells 4!4 to the inch, but we had to give it up,
and believe God knew best when he taught them
that five is right.
HYBRIDS.
WHY DO HYBBIO QUEENS BRING ONLY M PRICE OF
ITALIANS?
Just because anybody and everybody can raise
plenty of hybrids themselves, if they have an Italian
to start with; but if they have a queen producing
hybrid workers, they soon have nothing but blacks.
BLACKS ARE MORE TROUBLESOME ROBBERS THAN
EITHER HYBRIDS OR ITALIANS.
You are just right here; and still we have those
who claim the Italian is superior to the blacks, only
as they rob others. I have been so annoyed by these
black chaps following me around, as to get fairly
nervous.
I have had pure Italians that were ordinarily quiet
and peaceable get so roused up as to sting worse
than any hybrid ev^r thought of stinging.
INTBODUCINO QUEENS.
FINDING THE OLD QUEEN.
I would say, draw one of the outside brood combs,
for the queen is of tener found on the outside brood
combs during the day than she is on the central one.
THE "PEET-CAGE" plan OF INTRODUCING.
I have succeeded to my entire satisfaction the past
Bummer in introducing queens by making a cage as
you used to, to cage queen-cells; and make it so it is
4 inches square; find a place where the bees are
hatching out rapidly, and place your queen thereon,
after getting all the bees off; then place your cage
over the queen, and press into the comb. Of course,
you must have some cells of honey inside the cage
too. As the bees hatch, they become attached to
the queen, and she commences to lay in the vacant
cells, and in from 34 to 48 hours she will fill them all,
and these young bees will protect her after you have
lifted the cage off from her and them.
ITALIAN BEES.
IS FRESHLY IMPORTED STOCK BETTER AS HONEY-
GATHERERS?
Can't "swallow" that yet; and I candidly believe
further importation is useless for the next five years.
THE FOURTH YELLOW BAND.
I have had those on which the fourth was just as
Visible on the honey-scale as it usually is on the
third, and that while they were on the window.
LAMP NURSERIES.
Are not your queens weak and feeble if hatched in
the lamp nursery? Mine were so much so that, after
using it two years, I laid it to one side, and have not
used it since. Queens hatching over a swarm of
bees in a wire-cloth cage seem to be as strong again.
LETTING NEWLY HATCHED QUEENS INTO A HIVE
WHEN A LAYING ONE HAS JUST BEEN TAKEN OUT.
Out of 20 so let in the past season, I lost all but
one, and had nearly as bad success before; so I
should say, if I were writing a book, that, as a rule,
all so let in would be killed.
UNSEALED HONEY GETTING THICK IN THE LAMP
NURSERY.
A good argument in favor of my theory in ripen-
ing extracted honey, and also of keeping box honey
till it is so thick it will not leak from unsealed cells.
We have faith enough to believe that, if you were to
once store your box honey in a room that maintains
a temperature of 00° for three weeks, you would
never ship it as it came from the hives.
MOTHERWORT AS A HONEY-PLANT.
As I said at the Chicago convention, so I say now:
if I were to cultivate any plant for honey, it would
be Motherwort; for our bees work on it from morn-
ing till night for weeks.
MOVING BEES.
HOW FAR DO BEES FLY FOR STORES?
You know we don't agree here, as I claim they go
from 3 to 0 miles from choice. My bees went 4 to 5
miles to work on teasel the past year, without any
teasels within 3'/i miles on the first part of the route.
This I know, as a bee working on teasel is always
partly covered with a whitish dust, as they are with
yellow when working on pumpkin and sqtiash.
Thanks ; very likely I have put the dis-
tance too small.
NUCLEUS.
HOW FEW BEES, WITH A QUEEN, MAY START A COLONY.
We once had a colony become so reduced that, by
actual count, there were 81 bees and the queen, and
so they held on till warm weather, when they built
up without help, and actually gave a surplus of 5 lbs.
on buckwheat, in sections, and were in splendid con-
dition for winter.
IS THE GALLUP FRAME TOO DEEP?
I don't see how you can call the Gallup frame
deep, when it is only two inches deeper than the L.
frame. If you had said the old American or Kidder
that were 14 inches, I could have agreed. The Gal-
lup frame is the best proportioned frame of any, all
things considered. So think I.
DOES THE BOTTOM PROJECT BELOW THE CLUSTER?
No more than the ends do, for it is exactly square.
A good swarm of bees in the Gallup frame will
touch the bottom and top of the hive, and also each
end where only 9 frames are used, but not the sides;
while with the L. frame they touch the bottom and
top only.
Why, friend D., it seems to me our bees
don't act just as yours do, but perhaps we
are both a little prejudiced.
ITo hz Continued.']
mt ft ^
CELIiAR \riNXERING.
BY MR. GEORGE GRIMM (SON OF ADAM GRIMM )
^fipR. EDITOR:— You wish me to state how I win-
P/f| tcr my bees in cellars. Well, here is the
— " ' statement. I do not claim that mine is the
hcst mode, but I have been sulBcieutly successful to
give mc satisfaction. It waS) with fewmodiflcatioriej
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
129
my father's plan, and mostly the result of his expe-
rience. The three main requisites with me are,
strong colonies, plenty of good ripe honey, and a
cellar that the frost can not penetrate. As soon as
the summer honey season is over, I begin to prepare
my bees for winter. The fall honey crop is a thing
rarely known here, and I am generally well satisfied
if my bees obtain enough from buckwheat to supply
them with their winter stores. If there are fields of
buckwheat in the neighborhood, I extract most of
the white honey from the combs, and let them fill up
on buckwheat honey. If the yield is good, they will
breed fast; and by the time the storeroom is filled,
there will be brood in abundance. It is desirable,
and in my opinion necessary, that all this brood
should hatch, and the young bees fly out before they
are removed to the cellar. But buckwheat does not
always yield honey, and it then becomes necessary
to feed early and abundantly to induce the bees to
breed, and quit in time to allow all the brood to
hatch before it is too cold. Nothing but the best
ripe honey or white sugar syrup should ever be fed
in the fall. I never put my bees in the cellar before
1 am compelled to. I am always considerably later
than my neighbor bee-keepers; but I am always con-
siderably later, too, in taking them out in the spring.
My theory is this, and my practice has verified it,
that bees can not well stand more than a certain
length of confinement, and that they can stand a
little cold in the fall of the year, when young and
healthy, better than in the spring, when old and
weak from long confinement. Of late, my bees are
never taken out for a temporary fly, and I have very
little trouble from spring dwindling, except in ex-
ceptional years. In removing them to the cellar I
have often delayed so long that I was compelled to
brush the snow from the hiyes. It is not necessary
to have them perfectly dry, or the cellar either,
when both are properly ventilated. I have wintered
with splendid success in a cellar where the water was
nearly two feet high for several weeks, and all but
entered the hives. Had I not anticipated it, and
raised it from near the ground, the lower rows
would have been drowned out.
I will now describe my best cellar. It is about
'Z2 X 40, 8 feet high, dug into the side of a hill, the floor
being level with the ground at the front end. The
sides are well banked up, and the whole is covered
with a building used for storing the supplies of the
apiary. A space of about ten feet of the front is
partitioned off, and is used for storing vinegar. The
rear is used for wintering bees. The bottom is hard
gravel; the ceiling and walls are plastered. In the
center of the partition is a chimney with a ventilat-
ing flue for the bee-cellar. In each of the rear cor-
ners is a three-inch pipe, one reaching to the floor,
the other only through the ceiling. These two tubes
enter the storeroom above, while the chimney
reaches the outer air. The bees are placed in rows
on 2 X 4 scantling, the rear of the hive being about
one inch higher than the front. They are placed
one on top the other, six high. The ventilation of
each hive is simple; the entrance is opened full
size, and the honey-board slid forward so as to allow
an opening of about 3-16 of an inch at the rear. This
allows of a draft through the whole hive. I am nev-
er troubled with moldy combs. If the temperature
is too high, I open the door communicating with the
front part of the cellar, and let in the cool air. If it
is too cold, I put a stove in the front part and heat
the room, then slightly open the door to the bee-
cellar. Thus T aim to keep the temperature at about
43°. In the cold weather it is easy to keep them suf-
ficiently warm; but in warm weather I can not al-
ways keep them cool enough. I have been thinking
of connecting the front room with an ice-house, as
so much depends on keeping the temperature even
throughout the winter. I have wintered as many as
350 colonies in this one cellar, and wintered them
well. My loss has never exceeded five percent. I
expect to winter successfully, cA'en this severe win-
ter, although I fed very late, and my bees were not
over-strong. They are at present very quiet, and
show no sign of disease. The dead bees on the bot-
tom are not nearly so numerous as I have seen them
at this time in other years. Another thing I consid-
er of importance, not alone to winter safely, but to
prevent inordinate dwindling in the spring; and
that is, never to let bees start breeding in the cellar,
unless the season is far enough advanced to admit
of taking them out of doors soon. Breeding in the
spring is only then profitable when it can be carried
on without interruption. By keeping the tempera-
ture moderately low, breeding in the cellar will be
prevented; and by keeping the bees in the cellar as
long as possible, when taken out they can breed un-
interruptedly. The addition of an ice-house to my
cellar I believe would accomplish this.
Jefferson, Wis., Feb. 8, 1881. Geo. Grimm.
Perhaps some ma}'^ think this valuable ar-
ticle should have been given sooner; but I
presume that, with the experience we have
had, we are, many of us, prepared to read it
understandingly, and we can easily turn
back to it when we are ready to begin mak-
ing preparations for another winter's cam-
paign. That so many of the old veterans
who number their colonies by the hundreds,
adhere to cellar wintering is a rather signiti-
cant fact.
^ Hi »
THE NORTH-EASTEKN BEE-KEEPERS'
ASSOCIATIOi\.
f'llIS session seems to have been one of
unusual interest and harmony. Some
— ■ thoughtful friend has been so kind as
to send me the report in the Utica Morning
Herald, from which I clip as follows:—
WINTKRING.
Mr. Doolittle said winters vary, therefore he
thought it good policy to winter in the cellir and
out of doors in equal proportion. A winter favora-
ble for wintering out-doors is not favorable to win-
tering in the cellar, and vice versa. One winter he
had 90 swarms under heavy snow, in places 11 feet
deep. Out of these 90 swarms he wintered but 15.
The same year he pvit 00 swarms in the ce;llar, and
saved 55 of them. He had a cellar with an even tem-
perature of 44 degrees. The bees do not get restless
at this temperature. Last winter he had better suc-
cess in wintering out-doors than in-doors, although
those kept in-doors did pretty well.
Mr. House said his experience was precisely like
that of Mr. Doolittle in regard to wintering under
the snow.
Mr. Doolittle said he had kept bees In a cave, dis-
tant from the outer air no less than three feet at
any point. The temperature of the interior did not
vary more than one degree the entire winter. The
bees wintered very well.
Mr. Ncllis thought bees winter nowhere better
130
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Mar.
than under the snow. Bees under the snow are
very dormant and consume but little. He prefers
to have the snow as deep as possible; shoveled them
out in the spring while the snow was dry. He fav-
ored Mr. Doolittlo's plan of mixed wintering; that
is, partly in-doors and partly "out-doors.
Mr. Cyrenus said it makes some difference wheth-
er bees are kept on the ground or a short distance
from it. He believed in having just a mound of
snow OA'er the hive, and not a heavy bank. With a
heavy bank, the hives are apt to become damp. He
has practiced keeping bees under snow, a dozen
years. Mr. Nellis has kept bees under snow the
same length of time, and Mr. Snow about three
years.
Mr. Adsit said he had wintered bees in the cellar
for fifteen years, with good success; never tried
wintering out-doors.
The president said the best bee-keepers and wri-
ters differ from him on this subject. He has win-
tered bees under from one to fifteen feet of snow.
He thought it important to have honey enough in
the smallest number of combs. The matter of pre-
paring for winter is the work of an. entire season.
Bees are from a warm climate, and need an even
temperature.
Eriend D., I should say, has made a very
good point, in advising that we settle the old
and long controversy about out and in door
wintering, by advising to try some both
ways,— on the principle of advising mixed
farming. If you fail in one, you probably
will not in the other.
QUESTIONS AND ANSAVERS.
A few of these may be considered some-
what evasive ; but as it is difficult to give
positive answers to questions of such a na-
ture, perhaps it was wisdom to give evasive
ones.
In this climate, do we have weather cold enough
to freeze bees, provided they have in the hive honey
to which they have access? No.
Is the side-box system a success? " Yes" by two;
"no" by one.
Is wired foundation a success when used for a
brood-chamber? " No " by two.
Is it advisable to use full-sized sheets in brood-
chamber? Yes.
Which is preferable, a hive without bottom, or
bottom fastened to hive? Bottom fastened to hive.
Is comb foundation six months or a j'ear old ac-
cepted by the bees as readily as that just made? No.
What amount of surplus room for box honey is
it advisable to give a swarm at one time? What the
swarm requires.
What is the best method of getting bees started in
surplus boxes? Fill the boxes with comb.
Would you recommend full sheets of foundation
for surplus boxes? One for "full sheets;" two for
" starters."
Whioh is best, natural starters or foundation?
Natural starters.
What objection is there to a centei'-bar in the
brood-chamber? Does it not make a better winter
communication than making holes through the
combs? No center-bar needed.
What is the best quilt for wintering? Any thing
porous.
What is the moat convenient arrangement for
side cases? "Our own" by two; "no side boxes
wanted," by one.
Will it pay to construct an inner part just large
enough to hold combs to winter 6 Langstroth or 5
Quiuby frames, that will set into the main hive, the
object being to carry just what is needed to the cel-
lar, instead of the main hive; they can also be used
for nucleus hives in summer? No.
\yhat extractor is best for the beginner to use?
A. T. Root's for honey; Swiss extractor for wax.
What time of year is it best to purchase queens
when you have all natives, and want to change to
Italians? Any time you have the money.
Is it objectionable for bees to breed in winter, say
February? No breeding necessary till spring.
Are bees more inclined to supersede clipped
queens than queens not clipped? No.
Can bee-keeping be made profitable in a locality
minus basswood, with plenty of white clover, alsike,
goldenrod, and buckwheat? Yes.
The quality of wax and weight of foundation be-
ing equal, which is preferable for use in surplus
boxes, flat-bottomed or lozenge-shaped bottomed
foundation? Bottoms as the bees build them.
Would it be advisable to take a swarm of bees
known to be short of honey, into the house in a
room without tire, giving them supplies till they are
quiet, and then putting them in their summer
stands for the rest of the winter? Be sure all have
honey in the fall.
FRIEND FJLANAGAN ANB HIS VISIT TO
THE FAIll.
MN the first place, I must thank you for introduc-
ing me to the most interesting and fascinating
'^^ pursuit it has been my lot to engage in, and
the more I become familiar with it, the greater hold
it has upon me. I have succeeded, too, beyond my
expectations. Beginning 3 years ago next March,
with 3 colonies in box hives, and black bees, I had,
in Nov. last, nearly 51), all Italians, and all in chaff
and Simplicity hives. I have disposed of all but 25
to my neighbors, at good prices, and the remainder
are in good order, in spite of the severe weather.
In October last I took to our county fair a lot of
chaff and Simplicity VA and 3 story hives with glass
observatory hives, Italian queens, fdn. machine
(Dunham), honey in boxes and extracted, extractor,
smokers, etc. It was a success, I assure you. I am
not much given to talking, but I had to do more of it
for the 4 days the fair lasted than for the same time
in my life. The officers complimented me by giving
me several premiums, a diploma, and assuring me it
was one of the chief attractions of the fair. The re-
sult was, I sold and engaged every hive of bees I
would spare.
I ran only 4 hives for extracted honey, and one
hive for comb. The result was 550 lbs. extracted,
or over U5 lbs. per hive, and 40 lbs. in section boxes.
When I stated the above to those that thronged
around my exhibit, few would believe the statement,
as but little honey was gathered in this section, ow-
ing to the failure of white clover and the extreme
drought. Mr. Chas. Dadant, son of the old gentle-
man, visited our fair, and afterward spent a day with
me, and seemed pleased with my apiary, and said it
was very good for an A B C scholar, and after exam-
ining nearly all my colonies, pronounced them very
pure Italians. I ha\'e written to D. A. Jones for one
of his Cyprian queens (direct importation), and have
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE GULTUKE.
131
received a letter from him urging me to try Holy-
Land queens, which he pronounces superior, if any
thing, to the Cyprians. If I can spare the money, I
think I will try both. E. T. Flanagan.
Belleville, 111., Feb. 5, 1881.
Yery well done indeed, friend F.. and I am
glad to hear that onr fairs are becoming
more and more a means of imparting and
receiving information. After one goes to
the tronble and pains of taking things as you
have done, it is no more than fair that he
should have some recompense for his trouble.
FOUL BROOD, AIVD ITS EXTEBITHNA-
TION BY A l,\\V OF THE STATE.
I HE following is the contents of a print-
ed notice which some friend has been
kind enough to send us: —
state of MiehiKan. File No. 54. House of Representatives Xo.
98. Inti-oduced by Mr. Root. Recommended hv Committee
on Horticulture ' Lansiner, Mich., Feb. 3, 1881.
A BILL to prevent the spread of Foul Brood among bees, and to
extirpate the s;inie.
Skction 1. Till- jM-ople of the State of Michigan enact. That it
shall be unlawlul lur any persnii to keep in his apiary any colo-
ny of bees atfec-lcd witli tli>' ivnifagious malady known as foul
brood; and it shall be the duty of every bee-keeper, as soon as
he becomes aware of the existence of said disease among: his
bees, to forthwith destioy or cause to be destroyed all colonies
thus affected.
Sec. 8. In any county In this State, in which foul brood ex-
ists, or in which there are good reasons to believe it exists, it
shall be lawful for any five or more actual bee-keepers of said
county to set forth such fact, belief, or aiii)rehension, in a peti-
tion addressed to the judge of probate, requiring him to ap-
point a competent comraissionei' to jjrevent the spread of said
disease, and to eradicate the same: which petition shall be tiled
with and become a i)art of the lecords of the court where such
application is made.
Sec. 3. It shall be the dut.v of the judge of probate, on the re-
ceipt of the petition specilied in section two, of this act, to :ip-
Eoint within ten da.vs thereafter a well-known anil cuTniicteut
ee-keeper of said county, as a commissioner, who shall hold his
office during the pleasure of said court; and a record of such
api)i>intment, and levocation, when revoked, shall be filed as a
part of the records of said court.
Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of said commissioner, within ten
days of hiji appointment as aforesaid, to tile his acceptance of
the same with the court from whom he received his appointment.
Sec. 5. Upon complaint of any two bee-keepeis oi^ said county
in writing and on oath, to s:ii(l connnissioner, setting forth that
said disease exists, or th.it they have gnod reason to believe it
exists within said county. (lc>iun,itinK the apiar.v or apiaries
wherein they believe it to be. it shall become the duty of the
connni.ssioner, to whom such conijilaint is delivered, to proceed
without unnecessary delay to <-xaii\ine the hccs so designated;
and if he shall become s:itisficd that any colnny or colonies of
said bees are diseased with foul brood, he shall, without further
distui'bance to said bees, fix some distinguishing mark upon
each hive wherein exists said foul brood, and immediately noti-
fy the jierson to whom said bees belong, personally or by leav-
ing a written notice at his place of residence, if he be a resident
of such county; and if such owner be a non-resident of such
county, then by leaving the same with the person in charge of
such bees, requiring said person, within five days. Sundays ex-
cepted, from the date of said notice, to effectually remove or
destroy said hives, together with their entire contents, by bury-
ing them or by fire.
Sec. 6. If any person neglects to destroy, or cause to be de-
stroyed, said hives and their contents in manner as described in
section five, after due notification, he shall be deemed trniltvof
a misdemeanor, and punished by a tine not to exceed fifty dol-
lars for the first offense, and for each additional olfense he shall
be liable to a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars, at the dis-
cretion of the court; and any ju-tice of the peace of the town-
ship where said bees exist shall have jurisdiction thereof.
Sec. 7. The commissioner shall be ;ill.jwed for services under
this act, two dollars f<u- each full day. and one dcilhir for each
half-day, the amount to be audited by the board cit supci'visors.
SEC. 8. In all suits and prosecutions under this act, it shall be
necessary to prove that said bees wei'e actually diseased or in-
fected with foul brood.
To all of which I would say amen, and ex-
press a wish that every .State in the Union
might set right to work and do likewise, un-
til not a single foul-broody apiary exists any
where between the waters of the Atlantic
and Pacilic. This is especially to be dread-
ed now, while so many are proposing to
stock their empty hives and combs with bees
purchased from abroad. Let us wake up,
boys, and take the matter in hand, lest we
find ourselves hi the midst of a trouble that
is many times worse than having our bees
frozen out wintering, or being dead with
dysentery or spring dwindling.
Pertaining: to Bee Cultxii-e.
We respectfully solicit the aid of our friends in eonducting
this department, and would consider it a favor to have them
send us all circulars that have a deceptive appearance. The
freatest care will be at all times maintained to prevent injustice
eing done any one.
^^KtH'E claiming the name of Kirk Kidder has suc-
nm ceeded in extracting some $300.00 from the
^"^^ good citizens of this vicinity for the privilege
of making and selling a patent bee-hive in this and
adjoining counties. The patent, he claims, was se-
cured by K. P. Kidder & Son, of Burlington, Vt.,
Mar. 23, 1868, and covers all arrangements for secur-
ing the surplus honey without disturbing the brood-
nest; also the triangular top-bar for comb-guide.
From what we know of other patents, we suspect he
is a humbug. Can you give any light in Gleanings?
Moretz Mills, N. C, Jan. IT, 1881. H. A. Davis.
Any one who makes such claims as you
mention are humbugs and swindlers, with-
out question. The Kidder hive and the tri-
angular comb-guides are both old matters of
years ago, and, if I am correct, not now in
use by our leading bee-men. This seems to
be about the case of the average patents
offered for sale.
Always look out for anybody who offers
you more than the usual price for anv staple
article. The following letters will illustrate
the point. Mr. L. D. Worth, of Beading
Center, N. Y., had an application for honey
from a New York commission house, as fol-
lows : —
We have a good demand for honey, and can find
ready sale for all you have. We quote clover at 19
to 21 c, and buckwheat 18 to 20.
Ballard, Branch & Co.
112 Broad St., N. Y., Oct. 8, 1880.
Friend W., thinking he would try one case
first, sent it along. Here is their reply on
receiving it : —
Your honey has been received, and contents not-
ed. Please pack the rest so it will not shake. Send
on all you can; worth 18 c. Will send sales of this
box with the other lot you ship. B., B. & Co.
New York, Oct. 15, 1880.
Our friend wrote them he preferred the
pay for the first lot before sending more. At
this they made the following reply, and that
is the last he ever heard from them : —
Do not send any more honey in the shape your last
was shipped. It was all smashed up in very bad
shape; will do the best I can with it, and report as
soon as closed out. B.,B. &Co.
New York, Oct. 27, 1880.
lie finally i;eferred the matter to us ; and,
although they have a fine large printed let-
ter-head, as commission merchants at \V1
Broad St., Kew York, we are unable to find
any such firm quoted at all in the mercantile
agency books. We at once wrote them,
courteously asking for an explanation ; but
although nearly a month has passed, no word
can we get.
JioraL— When anybody wants you to send
them honey, inquire at your nearest bank if
there is any such firm, and if they are in
good standing. If not, by no means send
182
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Mar.
them a pound of honey unless they send you
cash in advance, or deposit the funds in a
bank subject to your order on presentation
of a shipping-bill from the railroad company.
EXPERIENCE NOT FOUND IN THE
BOOKS.
THE SW ARMING-OUT MANIA.
^ NOTICED in last year's Gleanings a good manj'
Jji complaints in regard to absconding swarms;
— ' but among the cases reported I found nothing
to equal my experience. My refractory colony was
a good hybrid — the only hybrid in my apiary. At
the proper time, and before they were taken with
the swarming mania, I "swarmed" them artificially.
They were getting along nicely, — commencing to
fill up the sections when the fit came on them. The
queen's wing was clipped, so I caught her as she
perambulated in front of the hive, and caged her;
then while the swarm was clustering on an apple-
tree I opened the hive and completely demolished
every queen-cell. As the swarm came back I gave
them their queen, thinking to myself, "There ! now
you are all right; go ahead with your honey busi-
ness." But not a bit of it. The second day after
this, bee-hold! out they came again. Well, thinks I,
if you know better than I do, I'll let you keep house
for j'ourselves. So I hived them, giving them brood
in all stages. (I found that the queen had deposited
an egg in a queen-cell just before leaving.) But the
end was not yet, for, two days after this, they came
out again. I saw the queeu return to the hive on
foot after trying in vain to follow the swarm. So I
did not pay much attention to the would-be abscond-
ers, as I thought they would, as a matter of course,
come back to the queen. But they finally struck a
bee-line for — some other place. Now you will say
they had two queens; but wait a minute. When I
saw that they determined to leave, I followed them
on horseback. They got the start of me; but as they
went only about three-fourths of a mile I found
them anyhow; but neighbor C. had been ahead of
ine. He saw them alight on a peach-tree, so he ran
and got an old hive and hived them, and when he
found what I was after lie claimed them as his own
projyerty! Now, what was I to do? What would you
have done if in my place? He said ho didn't know
where they had come from. I wouldn't quarrel
with him, although I knew well enough where they
had come from. I told him that they were queen-
less, and would not do him any good in that condi-
tion; that the swarm should either be brought back
to the queen or the queen taken to the swarm. But
he only laughed at the idea, and said, "Oh! well, we
will catch old Grant and makea/fi/ig of him for
them, then they will be all right." As I saw that he
would not listen to reason, I started back saying,
"Well, I have still the better part of the colony at
home, for the queen without the swarm is worth
more than the swarm without the queen," and so it
proved; for by careful attention to the queen and
her handful of faithful subjects who were left be-
hind, they built up a fair-sized colony by the time
neighbor C.'s had dwindled down to the "little end of
nothing." I believe he had a little drone comb left
for his trouble.
But that old hybrid queen will not be deserted in
that way any more, for I finally beheaded her and
gave her "throne" to one "to the manor born"—
the daughter of an imported queen for which a
prominent breeder says he "refused 50 dollars." (!)
Have you any Italian stock j"ou prize so highly?
S. P. YODER.
Vistula, Elkhart Co., Ind., Feb. 10, 1881.
I do not know, friend Y., jnst what I
should have done in such a case ; but I know
what I once did : I paid the man $5.00 for
the privilege of carrying my Italians back
home. They had imited with a very small
weak second swarm of blacks, belonging to
him, and so I was helpless in my case. I
should say the thing to do would be to pre-
sent the matter to your friend in the kindest
and plainest way you know how, and then,
rather than have any unkindness, either let
him keep them or pay him what he thought
he ought to have for them, and go home
with the firm resolution in your mind not to
think hard or unkindly of him, and, in fact,
not to think of the transaction at all, if you
feel you have been wronged, any more than
you can help. " Charity suffere'th long, and
is kind," you know. I have no stock of any
kind that I prize so highly as you mention.
^ ^jun^ll'^eem.
OATMEAL FOR FOOD.
S you are agitating the question of cheap food,
I wish to say a word or two, although it may
' be nothing new to you. I send you to-day by
mail one sample of oatmeal, " steel cut," which re-
tails with us at 5 cts. per lb. ; also f)ne sample of "B
Scotch" fine, that retails at 4 cts. per lb. We use it
in the morning as boiled mush, eaten with syrup and
butter, or milk, or it may be cooked in various other
ways; it is good and cheap, and has properties in
larger quantities (bone-forming, etc.), than corn or
wheat. There is a mill in this place, of the capacity
of 140 barrels per day, a large proportion of which is
shipped to Scotland. If you should wish to procure
any of this, with price.'' by the barrel, write to Stein
& Wallace, Sterling, 111. Norman Clark.
Sterling, 111., Feb. 8, 1881,
]\Iany thanks, friend C. I entirely agree
with you in regard to the liealthfulness and
bone-producing properties of oatmeal. We
had the samples you sent cooked and served
up, but can not for the life of us see any dif-
ference. Four cents per lb. is much cheap-
er than we have ever known it sold at retail
before. The following in regard to the val-
ue of oatmeal we clip from The Metal Work-
er of July 24, 1880.
drinks for the hot weather.
A doctor who has been a very careful observer and
has had ample opportunity for study, gives the fol-
lowing advice in regard to the drinks suitable for hot
weather:
When you have any heavy work to do, do not take
either beer, cider, or spirits. By far the best drink
is thin oatmeal and water, with a little sugar. The
proportions are a quarter of a pound of oatmeal to
two or three quarts of water, according to the heat
of the day and your work and thirst; it should be
well boiled, and then an ovuice or an ounce and a
half of brown sugar added. If you find it thicker
than you like, add three quarts of water. Before you
drink it shake up the oatmeal well through the liq-
uid. In summer, drink this cold; in winter, hot.
You will find it not only quenches thirstbut will give
you more strength and endurance than any other
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUBE.
13S
drink. If you can not boil It, you can take a little
oatmeal mixed with cold water and sug'ar, but this is
not so good. Always boil it if you can. If at any
time you have to make a long day, as in harvest, and
can not stop for meals, increase the oatmeal to half
a pound, or even three-quarters, and the water to
three quarts if you are likely to be thirsty. If you
oan not get oatmeal, wheat flour will do, but not
quite so well. For quenching thirst, few things are
better than weak coffee and a little sugar. One
ounce of coffee and a half-ounce of sugar, boiled in
two quarts of water and cooled, is a very thirst-
quenching drink. Cold tea has the same effect, but
neither is so supporting as oatmeal. Thin cocoa is
also very refreshing and supporting like\vise, but is
more expensive than oatmeal.
When a person is working hard and perspiring
freely, the craving of the stomach,' if closely con-
sidered, is as much for food as for drink. Cool, eas-
ily digested food is what is needed. If one watches
a number of growing boys at work hard, he will lind
that as noontime approaches they go to the water-
pail more frequently. A slice of bread and butter
given at such a time will almost invariably stop the
thirst and for a longer time than a hearty drink of
water. If the food can be given in a liquid form, so
much the better. Some workmen use a regular
gruel, made rather thin, instead of water, and are
greatly benefited thereby.
While there is a cry on every side that Americans
eat too much, we are inclined to think that a little
food taken both for noon and afternoon in the drink,
would increase both the health and comfort of our
workmen and be of lasting benetit to growing boys.
DRIED OR EVAPORATED GREEN CORN.
This article of food seems to be eliciting
much interest, and among the several offers
I have had for a ton, to be furnished during
the coming year, is one of 8 c. per lb. Inas-
much as 1 lb\ of dried corn furnishes a great
deal of nutriment, I think this price pretty
fair.
GATHERING AT THE TA15LE.
While I would not encourage in our read-
ers a disposition to be thinking constantly of
what they are going to eat, I think it condu-
cive to one's health to take some interest in
what tliey are going to have to eat, and to
feel a pleasure in gathering round the daily
board. What mother has not felt a thrill of
honest pleasure in hearing the children ex-
claim, '' Oh goody ! mother is going to give
us some of those nice biscuits and honey for
supper " V Is it not better than to have
them come in a lifeless sort of way and look
and act unthankful while the meal is being
eaten ? I would by no means task the moth-
er to get a great variety, for oftentimes one
simple little dish, say something the children
have asked for, does more to make a meal a
hai)py one than many expensive and trouble-
some dishes. Neither does it all devolve
upon the mother, by any means. Let each
one be led to try to contribute in some way
to the general good feeling. One can bring
flowers, another some apples, or other fruit.
Have the boys stimulated to feel a pleasure
in providing water, and another in getting
the chairs, and all, in trying to be quiet and
good natured. For many years I fought
against the use of napkins at the table, and
called them aristocratic, etc. ; but now I can
hardly feel right to eat without one, or see
the children do so, because I know how
much they aid in helping us all to keep otir
clothing neat and presentable. You all know
what fun it is to sit down to a cozily ar-
ranged table at some quiet family picnic.
Well, let us have just such a little family
picnic every day ; and if we all try our best.
it will not be a very hard task to have each
meal so that, when we bow our heads to
God in thankfulness before the usual " ask-
ing-a-blessing," there shall really be thank-
fulness welling up from the bottom of our
hearts. Hurrah! it is supper time now!
Come on, children ! let us go to supper, and
let us see who will show m;imma by our ac-
tions that we appreciate the efforts which
she has made to please us.
FRIEND L.ADD'S STORY.
IN WHICH HE TELLS HOW THE HONEY HUNG ON
"POSTS AND BUSHES."
^f^ UST a few words fmm our bee country may not
pjj be out of place. One of your correspondents
reports an enormous yield of honey, such as
we had in 18T8, only ours was a little more so. It was
such a yield as to cause the bees to fill up every thing
in reach, build all over sides of hives, and in some
cases on posts and plants, some feet away from the
hives. One colony in box hive filled up, and I placed
an old empty hive close to it, which was filled in 3
weeks with beautiful honey (no bee bread) and many
times I took buckets full of honey from inider
benches and projections. Swarms isstied all sum-
mer, and no drones were killed. Every thing seemed
to bear honey; very heavy honey-dews, also, helped
to swell the crop. I drove many out late in August,
and transferred, keeping all the honey, and they
filled up in a few weeks. Swarms were fotind under
large limbs on trees, with several sheets of comb.
We had no extractor, or^we might have taken an
enormous quantity. One swarm of a neighbor's
came out late in June, went back to hive, clustered
outside, and built between two hives. When asked
to transfer them, they had IV sheets of comb built
the height of the hives (box) about 18 Inches wide.
I did transfer them, but was cov ered with slings (I
can sympathize with Bro. Duster.) They got " on
their ears," and some followed me over a mile to-
ward home. I had made little headway in control-
ling them, and they kept things lively around that
house for a week. Well, they filled a "Mitchell" hive
in less than three weeks, and I took from it eight
full frames, giving empty ones, which were filled as
rapidly as at the first. That swarm is famous to-
day for honey and stings. All our bees are blacks.
No full record was kept, but many times I have
weighed 60 lbs. taken at one time, and from one hive.
Badly broken comb honey sold that year for 6 and 8
cents. Now comes the other part. Three-fifths of
our bees died the following winter, leaving the hives
mostly full. Since then I have not taken one sur-
plus box full. We have had a honey famine for two
years, but have hopes of 1881, and reports of hun-
dreds of dead colonies of bees. One question: Is it
the exception o*rule for Italians to refuse to work
in top surplus boxes? Ed. Ladd, Jr.
Beverly, Macon Co., Mo.
Thank you, friend L.; for bow that we
know what may happen, we will just have
every thing in readiness to take care of that
honey when it comes. I believe it is pretty
well settled, that Italians will not take to
the boxes as readily as the blacks, unless Ave
make special provision to get them started
by large starters in a few of the boxes, and
such like means.
134
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Mar.
€
Uvairif
From Diiferent Fields.
HOW I RAISE MY QUEENS.
^ HAVE Ijeen a pupil in your ABC class three
Jijl years, and I would like to tell you how I raise
my queens. I go to my imported queen's hive,
spread the combs, suspend a new empty comb be-
tween the brood, and after finding eggs sulHcient, or
after 3 days, I lift out the frame and replace with an-
other. The frame of eggs, or minute larvse, is cut
into two zig-zag or tooth-shaped forms, then given to
a strong colony, made two days before, having no
queen, and nil brood then sealed taken away. After
354 days the small or poor larvaj are destroyed in
some of the cells. After cells are sealed over, they
are cut out to be put in the lamp nursery.
HOW I HATCH MY QUEENS.
The cells are each put into a small block cage,
point down, fastened bj' touching with a small dab
of beeswax, melted over a lamp chimney in a tin
cup. Soft bee candy is put into each queen-cage
for the young queen's first lunch, made from 5 pts.
A sugar, 1 pt. grape sugar, 1 pt. honey. The cage is
then covered with a loose piece of wire cloth, and
put into a common brood-frame with other similar
cages, and hung in the nursery. On this principle,
no cells are destroyed bj' the young queens, and are
all ready to be carried to the nucleus. The slides
are then pulled out of the cage, and the young queen
forced out by a few puffs of smoke at tbe entrance
of the nucleus. John Conser.
Glenn, Johnson Co., Kan., Jan. 28, 1881.
The above plan differs but little from the
usual way, only that we rather prefer to
keep a close watch of the queens, and put
in hives just about as fast as they hatch, and
let them take their " first lunch " from new
honey just brought in from the flowers. 'We
seldom have queens sting each other in the
nursery, if they are looked to pretty often.
CAN "we" make a living?
Three months ago I ventured to take a " partner
for life;" have settled down on the plan of "Ten
Acres Enough," with the intent, however, of mak-
ing bee-ism our principal business; still working
at light forms of job printing for indoor work, as I
am not able to farm even a few acres. Do you think
we can make a living?
MAPLE-SUGAR BEE CANDY.
I have only 13 colonies of bees, all good stock; but
several of them are about out of honey. I am feed-
ing them now on maple sugar in "bricks." Can I
carry them safely through? I have already found
a number of our neighbors' bees "played out;" some
small colonies are frozen, with ^ney all around
them; others starved in empty hi\^s.
S. P. YODER.
Vistula, Elkhart Co., Ind., Jan. 11, 1881.
Yes, friend Y.; I do think that you and
that new partner can make a living, without
any doubt about it at all, providing you are
willing to accept such a living as God sees
best to give you. Make expenses come inside
of the income ; make economy one of the
tine arts, and years hence you may look back
to these days of trust and trial as having
been the very happiest of your lives.— The
maple sugar, if of fair quality, is all right,
and makes very good bee candy. Little
cakes, such as are made for the children,
are just right for a weak colony of bees to
warm up. Friends, can not we who forget
to sign our names now and then, give friend
Y. a little lift in the way of an order for
printing a few envelopes or letter-heads V
UNPAINTED HIVES, VERSUS PAINTED.
Inclosed please find a note on " Painting Bee-
hives," which I cut from a recent copy of the New
York Times.
Painting Bee-Hives. — So -e persons paint their bee-hives,
but it is not generally thought advisahle bj- bee-keepers. It is
very important that hives should be dry inside, aiul unless the
walls are porous the niui.^ture will condense insiiie wlicnever the
temperature is low outside. If the wood is painted it is made
impervious to moisture, and this will eoUeet inside and do mis-
chief. If the bare wood is thouj^ht to be disagreeable in ap-
pearance it may be washed with a porous coating of water-lime,
whith is lii-ow 11, or the hives may be washed with lime colored
brown with oclier or umber.
I believe I have never examined a hive occupied
by a colony of bees f 'ir even one season, in which the
entire inside surface (accessible to the bees) was not
completely coated with propolis, rendering the walls
of the hive impervious to moisture, from the inside.
Now, if I am right, what harm can there come from
having the hives well painted, thus protecting the
walls from the moisture outside?
H. C. Markham.
Ann Arbor, Mich., Jan. 29, 1S81.
There is an element of truth in the paper
you send, friend M.; but still it is thought
best to paint hives, and make some other
provision for the escai)e of the dampness and
moisture. It is for this reason we make the
chalf hive in such narrow pieces, principally,
that tlie dampness may escape in the cracks
between the narrow siding. The Simplicity
hives, having a loose cover, usually permit
all the evaporation that is needed in the
summer time, and, with a mat over the top,
about all that would ordinarily be needed in
the winter. Tight box hives, with no open-
ings in the top, or but few small ones, would
very likely winter bees better unpainted ;
and if the boards were rotten a little, and
checked by cracks, they would be better
still. This is why bees often winter better
in such hives than they do in new, tight,
painted ones. The lu-opolis on the inside, I
hardly think as impervious to moisture as is
the paint; but still, it is a signiricant fact,
that the bees always seem to prefer to have
things pretty well waxed at^ the approach of
cold weather; and Avith a liive like the chaff
hive, I think they are the better for the
propolis. Stocks that are strong enough to
have the whole interior of their hive well
propolized, are pretty sure to stand the zero
freezes, if my observations have been cor-
rect. ^
THE "BLESSED LITTLE PETS."
I tried to run my bees one year without the aid of
Gleanings, and found it could not be done. Honey
in this section of the country was almost a total
failure. We were compelled to feed almost every
month during the time the bees were out of the cel-
lar, only some few stocks being able to get their win-
ter supplies during the entire summer; but, sir, des-
perate cases require desperate remedies. Speaking
for Bros. Kendig and Stephens, as well as myself, we
came to the rescue and stocked our bees out for
winter with sugar syrup, and I say that the man or
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
135
men, as the case may be, that will allow their bees
to starve (as huudrcds are doing), solelj^ because they
are too negligent or stingy, as is the case with many,
they are not worthy the name of a man, much less
of a bee-keeper. In years gone by, when we had
good crops ot honey, and the •' ducats " were coming
in, then your bees were called " blessed little pets "
and the like. Last season, when your bees worked
harder, perhnps, than ever to keep from starving,
can you stand by, as it were, and see them starve,
and at the same time, perhaps, you are "luxuriat-
ing" on the strength of the above ducats? Now,
friends, don't you think, if your " blessed pets"
could speak, they would look up and say, '■' Don't,
Xileasc don't, let us starve. Loan us 5 or 10 per cent
of the above ducats, and we ^\ill pay you back three-
fold next season"? Does not your conscience tell
you so for them, friends? These are my convic-
tions. I have given them to you with malice toward
none, and charity for all, including the pets.
Ed. Stover.
Naperville, DuPage Co., 111., Jan. 28, 1881.
A GOOD LOCATION FOR AN APIARY.
Three miles over the mountain is a large territory
of raspberries, perhaps 1000 acres, and lots of spot-
ted maple and fireweed, and there is a great deal of
what I call " yellow weed," that blossoms in July,
August, and September, and there is a great deal of
white clover, willows, etc. Now, do you think I
could keep 60 swarms of bees, and have them do well
in my locality?
SPRING M.\NAGEMENT.
Now, friend R., I will tell you how I manage with
my bees in the spring. When I set them" out to
work, I take off the upper .etory and put on the en-
amel-cloth cover over the lower story; then I put
the upper on again, and put the cover on the hive,
etc. Now, if I ought to fix them any differently,
please state how I should do so for the spring, to
have them right for breeding.
BUILDING BEE-HOUSES.
I am going to build a new bee-house this spring
for my bees. I should like to set my bees out in a
yard made for that purpose, but I can not keep bees
out in a yard here, for every fall there will be minus
the number you put there in the summer time.
PUTTING A SIMPLICITY STORY OVER BOX HIVES.
I have 13 swarms in 3 story Simplicity hives, and 5
in old-fashioned box hives. I took the tops off as
you directed me to last spring, and put on a 1-story
Simplicity, filled with sections. They swarmed all
around, and made some honey in the sections be-
sides.
CELLARS FOR WINTERING.
Now, I want to build a cellar on purpose t(j winter
my bees. My old cellar is very wet in the spring.
The one I talk of making is on a dry, warm plain,
and I want to make it large enough for 60 swarms,
and have a work-shop in the upper part.
R. H. Bailey.
Ausable Forks, Essex Co., N. Y., Jan. 23, 1^1.
I should just like the fuu, friend B., of
keeping (10 colonies in such a locality as you
describe. — I would lill those upper stories
with chaff, by all means, and leave it on un-
til you want to put on the suri)lus boxes;
but by far a better way would be to have
them in chaff hives all "the time, if you wish
to have them breed up rapidly in the spring.
—I would not build any sort of a bee-house.
Better by far. use the time and lumber in
building a tight high fence around your api-
ary. If anybody gets into such an inclosure
to steal your bees, it is an indication that
you are in a bad neighborhood, and that you
are to blame for not trying to make it better,
in the way I have so many times pointed out
to you. — Neither would I build a cellar for
bees. Use the same capital in giving them
good protection on their summer stands,
each hive in its proper accustomed place.
A DEAF AND DUMB ABC FRIEND.
I have but 4 stands of hybrids, and I am fond of
attending to them. Though I am deaf and dumb, I
have handled bees a great deal in my life, and had
been without bees for 15 years until last spring, as I
had no permanent place then. Have read Quinby's,
King's, and Langstroth's books through several
times. I use the Langstroth hive.
Richmond, Ind., Jan. 31, 1881, J. E. Townsend.
Just imagine, friends, how it would seem
to be unable to hear the hum of a single bee,
or in fact any sound of any kind at all. As
I look upon the words our brother writes, a
strange feeling comes over me-. It is possi-
ble he has never heard a single one of the
words pronounced, which he writes just as
you and I do, and yet he seems to be ]ust as
well acquainted with their significance as
we are. May God bless and help you, broth-
er ; and may it be a lesson to us, as we pon-
der for a minute, to forget not to give
thanks, that we both hear and speak.
CORN-COB BRAN VERSUS CHAFF.
Many eggs are now shipped from the West, packed
in corn-cob bran, or ground corn cob. After the
eggs are sold here in the East, the bran is thrown
away. Would not this corn-cob bran answer for fill-
ing for chatr cushions better than chaff, which is not
so plenty here, unless you are a farmer, and raise
your own chaff? R. E. Holmes.
West Winsted, Ct., Feb., 1881.
I would use it, without question, friend
II.; and I have no doubt, from the way mice
nest in it, it will prove even warmer for the
purpose than our usual chaff. Of course,
the hives need to be made so no mice ever
get at it while around the bees. Thanks for
suggestion.
AN A B C SCHOLAR WITH BOX HIVES.
I bought two old box hives in the spring of 1879,
with very few bees in them; but I managed to build
them up so that one of them gave me a small swarm
the last of July. I put them in a box hive because I
knew of nothing better. It being a good year for
honey, they gathered enough to go through the win-
ter, and the old hives gave me about 40 lbs. of sur-
plus. I wintered under cover in the side of a bank,
and they came ouj^in the spring of 1880 somewhat
dwindled. One of the old hives gave me two swarms,
which I united and put in Simplicity; from the other
one, which I also put in the same, I got no surplus.
In fact, I got none from any this year. I now have
them down cellar, and I think they are doing nicely.
How is this for a beginner in A B C ?
L. S. Smith.
Cherryfield, Washington Co., Me., Jan. 17, 1881.
Very good, friend S., and I really believe
the best way for a beginner to start, is to get
box hives and common bees at a small ex-
136
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
Mae.
pense. When he can manage the hox hives,
he certainly can the others, and if he makes
a failure, he is not very much more out of
pocket.
LANGSTROTH FRAME FOB COLD CLIMATES.
Would you advise the L. frame for a cold climate?
Is not a deeper hive better? Will it not protect the
bees better in winter? H. K. Ghegohy.
Youngsville, Sullivan Co., N. Y., Jan. 17, 1881.
A colony without protection might some-
times winter better in a deep frame ; but
the best arrangement for winter is to have
the top and bottom of the combs so near
each other that the bees are clustered on
both, and over a good part of the bottom-
board to tlie hive. If the bees filled the in-
terior of the hive, so that there were bees all
through, and even part way into the en-
trance, even in the coldest of weather we
should have the best condition, and no other
frame admits of this so well as a shallow
one. A shorter frame might be better,
perhaps ; but if we have a pretty strong
colony, it makes little dilference. As a gen-
eral thing, I think the L. frame better for
wintering than a deep one, where they are
properly fixed up for winter.
HONEY THAT IS GRANULATED IN THE COMBS.
We use the L. frame, and wish to extract JOO
frames, all in the super. Our bees have plenty
honey in brood-chamber to winter on. The honey
in frames has granulated on lower and some on up-
per edges of combs, and the other is so thick that we
can't throw it out of combs. Please let us know if
there is any way by which we can extract it. What
effect will warm weather have on it? How will bees
winter on granulated honey?
There has been more cold weather here than evar
known before. Flournoy & Foster.
San Antonio, Bexar Co., Tex., Jan. 20, 1881.
Tlie thick honey can be extracted without
trouble with any good extractor. First
warm the combs up gradually, until the
honey runs easily. This will take quite a
little time, for solid honey is a poor con-
ductor of heat, and warms slowly. It will
not do to have the room in which the combs
are stored too hot, or they will break and
fall out of the frames, as has happened more
than once in trying to extract in cold weath-
er. With the granulated honey, you have a
harder matter still ; but if you can warm it
so it will' come out of the combs, you can
easilj^ melt it afterward. If you do not suc-
ceed in getting it out, I would use the heavy
combs in building up stocks. The bees will
use the candied honey readily, when the
weather is warm, and without any waste.
Bees will winter on granulated honey if they
can get water to dissolve it ; but it is apt to
be somewhat like grape sug|^% which it real-
ly is, virtually.
HOPES NOT BLASTED AFTER ALL.
I thought I would drop you a few lines concerning
ray bees. Last spring my colonies numberod 10,
which were in fine condition, except 2 or 3, which
were prevented from breeding until quite late, on
account of not having pollen; but still they all
turned out to be fair colonics. At the beginning of
the honey harvest, which was very poor here this
season, apple-bloom came and passed away, yielding
scarcely any honey. White clover was a failure;
basswood was a failure; in fact, the bees barely
made a living until the fall flowers opened out.
Buckwheat did not amount to much, on account of
the dry weather; the bees worked on it only awhile
in the morning. Smartweed, Spanish needle, and
other late flowers, yielded abundantly. The bees
soon filled their hives with honey, seemingly in a
fine condition for winter. The first of November I
prepared them for their winter nap, removing all
the frames but 6, filling in with chaff on each side,
and on top of the frames; I then placed the hives in
a row, and packed straw around them; the swarm
with my Italian queen was put in a chaff hive with 4
inches of chaff on each side, and I filled the upper
story with straw, thinking they were in fine condi-
tion for winter. They were not examined until the
last week in January. I thought I would look at
them; but, alas! what did I find? V stands out of
the 11, including my chaff hive, were as dead as
mackerel. They had the dysentery, which was
caused from the late fall honey, and the long-contin-
ued cold weather. Mr. Root, don't this look like
Blasted Hopes? This leaves me with 4 stands at
present; but I haven't much hopes for them if it
don't come out warm pretty soon, so that they can
take a fly. However, my hopes are not blasted yet.
Cicero, Tnd., Feb. 2, 1881. Elias Berg.
I fear, friend B., we shall have to go back
to the sugar feeding, as so strongly recom-
mended by (tLeanings the first year it was
started. I have never seen a case of dysen-
tery under the conditions you mention,where
they had stores of pure sugar. I think, how-
ever, I should have preferred the hives left
on their usual stands, instead of placing
them in a row with straw around them.
You see, the sun and wind could not get at
the outside of the hives to dry them out, and
I fear they became damp.
WINTERING IN CEI,LARS.
I have kept bees for m,,re than fifty years, but I
have all these years had but little knowledge of
them, and not until about four or five years sinco
had my attention called to the fact of my ignorance
in this matter. The thought had not entered my
mind but that the colonies of this insect in the com-
mon box hive must occupy their summer stand
through the long winter months, and suffer the
freezing and thawing, and take their chances of life
or death as best they could; and if they survived, all
well: if the poor things died, it was but incidental to
bee-keeping. In 1854 I ca me from the State of New
York to this place. In 1860 a friend presented me
with a swarm of bees, giving varied success of yearly
harvests of honey and increase of bees, with losses,
etc. About four years ago a new light dawned upon
me. I saw most clearly that I had been groping in
darkness in relation to bee culture. I had gathered
around me over 100 swarms (all from the one) in
box hives. I offered them for sale, and within the
two years past, have sold over 100 colonies, and have
now 34 swarms in Langstroth hives — 15 of them
Italians, in my cellar, and, so far as I can see, in
first-rate order. I think this is the sixth winter that
1 have put bees in cellar. One or two winters I took
off entirely the bottom-board, the hives standing on
two scantling 2x4. This winter I set them on the
timbers with bottom-board, and in the honey-board
a ventilator, with wire cloth over it. My cellar is
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
137
perfectly dark and dry, sandy bottom, at the en-
trance double doors, and in the room directly above
I have a stove, with fire night and daj*. A stovepipe
0 inches from the bottom of the cell.tr, connects
witn the stovepipe above, with a constant rush of air
passing up it. Another ventilator from the outside
conducts air from the outer world into the cellar,
which has a regulator to shut off the air when I wish.
The bees wore put in the cellar Nov. 15th, and have
been dry and quiet up to this date, Feb. 2d. They
were perfectly dry when put in the cellar. In this
room hangs a thermometer that has indicated be-
tween 35 and 42 degrees above zero.
D. Alcctt.
Broadbead, Green Co., Wis., Feb. 2, 1881.
I presume you know, friend A., that the
plan yon give is almost, if not quite, exactly
as I have described it in the A ]3 C for cellar
Avintering. We have many reports like yours;
but occasionally we have reports, too, of the
bees coming out and flying all over the cel-
lar, when, to all appearance, the circum-
stances were exactly the same. That tliose
who failed to winter safely in the way you
mention fail in doing so now, would seem to
indicate a disease, or some new state of af-
fairs. Were winters all like tlie present one
here, I should feel a great deal more like ad-
vocating cellar wintering. It may be that
unwholesome stores will account for the
troubles in wintering in such cellars as yours.
HONEY FROM SKUNK CABBAGE, ETC.
I wintered my bees in the open air— just enough
cover on them to keep them dry. They are all in
good condition, and working finely to-day. The
black, or highland willow, is now in bloom; it is
about two weeks earlier than usual. The skunk
cabbage will be in bloom by the first of February.
It is the king of all flowers in its season. The hon-
ey from this plant is highly recommended for all
kinds of colds, cough, and lung diseases. I have
used it in my family for eight years, and know it to
be good. The honey is very white and thick, with
excellent flavor. I use a great deal of honey in my
familj', and haven't paid a doctor's bill for eight
years. Do you know any thing about skunk cab-
bage? W. E. MCWiLLI.
Collins, Benton Co., Oreg., Jan. 19, 1881.
I do not. more than it has been several
times mentioned as a honey-plant.
PERFORATED SEPARATORS, DITISION -BOARDS, ETC.
I see from Gleanings of January, p. 10, that you
and some of your correspondents are experiment-
ing on perforated metal for separators. I am of the
opinion, that where division-boards are used in the
body of the hive, wood is preferable to metal. I find
that if a number of saw-kerfs are made in the divi-
sion-board 3-16 of an inch wide, that it will allow the
worker bees to pass, and yet exclude the queens and
drones. The division-boards should be put into the
hives with the ends to the sides of the hive, so that
the boards, swelling from the dampness and heat of
the bees, will not tighten against the sides of the
hive. I would make the number of saw-kerfs that
I wanted, cut in about "3 of the length from one end,
or part of them may be made from each end; then
nailing on the end sawed from, a small strip to keep
them in place or from springing. A number of
boards could be sawed at once, either by setting a
ripper so coarse as to make a slit 3-10 of an inch, or
by making your circular saw to run wabbling. I do
not think that round holes (especially through met-
al) made small enough to exclude the queens and
drones will ever answer the purpose; for the work-
er bees, in passing, would rake the pollen from their
legs. If I understand Mr. Jones aright, his plan was
to use his separator onlj- in the body of the hive;
and the one he had in Toronto last fall at the Indus-
trial Exhibition was of the full width of the inside
of the hives. W. B. Terry.
Keswick, Ontario, Jan. 18, 1881.
frames without bottom -b.\rs. and side -bars
only part way down.
Now, about my way of building frames: I do not
know that other folks' bees build their combs as
mine do. I have used the Langstroth hive, and I
noticed that there was considerable space in the
hive that the bees could not use, and, in my way of
thinking, this space was even worse than useless,
if possible. My bees build their comb, attaching
them to the frames about half way down, then leav-
ing the space between the comb and frame that
they naturally leave between the comb and hive in
common box hives. Now, I make my frames with
top-piece as usual, and side-pieces ]& in. thick reach-
ing down about half way. I have used a tin brace
from side-piece to top-bar, but I think your metal
corners are better. The bees attach their comb to
said side-pieces down as far as they go, and then
leave about the same space between the comb and
hive down and across the bottom that they would in-
side the frame. You see, T am saving the space out-
side of frame, and the thickness of frame, which
space, I think, is a disadvadtage to the bees in more
ways than one; and I also think the combs areas
movable as when built in frames. D. S. Rall.
South Cabot, W^ash. Co., Vt., Jan. 29, 1881.
Your idea is not an old one, friend II., and
it no doubt would have been adopted long
ago were it not that the bees will occasional-
ly build out such combs and attach them to
the hives, so as to be any thing but movable
frames, when we have a good yield of honey.
Of the truth of this you can easily satisfy
yourself. In transferring from box hives,
you will find almost, if not quite, every old
hive will have the combs securely attached
to the sides of the hive, and sometimes bot-
tom-board also. Tour combs are as you
state, because your bees have probably never
been through a great yield of honey, with
but a limited space to store it in. Another
tlung : when handling such combs full and
heavy with honey, in very warm weather,
they are almost sure to break out of the
frames. It is also very inconvenient to lay
down such a comb without its receiving in-
j ury , or being constantly liable to it. I would
suggest, that the side-bars be made light and
the bottom-bars thin, and then, by fdn. or
transferring,* make the bees extend their
combs clear up to the wood all around. By
this means we save the waste room in a hive
as you mention, do we not ?
FROM "OUR ABC CHILD."
The cold weather has let up at last, and bees are
flying finely to-day. Ev^ery one of my 24 are extra
strong, and examination shows brood in all stages;
and, strange to say, while the thermometer was 40°
below zero, and I anxious for fear of their freezing,
7
138
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Mar.
they were, in truth, /oo warm. Certainly the chaff
packing- is the thinf^ with young bees and heavy
swarms. What is your price of a Cyprian queen? I
want a Cyprian queen to try in this "land flowing
with milk and honey," as one man calls my locality.
I shall say no more about my honey yield, as I see
many doubting it ; but I like to jingle my money for
it all the same. I have offered to bet that I could
double it next season; and if I don't make a cent I
have enough of this year's product to carry me over.
Arcadia, Wis., Feb. 7, 1881. E. A. Morgan.
I am very glad indeed, friend M., that you
found the chaff hives too warm this cold win-
ter, for I guess " too warm " must have been
just about right this time. I am sorry to
say we have but one Cyprian queen now, and
no Holy-Land queens at all ; so I think you
will have to go right to friend Jones. *We
are glad you have got the money to jingle,
but don't bet, please ; for if you should, I
should feel pretty sure that next year would
not be as good as the last one ; and, indeed,
I am afraid you might never have any more
good years ; not that I think the seasons
would be bad, necessarily, but I am afraid
you would not work with the honest zeal you
have shown in the past year.
A OOOD REPORT FROM ONLY SEVEN COLONIES IN THE
SPRING.
I have 14 stands of bees, all of which seem to bo
wintering all right. I use the Quinby closed-end
standing frame, packed on all sides, and on top with
loose chaff, and I like them very well for my use. I
will give you my report for 1880, which I think is not
bad for the season, and a new hand.
From T swarms in spring.
Honey sold, 470 lbs., $70.18
Bees ". 8.00
Honey kept for use, 90 lbs., .... 14.40
Increase, 7 swarms, - - - - - - 35.00
$137.58
Expenses, including 100 lbs. sugar fed in fall, 44.00
Balance, $83.58
Section-box honey,
Best black swarm, 100 lbs.
Poorest black " 90 •'
Best Italian swarm, 90 "
Poorest Italian " 20 "
My experience with Italians does not place them
ahead of the blacks for comb honey in this locality;
but for raising bees, and swarming, they can't be
beat. D. O. Sweet.
Rockport, Cuy. Co., O., Jan. 34, 1881.
INSTRUCTIONS IN BUILDING UP AN APIARY.
I should like to build up an apiary.
1. Will begin with 3 stocks; one best Italian, two
blacks.
2. Can buy perhaps 200 empty combs.
3. Will buy all the fdn. necessary.
4. Will set out in chaff hives as early as weather
will permit.
5. Will use sugar every day for feeding that is
economical for the whole season.
6. In honey season, I want stocks strojif/. When
it ctast%, then /ecd.
Please give instructions in your next issue.
Albany, 111., Jan. 25, 1881. Z. D. Paddock.
Why, friend P., you do not need any in-
struction, that I see. Your head seems to
be "level," all the way from first to sixth-
ly. Just go ahead, and do so. As to buying
those combs, do so, by all means, unless you
will have to pay more for them than you can
get frames tilled with fdn. for. Unless the
combs are extra nice, I think I should pre-
fer the fdn.
SELLING BEES.
We have a hard winter on bees. My bees in chaff
hives are almost all dead, so we will have a nice time
for increasing in the spring. I should like to sell
you some bees by the pound. I would like to bring
you a load every teri days from about the middle of
May.
ARTIFICIAL SWARMING.
Now I Will tell you my way to increase bees. I
take 3 strong stocks, which I call No. 1, 3, and 3.
Now I drive all the bees out of No. 1 and put in a
new hive with combs, and call it No. 4, and put it
where No. 1 is, and move No. 3 to a new stand, and
put 1 in its place, and give 1 a queen, and in 5 days I
drive No. 3 and put them in a new hive with comb,
and put it where No. 2 stood, and give 2 a queen, and
move 1 to a new stand, and so on every 5 days as
long as you wish. C. J. Yoder.
Orrville, Wayne Co., O., Feb. 3, 1881.
I would suggest to friend Y., and many
others who propose to sell bees, that by far
the better way would be for them to adver-
tise the bees by the pound, and then ship
them direct to those who -want them. If I
buy them, it will be only to sell again; and
with the experience I have had, I should
have to buy them at about half what I sell
them for, to cover expense of shipping-
cages, and losses in transit, etc. If you send
them direct to the consumer, all this will be
saved. As bees must always go by express,
there will be none or but little advantage iu
having them sent with other goods. I think
it likely that, with a good allowance of
Viallon's candy, we shall be enabled to dis-
pense with the troublesome water-bottles;
but this yet remains to be proved. I can fur-
nish you boxes for sliinping bees, at a small
price. It is my impression that the food
should be placed above the chister, and that
the bottom of the cage should be of wire
cloth. Your plan of increase is virtually the
one Langstroth gives in his book, and is one
that was practiced for artificial-swarming
box hives. The advantage of it is, that in-
stead of dividing a colony into two, you only
make one new one from two old ones. It is
a very safe way of increase, but I think it
has been mostly abandoned, because it is
too troublesome.
TALKING TO BEES.
Do you think a person can injure bees by talking
to them? A man told me that he sold two swarms
of bees, and then he asked the owner's consent to
talk to the bees. The man said he might, and so he
talked to one swarm. He said,—
"I want the first swarm that comes out of this
hive to run away to the woods, and the second
swarm I want the millers to destroy."
Well, when the first swarm came out, surely
enough they did run away to the woods, and the sec-
ond swarm filled the hive two-thirds full of comb,
and then he said that one day the bees were all lay-
ing on the outside of the hive. Then the owner
asked him if he could tell him what the matter was
with that second swarm of bees. He told him that
>
1881
GLEAKINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
139
he thought the millers were In the hive. They went
to the hive and looked in, and it was all full of
millers and their webs, and the swarm was all ruined.
This is what ho told me. If there Is any thing in
talking to bees, [ want to talk to mine before I put
them out in the spring. R. H. Bailey.
Ausable Forks, N. Y., Feb. 4, 1881.
It is vei\v like]}' that all you say actually
happened, 'friend 13.. for you might talk the
same ■u-ay to a great pait of the hives of bees
usually kept by farmers, and those who neg-
lect them, and have it all come true. Of
course, no one supposes the talking had any
effect on the result, either one way or the
other. The day of such superstitions has
long gone by. It is the doing instead of the
talking, that does the business with bees, as
well as any other kind of business.
PORTCLVCA AS A IIOSEY-PLAXT.
I have nevir noticed anything said about portu-
lacH as a honey-producer. It is a beautiful flower-
ing annual, flowers opening with the rising of the
sun, and bees fairly swarming on them; if they pro.
duce much honey it would be profitable to raise it,
as it is as easily grown as pursley, and ia this locali-
ty seeds itself. Mention it to some of your enter-
prising bee-keepers, and beg them to give it a trial,
and report. T. L. Davidson.
Early Branch, Hampton Co., S. C, Feb. 7, 1881.
One fall one of our girls had a beautiful
bed of portulacas in a slieltered nook by the
side of the building, and after all flowers
were gone, and bees too, as we supposed, we
had a bed of brilliant flowers covered Avith
Italian bees, just as soon as the sun reached
them in the afternoon. I have tried since
to have just such a bed again ; but somehow
they don"t seem to thrive exactly like ''purs-
ley"" under my management.
asking questions on a postal, etc.
In answer to my advertisement, I begin to receive
postals and letters of special inquiry. Some parties
ask more questions on a postal than can be replied
to on another, and it costs us 3 cents, paper, and en-
velopes for what, in all probability, will never be
worth a cent to us. Others write a letter inclosing
postal card for reply, and still others inclose 3-cent
stamp for answer. W^. P. Henderson.
Murfreesboro, Rutherford Co., Tenn., Feb. 7, 1881.
Gently, friend 11. If your querist sends a
stamp, he must use a stamped envelope to
write to you ; and if he sends such queries
to a great many people, it will cost him a
good deal of money, while if he nses a post-
al, it is but one cent for each of you. If they
ask questions on a postal, or without inclos-
ing a stamp, they have no right to expect
more than you can write on a postal. I
know that many of our friends are severely
tried with us because of the brevity of our
answers ; but I do not know how I can well
help it, if they will not bear in mind that we
can not hire clerks to write long letters, such
as they would doubtless like to get. At the
same time, I think that whoever advertises
in any business should expect to have ques-
tions asked, and should, in fact, be thankful
to have them. Every business man should
expect at least to make his business pay for
postal cards, and I think Ave should be ve;:y
careful about deciding that any sort of an
inquiry, " in all probability will never be
worth a cent to us."" Will it not be best for
us all to take these burdens cheerfully, and
to decide to err on the side of doing a little
more than is really our share, raj;her than
the other way? ''Do good and leikl. hoping
for nothing again, and great shall be your
reward."' I have tried this little text a good
many times, and it always comes out right,
many times to my great astonishment too.
ONE SWARM FOR THE LORD.
I have not lost any swarms yet, but some have got
uneasy. There are about forty quarts that have
come out and died They commenced that as soon
; as.the last of May. Some died on the bottom-board ;
I some of them are in the cellar, and some in a dark
' room. I have got 46 altogether. Here is what I
have done for four years. I bought 13 swarms the
\ first ot July, 1877, and only one swarm was strong
: enough to work in the boxes. Here is what I have
i done since:—
\ 1877, 13 swarms gave .350 lbs.
1878, 13
18.9, 19
1880, 33
AJ
1238
1810
2300
.5688
Total -
Surplus combs 330
I have sold 14 swarms in that time. I should like
to be Doolittle's neighbor one year, and if I didn't
find out if bees could get honey when there was
none in the flowers it would be funny.
Oh ! I almost forgot. I have one swarm at work
for home missions, and they made §3.00 worth of
comb honey. Bless the Lord for that! Can't all of
us bee-keepers set aside one swarm for the work
this year, and the windows of heaven will be opened,
and we will receive a blessing? If these is any one
that doubts it, trj' it, and you will say before next
fall, " Bless the Lord!" Fayette Lee.
Cokato, Wright Co., Minn., Feb. 7, 1881.
ARTIFICIAL COMB-HONEY.
Our opinion has been asked of the follow-
ing, which is going the rounds of the papers:
Some unsophisticated purchasers of honey imagine
that by buying honey in the comb they are sure of
getting an unadulterated article. A great mistake.
There is an establishment in Boston where artificial
combs— not foundations merely, but combs — are
made in such perfection that it would require an ex-
pert to detect the fraud. Parafline, not wax, is the
material used. When the combs arc made they are
filled with an imitation honey made from glucose,
worth three or four cents per pound, and flavored to
taste. A hot iron is then passed over, the cells are
sealed, and the " comb honey " is ready for sale.
It is, of course, a sensational scare, with-
out a word more of truth in it than the ab-
surd stories about our white sugar being
adulterated with glucose. Xewspaper edit-
ors should know better than to publish such
stuff. Almost as well might the public be
told that the strawberries we find in the
markets are "manufactured.'"
WAX VERSUS WIRES, TO PREVENT FDN. SAGGING.
Honey-producers want very much fdn. made with-
out wires so it will not sag, so we can fill up a frame
and not have it bulge. Last season I tried some ex-
periments that satisfied me that it can be done very
easily. I joined strips of fdn. V/i and 2 and 4 inches
together, by lapping and pressing them together so
that they would stick well, and filled frames full
140
GLEAJ^INGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Mar.
and put them in perpendiculai-ly and the bees drew
them out without their bulging at all. I did not see
but that i inches wide answered just as well as that
closer. Now, to prevent sagging, I would simply
make it ribbed, any where from 1 to 4 inches, and
make the ribs say U wide, and so they would be
about 3 times as thick as the rest, and made so the
impressions will run right over the ribs. My im-
pression is, that about 2 inches will be about the
right distance for the ribs. You may object to the
waste of wax, thus adding to the cost; but it would
not cost as much as wiring the fi-ames, besides be-
ing much more easily done. If ribs the size I men-
tion will not answer, larger ones will.
FOUB-FRAME EXTRACTORg, ETC.
We want an extractor that will take 4 frames and
turn them inside the extractor. The turning of
frames where you are taking large quantities of
honey, adds very much to the labor. Can't you give
us such an extractor? As my letter is not Aery long
I will add, we want, very much, a way that every one
can make his own fdn. machines. I have watched
with a great deal of interest the progress made the
past two years in perfecting them.
Los Gatos, Cal., Feb. 11, 1881. S. S. Butler.
Your plan for keeping fdn. from sagging,
friend B., has been given in our back vol-
umes, and works all satisfactorily. The ex-
pense of the wax, and the need of wired
combs for 'shipping bees, are the principal
objections. With one of the Foster machines
you can easily put as many ribs in the fdn.
as you need ; but with the newly dipped
sheets, I think there will be no sagging auy
way. — An extractor can be made, such as you
describe, without trouble ; but it will of a ne-
cessity be so lieavy and unwieldy that you
would get along faster with the ordinary
kind. Extractors for four frames we have
made for years, but I never have heard a
favorable report from one of them.
RAPE AS A honey-plant; A BIG REPORT FROM IT.
I would like to hear the experience of bee-keepers
in regard to rape as a bee feed. My bees began to
work on it about the 25th of May, and it kept in
bloom for about 8 weeks. After the seed got ripe
it came up early in the fall, and the bees gathered
honey and pollen until the 5th of November. I put
one stand of bees in it the 3d of July, and they made
about 200 lbs. of honey, besides helping another
weak swarm. I would recommend a trial of it, es-
pecially in dry weather. A. Rater.
Monroe, Iowa, Feb. 18, 1881.
I am well aware, friend R., that rape is a
great honey-plant ; but with us, as 1 have
many times explained, the little black tlea
makes a good crop almost impossible. I
have seen a tew stalks of it furnish honey in
abundance, when it escapes this pest, even
in our locality.
ro BEES ever complain when out of stores?
As I was passing around my bees on thelCthof the
present month, I heard quite a humming among
some one of the colonies. It put me in mind of a
queenless colony during the summer. When I found
where the noisy colony was, I was at a loss what to
do with them, as the theimometer indicated 2° below
zero. I arrived at the conclusion to unpack them
and ascertain the cause. I looked and foimd them
running over their combs excitedly, but I failed to
find any honey in their combs; I then gave them
some nice basswood honey in one-pound sections.
In a short time all was quiet as usual. 1 ha^e had
one other colony act the same as this one did — quiet-
ed as soon as I gave them honey; was it for want of
stores, they did this way? They are in nice condi-
tion at present. Wm. Parmerlbe.
Bean Blossom, Ind.,reb. 19, 1881.
I once made the remark, that if a farmer
starved his pigs they would squeal, but that
the poor bees had no means of making them-
selves heard when suffering. The above
seems, however, to indicate I was at least
slightly mistaken. I can offer no explana-
tion of the matter, only that a weak colony
will sometimes make aloud humming, when
just about to succumb to a zero temperature ;
but in such a case, feeding would probably
be of no avail.
HOW TO TELL THE SOURCE FROM WHICH THE HONEY
COMES.
I shall want some honey labels next summer; but
there is one thing I should like you to enlighten me
on: How does a person always know from what
source the honey comes? I have been long used to
bees, and have noticed that they work on all, or
nearly all, kinds of flowers that will give honey. For
instance, I might label a section or package white
clover, when it might have come from a dozen dif-
ferent flowers. I want labels giving name and ad-
dress of producer, and source from which it was pro-
duced, provided I can be informed how to distinguish
it.
black-heart as a HONEY-PLANT.
Last fall at the time buckwheat was in bloom, the
river bottom here was covered with a wet-weather
weed. I think it is called black-heart. Some call it
smartweed; it grows as high as a man's head, pink
flowers as long as a perse n's finger. The bees seem
to work on it more than the buckwheat. I had honey
stored last fall, nearly as light colored as June honey,
and well flavored; seme hives had dark, I suppose
from buckwheat; others, the light colored. Perhaps
the light colored was from the black-heart. I think
I live in a preti y good place for bees. lama quarter
of a mile from a good sized stream of water, well
fringed with maple, elm, and willow; besides, the
bottoms are pretty well supplied with wild flowers,
pariicularly in the fall. So far, it has been a pretty
hard winter on bees. I have lost none yet; most of
mine are chaff -packed on summer stands, 14 colonies.
Four that I took from the " brimstone" last fall I
looked at this week, and they are all right, rearing
brood the same as my other colonies. 1 gave them
sealed frames from my strong colonies. I use the
10-frame Langstroth hive. I take out the side frames
of honey in the fall, and crowd the bees on just what
frames they will cover nicely, from 5 to 7; put in
chaff division-boards 2 inches thick, cushion on top,
quilt of duck underneath ; have wintered last winter,
and so far this, with good results; think this will be
a good test if 1 come through without loss.
Wm. H. Graves.
Duncm, Stark Co., 111., Feb. 11, 1881.
You can not tell ])ositively the source of
all your honey ; but it is a pretty easy matter
to label clover and basswood correctly, both
by the well-known flavor of each, and by the
time of the year in which it is stored. Buck-
wheat we know by the color and taste both ;
and in the case you mention, I think you
1881
GLEANIJ^GS lis BEE CULTtTRE.
141
would be very safe in labeling yonr white
fall honey black-heart, and the other buck-
wheat. The instance you cite shows plainly
that bees seem rather'to prefer to work on
one kind of blossoms at a time. I too have
seen one hive storing dark buckwheat honey,
while the one next to it stored white honey
from red clover. You will find the black-
heart mentioned in our price -list of seeds of
honey-plants.
A GOOD REPORT FROM BUCKWHEAT.
Bees did very well here last summer, through
white clover, and went into winter-quarters in very
good condition, owing to a good flow of honej' from
buckwheat and golicnrod. I think we can thank
our neighbors for sowing large fielJs of buckwheat,
for hives were very light before this latter yield
came. The winter has been very severe and steady,
and bees have not had a good fly for about two
months, until within a few days, when it has been
warmer, and they have had a chance to get out and
limber up a little.
DO BEES FREEZE?
Quite a good many swarms have frozen to death
this winter. 1 know that some believe that bees do
not freeze; but it seems to be the case here, for I
have seen them dead, frozen to death, fast to the
sealed honey. I commenced the winter with six
swarms, and have lost only one yet. The rest seem
in good condition. They are in the 8-framo story
and half Gallup hive; there are no chatT hives used
around here. I packed mine in oat straw, leaving
the front open. As I am only a beginner in the bee
business, I did not have very good success List year.
I increased from 2 swarms to 6 by buying 2, and
took only about 85 lbs. of comb honey.
PAPER AKD WOOD SEPARATORS.
Why will not common pasteboard do for separa-
tors as well as any thing in the paper line? or would
they warp out of shapo by getting damp in the
hive? I used wood separators last year, but the way
the bees plastered the propolis on to them was a
caution to wood separators, and I shall have some
tall scraping to do to clean them for use this season.
J. C. Hitchcock.
Hoag's Corners, Hens. Co., N. T., Feb. IT, 1881.
I do not think a good strong colony of
bees, properly protected in old tough combs,
will eyer freeze, though the weather be as
low as 40' below zero.— You have given the
objections to paper separators; but besides
that, bees will often set to work and gnaw
pasteboard, spoiling the separators, besides
wasting their time. Xothing seems to an-
swer in place of tin, especially in regard to
the propolis accumulations. The bees evi-
dently seem to tliink the tin is as smooth as
they can make it by varnishing, and so let it
alone.
RAPE for bees.
Having four acres of fall wheat I hurried it off,
and there being lots of rain I plowed and sowed
about 3 lbs. per acre, broadcast, at two different
times, a week apart. It came up in a hurry, and in
about forty days be.jame a perfect sea of yellow
bloom; and if Novice had only seen the beautiful
Italians going for that rape patch he would have
smiled— yes, he would. But although they worked
hard and gathered lots of pollen yet they did not in-
crease their stores of honey much; yet I have no
doubt but it helped them a great deal toward mak-
ing a living, and kept them out of mischief, and did
a great deal toward helping them to increase from
8 colonies in the spring to 22 in the fall; and at this
time, Feb. 16, they look as if they would live to hum
next summer; and taken all together, I am well
pleased with it; besides, it kept ihe Canada thistles
in subjection. H. Smith.
New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada.
FRIEND B.'S DILEMMA.
In your price list you say, "Don't get in debt."
Now, that advice came too late, as I am in debt, and
I wish you would give me some advice that will get
me out, this very year. This is what I want to
know: I want 50 hives this year, and I have not one
dollar to buy them with, and have to wait until some
honey is sold this year, and then it will be too late
in the season for them. Is there any way that I can
keep them from leaving, as I have nothing for a
house for them? Charles R. Ballow.
Half Moon Bay, Cal , Feb. 2, 1881.
All right, friend B. Stop using tobacco,
as you have promised to do on page 144 ; stop
every thing else that is useless, and hoard up
the pennies like a miser. Stop doing every
thing that you know is wrong, or even use-
less. Tell God you are going to be obedient
to him in every thing, just as faithfully as
you know how, and that you are going to
depend on him for help, right straight
through. Work every minute ; work like a
tiger ; don't stop to fuss or waste your time,
for any thing or anybody. Go to meeting
and Sunday-school on Sunday, and work as
hard for the Lord as you do for yourself on
week days. If there are no churches or Sun-
day-schools near you, start one or both. If
you can do no more, get a few of your friends
around you, and read the Bible to them, and
other good books. I will furnish the books
if you will undertake it, ZSTow for the bees :
You must try to buy or make frames enough,
of some cheap kind, to have your combs all
built in frames. Well, as it never rains in
California in the summer, you can hang
these frames on sticks supported by stakes
driven in the ground, and cover the whole
with some kind of cheap cloth. Make the
cover like a sort of bag, and bank dirt or
sawdust over the lower edges, to keep rob-
bers away, and I think you will get along
very well until you sell honey enough to buy
some hives, and then all you have to do is to
hang your frames in the hives, before win-
ter comes. I have used hives with nothing
but the ground for a bottom-board, and they
did very well during the summer. I have
also used only a cloth cover over the frames,
in the house apiary. N'ow, mind, you are
not to let a swarm go off, and you are to re-
port regularly every month, until the end of
the season. You see, friend B., if you come
out all right, there are hundreds of others
who are ready to follow; and. therefore, you
must not fail. Xow look out how you spend
your Sundays.
142
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Mar.
^u^enik §^nariigm^'
AM a little girl 11 years old. My uncle takes
Gleanings, and I like to read it. I would not
know how to do without it. My uncle has 20
colonies of bees; they are almost all black ones; the
remainder are Italians. He keeps his bees in the^
cellar, 19 of them, and one in a chaff hive. My
uncle's name is D. M. Welch. I have a swarm; it is
in a patent hive, and I would like to have it in a 114
story hive. Could you tell me how to do it? I go to
two Sunday-schools. I like to read the library
books. I would like to get a letter from Blue Eyes.
I like bees, but I like honey better still; I like buck-
wheat honey better than clover honey, but our bees
made boneset honey last summer. It was so bitter
that we could not eat it. I used to think that honey
was always sweet; but that was bitter. Did you
ever taste any like that? Aunt Mardie has six col-
onies. She buries hers up in the snow-drift, and
digs them out when it thaws. She has kept them
that way for 3 years, and they are always all right
when spring comes. I like the cartoons, and uncle
Dan likes Our H«mes. Jennie SCHERMEiinoRN.
Curwinsville, Pa., Fob. 14, 1881.
Many thanks, Jennie. I have just told
"Stella "to send yon a nice book for yonr
letter. I think I will tell her to send yon
" Silver Keys," for I have just read it, and I
like it ever so much. See if yon do not feel
sorry for poor Mrs. Sands, when she was
trying so hard to do right, when everybody
accused her of stealing the funny gold piece.
I have seen some honey that was bitter a lit-
tle, but I guess it was not as bad as that you
had. Give my best wishes to aunt Mardie
and imcle Dan. How do you like the car-
toon this month? Tell uncle Dan that I
said he must put your bees into a better hive
for you.
I think the reason of bees making dark honey is
the neglect of the bee-keeper. He just lets the hive
go, and does not look into it, so that the hive gets
dirty inside; and when the bees gather honey and
fill the little holes in the comb, the comb and honey
get dirty too; so this is what I think makes dark
honey. I am eleven years old.
Mabel L. Nelson.
Wyandotte, Kansas, Feb. 8, 1881.
I fear, friend Mabel, you hardly give the
bees credit enough; they are usually the
most scrupulously neat in their house-keep-
ing, and even if their combs are old and
dark, they have them scrubbed and scraped
so that they would hardly make the honey
dark, if I am correct. Get your pai)a to let
you see them some time, when they are
" cleaning honse." I am glad, however, yon
are studying in regard to'these tilings, and
so we send you a book too.
As papa has not sent in his reports of his bees, I
thought I would write and tell vou about them. He
has 19 in the cellar, and one chaff hive. I have i of
my own. They are in good order. I am 11 years
old. I love to go to Sunday-school. I go every Sun-
day. My mother is superintendent of our school.
My papa is D. M. Welch. He has taken Gleanings
6 or 8 years. He thinks he couldn't do without it.
Mother thinks the Home Papers are splendid. I
like the cartoons, for I have to laugh when I see
any one running from bees. They don't sting me.
Charlie Welch.
Curwinsville, Clearfield Co., Pa., Feb. 19, 1881.
Why, that is a tip-top letter, Charlie.
Give my best respects to your father and
mother, and thank them for their good opin-
ions. With such a father and mother, I can
not really see how yon can help growing up
a good boy. We send yon a book for your
letter too; tell us how yon like it when you
write again. I suppose Jennie is your cousin.
My bees are gone where the woodbine twineth,
but you must not put me in with the Blasted Kopers.
Papa's bees are all dead; they all died with the
cholera. When it got warm enongh to open them
we found them dead and all daubed over with their
filth, with plenty of honey in the hives. I have not
given up yet. I will keep bees and will try until I
learn to keep them safely. Papa has sent to the
South for some bees. There are only a few bees
left in this county. W^heu we make candy for our
bees we spread a paper in the dish and pour the
candy in on the paper. It comes out nice, and the
paper sticks to the candy, and we put it in the hives
with the paper up, and press the covers down tight.
Try this and see if you do not like it. Our bees were
out. what were alive, January 30th. They had a
good fly. It has been raining three days and nights.
The rivers are getting high. Papa sends you money
for Gleanings; we can not do without it. I like to
read all the papers. We take four of (hem.
Freddie L. Craycraft.
Salem, Wash. Co., Ind., Feb. 9, 1881.
Yery good, Ereddie. I am glad yon do
not want to be among the ]ilasted Ilopers,
and I am glad, too, that you like to read the
papers. Tell us how you like the book we
send you this time.
/i?%UR bees, 90 swarms, all right thus far, on their
||J9) summer stands, with ehtff cushions in the
— cap. W& protected them by banking up ori
three sides (leaving the front open), with straw and
coarse litter from the horse stable. For the past
two months we have had plenty of snow, so the
brood-chamber has been protected from the severe
cold. Bees had a purifying flight on the 9th of Feb.
White clover all right under the snow.
Mrs. L. Harrison.
Peoria, 111., Feb. 13, 1S81.
Well done, w^ell done, Mrs. II. I am sure
I shall never say again that women can not
keep bees. Why, we have had such a dismal
string of reports from Blasted Ilopers for
the past few Aveeks that I had thought
seriously of advertising for the names of a
few, if there were any .such, who had not lost
all their bees. Vou see, I wanted to have these
few names to hold the A 35 C class up, ior
fear they would all get demoralized and put
off in one vast stampede. Ninety colonies,
and all, all right, out west on the prairies on
their summer stands, and only a woman —
beg pardon, my friend ; you know I was
just saying what others say, in that conclud-
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
143
ing remark. Now, there is one more bit of
comfort in your report. You saved your
bees (like a sensible woman) by protecting
them with litter from the horse stables ; and
that old experiment of mine, where I bought
40 loads, was not faulty in theory, bnt simply
in practice ; I had not yet got the hang of it.
$d^§ and §nwi%i.
COTTON SEED FUR WINTER PACKING, ETC.
f|HE{lmisinbloom. Queens are laying- nicely.
Lost one colony during' winter. Those packed
■ — ' in cotton seed ai-e all iu the best condition.
Hurrah for cotton seed I it is the thing for bive pack-
ing; it will not mold if it gets a little damp. The
busy season is upon us. Oats are being- put in the
ground in a hurrj'. Corn-planting will commence
in ten days. B. F. Carroll.
Dresden, Navarro Co., Texas, Feb. 5, 1881.
Bees In cellar all quiet and right thus far.
Coleraln, Mass., Feb. 7, '81. Wm. W. Gary.
WHICH IS THE BEST SMOKER?
I have used the Quinby, the Bingham, and your
smokers; and for all purposes I like the large-size
new Quinby smoker best. J. G. Martin.
Reidenbach's Store, T.an. Co., Pa., Feb. 7, 1881.
In reply to Mr. E. Cadwell about smokers, T will
say I have tried hot-blast smokers, but they send
down sparks, and are liable to set the hive on fire,
and are so hot that you can not bare your hand in
the smoke. I used one, and I did not lilje it; so I
sent for a Simplicity tmoker, and there is none made
to beat it. First, it does not blow hot smoke; sec-
ond, it gives more smoke than any other smoker; in
fact, it is the best smoker in the market.
West Woodstock, Ct., Feb., 1881. A. S. Myers.
We are losing our bees in this section, with what
seems to be dysentei-y. I am feeding mine candy.
They seem better. Hope to save some of them.
D. B. BuziCK.
AsLland, Saunders Co., Neb., Jan. 31, 1881.
DIPPING foundation.
I think I have got up a dipping machine that is a
success. I sent and got a Faris machine, but mine
beats it. I have us?d mine two years, but have im-
proved on it. Geo. W. Penn.
Colfax, Iowa, Jan. 24, 1881.
CELLAR WINTERING.
My bees, 100 swarms, seem to be doing well in the
cellar, and with our steady cold weather I can't see
how they would be better off out of doors in chaff.
Winter set in about Nov. Uth, and no days since,
warm enough for bees to fly. L. Beckwith.
Berlin, Green Lake Co , Wis., Feb. 4, 1881.
CALIFORNIA.
Bees have been working briskly on willow ever
since Christmas. I have had some seven-top turnip
in bloom since New Year's; will send you some
blooms. If some of you had the pollen that my Ital-
ians have gathered, and could spare, you would not
think of flour as feed. John S. King.
San Jose, Santa Clara Co., Cal., Jan. 28, 1881.
WILD CUCDxMBER, ETC.
Last year was n':»t a good year with us; but by mo-
ving part of mine out they did very well. I in-
creased from 81 to 16.5 colonies, and sold $85 worth
of honey. We have a honey-plant here I never
heard you mention. We call it wild cucumber; it
grows abundantly on the bottom, and bees gather
from it extensively. It will do well on any soil.
Peru, 111., Feb. 7, 1881. H. S. Hackman.
FRIEND MUTH AND HIS VICINITY.
Examined 20 of my colonies, and found them in
first-class condition. One of them was rather weak,
but will pull through. Some had brood in all stages.
Weather would not permit me to finish my examin-
ation. From the reports I hear, I have reason to be-
lieve that 75 per cent of all the bees in Ohio and Ind-
iana are winter-killed. Chas. F. Muth.
Cincinnati, O., Feb. 11, 1881.
not in blasted hopes after all.
Notwithstanding you pushed me into Blasted
Hopes last summer without my permission, we still
survive, having about finished selling the heaviest
crop of fall honey we ever had gathered, and pros-
pects for the future are at present encouraging,
provided our pets get through this extremely cold
winter in good shape. Chas. H. Rue.
Manalapan, Mon. Co., N. J., Jan. 18, 188L
ROBBING, HOW TO STOP.
Simply fold a wet rag, and regulate the entrance
according to the extent of the robbing.
Peru, 111., Feb. 9, 1881. fl. s. Hackman.
[Thanks, friend H. ; but 1 believe the above has
been substantially given in our back No's. A wet
cloth, or wet grass, seems to have the effect of at
least dieeouraging and repelling robbers, when
placed near the entrance.]
GOOD NEWS PROM MR. LANGSTROTH.
Deir Brother Root .-—It has pleased the kind Father
to restore me to health; and, excepting the increas-
ing infirmities of age (I was 70 last Christmas), I am
in most respects as well as I have been for many-
years. L. L. Lanqstkoth.
Oxford, O., Feb. 13, 1881.
[Knowing how deeply you all are interested in any
word from our friend and benefactor Mr. L., I take
the liberty of giving the above brief note.]
THE FOUL-BROOD QUESTION IN MICHIGAN.
Several bee-keepers iu this vicinity are consider-
ing the feasibility of holding a convention in De-
troit this spring. The question of foul brood is de-
manding attention, and the elEciency of the law
about to be passed in our State in regard to it de-
pends on the activity of bee-keepers. Will those
who favor the enterprise please send me their
names? A. B. Weed.
75 Bagg St., Detroit, Mich., Feb. 18, 1881.
How are bees wintering? Mine are wintering very
poorly. I have over 40 swarms in cellar. Bees have
not had a day they could fly since Nov. 6.
William Vanauken.
Wocdville, Jeff. Co., N. Y., Jan. 21, 1881.
[Ours, at this date (Feb. 8ih), are in pretty fair
condition, except the ones in the house apiary. Of
those out of doors, we have lost about 5 per cent,
and the worst part of it is, this 5 per cent includes
two Holy-Land queens and one Cyprian. One of the
Holy Land queens had what we called the best col-
ony of bees in the apiary, and the best supplied with
stores. They seemed to have dysentery, for their
well-filled combs were pretty badly daubed,]
144
GLEANINGS m BEE CULTURE.
Mar.
viallon's candy for queen-cages without wa-
ter.
The last queen bee you sent me came in splendid
order. The cag-e had no bottle of water in it, as you
well remember. You sent me three, and thej' got
all wet with the water in the cage, and one of them
died. The one you sent instead came in good order,
and started laying in a few days, and had a nice bit
of young brood in the hive. Jas. Anderson.
Caledon, Ont., Can., Jan. 20, 1881.
HONEY FOR SORE EYfS.
A neighbor of mine had inflammation in his eyes.
He tried many things of many physicians; "was
nothing bettered, but rather grew worse," until he
was almost entirely blind.- His family was sick, and
I presented him with a pail of honey. What they
did not eat he put in his eyes, a drop or two in each
ej-e, two or three times a day. In three months'
time he was able to read coarse print, and now, after
four months' use, his eyes are almost as good as
ever. I have also found honey very good for com-
mon cold-sore eyes. S. C. Perry.
Portland, Ionia Co., Mich., Feb. 18, 1881.
THIRTY-SIX SWARMS FROM ONE IN EIGHT MONTHS.
I had 1 swarm last spring; I now have 5, and have
extracted 50 lbs. of honey. I had, however, some
extra comb to help me. But this is nothing. Two
years ago, Mr. Archer, of Santa Barbara, made 36
swarms from 1 in 8 months, besides extracting about
(I forget the exact figures) 1500 lbs. of honey. I am
acquainted with Mr. Archer, and do not doubt the
statement. But it is not all rosy in California.
Some seasons we come out with half the number of
bees we start in with, and no honey at all. Again,
in good seasons the price is so low there is no profit.
Santa Barbara, Cal., Feb. 9, 1881. S. P. Snow.
CHINESE TEA-PLANT AS A HONEY- PLANT.
If bee-keepers will get the report of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture for the year 1877, they will find
that the " Chinese tea-plant " is spoken of as a valua-
ble honey-plant. Can not they do a good thing for
themselves and the country too by disseminating it
throughout the land? The plant is nearly as hardy
as the peach-tree; can be propagated by cuttings,
and is easily cultivated. There are a good many
trees in the Southern States, and cuttings ought not
to be difiicult to get. William Haravood.
Newberg, Cass Co., Mich., Feb. 12, liSl.
[If the tea-plant can be grown as easily as you say,
friend H., it will be a matter of great surprise to us,
as we have not beard of any experiments with it be-
yond the State cf California. Can any one tell us
about this matter, and also about the honey-produc-
ing properties of the tea-plant?]
TOBACCO COliUMN.
HOW IT STARTED.
fSEE by Feb. No. of Gleanings that a few care-
less words of mine [see p. 493, Oct. No.] are like-
ly to cost you quite a number of smokers. I
am not able to give away smokers, but would like,
through Gleanings, to give all who are trying to
quit the use of tobacco, a word of ad%nce and a word
of comfort; and perhaps the best way is to give a
little of my own experience. My mother used to
tell me that I was taught to smoke when about two
years old, and that my father taught me. I can not
remember the time when I did not like to smoke,
better than to eat. I am now 46 years old, and,
as nearly as I can estimate, smoking has cost me
about eighteen hundred dollars, and I think no man
ever had the smoking habit more firmly fixed than I
did. Three years ago I began to think of the awful
waste of time and money that I was guilty of, and
to want to reform in this respect, as I had long be-
fore done with regard to drink; but all my friends
(those who were woi-kiug side by side with me in the
cause of temperance) told me that it was no use for
me to try to break myself of this awful hubit. Fi-
nally I began to look upon the use of tobncco, n it
as a habit, but as an awful sin in the sight of God.
With these thoughts in my mind I went to bed one
night, but not to sleep. 1 lay awake and thought of
my condition until about two o'clock in the morn-
ing, when all at once these woids came into my
mind: " Take it to the Lord in prayer." I got out of
bed and got down on my knees, and there in the
darkness, and with none but God to hear, I asked
for strength to overcome the awful habit of smok-
ing, to which for forty yenrs I had been a slave. I
thus wrestled with God for about two hours, when I
arose from my knees, conscious that 1 had gained
the greatest victory of my life. The next day I
worked all day in the shnp by the side of a man who
smoked all the time, but with no desire on my part
to smoke at all.
This letter is now too Ijng. At some future time
I will tell of the many, who, under God, hive quit
tobacco through my intluenco, and I want you all to
remember that one who knows the power of prayer
prays every night for all who are trying to leave off
the awful habit of smoking. Henry M. Smith.
Frankfort, Mich., Feb. 10, 1881.
Do not, I i)ray you, friend S., call the
words careless, for 1 am sure it was God who
prompted you to write them. Do you not
see the good that is coming from it? Never
fear about the cost of the smokers ; God will
take care of that too.
Having seen your offer to tobacco chewers in
Gleanings, I accept the .)ffer of a smoker. Send
me one of Bingham's o: Id-blast, large size, and
away goes tobacco-b'^x and all. Our bees are ap-
parently doing well. We have 10 colonies. We have
had quite a thaw. Bees flew very lively.
W. R. Trussel.
Cclby, Montcalm Co., Mich., Feb 10, 1881.
Now I will take that smoker, you bet. As I have
to smoke fifty cents' worth of tobacco in one day,
you can have some idea how nice I must feel at
night, as I never could get used to getting along
without it. But I will take that smoker all the same,
as you say you will make every tobacco user a pres-
ent of one of your best smokers, he to have his
choice, if he will agree to give up tobacco. If I don't
use tobacco, I don't know what you would call it;
but I can use corn-cobs in your Simplicity cold-blast
smoker, and if I use tobacco again for the love of
the weed, you may shoot me. Chas. R. Ballow.
Half Moon Bay, Cal., Feb. 2, 1881.
It occurs to me, friend B., that tobacco
must be very high in California, or else you
have been using a great deal. I commend
your good resolves, and your energy ; but,
iny friend, you will have a terribly hard pull
unless you trust God to help you in the mat-
ter. Remember that we are praying for you ,
and that you can hardly expect God to help
you to get out of debt while you waste money
on tobacco. [See page 141.]
1881
GLEAi^mGS IN BEE CULTURE.
145
gjtr f CTP^.
And we declare unto you irlad tidings.— Acts 13:32.
fllAVE for many days looked forward to
the time, dear friends, when I should
— ' come before you, as I do now this morn-
ing, and it is because I have something to
tell you. Please think over, if you will,
each one of you, and lix your minds on what
would, in your opinion, make you happiest,
just now. What would be the gladdest ti-
dings that you can think of? As in my
mind's eye I scan you in your different
homes, 1 fall to wondering Avhat are the
great wants of the little army of those who
read these Home Papers monthly. Some of
you. doubtless, would be made "happiest by
having something to do ; others, by having
better pay for their labor; still others, by
having a little less to do ; some of you, by
receiving the money for the work you have
done ; still others, and many, doubtless, by
having good health, and the ability to earn
honest, fair day's wages. Many of you are
doubtless in pain, and I fear, too, that not a
few are suffering mental agony for sins that
are past, or from sins that hold you in bond-
age. Besides all these, there are a great
many, I am sure, who are discontented with-
out any apparent reason. Is life unsatisfac-
tory? I once heard a man say that, in his
opinion, life costs all it is wortla, and a little
more. Will it be saying too much if I de-
clare I have glad tidings for you allV Yes,
all ; all I have mentioned, and to every one
else who is in sorrow, or suffering from any
cause whatever, or who. has wants and needs
that conduce to make them unhappy. Have
I put it too stronglyV
Come unto me, all yc that Liboi- and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon
you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in
heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For
my yoke i> easy, and my burden is lig-ht.—
Matt. 11:28— 30.
There is certainly no trouble with the
promise in the little text ; the only trouble
is, that we will not accept that yoke. Is it
a yokeV Yes. it is, but not a' hundredth
part as grievous a one as the yokes I have
pictured above ; in fact, when you once get
it adjusted, it is truly easy, and the burden
is light. jS^ay, more ; it is a real, positive
pleasure to bear it; and methinks I have
heard of people who shouted for joy, or at
least felt like doing so, because of the privi-
lege of bearing this burden. I wonder if I
can not make it plain.
Y'ou have a little one at home in its crib.
It has been out during these spring days,
and, forgetting the cool March air (and
mamma's injunction) during the bright new
sunshine has thrown off its wrappings and
caught cold. As you come home at night,
the poor helpless little one is moaning with
the ear-ache. It has transgressed, and is
now suffering the consequences. Y'ou bend
over and kiss the little soft tear-stained
cheek; remedies are applied, but to no
avail. Y'ou, its father and. mother, are pow-
erless, at least for the time. ^Vhile your
hearts are wrung with anguish at the suffer-.
ing of the poor little helpless one, has the
thought never occurred to you, — in fact,
have you never said to the poor little suf-
ferer, "Papa would gladly, oh so gladly!
bear the pain for you, my precious, if he
could"? AVell, suppose this were possible,
and that you could take it all yourself, and
see the little one's smile for joy at being re-
lieved from pain. Would you grumble at
the pain when it came? To be sure, not.
Y^ou would, right in the midst of its severest
twinges, say, "Tliank God ! thank God!
my darling is spared;" and I am not sure
but that a peace and joy would shine from
your face, even though the intense pain
brought tears to your eyes. Now, please
just liold on to one point I have made clear
to you. It is this: there is a possibility of
being happy and thankful, yes, even joyous,
amid severe bodily pain. There may be
fathers (but I am sure none whose eyes are
on these pages)- who would refuse to accept
the pain, preferring to let the little one bear
it. I have no glad tidings for such a one, or
at least none so long as they hold to that at-
titude. They decline the yoke that Christ
has spoken of.
Well, if all the trials in life were as plain
and simple as the above little incident ; if,
in fact, you could see and imderstiind just
how all you are called upon to bear were for
your own good, or for some loved one's good,
there would be, at least so it seems to us,
little trouble in saying, right along through
all the trials and wants I have spoken of,
''Not my will, but thine, be done." But be-
fore I enlarge on this point of submission, as
it is my purpose to do, I wish you to clearly
distinguish between submission in a hopeful
way, and submission in a discouraged way.
If you are out of work, you are by no manner
of means to suppose it is God's will you
should be a burden on your friends and so-
ciety, and so sit down and give up ; but you
are to submit to the greater trial, perhaps,
of going out through the storm, buffeting
the elements, and possibly unkind words
too, from those to whom you apply, because,
without question, it is God's will that you
should submit to this, as the first and most
apparent duty. With it should also be a
willingness to accept of whatever position
will enable you to turn an honest penny,
even though the wages be but small, accept-
ing whatever your fellow-men may be in-
clined to offer, as an evidence that it is God's
will that you should, at least for the present,
have no better place or better wages. Ask
him to open your eyes and brighten your in-
tellect, then plunge fearlessly into the duties
of life and living. Accept the situation of
affairs as it is, but resolve within yourself
that, by his help, you will make yourself of
such value that you will be sought for in-
stead of having to seek places all your life.
Now keeping this in view, I wish to quote
from the little book, " The Christian's Se-
cret of a Happy Life," that I mentioned last
month. I have selected a passage to bring
out Avhat it is to trust in God ; but, mind
you, during all this trust you are supposed
to be working hard with both mind and
body, day by day, and to be in no sort of
sense, dead or idle. I quote from p. 16 :—
146
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Mar.
Suppose I were to be describing to a person who
was entirely ignorant of the subject, the way in
which a lump of ciay is made into a beautiful ves-
sel. I tell him first the part of the clay in the mat-
ter, and all I can say about this is, that the clay is
put into the potter's hands, and then it lies passive
there, submitting itself to all the turnings and over-
turnings of the potter's hands upon it. There is
really nothing else to be said about the clay's part.
But could my hearer argue from this that nothing
else is done, because I say that this is all the clay can
do? If he is an intelligent hearer he will not dream
of doing so, but will say, "I understand. This is
what the clay must do; but what must the potter
do? " "Ah," I answer, "now we come to the impor-
tant part. The potter takes the clay thus abandoned
to his working, and begins to mold and fashion it ac-
cording to his own will. He kneads and works it; he
tears it apart and presses it together again; he wets
it and then suffers it to dry. Sometimes he works at
it for hours together; sometimes he lays it aside for
days, and does not touch it. And then, when by all
these processes he has made it perfectly pliable in
his hands, he proceeds to make it up into the vessel
he has purposed. He tiu-ns it upon the wheel,
planes it and smoothes it, and dries it in the sun,
bakes it in the oven, and finally turns it out of his
workshop a vessel to his honor and fit for his use."
Once more, p. 31:—
Most Christians are like a man who was toiling
along the road, bending under a heavy burden, when
a wagon overtook him, and the driver kindly of-
fered to help him on his journey. He joyfully ac-
cepted the offer, but when seated continued to bend
beneath his burden, which he still kept on his shoul-
ders. "Why do you not lay down your burden?"
asked the kind-hearted driver. "Oh!" replied the
man, " I feel that it is almost too much to ask you to
■ carry me, and I could not think of letting you carry
my burden too." And so Christians who have given
themselves into the care and keeping of the Lord
Jesus, still continue to bend beneath the weight of
their burden, and often go weary and heavy-laden
throughout the whole length of their journey.
When I speak of burdens, I mean everything that
troubles us, whether spiritual or temporal.
I mean first of all ourselves. The greatest burden
we have to carry iu life is self. The most difiicult
thing we have to manage is self. Our own daily liv-
ing, our frames and feelings, and our especial weak-
nesses and temptations, and our peculiar tempera-
ments,—our inward afEairs of every kind— these are
the things that perplex and worry us more than any
thing else, and that bring us oftenest into bondage
and darkness. In laying off your burdens, therefore,
the first one you must get rid of is yourself. You
must hand yourself and all your inward experience,
your temptations, your temperament, your frames,
and feelings, all into the care and keeping of your
God, and leave them there. He made j'ou, and
therefore he understands you, and knows how to
manage you, and you must trust him to do it. Say
to him, "Hero, Lord, I abandon myself to thee. I
have tried in every way I could think of to manage
myself, and to make myself what I know I ought to
be, but have always failed. Now I give it up to
thee. Do thou take entire possession of me. Work
in me all the good pleasure of thy will. Mold and
fashion me into such a vessel as seemeth good to
thee. I leave myself in thy hands, and I believe
thou wilt, according to thy promise, make me into a
vessel unto thine honor, ' sanctified, and meet for
the Master's use, and prepared unto every good
work.' " And here you must rest, trusting yourself
thus to him continually and absolutely.
And again, p. -So: —
Do you recollect the delicious sense of rest with
which you have sometimes gone to bed at night, alt-
er a day of great c.xeition and weariness? How de-
lightful was the sensaticn of relaxing every n.uscle,
and letting your body go in a perfect abandonment
of ease and comfort! The strain of the day had
ceased for a few hours at least, and the work of the
day had been laid off. You no longer had to hold up
an aching head or a wearj' back. You trusted your-
self to the bed in an absolute confidence, and it held
you up, without effort or strain, or even thought on
your part. You rested !
But suppose you had doubted the strength or the
stability of your bed, and had expected each moment
to find it giving way beneath you and landing you on
the floor; could you have rested then? Would not
every muscle have been strained in a fruitless effort
to hold yourself up; and would not the weariness
have been greater than not to have gone to bed at all?
And still again, p. 37: —
Who is the best cared for in every houscholJ? Is
it not the little children? And docs not the least
of all, the helpless little baby, receive the largest
share? As a late writer has said, the baby " toils not,
neither does he spin; and yet he is fed and clothed
and loved and rejoiced in," and none so much as he.
This life of faith, then, about which I am writing,
consists in just this: being a child in the Father's
house. And when this is said, enough ii said to
transform every weary, burdened life into one of
blessedness and rest.
Let the ways of childish confidence and freedom
and care which so please you and win your hearts in
j-our own little ones, tern h you what phould be your
ways with God; and leasing yourselves in his hands,
learn to be literally cari ul for nothing, and you
shall find it to be a fact that "the peace of God
which passeth all understanding shall keep (as in a
garrison) your hearts through Christ Jesus."
" Trust in thi' Lord anrl do good; so shall thou dwell in tho
land, and verily tlion shalt be fed.
' ' Di'lijjlit thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give thee the
desires of thine heart.
"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him, and he
shall lirintr it tii i>ass:
" And he shall brinff forth thy righteousness as the light, and
thy .iudgnient as the noon-day.
'■ Rest in the Lord, and wait patientl.y for him.
" And the work of righteousness shall.be peace; and the ef-
fect of righteousness, qitietness and assurance for ever.
' ' And my people shall dwell in a jjeaeeable habitation, and in
sure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places. * '
Now a few words about how we shall start
in this happy Christian life. I will quote
again, p. 4.: —
A great many Christians actually seem to think
that all their Father in heaven wants is a chance to
make them miserable, and to take all their bless-
ings; and they imagine, pnor souls! that if they hold
on to things in their own will Ihey can hinder him
from doing this. I am ashamed to write the words,
and yet we must face a fact which is making wretch-
ed hundreds of lives.
A Christian lady who had this feeling was once ex-
pressing to a friend how impossible she fotmd it to
S9y, "Thy will bo done," and how afraid she should
be to do it. She was the mother of one only little
boy, who was the heir to a great fortune, and the
idol of her heart. After she had stated her diflScul-
1881
GLEAKINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
147
ties fullj% her friend said, "Suppose your little
Charley should come running to you to-morrow and
say, 'Mother, I have made up my mind to let you
have your own way with me from this time for-
ward. I am always going to obey you, and I want
you to do just whatever you think best with me. I
know you love me, and I am going to trust myself
to your love.' How would you feel toward him?
Would you say to yourself, ' Ah, now I shall have a
chance to make Charley miserable; I will take away
all his pleasures, and fill his life with every hard
and disagree:>ble thing I can find; I will compel him
to do just the things that are the most dilHcult for
him to do, end will give him all sorts of impossible
commands'?" " Oh, no, no, no I " exclaimed the in-
dignant mother; "you know I would not. You
know I would hug him to my heart, and cover him
with kisses, and would hasten to fill his life with all
that was sweetest and best." "And are you more
tender and loving than God?" asked her friend.
" Ah, no," was the reply ; " I Fee my mistake, and I
will not be any more afraid of saying, ' Thy will be
done,' to my heavenly Father, than I would want my
Charley to be of saying it to me."
Of course, I have skipped a great deal that
I would have been glad to give, had it not
been for want of space; but I am almost
sure after giving you thus much, that you
have the same feeling with myself, that this
kind writer, whom 1 know only as "II. VV.
S.," would go still further and tell us all ex-
actly what to do — even the very words we
should utter in giving ourselves fully up to
the kind care and guidance of the great Ea-
ther who made us in such infinite love. I
had been praying for many weeks for more
light on this very matter, and for veiy" plain
directions as to what was my duty, that I
might grow and rise above some of the sore
temptations that I am sure mar my Christ-
ian work and my Christian usefulness.
Chief among them is my great temptation to
uncharitableness, as I have often spoken of
before. Well, this book seemed so perfectly
to cover the whole subject that I felt truly
God had sent it, and that he had raised up
this kind woman to lead a multitude of sin-
ners, who were stumbling with the cares of
this world. Well, in view of this you can
probably imagine with what joy I hailed the
following, which I found at the close of one
of the chapters:—
A lady, now very eminent in this life of trust,
when she was seeking in great darkness and per-
plexity to enter in, said to the friend who was try-
ing to help her, " You all say abandon yourself and
trust— abandon yourself and trust— but I do not
know how. I wish you would just do it out loud so
I may see how you do it."
Shall I do it out loud for you?
"Lord Jesus! I believe that thou art able and will-
ing to deliver me from all care, and unrest, and
bondage of my Christian life. I believe thou didst
die to set me free, not only in the future, but now
and hore. I believe thou art stronger than Satan,
and that thou canst keep me, even me, in my ex-
treme of weakness, from falling into his snares, or
yielding obedience to his commands. And, Lord, I
am going to trust thee to keep me. I have tried
keeping myself, and have failed, and failed most
grievously. I am absolutely helpless. Sonowlwill
trust thee. I give myself to thee. I keep back no
reserves. Body, soul, and spirit, 1 present myself to
thee, a worthless lump of clay, to be made into any
thing thy love and thy wisdom shall choose. And
now, I am thine. I believe thou dost accept that
which I present to thee; I believe that this poor,
weak foolish heart has been taken possession of by
thee, and that thou bast even at this very moment
begun to work in me to will and to do of thy good
pleasure. I trust thee utterly, and I trust thee
now!"
Are you afraid to take this step? Does it seem too
sudden, too much like a leap in the dark? Do you
not know that the steps of faith always "fall on the
seeming void, but find the rock beneath ? " If ever
you are to enter this glorious land flowing with milk
and honey, you must sooner or later step into the
brimming waters, for there is no other path. And
to do it now, may save you months and even years
of disappointment and grief. Hear the word of the
Lord,—
" Have not I commanded thee! Be strong and of good cour-
age; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thj
God is with thee wliithersoever thou goest. "
Again, in«,nother part of the book, I find
this: —
To sum it up, then, what is needed for happy and
effectual service is simply to put your work into the
Lord's hands, and leave it there. Do not take it to
him in prayer saying, "Lord, guide me. Lord give
me wisdom, Lord arrange for me," and then arise
from your knees, and take the burden all back, and
try to guide and arrange for yourself. Leave it with
the Lord ; and remember that what you trust to him
you must not worry over nor feel anxious about.
Trust and worry can not go together. If your work
is a burden, it is because you are not trusting it to
him. But if you do trust it to him, you will surely
find that the yoke he puts upon you is easy, and the
burden he gives you to carry is light, and even in the
midst of a life of ceaseless activity you shall find
rest to your soul.
" If your work is a burden, it is because
you are not trusting him." This has been
ringijg in my ears, as it were, since I com-
menced reading the book. Visitors, after
going over our factory and premises, often
turn round and say, " Why, Air. Root, how
is it possible that you can stand it, to look
after and supervise so many different trades
and industries, without being worried to
death ? My reply is that it don't worry me,
because I do not worry about it ; but it is
not always that I have i^een able to carry my
cares and "worries" to that great strong
Friend and leave them there, as our friend
so aptly expresses it ; there is a lack of faith
and trust that almost constantly stands in
the way of this new and happy life, and yet
no one ever gave the Bible teachings in this
matter a fair test and found them wanting.
I liave read thie book to a great many friends,
and it has been a surprise to me to see how
many there are who, although they almost
hold their breath as they catch views of a de-
liverance from the burdens of this life, turn
back with a sigh, and refuse to accept Bible
teachings in any such way as this. It is too
good to be true, they say, by actions, if not
words. We have got to stand up for our
rights in this world, and v/e have got to take
care, worry, and darkness, when God sees fit
to send them.
When I was a boy, I used to go in swim-
148
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Mar.
ming almost every day in the summer time,
and, although we had beautiful ])onds of
clear soft water, the gravelly bottoms to
walk and play on, I never learned to swim.
The rest swam all about me, and told me
how, and tried in vain to get me to do as
they did, and trust to the water to bear me
up ; but summer after summer passed in the
same way, and I could not muster up the
courage to take my feet rightoff the bottom,
and launch out as" they did. I would do it
almost ; but unless I could have at least one
toe on the ground, I was afraid I would sink.
Finally, one day, I was persuaded so much
that I said, "All right; I will sink then."
I pushed out boldly, and raised both feet
clear from the bottom ; but. to my great sur-
prise and astonishment, I did not sink at all,
but in one minute, almost, I sailed off like a
bird, and have always been able to swim
since then. I simply trusted the water. It
is exactly in the sande way, my friends, that
we are to tru.st God. Cut clear loose from
self and selfishness, and trust to that gentle
Spirit to rule in and through you, and to do
all that needs to be done. The ])arlicular
point that this book brings out is, that inas-
much as wrong actions are the result of
wrong thoughts, and thoughts of a wrong at-
titude of the mind, the surest way of forestall-
ing both is to make God an inclweller, as it
were, of our inner selves, and then none of
these sins and acts that give ourselves and
others so ipuch pain would ever have a start-
ing-point at all. To illustrate: Supposelhave
a boy in my employ who is exceedingly heed-
less and forgetful. Over and over again I
tell him to attend to some important duty,
but he forgets it. Finally I tell him some
morning, that I wish him to attend to this
duty right now, before he forgets it, and he
as usual promises to do it right away; but.
before he gets started to do it, he forgets it
again, and I find out, a couple of hours after,
it is still undone. If I should decide that
forbearance had ceased to be a virtue, and
dischargedhim peremptorily, the greater part
of the world would say I had served him
right, and he had no right to expect any thing
more. Or suppose I should, under the an-
noyance of linding he had not touched the
work, break out something like this: —
" Look here, Z.! you go and do that work,
or let somebody else take your place ; I beg
to have you understand, sir, that when /tell
you to do a thing, I mean it. Now, let this
be the last time I have to tell you more than
once. Do you undeustandV"
You see, I started out to be mild ; but as
I " got going." my tone waxed harder and
harder, until the last word was about as harsh
and rough as one could well speak. AVell,
I would try to think it was just what he de-
served, any way, and that it was for his own
good that I made him '• toe the mark ;" but
as the hours passed I began slowly to repent.
Pretty soon I remembered that it' was only a
few days ago that I had exhorted this boy to
accept "the Lord Jesus Christ for his savior,
and carry all his cares and troubles to him.
The hour of our noon service approaclies, and
as in fancy I see his troubled face among the
rest of the boys and girls who come up to
hear me read and pray for tliem, the feeling
is awful. I fe^l as if I could never open the
Bible again. The awful inconsistency of my
position, even in his eyes alone, for no one
else may know a word of it, makes me al-
most feel as if I never wanted to come up
before them again. Will it be better to give
up the whole thing V Ah ! but there is no
comfort there. Oh that this hour were pass-
ed ! What shall I doV what shall I do?
God have mercy on me a sinner ! There is on-
ly one way, dear reader. Ilumilaiting as it
is, I must go to the boy and apologize, be-
fore I can stand before these boys and girls
without the awful feeling that I am, in at
least some measure, a hypocrite. The boy
accepts the apology, but "for all that I have
lost hold of him, and of my ability to in-
fluence him to be a Christian. I liave sunk
in my own estimation and his. Are these
but trifles V Suppose you are trying to work
for the Master, and a great many such little
trifles are lying around and about you,
and people are talking about the inconsis-
tency of your life, while you profess to love
the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you say peojde
will talk any way V The older I grow, the
more I feel that there is little need of people
talking very much ; and if you have half
tiied to put your life in God's hands, as we
have been reading about, the chances are
very great that people will be talking good
about you (instead of evil), and give you a
great deal more credit than you deserve.
Who are the people who complain so bitter-
ly of the unjust gossip and scandal that is
talked about them V
Now let us go back. Suppose that, at the
time I felt so impatient because Z. should
so utterly disregard my jilain, positive orders,
I should have held this impatience in control
until I had gone away by myself, and prayed
God to guide me in the matter, more for the
boy's good than for the interest of our bus-
iness; suppose, in f.ut, Iliad said to myself,
'Ton have placed your whole life, business,
body, and soul, in God's keeping, and he is
to manage this matter, or at least to dictate
the way in which ym are to manage it, ;ind
therefore the first and most important idea
is the saving of this boy's soul." The result
would be something like this : after having
quietly subdued all feeling of annoyance, the
boy is' told pleasantly that he has not done
that work yet, and watched until he has
really set about it. It is soon done, and then
comes a natural feeling to let it drop and say
no more about it ; but now comes in God's
Spirit, and rebukes your indolence, and in-
sists that, for the boy's own good, you take
the matter in hand. After it has passed
from his mind, and he is feeling pleasantly,
j^ou speak to him alone, something like this: —
" Z., why is it that you and I do not get
along better?"
This speech takes him by surprise ; but it
appeals to his manhood also, because you
have by it placed him on a level with your-
self, ai if the relations between you were
like those of any business trade or transac-
tion between two friends and neighbors.
" Why, Mr. lloot, do we not get along
well?"
'• Usually, Z., except in one thing, and
that one thing has annoyed and pained me
1881
GLEANIXGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
149
very much indeed. It is because you neg-
lect to do so many things I ask of you. vSome-
times I have been uncharitable enougli to
think you purposely disobeyed, or did not
care. It seemed to me that it was almost
impossible that you should forget so many
times ; or if you really did forget, it was be-
cause your duties were unpleasant and irk-
some. Xow, if such is the case, will it not
be better for you to give up vour place and
let some one else try it V There are, you
know, a great many begging for places."
Tears c*ome into the boy's eyes, and he con-
fesses, in part, his sin of forgetfulness, and
in part he tells me something that I did not
know, or even dream of, as a reason why he
did not like to do the one thing that had an-
noyed me so much. In fact, it so happens
that liis greatest fault here was in erring in
judging between two evils, and not any de-
liberate wrong. While I tell him kindly
that he must learn to overcome forgetful-
ness, or some one will Jutve to take his place,
though much to niy sorrow and regret, he
feels that I am a friend to liim all the same ;
and, although there are tears on his cheeks
as we part, they are not teai's of anger.
And now, my friends, do you suppose I am
afraid to conie before those young folks,
Bible in hand, or that I am afraid "to have
them hear my voice in prayer V Why. bless
you ; I go up the stairs three steps at a bound,
and run for my Bible with as joyous a step
as ever urchin' bounded out of school at the
close of a summer day, 2so matter if I am a
little late, and if the girls have commenced
singing, my eye lights on this little verse, —
Whosoever Cometh to me, and heareth my sasings,
and doeth them, 1 will shew you to whom he is lilie.
He is like a man which built a house, and digged
deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when
the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon
that house, and could not shake it; for it was found-
ed upgn a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not,
is like aman that without a foundation built a house
upon the earth; against which the stream did beat
vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruins
of that house was great. ^Luke 6:47—49.
Do you wonder that, when the time comes
for the closing prayer, my eyes, before clos-
ing, rest fearlessly ,"and, thank God, lovingly,
upon the boy whom I have just repriman —
why, come to think of it, it does not seem
to me that he has been reprimanded, nor do I
believe it rests on his mind so either. I am
going to help him, and he is going to help
me. O Lord, I thank thee, I tliank thee. I
thank thee that there is really a rest for the
weary, and " glad tidings of great joy " for
every poor sinful creature ; yes, for even you,
dear reader, if you will only surrender, and
accept the guidance of ilim who has said,
" my j-oke it is easy, and my burden it is
light."'
The Mr. Woodward, spoken of Inst month in Hum-
bugs and Swindles, is found, and is among pefiple
who will do all in their power to lead him to fix up
all past irregularities. Let us give him a helping hand
if he is truly penitent, and meanwhile, please do not
utter one word more of censure.
The great call for Simpson honey-plant seed has
exhausted our seed already, and we have been oblig-
ed to buy more at more than our advertised price.
Therefore the price is changed to $2.00 per ib., or 20c.
per oz. ; 18c. per lb. extra for bag and postage, where
wanted by mail.
tglmhd %cm,
Or Letters from Those AVho baTe Made
Bee Culture a Failure.
m
LECTURES ON THE EXTINCT AN-
IMALS AND INSECTS OF
AMERICA.
To -wit, The Megatherium,
The Mound-builders, and The
Honey Bee, especiallv the lat-
ter, to which the undersigned
ha-s devoted untiring energy in
re.search. Correspondence so-
licited. Address with stamp.
Apis Xon Est.
REPORT FOR 1880, '81.
Tj? HAVE enough hives and supplies to run the
Jfjl bee business of Union county for one year from
date. Don't enlarge factory on our account.
Will you let us have bees per pound, at former
prices, this next season? if not, the lectures must
go on ; the bee, dead or alive, must get me out.
As, far as I can find, there is hardly a single
swarm of bees alive in this locality. Chas. Swetzer,
ot Plain City, one of the best apiarists to my knowl-
edge, told me last week, that he had lost more col-
onies this season than he had altogether since he be-
gan the business; did not know how he would come
out. All others with whom I have talked have lost
all. Don't put us in Blasted Hopes. I have one
hive packed in a box of chaff, and all alive yet, and
no dead b ees about the entrance. My others were
not so protected. " Experience is a fool's school and
a wise man's best friend." Robt. McCrory.
Jerome, Union Co., Ohio, Feb. 8, 1881.
Xow, friend M., deliver your lecture about
the Megatherium, and the Mound-Builder,
but please wait just a year before you give
that about the honey-bee, for you do not
know what ]\Ir. Merry banks is going to work
out yet, besides what some of the rest of us
may do. W^e are going to try to sell bees at
old prices.
Bees are nearly all frozen around here. I fear you
will not be crowded with orders next season.
L. H. COBLEXTZ.
New Madison, Darke Co., O., Jan. 19, 1881.
Bees in tils section did nothing last season; made
no surplus honey; 99 out of 100 of our bee-men use
the old box and linn hive. They lost, last season, at
least nine-tenths of their bees.
Howell Whitsitt.
Wahalak, Miss., Jan. 20, 1881.
Seventy-flve per cent of the bees in this county are
dead already, with the prospect of more dying.
Reynolds Bros.
Williamsburg, Wayne Co., Ind., Feb. 1, 1881.
150
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Mar,
I must go into Blasted Hopes now, I guess. I got
very little honey last year, and my bees will about
all die again this winter; tbey are about half dead
now, and I have paid out about f300 for bees in the
last two years. I have no chaff hives; all single-wall
hives. I never saw the deer mice so bad as they are
this winter. My bees have the dysentery, caused by
long confinement. Some have eaten all the honey
in the center of the hive, with 2 or 3 full cards on
each side of them yet; but it was so cold they could
not get to it. A. J. Hoover.
Huntsville, Luzerne Co., Pa., Feb. 15, 1881.
I have had the grape fever and the peach-tree
madness, and haven't lost over a thousand dollars
on both of them, and am now well of both. But,
about five years ago I took a hive of bees on a slow
debt, and since then the bee folly has been slowly
developing. I have spent $100, and got $30 worth of
honey and $20 worth of fun, which still leaves me
SiO out, and bees all dead but one swarm, all leaving
plenty of honey to have kept them. I have set my
face against lotteries in general, but despise back-
ing down until I know " what's the matter with Han-
ner." U. N. Mellette.
Nineveh, Johnson Co., Tnd., Feb. 12, 1881.
How is it? have you for sale any mourning-gowns
for bee-keepers to wear this spiing? If so, what is
the cost? I believe that you may realize a good
business. I think you ought to keep such in your
counter store, and advertise, and you may have
quite a call from this section of country. Yesterday
I went on business five miles away from this place
to a box-hive apiary of 103 colonies of bees. We
looked over their bees, and found about 10 colonies
alive, and the rest all dead with the dysentery. The
hives looked like molaeses-barrels— the honey drip-
ped down and came out of the bottom of the hive.
The color of the honey was like molasses, and very
bitter. Mr. D. could never see any good in frame
hives. This is not all, for I hear from all around
here about the same. I have lost, but not so heavily,
but may yet before spring. Geo. Castello.
Saginaw City, Mich., Feb. 23, 1881.
MB. MEBRYBAIVKS^ NEIGUSOR.
THE NEAV BEE-HIVE THAT ALWAYS KEEPS
THE BEES FREE FROM DYSENTERY.
'ELL, I declare, dear friends, it has
Tiim taken us a great while to get around
-^'* to that bee-hive. You see I was a
little afraid there might be a dispute some
time, as to who was the real inventor, and
so I have taken several chapters, to go over
the whole story of the incidents that led to
the great discovery.
Well, when friend Merry banks came up to
the door that-cold stormy morning, just as
John was going out to see to thoBe bees (see
page 572 Dec. No.), he carried something in
his arms that John immediately recognized
as the new bee-hive. Of course, the sight of
this brought sunshine, for friend M. was al-
ways a welcome visitor ; and as he came up
the door was open wide for him to bring in
the wonderful structure. John's mother,
with a smiling face (for she too had been lift-
ed through her trials and discouragements
more than once by our genial friend) moved
out the table so that, as the hive rested
on it, all could have a view from all sides.
Well, this hive, to all external appearance,
was nothing more nor less than an ordinary
cracker-barrel, with the exception that in
one end was an auger-hole ; but even this is
so common in barrel-heads that none but
John would have noticed, probably, that a
tube of wood just reached out through it,
flush with the head of the barrel. This tube
was so near the chime of the barrel that the
end of the stave under it would have made
a very fair, though perhaps narrow, alight-
ing-board. John took in all these points
while friend M. was warming his hands at
the stove, and making inquiries about Mary,
who had had a spell of the croup. As the
wind whistled without, and sent cool breezes
through the cracks of the house, friend M.
was asking if the house had been properly
banked up, that the children might not be
exposed to these chilly drafts ; and as he did
so he glanced down at the floor, which seem-
ed neither very tight nor very warm under-
neath.
Just at this point, John had concluded his
investigations far enough to decide, Avithin
his own mind, what the contents of this mys-
terious barrel were, and so elated was he
with the idea, that he commenced dancing
up and down, boy like, in token of his ap-
proval of the bee-hive. Well, this same floor
that friend M. was considering, w.as hardly
equal to such demonstrations. You see,
when John's father had the floor laid, the
centers of the sleepers were supported on
blocks of wood set on end. I do not know
why he was so thoughtless as to use blocks
when stone would have cost but little more
time and trouble ; but so he did, and
these blocks had lasted just about five years,
when the lower ends were rotted off. Well,
John's jumping seemed to give just the
right-timed vibratioi s to set the room all in
a teeter, and of couise the barrel began to
roll ; and before any one knew it, it had
rolled off on the floor. As it did so, one
head came out, and with the head, out tum-
bled a queer-looking cushion and a wooden
bowl, filled with some white substance that
John rightly interpreted to be bee-candy.
While John is eagerly taking in all of the
features of this great hive, I think we will
take a peep over bis shoulder and see too.
FRIEND M. AND IIIS HIVE AS IT ROLLED
OFF ON THE FLOOR.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
151
Away back in the barrel he saw that iden-
tical pail that we saw last month down by the
fence. You see, the bees, being a late swarm,
had starved out in October, and deserted the
hive ; and as friend M. had asked for it, it
was of course given him. The pail was put
in just about the center of the barrel, and all
was then filled in and around with packed
chaff. The chaff was kept in place by bur-
lap or bagging tacked from the edge of the
pail to the edge of the barrel. To the head
of the barrel was tacked a burlap cushion
that just filled the cavity. The Avooden bowl
filled with candy was only for wintering, and
for giving destitute colonies all the stores
they would need for winter, at one " dose."
The entrance was a wooden tube with a one-
inch hole, and it reached from the bottom of
the pail to the opposite end of the barrel.
The combs were made movable by cutting
out each carefully, as built by the bees in
the pail, and putting them in a little light
hoop made of oasswood, steamed and bent,
and left on a form until dry, that they might
be perfect circles. On opposite sides of the
pail was tacked a light tin rabbet ; and an
arm of tin, similar to those on the metal-
cornered frames, was tacked to the opposite
sides of the wooden hoops.
After the pieces were gathered up and plac-
ed again on the table, and John was put "un-
der bonds" not to jump any more, at least
until the floor had been fixed, his mother,
who did not usually say very much, was the
first to break the silence.
" Am I correct, in thinking you exnect the
bees to winter better in such a hive, oecause
they will be more nearly in the form of a
sphere, something as they are in the old
straw hive, or a hollow tree ?"
" That is just the point exactly, my friend ;
and when the queen commences to rear brood
she starts in circles in the center of the
comb, and as these circles enlarge, the bees
find a close, warm inclosure all about them,
instead of cold corners full of nooks and cran-
nies for the heat of the hive to be constant-
ly escaping."
Here Mr. Merrybanks began feeling first
in one pocket and then in the other, as if he
suddenly remembered something. Pretty
soon he brings out a letter, and, as he un-
folds it, remarks, —
" The idea is by no means new, for the
Germans have for years used a hive with a
round roof to it, the frames of which could
only be taken out by turning the hive over.*
On the Isle of Cypress, the natives use hives
of a cylindrical shape,t and here is the letter
I was trying to find, from one of our friends
in Scotland, as you will see," and Mr. ]\L read
as follows from" a letter that had a drawing of
an octagonal frame on it: —
I find the queen commences in spring to lay in a
circle, and does not go near corners for a long time.
One apiary here is nearly all as above, and the owner
saj'Stheybreed much better in springthanon square
frames. Andrew PR.iXT.
Link's Schoolhouse, Kircaldy, Scotland.
John's father, who had been listening ea-
gerly, here interposed,—
* See p. 237, Vol. IV.
t p. 216, Vol. VIII.
p. 61, Vol. V.
" Would not that Avooden bowl full of can-
dy winter a swarm of bees that had just emp-
ty combs and no stores at all ?"
Very likely he was thinking of that swarm
out of doors, probably in just that predica-
ment ; John's mother replied, —
" But the candy would need flour in it, un-
less they had pollen in their combs."
" I am not so sure of that," replies friend
M.; " in fact, late developments seem to im-
ply that if we can keep pollen away from the
bees, so as to hinder brood-rearing, until
about the time they would get it from natural
sources, we are really better off ;" and again
he begins fumbling in his pockets. It is one
of friend ]M."s peculiarities, that he is almost
always looking for something somewhere in
his pockets. He almost alwaj's finds it,
though, and so he did in this case. lie has
loaned me the letters, so I can easily give
them here, you see.
POLLEN, AND ITS RELATION TO DTSENTERY AND
SPRING D-ITINDLING.
I think what makes bees have the dysentery, is
eating pollen in cold weather. I have been looking
at my bees to-day. They were covered up in the
snow. The first swarm I shoveled out was the one
that made the most honey last season. The bees had
melted a large place around the entrance. Oh what
a mess ! Two quarts of dead bees out there, and
they had "painted" the front of the hive. I don't
like the color, the smell, nor the way they put it on.
I remember this colony had a large lot of pollen in
their frames last fall. I took a look at a swarm to
which I fed good clear honey, so they could not get
any pollen. They are in splendid condition. The en-
trance is clean and dry as io summer. I went to an-
other hive from which I had taken frames of pollen,
and replaced with clear honey. I found them in a
good healthy condition. Other swarms that I knew
had too much pollen have got the dysentery.
Two years ago last fall I fed a swarm with sugar
syrup. I stirred in some flour with it. They had the
dysentery before spring. I fed another colony the
clear syrup, and it wintered nice and didn't want to
fly for the winter. I have come to this conclusion,
that pollen is very bad stuff for bees to eat in the
winter; but frames of pollen and honey to give the
bees the first of April or lust of March is just what I
want.
When I find swarms raising brood in Feb., I set
them down as worthless. They are sure to stop and
then dwindle. If I can keep my bees from raising
brood until the first of April, and keep them in a
healthy condition, they are all right for a large crop
of honey when it comes. My bees are packed in chaff.
E. A. Robinson.
Exeter, Maine.
"But," says John, "where are you going
to put the honey-boxes when our hives get
full of bees, and honey is coming in ' like
split'?" Here his mother gave him a gentle
tweak on the ear, just in play, you know, for
using the slang phrase, "like split," and
friend M. replied as follows:— Come to think
of it, I believe I won't tell what he said un-
til next month. You know you won't need
any boxes just yet. Good-night, all.
152
GLEANiKGS IN BEE CULTUilE.
Mar,
GlEANmCS m BEE COtTORE.
.A.- I. T^OOX,
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER,
MEDINA, O.
TERMS: $1.00 PER YEAR, POST-PAID.
FOR CLUBBING RATES, SEE FIRST PAGE
OF READING MATTER.
nvTESXDXKT^aL, js^jhJFL. 1, xeei.
Charity suffereth long, and is kinrJ,
not easily provoked, thiuketh uo evil.
-I. Cor. 13:4, 5.
We have to-day, Feb. 38th, 3,635 subscribers.
God has delivered " D." out of jail, and he is now
at work among us.
I wotTLD not advise ordering bees by the lb. be-
fore about April 1st; this March weather is rather
severe on small clusters.
The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life will be
found on the 35c counter. Although it is advertis-
ed at 30c. in Canada, I am obliged to charge 35c. for
It, on account of the duty.
The oatmcil mentioned by friend CI irk, in the
Lunch-Koom Department, can be purchased at the
'address given, for only §4.50 for a barrel of 3C0 lbs.
Is not that cheap enough?
There is, of course, quite a demand for sheels of
fdn.. for making the plaster plates. As very perfect
sheets are needed for this purpose, and additional
packing is required, our prices will be, for the pres-
ent, one-half more, where wanted for this purpose.
If anybody else can furnish them cheaper, I shall be
glad to have them do it.
Tou will observe, by the clock advertisement, that
I have at least once been guilty of selling goods be-
low what the manufacturers wished me to. I wrote
them at once that I had no desire to sell any goods
at a less figure than what the makers would approve
of, and I repeat it here. I do not want to crowd any-
body, nor have I any dealing that I have any reason
to wish to be kept secret.
The man who makes the 15c. dictionaries said he
had sent us ICO before I advertised last month; but
after complaining that they did not come, he wrote
it was a mistake-they had not been sent, but would
be out in a couple of weeks. They are not here yet,
but as he now has our order for a thousand, i think
we shall have plenty some time. They are cei'tainly
a wonder for the money, but I begin to think, as 1
have often before, that I will never advertise a thing
again until it is right in our hands.
O. JtJDD & Co. have just sent us a most beautiful
and useful book, entitled "Barn Plans and Out-
Buildings." It contains '^57 most beautiful engrav-
ings, and it seems to me the book would save its
price to almost any farmer in a single year. Those
who are going to build, even though it be nothing
more than a pig-pen (of course, I mean a better one
than Mr. Merrybanks' neighbor's), would surely save
the amount. It is full of hints and appliances that
may be made cheaply for the protection and comfort
of all the dumb animals about you. 1 wonder if our
friend Mr. Bergh has over seen a copy of it.
THE LITTLE " BATTERY " SWINDLES.
Although it is a little out of the bee-line, I feel it
a duty to caution our readers against the swindles
in the line of what is called miniature galvanic bat-
teries, Boyd's being perhaps the leading one. There
is no more electricity about it than there would be
about a brass b'Uton strung around the neck; and
the way in which intelligent people, who should
know better, have listened to such absurd nonsense,
is positively awful. No doubt they " felt better " af-
ter putting the things on. but so did those who " put
on " the German bee-sting cure a few years ago; but
who uses the stuff now? It is a disgrace to a nation
of intelligent people to have such things advertised
in respectable papers. There are certainly men in
every community who know enough of batteries and
electricity to explain to you the utter absurdity of
a lump of metals giving out a "current." I have
taken up the matter, because one of our advertisers
was innocentls" led to advertise them in his circulars.
BEES AND GRAPES.
OcTR friend Peter Klasen has paid me a visit, and
after quite a little talk with him, I am pretty well
satisfied that the trouble between himself and Mr.
Krock is only one of a series of troubles, originating
long before the matter of the bees and grapes was
ever thought of. The point, therefore, at issue is a
personal dilHculty between the two neighbors, and
does not concern bee-keepers and grape-growers at
all. If the two men get over their other troubles,
this one will right itself. Friend Klasen offers to
leave the matter to arbitration, and I feel quite sure
friend Krock will eventually consent to the same, if
he has not already. If I am correct, neither party
is lacking in the right spirit usually. Once upon a
time, a neighbor's wife got stung, and her husband
came over and complained. Friend Klasen good-
naturedly remarked that honey is a sure cure for a
bee-sting, and he would take some over and show
her how bee-men always used it when they got stung.
Instead of taking over a spoonful, however, he car-
ried over two boxes; it not only stopped the pain, but
cured all ill feeling, and both husband and wife de-
clared they would be more careful in the future how
they became impatient about so trifling a matter
again. You see, this is the spirit we need. Friend
Klasen is going to move his bees out of town, and
now we look for Mr. Krock to be magnanimous, and
at least submit the whole matter, as it now stands,
to the arbitration of mutual friends. The law we
published last month has, we learn, been repealed.
CIRCULARS AND PRICE LISTS RE-
CEIVED.
Alfred H.Newman, 972 West Madison St., Chicago,
III., sends us a finely printed 33-page catalogue, co-
piously illustrated, of bee-keepers' supplies.
Edward B. Beebee, Oneida, N. Y., has issued a 13-
page circular of apiarian supplies, making a speci-
alty of queen-breeding. The printing reflects great
credit on Messrs. Jackson & Potter, of Oneida.
Kiegel & Drum, Adelpha, 0.,areout with an 8-page
price list of bee-keepers' supplies, this being their
third annual edition.
J. E. Moore, Byron, Genesee Co., N. Y., issues a 4-
page sheet, being his 4th annual circular of apiarian
supplies.
M. Kichar.lson, Port C ilborne, Ont , Can., has sent
us an 8-page price list of general supplies for the
apiary.
J. d. Facy, of New Hamburgh, Oat., Can., sends a
3-page circular of queens and supplies.
H. Nicholas, Etters. York Co., Pa., sends us a 1-
page circular of queens.
Our friend Given has crirenus a most valuable cir-
cular of fdn. of all makes. It contains 18 pages, and
should be read by every bee-man and bee-woman.
Friend Muth sends us a very pretty little book of
33 pp. entitled "Hints to Bee-Keepers." Itisrather
a book (and a book of no small value) than a price
list, for his price list, it seems, is a separate affair.
Price 10 c.
Bright Bros., Mazeppa, Minn., publish an 18-page
circular of apiarian supplies.
J. T. Wilson, Morfonsville, Ky., dealer in Italian
queens, issues a 1-page circular.
W. S. Ponder, Groesbeck, Hamilton Co., O., has
sent us a beautiful 1-page circular of Italian queens
and bees.
Chas. S. Lake, Baltimore, Md., has sent us a •28-
page circular and price list, gotten up in first-class
city style. Mr. L. deals in the usual run of apiarian
supplies.
Friend Flanaean, Belleville. 111., sends a postal-
card circular of bee-keepers' supplies.
Friend Hayhurst, Kansas City, Mo., sends us a pos-
tal circular relating to his speciality — Italians and
Cyprians.
J. A. Osborne, Rantoul, Champaign Co., Ill , dealer
in apiarian supplies, publishes a 4-page circular of
implements.
F. W. Holmes, Cooperville, Ottawa Co., Mich., s?nd3
us a very pretty 4-page price list of useful imple-
ments for the apiary.
1881
GLEANiKGS IK BEE CULTURE.
153
tomu ^cUuun.
Cincinnati.— Under date of Feb. 23d, friend Muth
writes: No change in the honey marlcet. Demand
for comb honey extremely slow.
New York.— Messrs. H. K. & F. B. Thurbcr & Co.,
iinder date of J'eb. ~;!d, write: Best white comb hon-
ej', small neat packag-es,17®18; fair do.,H@16; dark
do., 11(5 i:i; white extracted. WcW; dark do., 7@8.
Southern strained, per gall ,85@90. Beeswax, prime
quality, 20@"J5.
Chicago, Feb. 22.— Present market quotations nre
as follows: ILme:/.— For choice white comb honey, 1
and 2 lb. boxes, 18@20 c; for lair to good light comlis,
14@16 c; and for large boxes, dark honey and broken
lots, lC@l'i c. Extracted honey remains the same —
8@."10 e. Beeswax. -'2.:.@'i'o for light, 15®17 for dark.
In November and December, choice comb honey
was very scarce, and the price went up to 22 cents;
still, verj' little comb honey came in. Bee-keepers
were holding back their honey for a further ad-
vance; but as it failed to advance, they concluded to
sell. The result is, the market to-day is flooded, and
the price has dropped. If this honey had been in
the market in November, it would have brought 22 c
easier than it will bring 18 now, A. H. Newman.
I have a barrel of white-clover honey, weighing 235
lbs., for which I will take 10 c per lb., and SI for bar-
rel, delivered on cars at Gettysburg, Adams Co., Pa.
Aaron P. Weidner.
Recent Additions to the*
COUNTER STORE.
FIVE-CENT COUNTER.
Postage. ] [Pr. of 10. of 100
5 I Bultcr-Prints; wood; very pretty | 40 | 3 75
8 I Cattle-Cards, for Cattle, or Horses'... | 4S | 4 00
2 I Soldering plate, for mending tinware | 45 [ 4 00
10 I Clothes-Liiics; ;:0 ft. long I 40 , 3 75
I Extracts, 2-oz. bottles, good; Jamaica
Gineer and Vanilla I 38|350
4 1 Envelopes; fair quality; bunch of 25 | 40 | 3 50
1 I Garden Seeds, choicest and best vari-
eties, carefully tested seed as follows: I 45 I 4 00
Beans, Beets, Cabbage, Carrot, CaiUillower, Celery. Corn,
Cress, Cucumber, Lettuce, Melons, Oni.)U, Parsnip. Peas. Pep-
per, Pumpkin, Kadlsh, Salsify, Spinach, Squash, Tomato, and
turnip.
2 I Napkins; nice, but rather small | 45 | 4 25
3 I Purses; two kinds, buck and leather | 43 | 4 00
2 I Spectacle-Cases; Leather; excellent.. | 40 1 3 75
2 I Wallets; 4 pockets; full size; nickel-
trimmed I 40 13 75
TEN-CENT COUNTER.
5 I Note Heads, such as we use; package
of .50 I 70 I 6 50
2 i Saws; Scroll; 3-16, 4-16, and .5-16 in. in
width, and 7 in. long, pierced at each
end; best American make, for Barnes
or other foot-power saws | 80 | 7 00
5 1 Spoons, Tea, German Silver, Hall &
Elton's well-known make | 98 | 9 50
FiFTEEN-CENT COUNTER.
5 I Try-Square; 4 in. steel blade; Rose-
wood handle, brass lined; a beauti-
ful tool 1140113 50
6 I Nutmeg Grater, Rajah pattern, the
best thing out, uses up all the
nutmeg 1 1 30 | 12 00
Twenty-Five Cent Counter.
3 I Bits; best make, 4 sizes; viz., 'j,
"-li;, ;>s, --ir, l 2 00 I IS CO
12 I Saws, Carpenters', 10 in.; Disston's
make, a splendid tool for 25c. Nice
because it is small ] 2 25 i 24 00
8 I Screws; Bessemer Steel; 4 sizes,
¥2, ?3, U, Js, in gross packages | 2 00 1 18 00
Thirty-Five Cent Counter.
3 i "The Christian's Secret of a Happy
Life." Worth its weight in gold. .. 1 3 00 i 28 00
I Coal Hods, japanaed; good | 2 75 | 26 tO
1 Hammers, Carpenters', full size;
solid cast steel, adze eye. This is ex-
actly like our 75c hammer, only It
is not so nicely tinished | 3 25 | 31 00
4 1 Knife as above, best, hand-forged,
razor steel, 3! 2 in. long when closed | 3 00 | 28 50
15 I Saws, Disston's make, 12 in. blade;
line steel, and beautifully finished.
Nice for small work, or the women
to have about the house | 3 25 | 31 00
26 I Screws, Bessemer Steel, 3 sizes, 1,
I'i, V/2, in gross packages | 3 10 | 30 00
riFTY-CENT COUNTER.
8 I Envelopes, good, packages of 100,
with your business card, etc., neat-
ly printed on each (3 p'kages for $1.) | 3 00 i 25 00
Note Heads, tine i)aper, to match above, same prices.
34 I Screws, Bessemer Steel, 2 In.; in
gross packages | 4 00 i 37 50
18 I Umbrella, tip-top for the children to
go to school with | 4 00 | 38 00
Seventy-Five Cent Counter.
I Scoop Shovels, iron; good and well
marie | 6 00 | 54 00
20 i Umbrella, good, but only medium
Eize I 5 50 1 50 00
ONE DOLLAR COUNTER.
7 I Postal Cards, printed to order, in
packages of 5(i (Three for $2.25). . . . i 6 00 1 .55 00
2 I Watch Chain, Horsehair, and very
pretty for the S4.0n watch. These
were made by "D.," while in jail. . ] 7 50 | 70 00
A. I. ROOT, Medina, Oliio.
HEADQUARTERS IN THE SOUTH
For the Manufacture and Sale of
BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES!
SlMPLlClTr AND LANGSTROTH HIVES AND
FRAMES. THE NEW ALL -IN -ONE-
PIECE SECTIONS !
Having purchased from A. I. Root a machine for
making the sections, I am ready to supply them in
any quantity.
Comb Foundation, made of pure yellow wax, and
worked on shares, etc. Honey and Wax-Extractors;
Knives, Bee-Smokers, etc., etc.
ITALIAN QUEENS AND BEES !
All bred from imported mothers of my own im-
portation. Dollar oueens, ready April 1st, $1.10 un-
til June 1st; after, $1.00.
Tested queens, from March 1st to November 1st.
Safe arrival guaranteed, and all queens sent by mail.
I send no queens that I would not have for mvself.
Full Colonies of Italian Bees from $5.00 to $8.50, ac-
cording to quantitj-, etc. Earlv 4-frame nucleus,
with Tested Queens, $5.00— No black bees in the
neighborhood. Send for my Illustrated Catalogue
of prices, etc. Address
PAUIi Ia. VIAI.1,0N,
3d Bayou Goula, Iberville Par., La.
BEES FOR SALEI
100 Colonies in Simplicitv and Everett-Langstroth
hives. Address J. P. HOLLOWAY,
3-4d Monciova, Lucas Co., Ohio.
FOR SAIiE! Pure bred Pekin Duck eggs, for
hatching. Packed securely and delivered at
express-offlce on receipt of price, $2.00 per eleven.
Address H. C. JOHNSON,
3-5 Reesville, Clinton Co., Ohio.
154
GLEANIN"GS IN BEE CULTUKE.
Mar.
, Cata/o
IS now HEADY !
Every Bee-keeper who expects to purchase
a dollar's worth of
Bee-l5:ee]3ei:'s'
STJ T* I*L I E S I
should read it. Send us
YOUR NAME !
AL?0 THAT OF YOUR
BEEI.KSEPIING FKIENDS,
PLAINLY WRITTEN on a postal card, and
it will be mailed you at once. Address
II. A. BXJKCH & CO..
SOUTH HAVEN, VAN BUREN CO., MICH.
GlUI|T||A||L||P|H
I will send, postpaid, to any part of the L^nited
States, 10 nice little trees, good roots, one year old,
for 30c, or 100 for $2.50. Seeds, ppr paclcase of .50,
25c. Seeds germinate as easily as corn. The Catal-
palsone of the best bee-tixes] Hangs fuU of long
clusters of j'ellowish-white blossoms, very fragrant
and ornamental, and yielding a heavy flow of honey.
Wood very durable, shoots from young trees making
grape-stakes which last for years.
2-4d H. M. MORRIS, Rantoul, Champ. Co., 111.
1881.
Send for our new Circular and Price List of Full
Colonies, Nuclei, and Queens. We guarantee satis-
faction. S. D. McLBAN & SON,
2-7d Culleoka, Maury Co., Tenn.
"o Save "Your Fowls I ti
SB and get Price List of High-Class Poultry, ^ft
Eggs for hatching, Italian Bees, etc., by ^_
O addressing J. R. LANDES,
19 3-ed Albion, Ashland Co., Ohio. ^™
RAISING TURKEYS
AND CHICKENS.
Send 15 cents to NATIOIf AI^ FAKMER CO.,
Cincinnati, and get by mail "'What 20 PersoHS
(noted for tlieir Great Success in Raising
Turlteys and Cliickens) Have to say." Read-
ing what these experienced persons have to say will
give one more information how to be successful
than the reading of any Dollar Poultry Book. 2-4
FRUIT
TRlOXCHlAPl^ljHftHXWElJ
As I am going out of the nursery business, I will
sell apple-trees at the following Ijw figures:—
4 years old, 6 to 8 ft., ... fs 00 per C.
3 " " 5 to 6 ft., - - - $4 00 per C.
2 " " 4 to 5 ft., - . - $3 00 per C.
If taken by the thousand, 20 per cent discount.
Any parties wanting 10,000 of the three different
sizes, a deduction of 25 per cent allowed. No better
trees are grown in the State than I offer. I have
also pear and cherry trees, and other nursery stock
too numerous to mention, at verv low figures.
2-4d J. B. MURRAY, Ada, Hardin Co., Ohio.
ALBINO, ITALIAN, I am prepared to fur-
' ' nish early queens, pure
Albinos, Italians, and
AND HOLY - LAND Holy-Land Queens, bred
from select stocks. War-
^ ranted to be pure; safe
QUEENS, FULL COL- arrival guaranteed. Also
Hives, Novice's Extract-
nm.T-.... ^^^ ^«T» or, and Apiarian supplies
ONIES, ETC., FOR generally. Sendforprice
list. Address
, ^ ^ , . S. VALENTINE,
i QQi Double Pipe Creek,
-L(JU ± '. s-od Carroll Co., Md.
FOR SALE OR RENT !
I will sell or rent my shop on easy term?. Built
last year, expressly for manufacturing bee-keepprs'
Supplies; or I would take in a partner for a term of
years— one capable of running that business. Shop
well located, and business well started. Capital re-
quired in either case, about S.500 down. Send for
price list of Bees, Queens, and Apiarian Supplies.
2-3d I. S. CROWFOOT, Hartford, Wash. Co., Wis.
CHAFF HIVES!
A SPECIALTY!
SEND FOR CIRCULAR.
J. P. WATTS,
LUMBER CITY,
2-i Clearfield Co., Pa.
Bee-Keepers' Supplies
It will pay you to get our prices before purchasing
your Supplies. Good Langstroth Hives with 8-inch
cap, frames, quilr, etc., in the flat, tJO cents each.
Manufactured from good pine lumber. Workman-
ship unexcelled. Crates. Sections, Extractors, and
Dunham Foundation, a specialty.
HIRAM ROOP.
2-6d Carson City, Montcalm Co., Mich.
C. OLM'S COMB FOUNDATION MACfflNE.
9-lncli.— Price $25.00.
The cut represents the 9-inch machine; the cheap-
est made until now. Send for Circular and Sample.
2tfd C. OL.ITI, Fond du Lac, Wis.
John Baxter, Pickering, Ont., agent for Canada.
18S1
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
159
Contents of this Number.
INDEX OF DEPARTMENTS.
Back List —
Bee B)tin> —
Hep Entomology —
lUiusted Hopes 20n
C;u-toon 2(10
EditoiiaJs !'(«
Heads of Graiu IRti
Houey Column 20t
Humbugs aud Swindles —
Juvenile nepartnient 180
KindWiiTilR Ironi Custoin6rsl93
Ladies' 1 )eiia)tment 181
Lunch-Kiiom —
Notes and Queries 19S
Ke))orts Encouiaging Ifli
Smileiy 1«'.)
The Growleiy l^
Tobacco Column lUl
INDEX OF HEADS OF GRAIN, NOTES AND QUERIES,
AND OTHER SHORT ARTICLES.
Apis Dorsata IfiS
Araher Ciuie in Nova Scotia. 1X7
vM.sConding without Queen. 191
BlueThislle lilO
Basket Willows 170
Benton 's Letter KiS
Bte-eultiiie vs. Saloon 17r>
Bees in Texas 17S
Cihfonii I liil
Circulars i eeeived 20t
Ciirpeuter's Imp. on Peet
Case ir,7
Chaff Hives for Summer 177
Chuff Cushions 186
Comb between Stoiiej 188
Chaff Packing 19i
Doubling in Spring and Fall 174
Doolittle's Review 182,
Dying for want of stores 191
Dried Corn 194
Expeiieuce of A B C scholarlOO
liarly Feeding 175
Fdn. made from rubber 166
Foster Machine 190
Good-by, CeUariS 172
Gallup Once more 17:i
Good Report 189
Green Corn 189
Havhvu-st's Report 192
- Hagen 's Story 177
Holy -Land Bees for Winter. 191
Implement to kill moth 187
Int. Virgin Queens 192
Jackson's Talk 185
Labels 166
Langstroth's Letter 105
Leaving Sections on all "Win
ter .
.171
..187
Labeling on Tin
Moving Bees in Winter.
Merry banks '-'in
Notes from Banner Apiary. ]6:i
New Honey 194
Onions as a Honey -Plant... 176
Our Bees 1«4
Our Red-clover Queen 189
Out-door and Cel . Wint 189
Oak Leaves for Chaff' 190
Pollen vs. Dysentery 189
Price of Bees 20t
Report of Neighbor H 169
Rubber Boots, to mend 191
Hoop's Hive 198
Scottish Apiary 179
Shall we give up Bee-keeping
170
Stingless Bees 188, 193
Toads 187
To Start Seeds 188
Trigona, or Stingless Bees.. 167
Type-writers 186
Telephone Detective 188
Thieves, etc 188
Tenement Hives 191
Tobacco Column 194
Under the Box-Elders 171
Wint without Protection ... 189
What shall the Friends do!. 164
SURPRISE RASPBERRY!
A new seedling'. Fruit bright-scarlet; brings five
cents per qt. mure than any other varietj-in market.
PerCeotlv hnrdv. Try it, please One dozen V>lants
by mail for $1.50. E. VAN ALLEN,
4d Bethlehem Centre, Albany Co., N. Y.
CHOICE ITALIAN AND ALSO
CVPRIAN QUEENS FOR SALE.
Parties ordering of me will get jnst what they
bargain for. Circular free.
Address J. C. POMMERT, Box 134,
4-5 Greenfield, Highland Co., Ohio.
1881 QUEENS S QUEENS! S88I
We are prepared to furnish Queens in April, Mav,
.ind June. For tested Queens, $:ir)0; afteVwurd,
$2.00; untested, $1.00. Queens reared in full colo-
nies from imported mother. In addition to our im-
ported Queens, we have some line Queens in our
apiiiry from 6'ime of the leading breeders of the
JJ. S. We not only select our imported Queens to
rear Queens from, but we select the best imported
and the best home-bred Queens we have to rear
drones from. We allow no colonies to have drones,
except such as are from the choicest of our Queens.
Satisfaction and safe arriviil of all Queens guaran-
teed. No circular. HALL & JOHNSON,
3-4d Kirby's Creek, Jackson Co., Ala.
TKT A TvTTT^'n ^ situation in an apiary, for
perienced hand.
. he summer of 1881, by an ex-
Good references given if desired.
EDWARD KSTEY,
4 Clarence, Sheloj Co., Mo.
CHEAP BEES!
Forty cfilonics of Italians in good hives at five dol-
lars each. E. A. GASTMAN,
4 Decatur, Macon Co., III.
■PmS C! A T 1? 25 bush, pure evergreen sugar
J: \J£\ UXiJuH^." corn for Beed at «3.00 per
bushel. Sample pound bv mail, 20 cents.
Address J.A.WARD,
4d Madisonville, Ham. Co., Ohio.
mo fi t t? ^Italian bees aud que
dAU&» metal-corner fra
leens; Root's
raraes; smok-
ers; comb fdn. and apiarian stipplics; Italian (tested)
queens, ready for order. OTTO KLEINOW,
4d Opposite Fort Wayne, Detroit, Mich.
1881.
QXTSESHNTIS!
1881.
Bee-keepers who want early Italian Queens, or late
ones of anv description, please send for prices on a
postal card. Cheap. Address A. W. CHENY,
4 Kanawha Falls, Fayette Co., W. Va.
COMB Fotindation Machines from f 1.00 to $5.00.
Co'mb Fdn., le^s than 5 lbs., 40c; over 5 Ihs., lioc;
over ,50 lbs., 34c; over 100 lbs., 33Hc. Price list tree.
Italian queens from Imp.mnthers, $1. ready in April.
4tld JOHN FARIS, Chilhowie, Smyth Co., Va.
Also imported and home-bred Queens, Full Colo-
nies, and nucleus colonies. Bee-Keeper's Supplies
of all kinds. Market price for beeswax. 4-7d
NICHOLS & ELK INS, Kennedy, Chaut. Co., N. Y.
Manufacturers of
4-5d 24 SU]?Ii»IIT ST., TOI^EDO, O.
Strawberry Plants
4d
Crescent Seedling. $1.50, and
Chas. D.nvuing, $1.75 per
lOiiO. Pure new-bed plauts.
E. VAN ALLE"^.
Bethlehem Centre, Albany Co , N. Y.
FOR SAIjE.— 600 worker combs built mostly the
past summer and fall from f'lundntton 4 to 5
Bhrets to the pound. A. FAHNE8TOCK.
4d Toledo, Ohio.
Pure Bred Plymouth Rock Fowls
and eggs for hatching. Ambcr-cane seed, and
Dhnura. Send card tor circular?, etc., to
3-4d N. J. ISRAEL, BeaUsville, Monroe Co., O.
Inventor aud Sole mauufacilurer of tlio
FOUNDATION PRESS.
All Presses warranted to give satisfaction. The
only invention to make fdn. in wired frames. Our
thin and common fdn. for '81 is not surpassed. Send
for Catalogue and samples.
4-Gd D. S. GIVEN, Hoopeston, lUinols.
No's 132, Price 60c.
n tHTEK & GROSH, 34 IV. ITIonroe St., Toledo, Oliio,
show here a new knife. No. 133,
metal ends, .strong blades; price,
postnnid, 60c. Our goods are
hnnd-fi rfjcd from razor xted, ev-
ery blarte warranted, aud ex-
changed free if soft or Hawy.
F. H. Diy, Wilmington, Del.,
vrites, Jan. Li:— "After receiv-
ing the knife I honed it down to
H tine, keen edge, and tried it on
hard, dry white-oak; the edge
neither turned nor broke, which
is more tiiau I can sa\ ui aii.v other knitt' I ever owned." We expect to build up <iur trade by selling good
goods; will you help usV Our extra-hea\y 2-blade, mnde for farmers and mechanics, is the best knife in
the market; price, postpaid, 7.5c. Boy's knife, 25o; ladies, 1-bl.ide, 25c; 2-blade, .50c; Gent's S-blnde, $100.
Extra strong Pruner, every blade tested, $1.00. Our hand-forged butcher-knife, 6-inch blade, puutpaid, 50c.
Illustrated list of knives, razors, and scissors, sent free to any address. 3-4
160
GLEAi^IKGS IN JBEE CULTURE.
Apk.
At Kansas City, Mo.,
IhvceA pure Italian and Cj/prian Ijt'cs for sale. 1
warrnut my '"Dollar" queeus to be mated by pure
yellow drones, and guai-antee safe arrival and per-
fect satisfaction.
Tested Queens, in May - - - S3 00
" •' in June - - - - 3 50
" " after '•-.-- 2 00
"Dollar" " in May - - - - 1 50
" " in June - - - 1 35
after " - - - - 1 00
Bees, per lb., same prices as Dollar queens.
Please address all letters plainly to
3-5d E. M. HAYHURST, P. 0. Box 1131.
GUARANTEED
Italian Queens!
I guarantee all my queens to be purely mated
from imported mother. Safe arrival and satisfac-
tion guaranteed. Send lor circular. Untested
Queens in Mav and June, SI. 50. July and after,
Sl.OO. Tested Queens, Mav and June, $3.50. July
and after, S2.00. Select tested, S;i..50.
Address— L. C. M'PATRIDGB, M. D..
2-7d Carroll, Carroll Co., Ind.
Before Purchasing
any Italian or Cvprian bees, send for our 20th annu-
al price list. Full colonies. Nuclei and Queens, at
greatly reduced prices. Also headquarters for Api-
arisn supplies in New England.
WM. W. GARY & SON (formerly Wm. W. Cary),
3tlinq Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass.
WESTERN BEE-KEEFEKS
Can save money by sending for our new illustrated
Circular and Price List of Airiarian Supplies; Note
and Letter Heads. Cards, etc.
BRIGHT BROTHERS,
3-1 Mazeppa, Wabash Co., Minn.
RASFBERRIISS FOR SALE.
per Uoz.
by mail.
cxp.
00
1 00
1 59
per 100 per 1000
by cxp.
Doolittle, . - - . 30c
Clarke's Red, - - 30c
Mammoth Cluster, - - 40c
Davison's Thornless, - 30c
Ohio, 40c 1 50 $8 00
Ohio is one of the best ; will yield a third more than
any berry I know; is very firm and large; one of the
best for drying; begins to ripen about the time of
the Doolittle, and lasts till after the M. Cluster. Will
pick as much as any of the varieties at a picking. It
is equal to the Gregg, if not better. If bj' mail, add
20c per doz. J. IRVIN JOHNSON,
2-4d Box 405, Palmyra, Wayne Co., N. Y.
IMP BO VEB
Langstroth Hives.
Supplies for the Apiary. Comb Foundation a spe-
cialty. Being able to procure lumber cheap, I can
furnish Hives and Sections very cheap. Send for a
circular. A. D. BENHAM,
2tfd Olivet, Eaton Co., Mich.
rttt!?t?flt<5 t Tested, S3.00; Untested, $1.00. War-
I^UibC^iVO ! runted, $1.35. Plymouth Rock eggs
for hatching, $1.25 per doz. For price of hives and
other supplies, send for circular. Address
4d HARTWELL BARBER, Adrian, Len. Co., Mich.
STIIA^VBZ:B.B.V FIiAI^TS!
Miner's Great Proli tic, and Crescent Seedling, the
two great market berries. All the best kinds by
nmil. Prices very low. Send for price list.
;>4 W. O. POST, Essex, Middlesex Co., Ct.
HEADQUARTERS FOR
k
Imported and home-bred; nuclei and full colo-
nies. For quality and purity, my stock of bees can
not be excelled in the United St;ites. I make a
specialty of manufacturing the Dunham foimdation.
Try it. If you wish to purchase Bees or Supplies,
send for my new circular. Address
Itfd DR. J. P. H. BROWN, Augusta, Ga.
THE
British Bee Journal.
The British Bee Journal is now mailed to our ad-
dress in packages, each month. In order to dispose
of them, we offer tliem at present at $1.00 per year,
postage paid, beginning Jan. 1881. Will guarantee
safe arrival of every No.
A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio.
1881 ITALIAN QUEENS! 1881
Tested Queens $1 50
WarraiilKl Queen.*.. 1 00
Cyprian Queens, untested 1 00
As most all the Dollar queens
I sold last year were pure, I.
will warrant them this year.
J. T. Wilson, Mortonsville,
3-7d Woodford Co., Ky.
Eggs for Hatching !
I was awarded first premium on Brown Leghorns
and Black B. R. Game Bantams, at N. Y. State Fair,
Albany, in Sept. last. Am booking orders now, to be
tilled in rotation, at the following very low prices:
Brown Leghorn Eggs, - - $1 00 per doz.
B. B. R. G. Bantams, Imported, - 1 50 " "
With my style of packing, in new baskets, eggs
will go safely any distance, and hatch. I guarantee
safe arrival. C. W. CANFIELD,
Athens, Bradford Co., Pa.
HEADQUARTERS IN THE SOUTH
For the Manufacture and Sale of
BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES!
SIMPLICITY AND LANGSTROTH HIVES AND
FRAMES. THE NEW ALL -IN -ONE-
PIECE SECTIONS !
Having purchased from A. T. Root a machine for
making the sections, I am ready to supply them in
any quantitj'.
Comb Foundation, made of pure yellow wax, and
worked on shares, etc. Honey and Wax-Extractors;
Knives, Bee-Smokers, etc., etc.
ITALIAN QUEENS AND BEES !
All bred from imported mothers of my own im-
portation. Dollar uueens, ready April 1st, $1.10 un-
til June 1st; after, $1.00.
Tested queens, from March 1st to November 1st.
Safe arrival guaranteed, and all queens sent by mail.
I send no queens that I would not have for myself.
Full Colonies of Italian Bees from $5.00 to $y.50, ac-
cording to quantity, etc. Early 4-frame nucleus,
with Tested Queens, $5.00— No black bees in the
neighborhood. Send for my Illustrated Catalogue
of prices, etc. Address
PAUL. li. VIAI.I.OTV,
4d Bayou Goula, Iberville Par., La.
BEES FOR SAIE!
100 Colonies in Simplicity and Evcrett-Langstroth
hives. Address J. P. HOLLO WAY,
3-4d Mouclova, Lucas Co., Ohio.
FOR SAIiE! Pure bred Pekia Duck eggs, for
hatching. Packed securely and delivered at
express-olHce on receipt of price, $2.00 per eleven.
Address H. C. JOHNSON,
3-5 Reesville, Clinton Co.. Ohio.
18S1
glea:n'ikgs in bee culture.
161
Names of responsible parties will be inserted in
any of the following departments, at a uniform
price of 20 cents each insertion, or $2,00 per year.
$1.00 Queens.
Names inserted in this depai-tment ths firat time wiUi-
out charue. After, 30c eoc?! insertion, or f 3,00 per year.
Those whose names appear below agree to furnish
Italian queens for $1,00 each, under the following
conditions: No guarantee is to be assumed of purity,
or anything of the kind, only that the queen be reared
from a choice, pure mother, and had commenced to
lay when they were shipped. They also agree to re-
turn the m(me.v at any time when customers become
Impatient of such delay as may be unavoidable.
Bear in mind that he who sends the best queens,
put up most neatly and most securely, will probably
receive the most orders. Special rates for warranted
and tested queens, furnished on application to any
of the parties. Names with *, use an imported queen
mother. If the queen arrives dead, notify us and
we will send vou another. Probably none will be
sent for $1.00 before .luly 1st, or after Nov. If want-
ed sooner, or later, see rates in price list.
*E. W. Hale, Newark, Wirt Co., W. Va. 2-1
*A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
*H. H. Brown, Light Street, Columbia Co., Pa. Itf
*E. M. Havhurst, Kansas City, Mo. 1-12
*Paul L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La. Itfd
»D. A. McCord, Oxford. Butler Co., O. 1-12
*S. F. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. Ittd
*B. Marionneaox, Plaquemlne, Iberville Par., La.65
*J. T. Wilson, Mortonsville. Woodford Co., Kv. 6-()
*Chas. G. Dickinson, Sou' Oxford, Chen. Co. N. T. i-lO
*Wm. Ballantine. Sago, Musk. Co., O. 2tfd
.1. S. TadlDck, Kingsbury, Guad. Co., Texas. 3-7
*W. H. Nesbit. Alpharetta, Milton Co.. Ga. 3tfd
*J. O. Frtcey, New Humburg. Ont., Can. 4-9
*H. Nicholas, Etters, York Co., Penn. 4-8
W. S. Canthen, Pleasant Hill, Lan. Co., S. C. 4-6
*John Conser, Glenn, Johnson Co., Kans. 4-9
.7. H. Burrage, Concord, Cab. Co., N. C. . 4
*Fischer & Stehle, Marietta, Wash. Co., O. 4-9
Hive Manufacturers.
Who agree to make such hives, and at the prices i
named, as those described on our circular. I
A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
Sid. D. Bnell, Union City, Branch Co.. Mich. 2-V
P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, Iberville Par., La. Itfd \
S. F. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. Itfd I
J. F. Hart, Union Point, Greene Co., Ga. 4-3 i
M. S. West, Flint, Genesee Co., Mich. 2-7
Foundaiioii Manufacfyrers. I
Who agrpc to make such foundation, and at the i
prices given, as described in our circular.
A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
.las. A. Nelson, Wyandott, Wyandott Co.. Kans. 4-9 i
E. S. Hildemann, Ashippun, Dodge Co., Wis. 4-5
Bees by the Pound.
Those whose names appear below agree to furnish
bees by the lb., and at the prices given in our circu-
lar. I
I. L. Scofleld. Chenango Bridg-e, Broome Co., N. Y.
S. C. Perry, Portland, Ionia Co.. Mich.
J. P. Moore, Morgan, Pendleton Co., Ky. i
W. R. Whitman, New Market. Madison Co., Ala. i
Chas. Kingsley, Greenevil e. Greene Co., Tenn.
C. D. Wright, Baxter spring'^, Cherokee Co., Kans.
H. B. Harrington, Medina, Medina Co., O.
W. St. Martz, Moonshine, Clark Co., Ills.
O. H. Townsend, Hubbardston. Ionia Co., Mich.
G. W. Gates, Bnrtlett, Shelbv Co., Tenn.
W. S. Canthen, Pleasant Hill, Lancaster Co., S. C.
J. G. Taylor, Austin, Travis Co., Texas.
.1. H. Burrage, Concord. Cabarrus Co., N. C.
Fischer & Stehle, Marietta, Washington Co., O.
Oliver Foster, Mt Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa.
Queens reared in 1881.
The undersigned are prepared tomail dollar queens
during this month for $2.C0 each. See conditions
in the opposite culumn.
Chas. S. Larkin, Racelat]d, La Fourche Par., La.
W. Z. HUTCHINSON,
Kogersville, Genesee Co., Mlcliigan,
would bo pleased, upon request, to send you his cir-
cular and price list (printed on the cheirograph) of
Italian queens and bee "tixin's." 4tfd
^3ee - Hi.x7-ess «»,* Cossft i
To close out my stock of Simplicity bee-hives, I
will sell at cost for 30 days. Will take a few colonies
of bees in exchange for hive=. For further particu-
lars, address CYRUS McQUEEN,
4 Buena Vista, Tuscarawas Co., O.
PURZ3 BRED ?OULTlLir.
I am now prcpar.=d to till orders for eggs from the
following: P. Rocks (Corbiii strain), L. Brahmas,
S. S. Hambnrgs, S. S. Polish (Bearded), Brown Leg-
horns, W. C. B. Polands, Rouen and Pokin Ducks,
Toulouse Geese and Bronze Turkeys. Esrgs packed
in the most approved manner. Poultry for sale in
the fall. Send fur Price Li<t. Address
4;t5 H. S. ROSS, Box 128, Seville, Medina Co., Ohio.
Ar\ Italian Queei\
Foir
CENTS.
We a-uarantce to ovcry one who sends a dollar for
the American Bec-Kceper, to send a pure untested
Italian queen.
4-7d E. M. HARRISON, Lebanon, Laclede Co., Mo.
PURK STOCK! I shall devote the coining
season to rearing HOLT-LAND QUEENS
for sale. They will be reared in an apiary by them-
selves, away from other bees. The price will be as
follows: —
Dollar Queens, before June 1.5, - - - $1 25
Each, attcr that date, 1 00
Tested Queens, after June, each - - - - 2 50
Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed.
3-8d I. R. GOOD, Nappanee, Elkhart Co., Ind.
SECTiorrs
AKD HIVXiS!
We will make the dovetailed, or "Boss" One-
Piece Section, any size up to 5x6 for S5.00 per 1000.
Material for L. hive, 50 cents.
JAMES FORNCROOK & CO.
"Watertown, Jeff. Co., Wis., March 1, 1881.
Take iVotice.— Patent pending on the "Boss" One-
Piece Sections. 3d
Honey Plants and Small Fruits !
By mail, postpaid. eta.
10 Catalpa Seedlings, best honey-yielding forest-
tree known 25
20 Box-Elder Seedlings, blossoms very early,
splendid for bees, 25
15 Turner Raspberry, great honey-plant, fine
fruit 25
10 Mammoth Cluster, Doolittle or Davidson's
Thornless Black Cap 25
2 Doz. Crescent Seedlinsr, W. Albany, or Chas.
Downing Strawberry 25
1 Doz. Sharpless Seedling, fine, extra large
variety, 25.
1 Doz. Concord or Hartford Grapes, 90
1 Doz Snyder Blackberry, never winter-kills.. 60
1 Package Catalpa Seed, grown as easily as corn 15
15 Cuttings, Gray or Golden Osier Willow, both
bee-trees 25
Send for Catalogue to H. M. MORRIS,
4d Rantoul, Champ. Co., 111.
192
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Apr.
KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS.
I makelraouey by taking Gi.i;anings.
M us. W. W. Wilson.
San Bernardiao, Cal., Feb. ^5, 1881.
Your cheap counters are wonderful.
AuA Jenkins.
Dermott Station, Ark., Marcli 9, 1881.
^The Simplicity cold-blast smoker pleases me much.
Jonathan Midgut v.
Wales, Sanpete Co., Utah, Jaa. 15, 1881.
I thinli the books are a marvel of goodness and
cheapness. Abkam Melliqeh.
Soudersburg, Lane. Co., Pa., Jan. 'ZG, 188i.
The smoker and Journals came in qrood time.
Never was so much pleased with anything coming
by mail. The smoker suits me exactly.
w. L. Stiles.
Austin, Travis Co., Texas, Feb. 26, 1881.
THE BARNES SAWS, ETC.
As we have received goods several times from you,
and always found them satisfjictory, wc do not hesi-
tate to take the watch on your representation. The
Barnes saw we received through you still gives en-
tire satisfaction; we UhC it every day,
Cha«. p. Gulp.
Hilliards, Franklin Co., Ohio., Feb. 18, 1881.
God bless you in your cndeavors^to do good for the
Master and to your IVUow-men.
I think more of your Home Papers than ail the
rest of your journal. If more men would take God
into business with them as apartner, there would be
less failiu-es than at present. H. M. Smith.
Frasikfort, Mich., Feb. 10, 1881.
I received the Waterbury watch all right. Please
accept thanks. To say that I am pleased with it,
does not fully express my feelings in regard to it.
It gives me more pleasure than any watch I ever
carried, and I can heartily recommend it to those
who wish to get a good watch for a small sura of
raoney. I do not see how it can be soW for such an
iDsignificiant price. Chas. F. Doud.
Nile, Ont., Canada, Feb. 15, 1881,
I little expected, when I wrote to you last spring
for a copy of your bee books, that I should be disap-
pointed; but I must say that I have Veen, but it is
not a disagi-eeable one, by any m'isns, on the ABC
that you sent. It seems to me as if I were listening
to the talk of a man who understands what he is
about. I have kept bees more or less for the past
30 years, and must say that I have known but lirtle,
and that little I'm ashamed of. I have learned more
since I've been taking Gleanings than I knew or
learned ever since I handled bees. I like Gleanings
well, and say that it is well worth $3.00 instead of
SI.W. The A B C, as a book of reference, is worth
100 times what it cost. I would not take that amount
in hard cashanddo withoutit. Gleanings gives me
first-rate satisfaction. You might make it more so
if you would add to it "What to Do this Month;"
or, "The Work to be Done this Month." It
would give us green ones (I must say it, if it does go
against the grain) a chauce with you experienced
ones. I for one am willing to learn. It would help,
and a little help goes a long way sometimes, if appli-
ed in the right place. W. C. Buktch.
South Jordan, Ont., Can., Nov. 22, 1880.
KIND WORDS TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
Please, friends, do not be so backward in asking
me to take your word. When I doubt you. I will tell
you so. Can you not keep this in mind? One friend
took the pains to go seven miles to the post-office to
mail back a cage of dead bees and queen whore a
postal card saj'lng they were all dead would have
answered every purpose. Write to me as you would
to a brother, telling me the state of affairs, and I will
believe you, I assure you. Please do not send any
thing back until you have first written. If there is
any one thing that is lacking in business matters, to
mike things goon harmoniously, I should say that
one thiagischarity, and faith and trust in each other.
Recent Additions to the
COUNTER
FIVE-CENT COUNTER.
Postaae. ] ri'r. o£ 10, of 100
.5 I Can Opener, cuts out a round piece . . | 43 | 4 GO
3 I Match Safes, double, for both burnt,
and un burnt matches | 38 | 3 50
4 i Pans or Basins, extra deep, VA pints
a very useful size, three for a dime. . I 28 | 2 00
2 I Wardrobe Hooks | 38 | 3 .50
Neat and strung', and can be put up by any woman, even in a
plaster wall.
TEN-CENT COUNTER.
6 I Bread-Knife, very pretty; finely fin-
ished, and a gnod stetl knife 11 in. long | 85 | 8 OO
2 I Clock-Cord, 30 hour; best linen; per
bunch I 9.5 I 9 03
I Dippers, tin, culled 2 qt , but really
about 3 pts., but a splendid large dip-
per for a dime | 85 I 8 00
2 I Hanrlk's, Jiipanese paper, 10c per doz | 95 | 9 00
2 I Handkerchiefs, Cambric, Gents" size;
fine and beautifully figured. 3 for 25c | 05 | 6 00
12 I Pans, stew, with handle; called 2 qts.,
but really 3 pts I 75 | 7 00
5 I Papcteries 1 95 | 9 00
Juvenile. 21 sheets of paper, and 21 envelopes. Just the thing
for the little gii'ls and boys who write for Gleani.vos.
4 I Punches, Machinists, Center | 95 1 8 00
Primer, one-syllable, 100 fine pictures | 85 | 8 00
Only 10c — Just look at it, Bojs!
2 I Knives for boys, Two-bladed; although
the blades are not American make,
they are steel, and a wonder for 10c | 95 j 8 50
2 I Silk Handkerchiefs; ivoiiderful for a
do/u', but not alt silk I 95 19 00
3 1 Envelopes, Bunch of 25, such as we use* 75 | 6 00
FIFTEEN-CENT COUNTER.
I Axle Grease, Dixon's best* 1 20 [ 11 00
2 I Clock Cord, 8-day; best linen; per
bunch I 1 35 1 13 00
10 I Half-Gallon Measure; tin, with lip;
exact I 1 25 I 10 00
Twenty-Five Cent Counter.
30 I Camp or Lawn Stools; well made of
ash lumber, and put together with
screws | 2 25 I 21 00
9 1 Papeteries | I 75 | 16 00
C'outaiuiupr 21 envelopes, and 21 sheets paper, tfood.
2 I Pencil, automatic | 2 00 | 18 00
With copying lead. This peneil has been a great boon to nie.
It writes very easily, and makes a plain purple mark that ^vill
copy as well as a copying- ink if desired .
Thirty-Five Cent Counter.
I Honey Cups, also good for syrup, so
made that it can not posnihln drip..
20 I Hunter's Sifter. The reg-[!
ular price is 75c. A ro-
tary flour and meal sift-
er, mixer, scoop, meas-||
ure, weigher, egg-beat-jfi
er, rice-washer, pump-
kin, tomato, starch]
strainer, etc. Mrs. R.j
says, she never knew:/
any thing could be-
made so handy | 2 80 | 25 00
Seventy-Five Cent Counter.
C I Saw Frames, Jewelers': spring steel I 6 50 | 60 CO
BeaulifMllv pi)lished. and niekcl-plated, with rosewood han-
dled, . Will' Ik. Id a saw from 1 to C in. in lensth.
53 I Wrenches, Coe nattern; malleable;
black; 15 in. long. Extra heavy
and strong ] 6 50 | 60 00
9 1 Moody's Best Thoughts and Dis-
courses 160015000
I>EVOTEr> TO JBEJES A?»ri> IIOISTEY, AT^O H:03XE HVTERESXS,
Tol. IX.
APRIL 1, 1881.
No. 4.
A. I. ROOT,
Publisher and PropYielor^ \
Pnblislied Montlilv.
Medina, O.
\ Established in 1873
TtERMS: SlOO Pep. Annim. in AdvancK;
I 2 Copies for $1.00; 3 for S"!. 75 : 5 for S*. 00; 10
I or iiuiie, To cts. each. Sinple Number. 10 etsi.
\ Additions to clubs may be made at club
rates. Above are all to be sent to OXK post-
office. Clubs to different postoffieea, XOT
[ LESS than 90 cts. each.
NOTES FROM THE BANNER APIARY.
No. 17.
EE.iRIXG QUEENS OUT OF SEASON.
aN my article on late queen-rearing I wrotejas fol-
lows: "I think that he (Doolittlc) will aflmit
that we queen-breeders have greater facilities
for learning facts in regard to our specialty than has
the bee-keeper who raises honey." After reading
the above, and then reading my report in the Jan.
No., friend Doolittle was almost inclined to laugh,
because he says, "Facts would show that Doolittle
raised four times as many queens before Hutchin-
son ever went into the business as friend H. has
in all his life."
I have kejyt bees four years, and have reared 7C0
queens; and if you, friend D., reared 2feC0 in the 8
years previous to my commencing the business, you
must either have destroj'ed a good many queens, or
else, considering that you did not advertise queens
for sale, you must have disposed of a goodly num-
ber. As your average number of stocks each year
has been 48, you certainly would not use 359 queens
each year in your own apiai-y. But even if you did
"raise four times as many queens," to be candid
about the matter, did you, for three seasons, as I
have done, make a specialty of rearing queens l:ite
in the season, feeding the bees when no honey was
coming in, having the cells built in full, strong col-
onies, giving the young queens to full colonies so
that they could lay a spell before cold weather set
in, and then let these late-reared queens have a fair
chance the next season? If you have done so, and
found them to be inferior, I can only say that my
experience does not agree with yours. I am thank-
ful, friend D., that you are going into the queen bus-
iness, because we can, some of us at least, have an
opportunity of testing your "natural," "summer-
bred" queens for ourselves.
Tou say, friend D., that my illustrations about not
following nature do not touch the point. I am
aware that the illustrations given are not exactly
parallel casps, neither were they intended as such;
they were given merely to show that better results
are sometimes obtained by not letting Nature have
her own way. Of course, the illustration would have
been better had I chosen parallel cases, and I thank
you for calling my attention to it, and I also feel
under obligations to you for so neatly remodeling
one or two of my illustrations until they \ctrc paral-
lel cases. I have reference to what you said In re-
gard to rearing chickens, lambs, colts, etc., late in
the season. Not having very much experience in
rearing fowls, or stock, either in season or out, I
wrote to about a dozen breeders of poultry, sheep,
and horses, asking them whether it made any differ-
ence in regard to the health, strength, size, vitality,
or future usefulness of a fowl, sheep, or horse, as
the case might be, if it was reared late in the season,
instead of at the usual time. Most of them, think-
ing that I wished to go into the business, wrote long
letters, giving some excellent advice. Their replies
were somewhat conflictiug, and aU of them were
conditional. One breeder said: " Stimulate your
fowls, and get them to laying and rearing chicks as
early in the season as possible; early-hatched chicks
are much the best." Another breeder said: "Some
varieties are benelited by a late hatch, but not later
than September, unless you can give them special
care." Still another said: " It is not so much that a
bird is hatched out of season; more depends upon
the care that it receives." One sheep-breeder said:
" I do not know the entire object of your question,
or I might answer it in one word, no." Another
breeder said: "Lambs dropped in the fall are not
weaker than those of spring; but, as a rule, to the
contrary, as the exercise of the dam at this time of
the year in quest of her food naturally gives
strength to the lamb at birth." Another said:
" Care and conveniences may effect all the advan-
tages of either time." Still another said: "I should
greatly prefer spring lambs, as it seems more natu-
ral for them on grass; but should lambs be dropped
in the fall, and you can give them proper care, I do
not think it would hurt their usefulness as breeders."
I have, as yet, failed to elicit any response from
horsemen. Of course, I can not give even extracts
from all of the letters that I received, but the idea
that most of the writers tried to convey was, that
the season of the year when a creature is brought
into existence is of less importance than the care
that it receives; that is, as regards its "health,
strength, size, vitality, or future usefulness."
Are you not just a trifle sarcastic, friend D., when •
you ask me to rear queens in mid-winter? You
know I have never claimed that good queens could
be reared at any time of the year. You claim that
V\i
GLEANIXGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Apr.
good queens can not be reared after abont Aug-.
^Otb, while I claim that, by proper care, they can be
reared nearly if not quite two months later, or as
long as warm weather lasts. Nevertheless, as an
experiment, 1 would try rearing some in the winter,
if they could bo fertilized. You seem to think,
friend D., that if I had my choice I would prefer, for
my own use, queens reared in June and July. Ac-
cording- to theory, 1 should choose the summer-bred
queens; but, as I ro to choose, these facts stare me
in the face: Each spring, for the three past years,
one-half of my stocks have been " mothered " by
these late-reared queens, and they have done fully
as well as the ones that had queens reared in June
and July. Perhaps you will say that all of my
queens may be "poor sticks;" well, perhaps they
are; but if such is the case, why do I obtain, on an
average, mere honey per colony than my neighbors,
and rear on an average 20 queens per colony in ih3
baruain?
Bat why, friend D., ('o you use the words '^for my
cwn use," and then put them in italics too? Do you
mean to insinuate that I would rear queens to sell
that I would not keep for my oivn use? If you do,
let me say (although I know it sounds like advertis-
ing in the reading columns, but I can not help it),
that I have never knowingly sold a queen that I
would not keep for my own use. No, friend D., T am
not like the breeders of whom you bought some dol-
lar queens, who would like to rear Ihe queens for
you, when he reared his own. 1 do not rear queens
one waj- for the " little bugs," and another way for
myself and the "big bugs," for fear the "big bugs"
might "tell," if I sent them poor queens, and thus
spoil my reputation. If a queen-breeder should
write to me, friend D., as that one did to you, I
would have nothing to do with him, and I should bo
strongly tempted to give his name to the public as
a fraud and swindler. AV. Z. Hutchinson.
Kogersville, Genesee Co., Mich.
I fear, my friends, we are getting into al-
most too mnch of an argitment on this ques-
tion ; but as a healthful, wholesome, and
friendly rivalry may be productive of good,
I have thought best to let it go on. Shall we
not drop it right liere, and let the queens
themselves, reared by both our friends, do
the talking? Quite a lot of us want Doolit-
tle queens, and we are going to report fully
in regard to them, as we also shall in regard to
those reared by friend II. and other breeders.
WHAT SHAI.L THE FRIENDS DO TO
STAKT AGAIN, ^% HO HAVE liOS >'
AliE. THEIR BEES?
ALSO, WHAT SHALL BE DONE AVITH THE
HONEY, HIVES, AND E3IPTY COMBS?
LTIIOUGII I answered these questions
in our Feb. No., it seems I Avas not
" suftieiently explicit. I am grateful
for the confidence you have expressed in
coming to me, and for the willingness with
which you send me money ; but 1 think you
can dobetter by not intrusting it all into my
hands, and it is because of this I write. If
you have any bees left at all, build up, by
the directions I have given you in the ABC,
and get bees in your empty Itives and combs.
Close yoitr hives up so you are sure no rob-
bers can get in at the honey, and they can
generally be left safely on their summer
stands, until about the usual swarming
time. Clean out the hives, brush off the
dead bees, and when you put the combs back,
spread them a little apart so they do not
touch each other, and then look at them oc-
casionally until they are used.
Do not fuss much with soiled combs, or
those containing dead bees. Just set them,
one at a time, in the center of a strong col-
ony, in May or June, and the bees will fix
up the worst comb you ever saw, so quickly
you will hardly know how it is done.
If you can get bees on all the combs a
month earlier, it will be better ; but there is
no need of losing any combs by the moth, if
you keep a little lookout for "them. If the
combs can hang a couple of inches apart,
they will be less liable to injury. You can
generally effect this by removing all division-
boards, and spreading the combs out.
WILL A LB. OF BEES, AND A QUEEN,
BUILD UP TO A GOOD COLONY WITH-
OUT ANY BKOOD, IF PUT ON EMPTY
C03IB, SAY IN Al'RIL, MAY, OK
JUNE?
This is a question that has been asked a
great many times ; but to be frank, 1 do not
know that I ever tried it. If the bees are
young Italians, I should have no fear but
that ihey would, but very much would de-
pend upon who had the care of them. A
friend in Michigan with hives of empty
combs, once built a single colony up so as to
make SO of it in a single season. On the
other hand, a neighbor s boy once bought a
fair-sized nucleus of us, early in the season,
and failed to build them up so as to winter,
during the whole season. I can not tell
what you can do. A pound of bees in our
hands, in the month of April, would make a
most rousing colony before the season was
over, and I am quite sure we could make
three or four colonies of it if we chose. If you
wish, I will sell you the queen and bees, "but
I do not like to say what you can do with
them. If you can give them a frame of
brood, or even one only partly filled, it will
be a great help to them and the queen. If
you have not this to give, they should, if
they do fairly, soon have it by their own
work.
COST OF A LB. OF BEES ; AND, WILL IT
PAY TO BUY THEM?
As you will see by our April price list, 1 lb.
of Italians is worth, in April, $2.00 ; in May,
$1.50 ; in June, 81.2.5, and in July, $1.00. If
you can buy common bees in box hives, or
any other kind for .$5.00 or $0.00, perhaps
you had better buy them, and buy Italian
queens to put with" tlie bees. I bought nat-
ural swarms of bees last season, that weighed
six lbs., and at these prices the bees alone
were worth, in July, $6.00. Now, if you all
insist on coming to me, I shall have to buy
bees to fill this enormous demand. Some-
body will have to pay the express charges
here, and another charge back to you, where-
as if you would buy them directly of the pro-
ducer, but one charge would have to be paid,
and but one risk to run. Again, if Ave pixt
a lb. of bees in a hive and let them fiy a week,
they will, at the end of that time, have gone
1S81
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
165
flown to probably I of a pound or less. There
is a loss every time they are handled, and
more especially is it the case with old bees.
A. new swarm will often lose nearly a half
in weight in the tlrst ten days.
Send to the nearest person who advertises
bees by the pound. Get some good prolilic
queens, either black or hybrid, if you can
not get Italian, and just 'bend all your en-
ergies toward making them increase and
multiply. If you are short of funds, use hy-
brids; feed whenever there is a dearth of
pasturage, and next winter get ready to try
wintering again, on a few strong colonies
well hxed up, for just such another winter
as we have just had.
-^•••i
THE CYPKIAN BEE.
SOMETHING FROM MR. LANGSTBOTH IN REGARD TO
THE MATTER.
JJi T last we hare ample means for judging of the
5% temper of this bee, as shown in their native
— ■^'^ island, where no questions can be raised as to
their absolute freedom from mixture with other va-
rieties. In a private letter to me, Prof. Cook, of
Lansing, says of Mr. Frank Benton, who has done
this good work for us, " He is scientific in his meth-
ods and habits, very earnest and enthusiastic, and
honest to the core." Writing out of his large expe-
rience with them, in a season so unfavorable for
honey-gathering that, if they possessed any unman-
ageable irritability it could not fail to show itself,
Mr. Benton gives them the palm, even over Italian
bees, for easy control in all necessary manipulations.
Two years ago Mr. Muth, of Cincinnati, after
weighing all that our German friends had to say
about them, agreed with me in doubting whether
their decided merits in most respects were not more
than counterbalanced by excessive irritability. Mr.
Benton's explanation of the simple methods by
which they may be kept peaceable has dissipated
these apprehensions,* and I am strongly inclined to
think that we have been fortunate enough to secure
a strain of bees which tmites the best qualities of
both the blacks and Italians. After a large expe-
rience for many years witli the last-named races, I
came to the following conclusions: —
(1) Whcr elate forage is scarce, the Italians stophrcecl-
inrj much earlier than the hlacl(S. /
In Oxford, where, after the second crop of red
clover fails, bees usually gather less honey than they
consume, the Italians, unless artificially stimulated,
raise so little late brood that they go into winter-
quarters with too few young bees. Under the same
conditions, the blacks breed quite late in the fall,
rarely ceasing until after severe frosts, and often
persisting in it when they have not honey enough to
last them for more than a few weeks. Now, the ev-
idence is quite conclusive that the Cyprians, like the
blacks, are strongly given to late breeding.
(2) The Italians, %inJess stimnlatcd hy judicious feed-
ing, do 7iot resume breeding as early as the blacJ^s.
In Greenfield, Mass. (see p. 339, 3d ed. of my work
on the hive and honey-bee), where I had only blacks,
the December of 1816 was extremely cold. Jan.,
ISi", was the coldest January on record, in that lati-
*It maybe well to eaiit ion those who keep bees very ncnr to
public hiifhways, to be eavelul to observe Mr. B.'s direi-tions;
and it they have had but little experience witli bees it may be as
well to let them alone, rather thau run the risk of rousing: tliem
to fury.
tude, for more than fifty years. Once the tempera-
ture was 30° below zero, F., and there were two days
when the wind blew a strong gale, the mercury get-
ting but once as high as G° below zero. From the 7th
to the 14th the mercury was, one-half of the time,
below zero, and only once as high as 10° above — the
wind blowing an almost continuous gale. Early in
the forenoon of the llth, the mercury was 10!4° be-
low zero. Later in the day it moderated eaough for
me to examine three strong stocks, in the central
combs of all of which I found eggs and uncapped
brood, and in one of the stocks a little capped brood.
On the 30th of that month the central comb of one of
these colonies was found to be almost full of sealed
brood, nearly mature. My experience with black
bees led me to expect breeding to begin in good
stocks about the 1st of Jan., aud sometimes a little
earlier.
In my Italian apiary at Oxford, where the mean of
the winter is very little lower than the mean of
March in Greenfield, I seldom failed to get an oppor ,
tunity of overlooking my stocks some time in Feb-
ruary, and rarely foimd much brood in that month,
even in the strongest; while in most of them, laying
had not even begun.* The present winter here,
though unusually cold, does not compare for severi-
ty with that of 1847 in Greenfield, and there have
been three thaws causing the resumption of naviga-
tion on the Ohio Kivcr. Tn^o of my neighbors, the
Messrs. McCord, examined, on the 11th of this
month, a largo number of stocks, some of which
were very strong, and in only two was brood in any
stage noticed. While it is very true that a small col-
ony of Italians, when breeding fairly begins in the
spring, will, as a rule, rapidly outstrip a black one of
equal strength, is it not equally true that what is
called "spring dwindling" among Italians may in
many oases be attributed to the above-mentioned
causes? In localities where the main honey harvest
is over on or befora the middle of July, early breed-
ing is essential to success, and with Italian bees, ar-
tificial stimulus must ordinarily be used to induce it.
Some of the readers of Gleanings may remember
my experiments in this line two years ago, inter-
rupted by the return of my old malady.
Thus far, all the experiments with Cyprians, which
have come to my knowledge, show that in their pro-
pensity for both late and early breeding, they re-
semble, even if they do not surpass, the blacks. In
the A. B. J., Feb. 3, 1881, Melville Hayes, of Wilming-
ton, Ohio, writes, under date of Jan. 3d, of his Pales-
tine bees: "To-day I opened the hives and found
brood in all stages from the egg up, in six frames."
I presume that the Holy-Land bees will be found to
resemble very closely the Cyprians. In this connec-
tion, I will mention the curiotis fact, that, some
years before the Egyptian bees were introduced into
Europe, many of the workers of one of my Italian
queens had the peculiar crescent-like markings of
the Cyprian, Palestine, and Egyptian bees. After
importing the Egyptian bees, I could easily agree
with Vogel, that the Italian is a cross between this
bee and the black. Mr. Woodbury's hard experience
with the Egyptian bee in England may easily be ac-
counted for by supposing him to have attempted to
handle them just as he did the Italians.
*I have repeatedly noticed that, a day or two after examininpf
colonicF. cither in'thefall or spi-ing-, whieli had no brood in any
stafTC, tlieir queens would l)eKin to lay, the disturbance wliicn
caused the bees to s'oi'pe themselves with honey having the same
elfect as the stimulus of food. Where colonies are well provis-
ioned, occasional examinations might do almost as well as feed-
ing.
166
GLEANINGS IN BEE CtlLTURE.
Apr.
(3) Thn Italiars are rmtch mare indinrd to huikl
drone comh than the Macks.
When f<irage is abundant, if an empty frame was
placed between two full ones, my experience with
the blacks led me to expect them to till it with work-
er comb; and if their qvieen was one of the current
year, I could count upon this witk almost absolute
certaintj'; while, under the same conditions with
Italians, drone comb was the rule and worker the
rare exception. The Italians, instead of filling the
empty frame, often occupy the vacant space by
bulging nut the other combs; and if the honey in
them was capped over, they would sometimes build
another tier of cells right upoa the cappings of the
old combs! Time would fail me to describe my va-
rious experiences in trying, when forage was abun-
dant, to induce Italian stocks to build worker comb;
and it was only by a very free use of the extractor
that, toward the close of my career as an active
apiarian, I was able to Sfcure— what cost me no
trouble with the blacks— a sufficient supply of work-
er comb. By the use of comb foundation we are
now much better able to remedy this defect in
Italians.
Having now mentioned some of the points in
which the blacks are manifestly superior to the
Italians, and reserving others for future discussion,
it must bo evident that the Italians must have some
extraordinary advantages, to give them the prefer-
ence among our leading bee-keepers. These I pro-
pose also to notice in another article.
From all that I can learn of them, the Cyprians
seem to have in high perfection some of the very
best qualities of the blacks and Italians; and unless
Mr. Benton can find something still better for us in
Asia we may well congratulate ourselves on its In-
troduction in undoubted purity into this country.
All honor to Mr. D. A. Junes, of Beeton, Canada,
whose extraordinary energy and experience in the
management of bees, and large expenditures, have
done so much, and promise to do so much more, to
secure for Europe and America the best race of
bees, or the best cross between dlflferent races, that
the world can give us! Without Mr. Jones, Mr. Ben-
ton might have longed in vam for such golden op-
portunities; and we should be still groping in the
dark, as we have been for so many years, talking
and planning " how to do it," but still ever so much
further ofl than we now are from the desired goal.
The Holy-Land bees procured by Mr. Jones' per-
sonal visit to Palestine will probably bo found to
have the same good traits with the Cyprians, and to
be much nearer allied to them in size and disposi-
tion than to the Egyptian (Aim fasciata.) Jtf. Jones
himself gives them the preference, and it may be
that our most Viilued bees shall come to us from
that promised land, flowing iu milk and honey! As
the Italians are doubtless a cross, there is not much
to be expected by mixing their blood with the new-
comers.
For the present, I will close by urging great cauti07i
on both buyers and sellers. It is well known that
tested Italian queens have been advertised, not only
by parties having insufficient experience in queen-
breeding, and without adequate arrangements for
keeping them purf, but from those who have bred
from very poor hybrids.* Reliable breeders will find
it much to their advantage to inform the public
from whom they procured their original stock, and
why they can safely guarantee the purity of the
queens they offer for sale. If these precautions are
not attended to from the start, we must expect to
have "confusion worse confounded " by an ever-in-
creasing medley of bastardized bees.
Oxford, O., March, 1881. L. L. Langstroth.
POLLEN AND DYSENTERT.
Neighbor H. has some bees a fcvv miles in the
country, which gathered such quantities of pollen
that he had whole combs filled with it. Some of
these combs were put in good colonies, to enable
them ti) r;iise brood in the winter. All these bees are
!^o badly aftecttd that II. shvs he will never more put
in pjUen until we have spring weather.
CYPRIAN AND HOLY-LAND QUEENS.
As it is just as easy to raise Cyprian and Holy-
Land bees as any other, I believe the general ten-
dency is to offer them at the same prices as Italians.
As the difference is so slight between them and the
Italians, of co<ir«e it will be impossible to tell those
cros>!ed with Italians from those that are not. We
shall, therefore, have to call those pure that show no
traces of black blood, unless kept iu an apiary by
themselves, as neighbor H. has them.
ONE-POUSD HONEY-TUMBLERS.
Pleasf: do not scold, friends, when I make a mis-
take in my intentions of doing you a favor-. You see,
I found some very nice ghiss tumblm-s that I could
buy for cmly 28c. per doz., and I found we could
make tin tops for them at about a cent apiece, so I
advertised honey-tuinhlers at the very low price
mentioned in Feb. No. When the tumblers came, it
was found no two of them were exact ly of a size, and
so we were obliged to have them all sent here, un-
pack, fit the covers, box them up again, and re-ship.
This has made it necessary to advance the price to
53.00 per box of C doz., to cover expenses.
'Amere tinge of yellow has often beon made to give golden
hue to some very black transactions.
HONEY-LABELS.
Perhaps more than one of you have remarked
that our labels on cans of honey do not beffin to
compare with those on other canned goods. In view
of this, I have had some large labels made by a label
maker, fi)r canning establishments, and, to my sur-
prise, 1 find that a libel ■llixia (large enough to go
clear around a 2-lb'. can), printed in five bright showy
colors, Clin bo had for only 250. per 100. Of course,
at this price the address and source of the honey is
left lilank; but we can print this in for 25c. more,
per hundred; 75c. more for 500, t)r $1.00 more for a
thousand. If wanted by mail, the postage will be 3c.
per 100. These labels are just the thing tor any kind
of tin pails or cans, but might be objected to for
glass, because they cover almost the whole of the
cati or jar. Samples of these new labels will be mail-
ed free on application.
FOUNDATION MADE FROM RUBBER INSTE.AD OF
PLASTER PLATES.
We have been hard at work on the problem, for
thepast month, and have succeeded in making plates
of pure elastic rubber, that will make fdn. better,
and even faster, than plaster plates, while the intro-
ductitm ot any foreign substance does not injure
them In the least. Nothing seems to be In the way
of making fdn. ria-ht in the wired frames, although
we have not done this as yet. The sheets turned out
are perfectly trimmed the size of the rubber plates
used. A pair of plates to make fdn. to perfectly fill
an L. frame {S%x\'J'-i) will at present cost $5.00, and
other sizes in proportion. If mounted and hinged,
ready for work, the price will be $7.00: the whole ap-
paratus, including wax boil-r and fountain, as per-
fect as we are now able to make them, will be $15.00.
Voucan now have them to make any kind of fdn.
you choose, by sending us a perfect sheet. A metal
pi ito has to be nude, to work the rubber on, and as
this metal plate has to be a perfect copy of the wax
she^t, this is where the expense comes in. By ap-
plying pressure, the wax can be nearly all forced
out so as to leave only a n^t work of walls. The
suggestion of using soft rubber came, I believe, first
from Mr. Gray. We have not, as yet, made plates
larger than about 4xii inches. We may be able to
make the price lower, after a while, but so far it
has cost quite a little money out, in the experiments.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
167
trigona, or rraziiilan stingl.ess
hoin£\:-be:es.
m S the stintless honey-bees are causing some
J^\ excitement in America just now, by Mr. W.
' S. Hawley, of Rochester, N. Y., trying to form
a " Stiugless-Bee Association," and to get hold of ten
dollars from bce-kcepers, and as he states he never
heard of these stinglcss bees until lately, I send you
an account of my stinglcss bees, as they arc the only
ones that ever arrived in England alive.
These bees came to England in a hollow piece of
logwood, from Honduras; and when being unloaded
at Manchester, on Saturday, July 17th, 1809, the nest
fell out of the hole on to the ground, and was carried
into an office and placed on the desk. When they
came to the office on the Monday morning following,
the desk was found covered with the bees (but at
first they were thought to be ants.) The gentleman
in whose oflice they had been placed, being a scien-
tific man, placed the bees and their nest in a box
which he covered with glass, and knowing that I
took such a great interest in bees, brought them out
to me at Newton Heath.
As I had never seen any of these Trigona bees be-
fore, I sent some of the live bees, with a piece of the
brood comb in which young bees were just being
hatched, also a section of the nest containing honey-
pots filled with pollen, etc., to the late Mr. Frederick
Smith, of the British Museum, late President of the
Entomological Society, and one of the Vice-Pres-
idents of the British Bee-Keepers' Association, he
being one of the greatest authorities we had in Great
Britain on hymenopterous insects. Mr. Smith kind-
ly wrote to me, saying, " The bees sent are the Bra-
zilian honey-bees belonging to the genera Trigona;
they being exotic, I do not imagine it will be possi-
ble to propagate them here. They do not construct
honey-cells, but honey-pots ; as you have the brood,
the most imjjortant thing you can attend to is to se-
cure the queen. I once obtained one from a brood
sent from Brazil in spirit. I can not find that your
bees are a described species, as it is not in the Brit-
ish Museum. Tou will have ascertained that these
bees are the stinglcss bees of South America; they
are found also in India and the Islands of the East-
ern Archipelago."
The nest of the Trigona is nearly the color of log-
wood, with a smooth, hard, outside casing, in shape
the same as the size of hole in the logwood, which
measured 8J4 inches long, and 5 inches wide, and
about IV^ in. in diameter; each of them nearly round,
but joined together. The nest and insects weighed
lli oz., and the pots are filled with pollen and honey,
■which is of greenish color,— thin, and tastes sour, or
like fermented honey. The brood combs contained
brood in all stages of development.
On August IVth, the thermometer went up to 98
degrees in the sun, and the Trigona were very busy
flying about in the box, so 1 placed it in the garden
and allowed a number of the bees to fly out; but I
did not see any of the bees return to the box, so I
concluded they must have lost their queen, other-
wise they would not have deserted her; and this af-
terward proved to be the fact.
As the brood combs when brought to me contained
eggs and brood in all stages of development, the
queen must have been in the nest within a day or
two from that time, so I think she must have got
lost when the nest fell out upon the ground, or
that she swarmed with the bees when left on the
oflice-desk, and got lost. So the bees gradually died
away; but I think I could have kept them in a warm
room over the winter if they had not lost their
queen.
It was very amusing to watch these beautiful
active Lilliputians, as they were constantly brush-
ing themselves and smoothing the hairs on their
body with their hind feet, and sometimes with four
feet at once, holding on with the two fore feet. I
have no doubt they thought themselves great dan-
dies, being so very particular about their dress. At
night they all returned into their nest. These Tri-
gona were nearly shining black, less than 3-16 of an
inch long, with wings of rainbow colors longer than
the abdomen. I have had a number of them dissect,
ed and mounted for the microscope.
These were the only Trigona, or stinglcss bees,
that ever arrived in England alive; the late Mr.
Woodbury tried to import these bees into this coun-
try, and a nest was sent to him from Australia,
which is now in the British Museum. The brood
was fed with honey and water, but they all died be-
fore they arrived in England. William Cahb.
Newton Heath Apiary, Near Manchester, Eng.
(To be Continued.)
^ i^*^^
FRIEND CARPENTER'S IMPROVEMENT
©N THE PEET CAGE.
fi RECEIVED the Peet cage all right; very much
obliged for the same. After looking the Peet
' cage over I went to work and made a cage for
which I will send you a model for your inspection.
I have added a quill for water. If it becomes
necessary to use water io the cage, put the water in
the quill with an oiler, then take an apple or a pota-
to, cut in slices U, inch thick; push the quill in one
of these slices till the quill goes clear through. This
makes the stopper. Take a wire the size of those that
are at each corner of the cage to fasten the cage to
the comb. Take alike wire and punch a hole in the
stopper of the quill; this will let the water out just
as fast as the bees lick it off the stopper. You can
put 3 or -t quills of water right in the cage with the
bees, by running a wire over or across the cage
overthe quills to keep them in place. As the ventila-
tors are open on both ends, it don't make any differ-
ence in what position the cage is; they can get air.
It is not very apt to have both ends shut at the
same time in the mail pockets.
I have also made a half-inch hole in the tin slide to
put the bees in at, by raising the slide till the hole
just comes above the candy-box.
Well, friend Root, if you can improve it any after
looking it over, just tell us how tb do it. We won't
grumble a bit, but thank you for so doing. I think
there is still room for improvement; but I can't just
see it now; but just as soon as I see that it can be
improved, I will send you a model.
H. F. Carpenter.
Polo, Ogle Co., 111., March 1, 18S1.
Friend Carpenter lias given us one idea in
the above, tliat is so simple I almost feel
ashamed to think I never thought of it.
It is the use of a quill for a water-bottle.
I have often wished for some thing as
substantial as tin, and as clean and trans-
parent as glass, but supposed it out of
the question. I would suggest taking
large quills, and cutting them off so as to
have both ends closed. Now take off just
the point of the quill, draw out the silk, and
168
GLEAKINGS IN BEE CtlLTUKE.
Apr.
you have a bottle complete, that can be filled
on our plan with the oil-can, which will al-
ways keep the water pure and sweet, and
will never leak, although it lets the bees sip
at their pleasure. Two quills, pointing in
different directions, will make the water al-
ways accessible.
jSTow, friend C. has another very ingenious
idea, and I opine it will be of great value for
other purposes besides making queen-cages
or boxes. Suppose you have a block ]ix2ix5,
for this is tlie dimensions of the one he sends.
S\ ell, we will first make the block in two
pieces by making two saw-cuts on the dotted
lines as follows: —
BLOCK OF WOOD FOR QUEEN-CAGE.
After A is removed, place B on the saw,
and cut out the center so as to leave D.
Place A and D together again, and nail with
slim wire nails ; now dress off, and you will
have C, as shown below.
CASE FOR THE CAGE.
BLOCK FOR CAGE.
If B does not slide nicely into C, dress it a
little until it will. Now 'by boriug a large
hole near each end of B, with one of our ex-
pansive bits, and cutting out the wood be-
tween, we have a nice little sliding box for a
queeji-cage, or other purpose. To make a
queen-cage of it, friend C, with suitable cut-
ter-heads, cuts shallow grooves on each one
of its four faces, as belcrw.
CAGE PARTLY MADE.
CAGE COMPLETE, READY FOR THE CASE.
Wire cloth is tacked on one of the faces,
and the tin slide on the other, as given last
month, and the narrow slits have a ventilat-
ing hole run in with a saw. This last slot
will also hold a quill for water, on each side.
To hold the cage up against the brood comb,
wires are put in that lie in the side grooves,
when the cage is pushed into the case. This
makes a very strong, safe shipping-cage, and
is also very easy to open and close ; in fact,
much easier than the form we gave last
month, although it is somewhat more expen-
sive; yet where a great quantity are made
by machinery, I think they can be sold at
the usual prices. The candy is held at one
end, and a thin slip of w^ood, almost a shav-
ing, in fact, keeps the candy from touching
either the wire cloth or tin slide.
LETTERS FROM FRANK BENTON, FROM
THE ISLiE OF CEVLON.
APIS DORS ATA; A SINGLE NEST OF BEES
FURNISHING HONEY ENOUGH TO
LOAD THIRTY MEN.
fpIE following letters were forwarded me
by the kindness of friend Jones, to
whom they were written, by our friend
Frank Benton. I presume more tlian one
heart wall be stirred by an ambition to go
and explore too, by reading over the accounts
of his adventures. Hold steady, boys; it
takes "a mint o' money" to do this work,
and I presume friend .Jones will have it done
pretty thoroughly. We can help him bear
the expense, if we choose, by buying his
queens.
I have made every effort to secure bees here, but
none are kept in hives in those parts I have visited,
and I do not think in any part of the island. Of
those found in trees, few can be secured, because
the trees are valuable cocoanut palms, and the en-
trance holes are in the trunk, and are, of course,
very small. I have gathered three hives only of the
small bees, havins? also spent some time fixing up
the bees I brought with me, and trying to iiod the
largo bees, to say nothing of searching for some
place where bees could be purchased in hives or
pots. These natives are far worse than Cypriotes to
get along with and accomplish any thing. They
seem to tell lies simply for the sake of giving an an-
swer, even when no pecuniary gain could come to
them. Again, they seem to wish to avoid, in all in-
stances, saying, " I do not know," when the Lord
knows it would be the most appropriate thing for
them to say in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred.
The result is. that it is hard work to sift the state-
ments made by natives and Europeans. Nearly all
the English know absolutely nothing of value to us.
The new bees, which I think are also found in India
and many of the East India Islands (in which case,
East-India bee would seem to me to be an appropri-
ate name), are real beauties. The workers are % of
an inch long, and build worker comb fi of an inch
thick, 36 cells to the inch (that is, 73 on both sides;)
the drone comb is exactly like worker comb made
by the bees already iu Europe and America. The
workers are brown, with a very ringed abdomen,
the bands to the tip of the bodies being broadly
marked with yellow, and the thorax very fuzzy,
with a large shield between the wings. The drones
are black, inclining to a blue black, and are 54 inch
long; queens leather-colored, and large, compared
with workers. These bees are very active, wonder-
ful brood-rearers, regular little beauties, and can be
handled without the least smoke, scarcely ever offer-
ing to sting. It is a pity I can not get more of them
in the time I have here.
I am bound to find out whether Apis dorsnta Is
found here or not, if time will permit, and if two
more races I have heard of here really exist or not.
I am now where a few shillings' railway fare will
bring me to the interior of the island. More by next
mail, with samples of bees and combs. I had one
horrible time, getting stung with lai'gc hornets while
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
iCd
in the jungles. It laid me np for one whole day.
They are fearful fellows— worse than those in Cy-
prus. Frank Benton.
Colombo, Ceylon, Jan. 2i, 1881.
lie writes again later :
I have seen two native races of bees here, and the
comb of a third. One race is stiuglcss, but worth-
less. One race is Apis indica. The third race I do
not believe is valuable, since it is a very small bee-
smaller than Apis indica. Apis dorsata is a wonder-
ful bee, whether it can be domesticated or not. It
builds in the open air on branches, often making
combs six feet long; and I have good authority for
saying that (/ii)'<y?iatiiies have each taken a load of
honey from one tree. It was not until I reached
Colombo that I could find out any thing about Apis
doisata. I call it Apis dorsata, but don't know posi-
tively as that is its name, for no one can tell here,
and I have not yet seen the bee, as it was too late
when I learned where to find it to go to that part of
the island and reach this French steamer. Every-
body says, though, a large bee from which great
quantities of honey are got easily, is in the interior of
the island. The natives all know it by the name
Bamhera. I start for Sangapore by French steamer
Yangste, Jan. 31. -2 a. m. Frank Benton.
Puiute de Galle, Ceylon, Jan. 30, 1881.
Friend Jones adds the following in regard
to the above two letters :
So you see, friend Root, that, although it requires
a fortune to keen up the enormovis expenditure con-
nected with my importations, and breeding pure and
superior races of bees, yet the bright prospects of
lakes (instead of cisterns) of honey, and millions of
dollars in the pockets of the bee-keepei"s of America
cheer me on in the great work ; and if there is a race
of bees in the world that is superior to ours, or if
they have any superior traits that can be embodied
or used in crossing, I want them. Having mastered
wintering, valuable races, that is, those that pro-
duce most honey (money) for bee-keepers, is what I
am after. D. A. Jones.
Beeton, Canada.
As friend B. has assured ns of the nn-
truthfnlness of the people of the Isle of Cey-
lon, perhaps we had better wait until lie
sees the great loads of honey himself before
we invest greatly ixi Apis dorsata.
REPORT OF NEIGHBOR H.
eUR bees have wintered very well, though we
have lost a few swarms. We have three
apiaries; the one at home being Holy-Land
bees, the queens of which were raised from import-
ed stock received from D. A. Jones. We raised
quite a number of queens from A. I. Boot's Mount-
Lebanon queen, and as we took great pains to secure
drones from our Bethlehem queen, we think wo
have as pure Holy-Land bees as can be found.
Our apiary on Rocky River, six miles from home,
has been kept as purely Cyprian as possible; and as
all our combs are made from foundation, we can
control the rearing of drones. We have over seven-
ty pure Cyprian queens, raised from imported stock.
We are wintering over a dozen choice imported
Italian queens for A. I. Hoot, aqd have a lot of tested
Italians, so we are in a shape to please you all. The
Cyprian and Holy-Land bees will be sold at the same
price as Mr. Root sells his select Italians. I have,
in all. 120 colonies. H. B. Harrington.
Medina, 0., March 19, 1881.
}fi '%r€M^v^;'
Thi5;dopn.rtinpr.t Is to ho kppt for the benefit of those who are
dlssatiaflCKi; and when anything is aniisa, 1 hope 7,'ovi will ' ' talk
rltrht out." As a iiili-. we will omit nameu onii addresses, to
avoid being too porsoual.
f' LIKE your ABC very much, and from it and
your magazine had formed a pretty high idea
— ' of tho practicability of your advice; but my
faith has suffered a pretty severe strain in this first
winter of bee experience. Why do you recommend
those wretched transferring clasps? Is it because
a bit of tin may be sold while a strip of wood can
not? I have used them on two colonies, and, though
I stick them around almost wherever a clasp could
go, they have all tumbled out and leaned up against
each other and the sides of the hive, so that the
combs are just one chaotic mass, and I am about as
bad off as before transferring. Furthermore, the
combs were thick, and so bulged and twisted that it
was not possible to get more than seven in a hive,
and then they touched here and there, and one was
waxed up solid. My best transferring was done
with stiff sticks, three on a side, and they work
much better. Geo. D. Shaw.
Thomasville, Thomas Co., Ga., March 1, 18S1.
I am glad to get criticisms ; but, friend S.,
do you not think it was a little rough to ac-
cuse me of selhng the clasps only because of
the small inofit I might make on them at 15
cts. per 100? Would it not have been a little
kiiider to have concluded the fault might
have been a little because you were vie^o in
the busines.tf You will see that I have, both
in our price list and ABC, illustrated
clasps, wires, and sticks for transferring.
\Vith heavy bulging combs, such as you say
yours were, I too would use the wires or
sticks ; but with ordinary combs, nearly emp-
ty, I gi-eatly prefer the clasps. You chose
the clMsps above, and now abuse your old
friend because " troubles" came.
'mikm"
This department was suggested by one of the olcik?. -ts ;\n op
■.^usjtion to the Growlei-y. 1 think I bhall venture to §ivn uames
:■ nill Here.
JJ\ LTHOUGH I am very busy, I will stop long
g>\ enough to give you a little "taffy;" not that
' I take you for a " busy bee," nor that I think
you out of stores, nor even unwell (?). But, you see,
I am contemplating keeping bees, and a little ex-
perience is necessary to success in any business. I
shall probably be "taxed" more, financially and
physically, feeding bees than on any other account.
This reminds me that I haven't said what I started
out to say.
The cheerful, happy way you have of treating
every thingand everybody, and the little embellish-
ments of wit and humor are in such great contrast
with the long faces, sepulchral groans, and freezing
coldness of many professed Christians, that on first
acquaintance one is inclined to incredulity. It is a
great pleasure, and a raritj% to find a man who is
willing to do more than hebelievcs is his duty. I am
persuaded the number of professed Christians Is
large, who believe that levity in any form is a sin.
170
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
Apr.
There is another matter I wish to mention; in fact,
it is what I have beea trying to come at; but I
thought it best to give you the "tafify," as you did
Mrs. C. before commenting on her bools.
I enjoy a good " yarn " or joke as well as the next
man. Why, sir, it makes me feel good for half a day
to take a good hearty laugh. Of course, I believe in
them; and, friend R., if you disagree with me, I
must beg of you not to publish such "funny" things
in Gleanings. "Old Zach Brown," for instance;
trying to hive the handsome widow's bees, and the
part " Crony " took in the affair! Fancy painting is
my favorite, and while reading of the affair, as I
rode over on the car, I could see the participants as
distinctly, from that vivid pen-picture, as if it had
been on canvas. I never was so "wrenched" in all
my life; burst, I wanted to; but the surroundings
were unfavorable. I realized the impropriety of
such a thing in a car full of passengers.
Cleveland, O., March 10, 1881. D. C. Shull.
If <a faith in God should not make one
cheerful, friend S., I do not know what
should ; but we should be very careful that
our enjoyment or pleasantry is never the
means of giving some one else sorrow. Many
thanks for your very kind words and good
opinion.
BASKET WIL,I^OAVS — " T'OTHER SIDE."
2PJDIT0R GLEANINGS: You ask, on page 01,
'm " Who will tell us something about willows? "
Well, sir, we will, all we know; and no one
ever lived in Michigan without knowing something.
There are at least fifty acres within two miles of our
apiary. They yield almost incredible quantities of
pollen just at the time when new pollen is most
needed; also secrete a vast amount of the worst
smelling, worst tasting honey that your humble
servant was ever so unfortunate as to taste, and yet
the bees like it, and it does them good. In fact, the
impetus that willow pollen and willow honey gives
to brood-rearing just at the right time has done
more to enable us to make a good report the past
two poor seasons than any thing else. Good for bas-
kets? Yes, first rate; makes best kind; best thing
out for tying up bundles of nursery stock, or for
making withcsfor anypurpose. We usethemlargc-
ly for tying up corn stalks into bundles, etc. But
for all their good qualities, willows are considered a
nuisance, and farmers, laborers, bee-keepers, and
everybody unite in waging a war of extermination'
against them; but they seem to hold their own pret-
ty well yet. They are ten times harder to get rid of
than Canada thistles. Cut off a sprout, and ten will
spring up in its place; and as for grubbing them out,
we give it up in disgust. If any enthusiast wants to
plant a few acres, all he will have to do is to stick a
row of cuttings through the center, and some fine
morning ho will wake up and find he has that worst
of all pests, a " willow swamp. "
Now, if any one wants a car load of cuttings, come
to Plainfield; we haven't got much, but we've got
willoivs, that's a fact. We'll give you all of them
you want; and if that is not enough, we'll furnish a
man to help you, and foot j'our board-bill. You need
a piece of wet ground to grow willows to perfection.
If you haven't got it, come to Michigan — lots of it
here. F. L. Wright.
Plainfield, Mich., March, 1881.
SHAIiIi ^VE GIVE UP BEE-KEEPING ?
eUR neighbor Shane has wintered all his
bees as usual, losing only about three
or four colonies out of something like
160. Neighbor Rice has lost two colonies
out of 10:2. His were wintered in the cellar,
while neighbor Shane's were wintered out of
doors. Friend Rice's wife raised some
queens for us last season, and I asked him
how his wife succeeded in wintering the
hives she raised the queens from. If I am
correct, he said she doubled them up into
four strong colonies ; but out of this four,
she had lost three in wintering. He says he
is satislied that an apiary can not winter well
that is used for queen-rearing, no matter
how well they are doubled and fixed up.
Neighbor II., whose report will be found on
another page, although he raised queens
largely, — in fact, did nothing else. — has lost
only about 2o out of 145, leaving 120, as he
gives it. (Juite a number of these (in conse-
quence of the young Holy-Land queens rear-
ing so much more brood than Italians),
were lost by starvation. This does not look
as if queen-rearing was so very bad, after
all ; but his queen-rearing nuclei were kept
so strong as to be almost full hives during
the whole season.
Tlie encouraging part of it is, that our old
veterans are succeeding, year after year, al-
most witliout exception, and every year we
see additions to the number who say joyful-
ly, '' I, too, have succeeded." The doleful
reports of losses, if not all from the A B C
class, are a large part of them from new be-
ginners, or an unfortunate class who seem to
be so careless that they fail, or partially fail,
in almost all kinds of business they xuider-
take. This may seem a little rough, but is
it not true, and will it not be helpful to us if
we face the music? I am one of the unfor-
tunate ones, for I have lost now about a
third of my apiary, but it was because we
reared queens so much, and also because we
failed in selling about 50 queens in Novem-
ber, that we should have sold if the winter
had not come on so suddenly, Now, a little
helpful advice : If you fail "in wintering, go
and see some one near you who does not,
and do just as he does. I think it will do
me good to go and see neighbors Rice and
Shane about next November. One winters
in the cellar, and the other out-doors ; but
both of them always succeed. I know how
already ; but still such is the force of exam-
ple that I think it will do me good to go and
see th«m. Will not a similar visit do you
good too, my friend? It has been said, and
perhaps truthfully, that the old hands do
not report their losses. Well, let us make
them report, as we have Doolittle. I want
to hear from all those who have large crops of
honey to sell, year after year. Of late, when
I get a letter telling of great losses, I have got
into a way of thinking, "'Well, now, this is'
one of our new hands," and on turning to
the signature, sure enough so it turns out
almost every time. Another thing : An old,
well-established colony that gives a yield of
honey year after year is almost sure to win-
ter; the old tough combs and the well
waxed-up hive may have something to do
1881
GLEANIXGS IN BEE CULTURE.
171
with it, but I am sure a great abuu dance of
stores, so that -vvhetlier the bees get over to
llie north side or the south side, they are
sure to lind sealed stores all about them,
have much to do with making it a sure
thing. Do you not think soV "Well, we want
the owner just like such a colony. His
work should be of such a kind that one
would say, in looking at it, •• Why, of course
it will come out all right ; anybody might
see that at a glance.'' 1 used to think our
friend L. C. Root extravagant when he said
it needs .SO lbs. to the hive ; but I begin to
think, of late, he was just about right.
What do you think?
liEAVIXG THE SECTIONS ON A LI. WIN-
TER.
ANOTHER NEW IDEA IN WINTERING.
UR conscience has been troubled considerably
''I of late because we had been unable, by the
unfavorable weather, to put ourselves in full
sympathy with our 22 hives of bees at our home in
the city. Yesterday we examined all, and gave them
full frames of sealed stores and trays of candy
where needed. Our report is, 19 alive (one of them
very weak, 18 in good order), 3 dead. One of the
dead ones was in chaff hive, but we had decided last
autumn that they had no queen; still, in the pres-
sure of other business, it was neglected. This hive
has 10 full frames of capped honey, and some sec-
lions in it now. Five of our chaff hives never had
the second crop of sections taken off, the cold in
November coming one day too soon to finish, and i
of these are strong and in splendid order. AVe have
as heretofore fed up for late brood-raising with
syrup of 10 lbs. grape, 5 lbs. coffee A, and 3 quarts
of water, fed nights in Simplicity feeders. We still
attribute our good success in wintering out of doors
to the late brood-raising, which gives us bees that
live until March. The 4 chaff hives with the 10 wide
frames of sections still on, and no further protec-
tion (not even a cover of any kind between the
brood-frames and broad frames), arc in just as good
condition as those in chaffs, well covered with cush-
ions. They were, we think, a little more quiet dur-
ing the slight thaws in February, which of course
was a great advantage, as there were serious losses
in numbers on those days.
We have chaff. Simplicity, and old L. hives. All
were alike good, but we feel much more comforta-
ble about the pets in chaff hives M'ell covered, when
the mercury falls below zero. A. C. Kendel.
Cleveland, O., March 11, 1881.
!Nou% friend K., this reminds me of some
thing I have never told anybody. Yes, my
friends, it is a positive fact, there is one
"whole idea" in my head that I believe I
have kept pretty much all to myself. One
spring, in looking over our bees we found
one colony that, by some strange accident,
had a case of sections over them, precisely as
it was in the fall. "•• Why, that is awful,"
thought I ; and as the winter had been cold,
I expected to find them all frozen stiff. Xot
a bit of it ; they were clustered clear up into
the sections, some of them, and a brighter,
nicer colony I never saw. Of course, I took
off the sections, made the bees get out of
them, and after stirring them up a great deal,
got them under a chaff cushion, and felt bet-
ter. After this there was a severe zero
freeze, and, to my astonishment, this colony,
for some reason or other, dwindled down
and died. Well, now, it could not be pro-
tection was not needed, because I tried win-
tering a strong colony with nothing but a
cover over them, as some of you may recol-
lect; and, although they held out pretty
well, it killed them before sprmg. Well, one
spring I was down at neighbor Dean's, and
he startled me with the abrupt intelligence,
that a colony with the honej-boxes all on,
and nothing else over them, would winter
better than any other way you could fix them.
I very kindly reproved (':') him, and told him
how unreasonable such a theory was ; but he
held on pretty hard, for a neighbor of his
left a colony just that way, and it came out
better than any of his protected ones, even
those wintered" in his nice wintering-house.
Now, it has occurred to me that, with the
sections waxed up between the passages as
they usually are, tliere is a very much better
covering than none at all. as in my experi-
ment ; and is it not possible that the rest of
the boxes hinder, to some extent, a circula-
tion of air (very coarse chaff or shavings), and
yet secure the Idea of perfect dryness which
we need':* Now, has anybody else ever been
guilty of leaving the sections on all winter,
and, in fact, clear into the next season,
ready for the new' crop of honey':* If there is
such an individual in the company, let him
stand up! but wouldn't that be an easy way
of fixing the bees for winter and summer
too"? I do not think, however, I will put it
in the ABC book until another season.
UNDER THE BOX-EIjDERS.
fN passing the pleasant residence of our chatty
friend Mr. Duster, a few days after our last
— ' talk, we saw him seated under his favorite
shade trees. He signaled us to join him. He had
evidently been reading, as one or two bee journals
lay near him, and he at once broke out by saying,
"I see several of the bee journals advise
REQL'EENING
late in the season, and so on. This is all well
enough, but I would never give such advice without
also giving proper caution at the same time.
" Xow, for instance, take such a year as last sea-
son. Bees made but little surplus honey, and in
Sept. had just about enough stores to go through
the winter. Those who requeened at that time
found that the young queens, as a rule, had been a
little ambitious to show what they could do, and so
had gone to breeding; and when the careful owner
was about to place them in winter-quarters he was
greatly sui'prised to find his stocks so light ; and the
careless owner found them in the spring, dead,—
starved.
"My experience has been about this: If the hives
are heavy with honey in the fall, there is but little
to do but to introduce the queen, and all is right.
But if the hives are light, or can just pass inspection
for wintering, and you give such, a young queen, she
is almost sure to go to breeding and raising more
bees than the one in the full hive, for she finds
more room to do so. I think that, nine times out of
ten, the light hive will need to be fed to prepare
them for winter, if a young queen is introduced late
in the season. But if proper care is used, requeen-
172
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Apr.
ing late in the season is all right, I think. The in-
crease of young bees is in its favoi', and likewise
readiness for early spring work."
I asked Mr. Duster if he was ever troubled with
TOO MUCH HONEY
in any of his hives when he was about to place them
in winter-quarters,"
" Troubled! what do you mean?"
"Well," eaid I, " some writers find too much, and
recommend extracting to give the bees more room,
etc."
"As a general thing, I don't like trouble," said Mr.
Duster, in his quaint way; "but, I think I would
like a litVe of that kind, and I would go a good way
to see a hive that had not enough of empty comb
by the 20th of Nov. for bees to winter in safely. I
think on this matter just about as Mr. Lo! the poor
Indian thought of whiskj'— ' Too much of a thing-
no good. Too much whisky— just enough!' No: T
must say I was never troubled or distressed, nor my
bees either, in this way.
"You can hardly take up a bee journal but you
find something in it in regard to
SPRING DWINDLING."
Said Mr. Duster, "I have had but little of it, and
like all the rest I have my opinion. You know how
I prepare my bees for wintering in my cellar; viz.,
by placing mats made of unbroken rye straw at the
sides and on top of the frames, and also filling the
upper story with dry leaves, or some other fin© dry
substance; leave them in the cellar without any fly
until about the 10th of March in this region; put
them out-doors in the evening; do not remove
or disturb any thing until I put on boxes unless I
have to feed.
"Why, I was reading just now, as you came here,
of a man who objected to wintering in cellars, be-
cause bees dwindled so badly on being taken out,
and — and- etc.; therefore he preferred out -door
wintering. Now, whether he thought it made them
teyidcr by being kept in a warm cellar, or that it
made them touolicr by being exposed to the cold
of winter, I can not saj': he evidently meant one or
the other.
"It reminds me of an old gentleman, my nearest
neighbor, when I lived in old Massachusetts. I was
raising colts; and when storms and cold November
came, I put them in a warm bnvn; gave them oats,
and the best of care. This neighbor of mine had
only one colt, and he thought very highly of it— was
raising it for his own especial use. He never gave
it shelter from the cold storm or the biting frost. I
was curious to know his reasons. He said, in ans-
wer to my inquiry, that he was ' toughening it.' I
thought at first I had given myself away, and that
. he was slily feeding me a little ' taffy ' in a mild way,
as he was fond of a joke. But on taking a look at
him I saw he was in dead earnest; so I suggested to
him, as this was a new idea to me, that he try it on
himself; and as the colt couldn't talk, and he could,
that he should report as far as he got, and how he
liked it, and so on. The old gentleman thought a
moment, drew out his snuff-box, tapped it affection-
ately two or three times, took a vigorous pinch of
snuff, blew his nose with a fearful blast, turned, and
went toward his house muttering something about
'boys couldn't teach him how to catch suckers,' and
he was gone, and the result of my suggestion lost to
the world !
"Now," said Mr. Duster, "it seems to me that
bees managed in this way, viz., with no protection
but an ordinary hive, after going through several
months of confinement in a cellar, and suddenly
put out of doors, is just the surest way to bring on
this trouble of spring dwindling. If there is one
time more than another when bees want protection
and care, it is the two first months of spring, in my
opinion.
" I do not put my mats at the sides and tops of my
frames, and fix up my hives warm because I am go-
ing to put them in the cellar to winter— not at all;
but it is because I want them fully protected against
the sudden changes of the weather when I put them
out in the spring, and p?case don't forget it.
" Now, if you ever write for Gleanings," said Mr.
Duster, " j^ou just touch up A. I. Root for me upon
this point; he'll stand a little punching, and rather
like it too, I reckon, and especially if it is a good
thing you punch him with, and I think this is; for I
don't believe," said Mr. Duster, firmly, "that any
one who has a good cellar, and prepares his hives,
not for winter only or mainly, but for the chilly,
cold, changeable weather of spring, will ever have
much of this spring dwindling."
I here bade Mr. Duster good-by, e\idently shorten-
ing up his talk, for he suggested that he had a story
to tell, but said it would keep. R. H. Mellen.
Amboj'-on-Inlet, 111., March 13, 1881.
Friend M., you tell Mr. Duster next time
you see liim, that I agree with him exactly
in regard to too much stores being just
enough, and also in regard to blanketing the
bees clear into May or June. Ours are
packed up now just as they were in the win-
ter, and so they will stay until— well, I really
am not sure but they will stay until June,
some of them.
GOOD-BY, CEIiliARS.
BY OUR ABC GUILD.
^r^^ffjAVING experimented three winters with differ-
j^l ent modes of cellar wintering, I abandoned it
■ altogether the present winter, for the reason
that I found that one-half of all colonies would die
outright with dysentery before spring, and those
which stood it through would dwindle down and nev-
er amount to any thing during the season, while
those wintered out would be hardj% and breed up
early; the combs and hives of those dying in cellar
were hardly fit to use again; and of those that lived,
the bottom would be covered with an inch or more of
dead bees, mold, and filth, which necessitated their
being given clean hives. If a person must winter in
cellar, let them take away all combs containing pol-
len, giving pure dry sealed honey instead, and put
in none but pure Italians, as blacks are almost sure
to die with dysentery. I believe darkness has some-
thing to do with it. But why go to the trouble of
putting bees in cellars when they are so much better
off outside? I gave my plan of out-door packing and
preparation for winter at the bee-keepers' conven-
tion at LaCrosse, Wis., Sept. 11, 1880, which was
copied by the A. B. J., Dec. No., p. 573; also copied
by A. J. King in Jan. No., and I also saw it in the
Western Rural, of Chicago; so I will not repeat it
here. But I will now report the effect. First, let
me say the winter has been the most severe ever
known here. I live perhaps as far to the northwest,
or further, than any bee-keeper writing for the pa-
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
173
pers. Remember, my article was written Sept. 6, 1880,
before surplus crates and upper stories were taken
off, and I said in the article, " Remove 3 or i frames
of honey from the brood-chamber (choosing the
lightest.) " Now, the fact was, when I came to pack
them the swarms were so heavy I could not remove
a»ii/ frames. I had 5 Modest hives, 11 frames each;
19 L. hives, 12 8-f rame and 7 10-f rame. I left all frames
la. I used a shade-board before each hive. It froze
up Oct. 26th for good. Nov. 13th, three inches of
snow fell, and we have had snow, more and more,
ever since. To-day makes 123 days that sleighing
has been good, and now the snow is 3'/2 feet deep on
a level, and in many places 25 feet in drifts. Trains
have been suspended many times, several days at a
time, during Nov., Dec, and Jan. The cold was in-
tense, three limes dropping to 40° below zero. I
have kept a diary of the weather, and can furnish it
if desired. It has thawed in the sun only 11 days
this winter so far, and only T days in the shade; but
bees have managed to fly on four different occasions,
and I hare examined them to-day. I find 20 filling
the hive with hatching bees in i combs, and cluster
coming down to bottom-board ; 3 I found no brood in,
and crowded them on 4 fram^^s, and one I crowded
on 2 frames. Inside of all hives are dry and clean,
with plenty of clean sealed honey. They seem to be
carrying in water very fast on warm days. I have
kept them shoveled out all the time. The snow is
banked up all around them 6 feet high. This I cover
in front of hives with straw litter. Thus I have lost
none, and consider them safe now; 20 of them are
as good as they are generally on Maj' 15th.
ITALIANS AHEAD.
My bees are all full-blood Italians, and- 1 think
them more hardy than blacks. On raising the cloth
in winter they lie as still and quiet, and look like so
much grain filled in between the frames. I think
this quietness saves them. My experience is not
confined to my bees alone. I have been appointed
specialist for 3 years in this township, and therefore
have superintended putting away many times more
bees than my own, and in no case have I found
dysentery with Italians packed on this plan, and no
loss, while all the blacks have died with it, or nearly
all. Bees packed after cold weather set In have
suffered as much as those unpacked. One writer
says those hives which are breeding in February he
counts worthless. These I count the best. Show
me one with no young bees hatched in February,
and I will show you a swarm that needs the division-
board, and to be given a fraixe of brood at once.
Arcadia, Wis., Mar. 10, 1881. E. A. Morgan.
GAIiLUP ONCE MORE).
HIS IDEAS IN REQABD TO HYBRIDS.
jf^ELL, Novice, and my numerous beekeepinj
fl friends, here I am back again among the
-^ -^ bees, taking a mental rest ; and I can assure
you it is a rest in real earnest, after spending a
few months in caring for the sick and afflicted.
Now about the bees. I never yet saw them in bet-
ter condition at any season of the year than they
are at this present time. The poorest stock I have
is in as good condition as the best was at this time
last season. I had last fall, when I left, 112 stocks;
now have 108; lost 4, probably from queenlessness.
I commenced the first of this month to raise queens,
and divide. In reply to George Grimm, in Nov. No.,
I will say that I certainly have found strains of hy-
brids that were as profitable as any pure Italians
that I ever owned, and I have always kept them for
profit. This accounts for my never advertising
queens for sale. But if a friend wanted a queen
from me he invariably received a good one, and one
that came up to my standard for excellence. Mr.
Grimm and Dr. Hamlin were the only parties that I
ever received queens from that proved satisfactory
in all respects. My experience has certainly verified
the fact, that certain strains of hybrids arc as good
in all respects as the purest Italian, for honey-gath-
ering. My practice has always been to keep weed-
ing out all unproductive queens or stocks that did
not come up to my standard. I aim to get them fair-
ly well marked; care nothing about their combative-
ness if the queen will only produce the eggs and the
workers produce the honey. 1 introduce new blood
by having one good queen of standard purity (never
mind the extra light color.) By the way, I opened a
hive on the 3d inst. where my imported queen died
last year, and I found 8 Standard L. frames filled
with brood in the main hive (a ten-frame hive), and
5 filled in the super. The bees are quite dark color-
ed ; a great many people would not be satisfied with
them. But they are just the kind that suit me. I
find that all my queens raised from the dark leath-
er-colored one are booming stocks now, and ready
to divide. I commenced to take off my supers, hut
found the bees storing new honey in them, and so
strong in numbers that it was not necessar}' to con-
fine them below in order to economize heat, and the
weather is extra warm. Last season, with one light
stock and cool weather, it was necessary, as it made
about three weeks' difference, on an average, in
swarming. Quite an item. Wc will need more rain
in order to secure a large yield of honey; but there
is plenty of time for rain yet, and a great deal de-
pends upon whether we have much of those terri-
ble drj' and hot Arizona-Desert winds. I am mak-
ing hives, and getting ready for the season, come or
not. Will try to let the readers of Gleanings hear
from me each month for the next a months, if noth-
ing prevents. Elisha Gallup.
Santa Paula, Cal., March 7, 1881.
extracted HONEY, HARVESTING, HANDLING, MAR-
KETING,
Is the title of a little pamphlet by our friends
Dadant, and is certainly a valuable contribution to
our bee literature. One of the principal points of
the little treatise is one I have many times urged;
viz., adding story after story to the hives as fast as
the bees fill frames, until the whole product of the
season stands tiered up, right whore it was gather-
ed. I have had four stories filled thus, with almost
solid frames of capped honey, and with us the honey,
when left thus on the hives, is always of superior
qualitj-. When all hurry of the surplus season is
over, take these filled combs into a room protected
perfectly with wire clot h, a nd extract at your leisure.
Put the combs back into the hives for the bees to
clean off, just after sundown, and j'ou will have no
trouble from robbers. Our friends will remember
that I have advised, in the ABC, taking away such
filled combs by moonlight, to evade all "onpleasant-
ness. " The little book is mailed to any address for
15c. It contains 24 pages of reading matter, and 8
pages of advertisements. We can mail it from this
office if desired.
174
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Apr.
DOlTBIiINf.^ OR IJIVITING COIiONIES OF
BEES BOm IN SPBINO ANO FALL..
HOW DOOLITTLE DOES IT.
^^l INCE we promised, last December, to give our
^ih plan of doubling colonies of bees, we have had
•'— ''^ many letters desiring us so to do, and we should
have done so before this had not sickness pre%-ented.
AVe are often told, that if bees are very weak in
March and April they should be united at once, put-
ting two, three, or more together so they might,
united, from a fair colony. We formerly adopted
this plan till we ascertained from many experiments
that colonies thus formed would be no better at the
end of two or three weeks than each one would have
been had they been left separate. If we have col-
onies that will not go through till June separate, we
have found they would not united. We have put as
high as seven remnants of swarms together in April,
the seven making a good large colony at the time,
and in a month all were dead. Hence we have come
to the conclusion that we could not unite our bees
with profit early in the season, so have adopted the
following, which has proved successful so far.
About the middle of April, according to the season
(earlier if an early season, and later if a late one),
some cool morning we look over all our bees by re-
moving-the cap and raising the quilt a little, and all
that do not occupy six spaces between the combs are
marked, and the first warm day are shut on to as
many combs us they have brood in, by means of a
division-board. If they are very small, so as to have
brood in only two or three combs, and small patches
at that, we take away all extra combs, so as to take
precaution against robbing; but if stronger, we
leave the extra combs the other Side of the division-
board, so the bees can carry the honey over as they
need it for brood-rearing. Contract the entrance to
suit the size of the colony, leaving not more than an
Inch in length of entrance for the best of them, and
only space enough for a bee to pass at a time for the
poorest. Our next work is to increase the brood as
fast as possible in these small colonies. Keep them
shut on the combs first given them till they are fill-
ed with brood clear to the bottom, when they are to
have an empty comb placed in the center, which al-
so will be filled in a week or so. Go over them once
a week In this way till you have 5 frames full of
brood in the strongest. The next time over, take a
frame of brood just hatching from those having the
5 filled, and give it to the next strongest, say one
that has 4 frames, and put an empty comb in the
place it came from, and so keep working till you
have each hive contain 5 frames, and those frames
completely crowded with brood, which should occur
about the 10th or 13th of June in this locality. Now,
go to No. 1 and open it, and look the frames over till
you find the queen, and when you have found her,
set the frame she is on to one side; then take the i
remaining frames and all the bees to No. 2. Spread
the 5 frames in No. 2 apart, so as to set the 4 frames
brought from No. 1 in each alternate space made by
spreading the frames in No. 3. Now close up No. 2,
and you will see that in 12 or 15 days it will be one of
the strongest colonies j'ou have in the yard. By
alternating the frames, the bees are so mixed up
that they will not quarrel, and I have never known
a queen to be harmed. If we wish no increase of
stocks we should begin early, and serve our whole
apiary the same way. You will see we use 9 frames
t T the hive, but the plan is the same with any num-
ber of frames. We will now return to No. 1, which
we loft with the frame and queen standing outside
the hive. Place it in the hive close to one side, and
put in an empty frame; adjust the division-board,
and you have as nice a nucleus as any person need
desire. Of course, many of the old bees taken to No.
2 return and make the nucleus very strong. You
can use this nucleus for any purpose you may wish.
AVe will tell yon some of the purposes we put them
to: 1. We use them to supply us with queens; 2. We
keep them building combs till they are all used up,
taking it away from them as fast as built. Now, we
verily believe we can produce nice straight worker
combs in this way cheaper than we can buy founda-
tion and pay express on It; and you know Doolittle
is great on saving the cash outlay, as far as possible,
in all things connected with the apiary; 3. If we
wish more colonies we can build them up to strong
colonies by fall, or these little colonies will produce
as much extracted honey according to their num-
bers as any in the yard.
UNITINO IN THE FALL.
If we wish to unite our bees in the fall, from scar-
city of honey, weakness as regards bees, or from
whatever cause, the first thing we want to know is,
which of the two stocks to be united has the better
queen. Having ascertained this, hunt up the poor-
est and kill her. Now select from the two the num-
ber of frames having the most honey in them, to the
number you wish to winter them on, and set them
in one of the hives, alternating them as far as possi-
ble. Shake the bees which are on the remaining
frames off at the entrance, taking one frame from
one swarm, and the next from the other, so as to
mix the bees completely. See that all go inside the
hive, and the work is done. We never knew bees
thus mixed to quarrel at any season of the year.
Eemove all of the hive and combs from the stand oc-
cupied by the united stocks, and so far, I am satis-
fied, what few bees return to the old place go to the
united stock after finding their old hive is gone.
The mixing-up process tends to cause them to mark
their location at the next flight. Thus we have
told you how we do with our bees as far as doubling
and uniting is concerned. G. M. Doolittle.
Borodino, N. Y., March 12, 1881.
Tip-top advice, friend D. My experience
of late has been so mucli like yours, that I
have told the boys that, if they could not
make a colony pull through in ways such as
you have mentioned, they had better let it
go, saving the queen if possible, than to try
to fix it by uniting with other stocks, or tak-
ing brood from stronger colonies. It is true,
a stock is often saved by taking a frame of
brood from another ; but the one the frame
is taken from suffers a loss of young bees at
just the time it should have had them; and
oftentimes, before the spring is over, both
have died, where the best one would have
been all right had it not been for this un-
timely and injudicious "tinkering," by tak-
ing away the very life and strength of the
stock, in the shape of a frame of brood.
Again, tliis frame of brood is often in such
shape that the weak colony can not care for
it all, and it dies, a greater part of it, by be-
ing chilled. I would try to build all up with-
out uniting, for oar bees do quarrel now and
then, even when united in the manner given.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
175
FROM THE "STAR APIARY."
BEE CtlLTURE VERSUS KEEPING A SALOON.
^ WAS engaged in the business of saloon-keeping
Jt| from the year 1867 to '77. One nice spring
morning In May, '77, I went fishing, for a little
out-door recreation, just at the time the willows
were in bloom. On them I saw many bees at work,
and finally I became more interested in watching the
bees at work than I was in my fishing. I noticed
.they all took an eastern course, and flew low. I took
it into my head that they went in some tree not far
off, and so I traced them to a sycamore stub not far
off, and found them working very strong, and that
they were a bright yellow bee (what I then called a
tame bee.) I went homo rejoicing over my good
luck. Assisted by two men, that evening I cut a
gum off containing the bees and comb. "We took it
across the river in a skiff, and carried it to my place
of residence. The first of June I got Mr. Fansher, a
miller in town, and an old bee man, to assist me in
transferring them to an L. hive. They proved to be
pure Italians, and about ready to swarm. I divided
twice that season, making three in all, but took no
surplus honey.
That summer I put all my means in a new build-
ing for my saloon, billiard hall, and residence. On
the night of the 27th of Sept., '77, our building was
discovered to be on fire, and we were alarmed just
in time to escape frombeiugconsumed in the flames.
My boy of ten, and two younger girls, were already
nearly surrounded by the flames in a back bedroom,
but we escaped through a front window by means of
a'ladder. Owing to the darkness, smoke, fire, etc.,
we saved scarcely a suit of clothes apiece; but,
thanks to the good people of Colfax, they provided
for us some clothing and bedding. I had no insur-
ance, so it was a total loss of over .?2000.
I was advised to build again, and the lumbermen
said they would give me all the credit I wanted for
lumber, by getting it insured in their favor. So I
built and opened up again in Nov., '77. My trade
prospered until the night of the 2d of April, when
my building was burned to the ground again. But
little of the contents were saved. It was the most
severe stroke on me that I ever received. My
strength all departed fJDm within me, and I was tak-
en away from the scene of the fire in an almost un-
conscious state. I then said I would never engage in
the saloon or liquor tralEc again. My loss was near-
ly $3000, and some in debt. I was left without any
thing, and a small family to support, which I did by
day's labor the best I could. But the three stands
of bees were safe up at the place where I lived the
fore part of the season. I wintered them in a cellar,
and in the spring of 1878 I bought 9 more and lost
one by robbing, and increased the 11 to 32, and had
about 2C0 lbs. of extracted honey; sold it to neigh-
bors for 15 cts. per lb.
I worked up some sign-boards that were lettered
"Billiards, Beer, and Wine;" the letters show on the
hives yet, although I gave them a coat of paint. I
wintered the 32 in my cellar, without the loss of one,
and but one queenless in the spring of 1879. From
the 32 1 increased to 72 that season, and sold 600 lbs.
of extracted honey at 10 cts. per lb., and 300 lbs. at 15
cts. I put bees in the cellar Nov. 1st, and took them
out March 2-tth, 1880; lost two; bought7, and increas-
ed to 96, and had 3100 lbs. of extracted honey and 800
bs. comb honey. The extracted was a 11 sold by • the
last of Oct., except what we reserved for home use.
We use considerable for putting up fruits, and mak-
ing jells. We sold the comb honey at 15 cts. ; have
about 100 lbs. yet for sale. I have my bees this win-
ter in a cave, or side-hill house, with ventilation ar-
rangements, etc.; have them on racks, or shelves,
in three tiers. The temperature has averaged in it
40°. I keep it dark, and visit it often; have lost 3
stands up to date, which leaves me 103 yet. I bought
10 late in the fall.
I use the L. hive. I bought a piece of timber land
one mile from railroad station, and near the mineral
springs. Thousands of people visit these springs for
health, and they efl'ect some wonderful cures; large
hotels, and good accommodations. I am fitting up
my land for a honey-farm, and expect to make api-
culture my business in the future. I will say this to
the brethren in apiculture: Throw off the blinding
influences of prejudice, and throw open wide the
gates of benevolence and enterprise, and permit the
streaming light of apicultural science to take full
possession of your intellectual department.
I know 1 could have done much better in my 3
years' work in apiculture had I not had to woi-k
against disadvantages; I have experimented a great
deal with comb fdu., and am highly pleased with the
advantages derived from it. Gko. W. Penn.
Colfax, Iowa, Feb. 16, 1881.
May the Lord be praised, friend P., that
you have exchanged the damaging saloon
business for the peaceful one of bees. In
selhng honey, you never send a fellow-being
on in his way to ruin; but in the other, even
put it in the best possible light, it has at
least the appearance of evil. Go one step
more, if you have not already, and choose
God for your guide and helper, and your
ways shall be pleasantness, and all your
paths peace.
^ ■■■ m
EARLY FEEDING TO GET GREAT
AMOUNTS OF HONEY.
WILL IT WOBK?
f NOTICE one point in your comments on Mrs. Liz-
zie E. Cotton's book that drew my attention to
— ' a point that I have been thinking of writing to
you about for some time, and that is in regard to
building up stocks to their fullest strength by the
time white clover opens. It has been advocated in
Gleanings before, and I have been trying to prac-
tice it, but it has not been satisfactory tome. I do
not care about increasing my bees above 30 stocks.
My aim has been, the last two years, for honey. In
the spring of 1879 I built up my colonies early, and
had them strong before clover opened. There were
three colonies that I had in chaff hives, and I had
built large air-castles about the amount of honey I
would take from these three hives. Having them
in large hives, I gave them plenty of room so they
should not get the swarming fever as I call it; but
about the time white clover commenced to yield.
No. 1 commenced to swarm, but I thought I was
running the apiary, and would run it for honey. So
I clipped the queen's wings and put them back and
destroj'ed queen-cells and gave more room, expect-
ing they would go to work; but they did not feel
disposed to do so, but came out the next day again
to swarm. I was on hand and caged the queen and
waited till they came back; then I let the queen en'
ter with them, thinking I had played a trick on them"
176
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Apr.
But the next day they were on hand again ; so was I,
and I put them hack again, and destroyed the
queen-cell again. Not being satisfied with one trial
a day, they came out twice a day, and I would put
them back twice a day. Thus they proceeded, and I
was determined to conquer, until they came out the
twelfth time, when they united with a second
swarm, and T concluded to hive them together and
be done with them. So the honey season passed
around, and I did not got much honey. Swarm,
swarm, was all the go; the rest of my colonies were
nparly as bad, and so in the spring of 1880 I built
them up again in the same way, but took more
pains to give them room to keep down the swarming
fever, but they commenced to swarm as they did
the season previous, and I put some back till I was
tired; and, not having prepared as many hives as I
should have done, I commenced to run short, and it
was getting late in the season for swarming. I
would hive two and three that had come out and
clustered together in one hive, and as I was busy at
haying and harvesting, while I would be out of sight
they came out and left for parts unknown. In all,
there were six colonies served me thus.
Now, I do not wish to increase, as I have as many
as I can attend conveniently with my other work,
but would like to run them for honey, and know
that a strong stock is worth two or more weak ones.
How shall I manage that swarming fever, and get
them to store honey? Aakon J. Weidner.
Bigler, Pa., Feb. 21, 1881.
I know this is often the case, friend W.;
but I would build them up, for all that. If
they swarm, put them in a new hive, and
get them to work in the sections as soon as
possible, and then, if you choose, make them
strong again with brood from the old hive.
A new swarm well started in the boxes will
seldom swarm again. If extracted honey
should be the thing again, as I half think it
will, you can easily hold them by taking all
their honey away. No, sir, 'ee, friend W., Ave
are not to be scared out of building them up
strong, on account of the swarming fever.
We can fix them in oiir apiary, by selling oft'
those by the pound that have the swarming
fever. Don't you see?
ONIONS AS A HONEY-PJLANT.
A NEW INDUSTRY TOR OUR BEE FRIENDS.
WN March No. of Gleanings, page 117, 1 notice a
JSji communication from Mr. G. A. Willis, headed
"Onions as a Honey-Plant," in which he says
he knows that this does not belong to bee culture.
Although he may not know it, and perhaps many
others, the flowers from onions cultivated for the
production of seed form a great honey-producing
plant; and I claim that any honey-producing plant
belongs to and is identified with the interests of bee
culture. Although I may not agree with friend H. in
his reply, that they make a beautiful flower-bed, j'et
there is no accounting for taste in the floral world,
as in all things else. Having been many years an
onion-grower and a producer of the seed of this pun-
gent edible by the twenty-flve to fifty acres each
year, and a bee-keeper at the same time, I have had
ample opportunities to observe its honey-producing
qualities; and from thorough and careful observa-
tion have become satisfied that an acre of seed
onions is of more value to the bee»keeper than an
acre of buckwheat and a larger area In a corres-
ponding ratio, and the honey is of a superior quali-
ty. The onion blooms at a season of the year when
other honey-producing flowers are comparatively
scarce. When in bloom, on all pleasant days it is
almost like walking through one continued swarm
of bees to pass through a field of seed onions; and,
like the Spider plant, drops of purenectar glisten in
the rays of the morning sun, and all Miss Bee has to
do is to walk from receptacle to receptacle and sip
the priceless treasure, there being from 100 to 300
of those receptacles upon each ball or flower; and I
consider any bee-keeper fortunate who has fields of
seed onions in proximity to his apiary. There are
annually from 50 to 100 acres cultivated within easy
reach of my bees, and if it is weather that bees can
gather honey during the bloom, I mark it down that
my bees are safe for stores. One would naturally
suppose that the pungent odor and taste of the bulb
and young plant might impart its flavor to the
honey; but I have never yet been able to detect any
ill effects from this cause.
I apprehend that friend Willis does not contem-
plate going into onion culture for the production of
seed, from the way he talks, but proposes to grow
the bulbs for market or consumption, and inquires
for the best varieties. Now, this very much depends
upon the purposes for which he proposes to grow
this vegetable, whether to market in the green state,
tied in bunches, to be consumed by the purchaser
in that form, or retailed by the grocer to supply the
tables of his customers from day to day, or bring the
bulbs to maturity, and market in a dry state by the
barrel or bushel, or whether he grows them for the
production of seed. Were I going into onion cul-
ture, I should choose a different variety for each of
the different propositions; namely, for marketing
in a green condition, as above, I should by all means
plant the English multipliers; if for marketing in a
dry state, Yellow Dan vers; if for seed. Yellow Dutch
and Wcathersfield Ked, for the following reasons;
namely, if for market in a green state, the multi-
pliers come to maturity very earl^', suiHcient to be
sold in a green state, and at a time when other green
vegetables are scarce in the markets, and conse-
quently find a ready sale, and at remunerative
prices, if your land is clear fm* a crop of buckwheat,
or some other honey-producing crop or late garden
vegetables in the way of late cabbage, cauliflowers,
turnips, etc. I frequently raise a fine crop of late
tomatoes on my multiplier ground, setting the
plants in every third space between the rows about
the 18th of June, and, as the onions are cleared off
for market, cultivate and hoe in the ordinary meth-
od; if for marketing the bulbs in a dry state at ma-
turity. Yellow Danvers, on account of its producing
qualities and higher prices in the markets — gener-
ally reaching from 10 to 15c higher per bushel than
the other varieties. .Average yield on good land,
properly cultivated, from 400 to 500 bushels per acre;
if for seed, Yeflow Dutch and Wcathersfield Red;
for their productiveness in the growth and proper
maturity of seed, the Yellow Danvers — a strong
producer of seed.
I have kept bees for over 20 years, mostly in the
oldQuinbybox hive, but have abandoned it — not
particularly from the result of my own experience
and observation, but from the result of the experi-
ence and investigation of others, connected with my
own thought and practice, and have adopted the
movable-comb hiveS) simply the plain Langstroth
1881
GLEAKIKGS IK BEE CULTUEE.
177
without portico or projection on top of cap, with
movable bottom-board, and so constriicted that I
can set an extra hive filled with frames of 1-lb. sec-
tions directly over the brood hive, and with honey-
board so constructed that I can place upon this top
hive 10 frames of 3 each 1-lb. sections, and put on
the cap, making virtually a one, two, or three stoi-y
hive at pleasure, without any extra pieces, and have
named it "Dodge's Common-Sense Hive." I have a
couple of dozen nuclei hives, constructed to hold
each one, two, and three full-sized frames that I use
in my hives for full colonies, with an observatory
hive of each size, with glass sides and manipulating
panels, which give mc an opportunity to see the in-
side working at any time, by removing the panels;
and with division boards can increase my nuclei to
an indefinite number in my new hives for swarms.
I set my hives 3 in. from the ground, with alighting-
board reaching from bottom to the ground in an in-
clined position, in such a way that the bees can
walk from the ground directly into the hive. Mj'
apiary is protected on the north and west by large
and thick orchards; am in a good white-clover dis-
trict, with a limited supply of basswood within
reach of my bees, and onions stated, with quite a
large area of goldenrod; have ABC, Cook's Manu-
al, and Quinby's IXcw Bee-Keeping ; take the Ameri-
can Bee Journal and Gleanings, and eagerly read
their contents as each number makes its weekly
and monthly visits to my fireside. I do not expect
to eclipse Capt. Iletherington or friend Doolittle,
but am in hopes to make a fair average with bee-
keepers in general; will report at the proper
season.
Now, Mr. Editor, appreciating the benefits of oth-
ers' experience, what I wish to know is, whether I
have made any show toward a start in the right di-
rection in Improved apiculture. If you or any other
bee-keeper will point out my mistakes, and set me
right, through the columns of Gleanings, you will
confer a great favor upon me as a brother in the
bee-keeping fraternity. N. E. Dodge.
Fredonia, Chautauqua Co., N. Y.
— - — ^ ■■■ ^i
FRIEND HAGEN'S STORY.
HOW TO PREVENT AFTER-SWARMING.
HAD a fine young Italian queen In a weak two-
frame nucleus. She had been laying about a
day when one of my black swarms sent out a
first swarm. I hived it, went to the parent stock,
cut out all of the queen-cells, took my young laying
queen with one frame, and put her in the center of
the parent hive, and it produced twice the honey
that any of the rest did.
UNITING rOR WINTER, AND ITALIANIZING, ALL AT
ONCE.
I had 13 swarms when winter came on — 6 each of
Italians and blacks; doubled up to 7, doing away
with all the black queens but one. They were in
Simplicity hives. I looked up the queen, caged her,
and set the hive above the one I wished to unite
with, and the plan worked well. I lost one this
winter that was packed in chaff. The rest are all
In splendid condition. About two-thirds of the bees
in this county are dead. 1 have never had a swarm
of bees die in winter with honey above them. The
one in the chaff hive had no bees added to it in the
fall. It had about 25 lbs. of honey. It looks as
though about half was left yet. The others con-
sumed more than twice as much. Hurrah for
the Chafif Hive! It is the hive that suits me.
HOW QUEENS STING EACH OTHER.
I put three queens in a cage last fall, and from ob-
servation there is but one place that queens can
sting another, and that is right against the waist,
on the underside of the body. Now, if we could de-
prive the queens of their stings by cutting them off,
and putting two in a chaff hive, should the plan
work, we might have big swarms of bees to fill that
doctor's hive in "Wisconsin.
HOW TO TELL THE AGE OF A QUEEN.
To tell the age of queens in a large apiary, take a
small pencil-pointed brush. Now take 3 different
colored paints that would be best adapted to the
purpose; commence and mark all queens the first
year with one color on the shield — between the
wings a small dot; next year the next, and so on.
You could tell the age of all your queens that you
raised, whenever you saw one, and it would also
help to settle some disputed facts, such as a queen
being fertilized the second time, etc.
H. F. Hagen.
De Soto, Jeff. Co., Mo., Feb. 38, 1881.
You are correct, I believe, friend II., in
regard, to the way a queen stings a rival.
Your plan of cutting off the stings is old,
and fails, I believe, because the bees are just
as liable to kill the extra queens as the
reigning queen is herself. Your plan of
marking the queen is good, if the bees will
not bite off the paint or coloring matter.
We have tried some such experiments, but
the color was gone, after a few days. Per-
haps some one else may do better, however.
^ ■■■ m-
CHAFF HIVES FOR SUMMER.
" COME, LET US REASON TOGETHER."
fl|HE weight of a man's testimony depends not
only upon the man giving it, but more or less
upon the importance of the subject upon
which it is given. You know, friend Root, that
among your many bee-keeping friends there are
many who will declare, upon their most sacred hon-
or, that they have seen and held communication
with their departed friends, and yet you are not a
phenomlnal spiritualist. Should I report, next May,
that every bee lived through the past winter, would
that prove my method a practical and reliable suc-
cess every time?
Does the following prove that all methods of win-
tering are worthless? From A. B. J., 1881, p. 69, I
quote:—
" There is not a live bee in all this county. * *
* * Regardless of packing, putting away in the
cellars, or any other plan of keeping, nearly all die
with plenty of honey in reach; and in my case they
had bee candy. The long confinement and cold
weather, with not a first-rate quality of honey to
winter on, has been the trouble."
Does the faet that a bee-keeper atPlainwell, Mich,,
lost nearly every one of 90 colonies, packed In chaff,
argue that we should not use chaff? I have lost only
two colonies yet, out of 313; and the 5 or 6 that
showed signs of dysentery, now seem free from it.
My Idea Is, that they have eaten up to a change in
food. The "cold and confinement " have been re-
lentless.
But, to go back and " reason together " upon the
chaff hive. What the least trustworthy man can
178
GLEANINGS IK BEE CULTUEE.
Ape.
prove through reasoning- upon causes and their ef-
fects, must be convincing. That kind of evidence
is of the greatest value.
Last August, one hot day I stood in the apiary of
a friend who had a goodly number of colonies in
chaflP, Langstroth, and other single-wall hives. I no-
ticed that the colonies in chaff hives lay out the
same as the others. All were shaded, as all hives
should be, at that time of the year. I reflected on
what I had heard about the "chaff hive in summer."
I looked at two walls with chaff between. Bees on
one side and a temperature of 9i° F. on the other.
Of course the colony created a greater heat inside
than the sun did out; hence the sallying out of the
bees. Now, I can not see how these walls can keep
bees cool in summer, as long as they can not bear
the degree of heat they themselves produce. Isn't
it like the darkie's cap, " as good to keep the heat out
as the cold out" ? By and by I found a chaff hive in
the sun. • Then I thought that the one outside wall
hiust warm the chaff next to it. Then I said,
"Would some holes in the top and bottom of the
wall to let the heat oiit, do any harm?" "No."
'• Then the outside wall would shade the inside one."
Now, would it do any harm to change the position of
the outside wall, as it shades the inside one? Or in
other words, is not a single-wall hive shaded, better
than a double wall unshaded?
Twelve years ago, we made a few hundred double-
Wall hives packed with paper. I believe Mr. Lang-
stroth tried charcoal, it being a great non-conductor.
Both plans were abandoned. I think the chaff hive
Is much better than either of the above, as it is a
better conductor of heat.
In regard to the sugar syrup: If you make Di lbs.
of syrup from 1 lb. of sugar, the hces must reduce to
less than 1^4 lbs. before capping. The coarse outside
boxing system costs not to exceed 2c per hive to
tnanipulate. Would not the interest, taxes. Insur-
ance, and wear, on the extra cost of expensive hives,
amount to more than that? James Heddon.
Dowagiac, Mich., March 7, 1881.
I hardly expected, friend H. , that the chaff
hives would make any perceptible dil^erence
during a protracted warm spell, but only
that when the sun struck directly on them
in the middle of the day, it would drive the
bees out less than if tliey were single-walled
hives sitting in the sun. The great advan-
tage of chaff hives in the summer is in keep-
ing the surplus boxes warm all night, and
during the cool nights and davs, that we
often have right in June and July weather.
See the following from the A B C' book, and
Doolittle's reply to it :_ —
I hare obtained more sm-plus honey with this arranprement
than with any otlier, and am tirmly persuaded that a srreat loss
of honey i >f ten results from allowing such a draft of air throuprh
the hive, that the bees can not work the wax, unless during the
extremely warm weather. To test this matter, I covered a
large colony in the house apiary with woolen blankets while
they were gathering clover honey, to induce (hem to remain in
the boxes, even after the weather had turned quite cool. So
long as the blankets remained on, the bees would remain in the
boxes working wax; but as soon as the blankets w-ere removeil
at each time the experiment was ti-ied, they retreated to the
body of the hive. Tlie same thing was tried with thin-walled
hives out of doors.— A B C, page 257.
You are just "shouting" here, and this is one
great secret of success in getting box honey.
(G. M. Doolittle, in review of ABC book.)
Also the following extracts from back vol-
umes : —
CHAFF HIVES AHEAD AGAIN FOB COMB HONEY.
I have 64 colonies, one only being in a chaff hive.
It has been a very poor honey year with me. I have
taken only 600 lbs. of comb honey, and 73 lbs. of it
came from the chaff hive. A. M. Sawdey.
Poolville, N. Y., Dee. 9, 1879. — Gl., p. 31, Jan., '80.
We advocate protecting bees from the cold blasts
of winter and the scorching rays of the summer
sun, but the intermediate temperatures we say but
little about. I had one colony, this spring, in a
Langstroth hive, so reduced in numbers that all
must stay at home to keep the brood warm and
alive, no increase in stores being possible. This
seemed to manifest itself particularly on windy
days, of which we have had many this spring. I re-
moved them into a chaff hive, and ever since then
as many workers have gone out from this colony as
from others twice as strong. J. L. Hartwell.
Odell, 111., June 9, 1879. -Gl., p. 260, July, 1879.
Without doubt, the chaff hive would keep
bees exactly as well, unpainted, but as a
matter of durability, as well as looks, I
would want hives painted, any way. Paint-
ing the outer wall of the chaff' hive does not,
of course, affect its absorbing power, as it
does single-wall hives, because it is purpose-
ly made in narrow strips of siding. Again,
where there is an outer shell to oe fetched
and put on, even though it be but little
trouble, the average ABC scholar is very
much inclined to put it off, forget it, or per-
haps delay it altogether. Our chaff hives
can be inspected as quickly as you can raise
a quilt with one hand and "turn back the mat
with the other. At the same time, friend H. ,
very many will perhaps prefer your plan,
and it actually is very much cheaper, espec-
ially if you want no upper story to hold the
same size frames. — I presume you are about
right, in saying 1 lb. of granulated sugar
would make only about li lbs. of , stores,
when sealed up in the combs ; but am I not
right in saying that this H lbs. will go further
than even 1} lbs. of the best honey V This is
ptire cane sugar, while honey is, a large per
cent of it, composed of grape sugar.
BEES IN TEXAS.
also something about young CYPRIAN QUEENS.
M'Y bees have passed through the cold winter in
the best condition possible. It is true I lost
' one colony out of 23, but the queen was not
very prolific, and it seemed her bees would allow the
others to take their stores without any resistance.
My stocks are all strong, with from three to five
frames of hatching brood, March 1st. The queens
began laying the 20th of January. I had two young
Cyprian queens mated Dec. 8th with pure Italian
drones, that are now ahead of any other queen I
have. They have thousands of young bees, five
frames of sealed and hatching brood, and the young
bees arc simply beautiful. These queens were win-
tered in three-frame nuclei hives with empty box
placed over ihem, sides and top packed in cotton
seed. I packed about half of my hives in cotton
seed; the others were wintered with woolen cloths
on the sides, and chaff cushions on top. The cotton-
seed hives have wintered almost without any loss,
and the queens began laying about a week to ten
days before the others. To-day (March 1st) my bees
are pouring in and out of their hives, loaded with
pollen and honey. One hive has gained 15 lbs. in
ten days. They began bringing in pollon the 2d of
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
179
Feb., and have continued, with a few days' excep-
tion, to the present time.
CAN A QUEEN REARKD IN THE FALL BE FERTILIZED
IN THE SPRING?
I thought you said young queens, wintered over
before laying in the fall, would be drone-layers and
worthless? Now, the two queers above alluded to
are truly an exception, for I would not take to-day
$5.00 for one of them; if she continues laying at the
rate she is now, she will have her hive cltuck full of
bees in three weeks more. The peach, plum, apri-
cot, and almond trees are blooming. The red elm has
been in bloom ever since the 1st of Feb. I look for
a large inci-ease of bees this spring, and am prepar-
ing to increase my little apiary to 50 hives, which
will keep me busy, and cultivate 7 acres in corn, 5 in
cotton, 5 in honey-plants, and one in potatoes, and 14
acre in garden truck, with 5 acres in fruit-trees, to
plow over three times, and 100 Simp, hives to make,
and 60 acres of oats to sow this and next week ; so
you see I have my hands full. B. F. Carroll.
Dresden, Navarro Co., Texas, March 1, 1881.
Glad to hear yon are prospering, friend C.
My remarks you allude to were to the eifect
that no queen that goes into winter-quar-
ters, unfertilized in the fall, can ever be fer-
tilized in the spring, for the simple reason
that she will have passed the age when fer-
tilization is possible. In your warm climate,
where bees may fly every montli in the win-
ter, it would, of course, be quite a different
matter.
A SCOTTISH APIARY.
OUR BEE FKIENDS IN SCOTIjAND.
A PEEP INTO A COSY BEE-GARDEN, AWAY ACROSS
THE WATER.
fJjRIEND ROOT:— Enclosed find photo of a Scots-
man's apiary — 34 hives huddled together in a
— ' small cahbage-garden, right in a small town.
The owner, Peter Alexander, is a journeyman shoe-
maker in rather poor health, but he hopes soon to
be able to give up his unhealthy trade and live by
his bees. He gets Gleanings, and will be mightily
pleased to have you just mention his photo. Many
of his hives are very expensive ones, $15.00 and over,
but they are his pride. His town is called Kirrie-
muir, in the county of Forfar. Wm. Raitt.
Blairgowrie, Scotland, Dec. 31, 1880.
Many thanks, friend Eaitt, and you just
tell friend Peter that, if I mistake not, there
are more than one whose eyes rest on the
beautiful picture above, who are mightily
pleased at the view he has given us. Why !
one almost feels like walking up and shaking
hands, not only with Peter, who stands with
180
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Apr.
something in his hands near that hive, but
with the good hxdy in the doorway, and that
modest individual in the background. I
can hardly decide whether it is the fear of
stings or the fear of strangers that makes
him so prone to stand back out of sight.
And those hives ! Did you ever ! No won-
der some of them cost over $15.00. Are they
not pretty? Why, Peter, I almost feel as if I
should just like to live with you all the while.
I wonder if it shall ever be that I may make
a visit to these many friends away across
the seas. Oh bow gladly would I do so, if it
were God's will that I should even make you
a brief visit ! Go on, friend Peter; be care-
ful aud prudent, and remember the promise,
that those who are faithful with a few things
shall, in due time, be made ruler over many
things.
^ AM 8 years old. I have three brothers and one
M sister. When the bees stiug father around the
face and eyes it swells all up. Mother read to
me about a little girl named Louie in your Glean-
ings. I have not any bees yet, but father says he is
going to give me a swarm of bees. He says he is
going to give me a grapevine too. Mother is teach-
ing school this year, and I am going to her. I am
studying the Third Reader, and spelling, geography,
and arithmetic. When father transferred the bees
I washed up the things and made vinegar out of the
sweetened water. I sell my vinegar to grandpa, and
I get my money from him. I am named after my
grandma. What is your little Blue Eyes' name? I
lilie to go to Sunday-school. I got the prize there
for the best lesson. My name is
Ellen Christine Wilder.
Forsyth, Ga., Feb. 22, 1881.
Yery good, Ellen. Blue Eyes' name is
Constance, but we call her " Connie," as you
will see in the back part of the ABC book.
That is a first-rate idea about the vinegar,
and I hope you will keep on making it, so
that no honey is wasted. We send you a
book too.
I read a good deal in the bee papers papa takes,
and I Bee letters from other little boys, so 1 thought
I would write you a little about our bees. We have
had a very hard winter, and papa has worried about
them ever so much. Last year our bees did finely.
Papa packed down 33 stands in flax chaff In the fall,
with chaff cushions on top. To-day, Sunday, is the
first day that has been warm enough for them to fly,
although it snowed yesterday. So papa came right
home after church and took off the top cushions so
the sun could shine right on top of the frames. You
don't think papa did any thing wrong, do you, Mr.
Root? To-morrow it may be cold again, and the bees
have been shut up ever since Noventber. Papa says
they were in good condition. He found one swarm
dead, and that was starved. Papa says he must
have overlooked it In the fall, for it did not have
honey enough. I am ten years old. Roy Morris.
Rantoul, lil., March 6, 1881.
Very well done, Eoy. I am glad that you
thought about it being Sunday when, your
father opened the hives, for it shows that
you have a wish to remember the Sabbath i
day to keep it holy. When our domestic an-
imals need care on Sunday, it is perfectly
right to give it, for the Bible says so ; and if
the first day the bees could fly came on Sun-
day, and your father judged they needed
care, it was perfectly right to give it. I
would make it a point, however, when it is
any way questionable about Sunday work,
to be sure to ei'r " on the Lord's side."
We have had Sandaj^-school here all winter. I
like to go. Our bees are not doing very well this
winter. We have part of them in the cellar, and
some of them in the room. Those in the room got
to coming out, and we had to take them out. We
take the bee journals. I like to read about the bees.
I have to read it for papa. I like to read for him
about the bees. I like the bees when they don't
sting. Papa says they don't hurt him, but they swell
on me, and you bet it hurts too. We have lost about
15 stands of bees this winter. Bees are all dying off
around here. I like to read the Home Papers. Pa-
pa says if his bees don't all die he wants some queens
and some flower-seeds that are good for bees to
work on. Grandpa has got two stands of bees. Papa
has got one stand of Italian bees. He sent for two
queens last summer, but only one of them proved
to be good. Minnie B. Lee.
Grant City, Worth Co., Mo., Feb. 28, 1881.
I am a boy 14 years old. I have one colony of bees
in good order. I have them packed i» chaff on their
summer stand. They made 40 lbs. surplus comb
honey. I expect to be a bee-keeper. Bees do not
sting mc very much.
WHY COMBS GET BLACK.
If I may be excused, I do not think that Mabel
L. Nelson is quite correct about the cause of
comb getting black. The reason is, that the larva
spins a fine silken cocoon, so thin that it takes sev-
eral years to reduce the size of the cell so that we
can notice that it is any smaller. This cocoon is left
in the cell, and gives to the comb a dark color. The
bees clean the cell out again before it is used. The
honey in this comb is as clear as that in new comb.
The comb is tougher after it has been used for
brood. Eddie Jackson.
Fairland, Ind., March 5, 1881.
Very well done, Eddie. Your reasoning
would do credit to an older bee-keeper, and
your crop of honey from your one chaff hive
does credit to both you and the hive, during
such a season as last.
Mamma was reading to me from the Juvenile De-
partment, and I thought if other little girls could
write I could. I am only eight years old, and can
not write very well, as I am left-handed, and mamma
says I must write with my right hand. I would like
to know aU the little writers in Gleanings. We
have no bees, but papa wants to get some, and that
is why he sent for your book. I think the pictures
of Mr. Merrybanks are very funny.
Anna Spencer.
Hockiugport, Ohio, March 7, 1881.
That is a very good letter, Annie, and we
send you a book called " Sheer Off." See if
you do not almost feel like crying when you
read about poor Nora Peel.
When I was eleven years old a swarm of bees went
across the street and clustered on a little cherry-
tree. I took my bive and smoker over, and went to
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
181
work hiving them. I shook them several times, and
they went in the hive pretty well. The rest I smok-
ed down.
When they all got in the hive I threw an apron
over the front of it, and carried it across the street
and set it in its place. Well, in all the work I did not
get stung once. I like to hive bees when they are
good natured. I have not hived any more alone, but
I help in hiving them. Will some girl or boy tell us
whether they can hive a swarm of bees alone? If
they can, I wish they would please tell us how they
do it. Lizzie Harrison.
Peoria, 111., March 11, 1881.
Well doue, well done, Lizzie ! and since I
come to notice your name and address, it
strikes me that you must be Mrs. L. Harri-
son's little girl ; is it not so? I really do not
wonder you have energy, and are not afraid
of bees, with such a mother as you have.
I am a little girl 13 years old. My pa takes Glean-
ings. I go to Sunday-school almost every Sunday.
There are from 75 to 100 scholars. I like my super-
intendent. Pa keeps bees, and last spring he put
them in an L. hive, and they made 150 lbs. Can any
one beat that? He would like j'our ABC book, and
he intends to send and get It when he has enough
money. Nettie Wakeman.
Ouaquaga, Broome Co., N. Y., March 7, 1881.
Very good, Nettie ! If your father can do
as well as that every year, he will hardly
need an A B C book. I really hope he will
get some more money ; don't you think I am
very kind?
kpMitmnt
MRS. LUCINDA HARRISON TALKS TO THE JUVENILE
CLASS.
'-K think, Mr. Editor, that our young friend
Mabel, of Wyandotte, Kansas, is a very ob-
serving little girl, and partly correct, with
reference to "dark honey." We know that bees
clean and varnish up their combs, but they are des-
titute of scrubbing-brushes, hot soap-suds, and boil-
ing water, for their necessary spring cleaning.
Where hives stand like ours, in a city, amid coal
smoke, soot and dust, and especially after a long,
cold winter like the one just past, with so few clean-
ing-house days that the bees could not carry out
their dead and comb-cappings (and it is now satu-
rated with moisture, rendering the task too great for
their strength;) if the bee-keeper does not come to
their assistance, no snow-white combs will gladden
his eye or tickle his palate. How can the bees pre-
vent soot and dust from shading the honey if they
have to walk over a filthy tloor to deposit it, or keep
their feet or antenna; clean ? After a mild winter,
with plenty of cleaning-house days, their floors are
tolerably clean ; but a winter like the past produces
a very different state of affairs. The winter of
18"9-'80 was mild, and bees were healthy. When we
cleaned the hives in the spring, we came to the con-
clusion that healthy bees voided their fseces in a
dry state, judging from the little mounds of an inch
or so in height, invariably found underneath the
cluster. On hearing such remarks as this about a
neighboring apiarist's honey, "I'd as soon have soap-
greage in ray store as that man's boqey; I could
neither sell it nor give it away," we concluded to
pay the apiary a visit, and see what was the matter.
We found the apiary to be a large one, in a first'
rate locality; the colonies were immense, and tons
of honey on hand, but none first-class. The hives
were black, dirty old things, innocent of paint, and
had never been cleaned. The surplus honey was
permitted to remain on the hives for months after
the boxes were filled, and uncompleted ones during
the winter. This bee-keeper came very nearly beingf
in the same boat with another old settler of the
brimstone persuasion, who says, "When I used to
tuk up a gum, I could sell the honey; but I can't do
it any more. Why?"
My dear Mabel, Hare Bell, or Blue Bell, when the
weather is warm and pleasant, remove your bees to
another hive, and then scrape the old hive as clean
as you can get it, scrubbing it afterward with a
brush and hot soap-suds, and finish by scalding with
clean boiling water. This will kill all the bees'
"bed-bugs," and when the hive is dry you can lyg-
turn the bees to it, and they will thank you with
their happy hum and shaking of their antennae, and
repay you with storing beautiful honey in snow-
white combs. "Thus endeth the first lesson."
Peoria, 111., March, 1881. Mrs. L. Harrison.
Now, Mrs. II., while the veterans may not
all exactly agree with you in regard to the
propriety of cleaning off the propolis from
the cracks and crevices of the hives, which
your hot water and soap-suds might do, we
certainly all agree in regard to cleanliness
being next to godliness. The question has
sometimes been asked me, as to why I al-
ways have women in almost every room in
our factory; it is because luen and boys will
not, as a rule, be clean and neat in their hab-
its. As our wax-room is not a very pleasant
place sometimes for women, we tried for
awhile having only men take care of the
room. Of course, they did pretty well (we
always do ;) but after awhile I offered one of
the gti'ls a little better pay, just to take a
kind of supervision, you know. Well, the
jirst thing she did was to move the boxes
and pails out of the corners, and give the
room a tremendous sweeping. Why, I just
felt happy to see her do it ; and after she got
through, it seemed so much more homelike,
I could have sat right down in the middle of
the floor and laughed, and I should not have
stuck fast either. Since then, I have a sort
of feeling that I do not want to live — no,
nor even work in a room, where there are
not some women around. Somebody once
said my wife was such a good housekeeper
she had spoiled me ; but I do not believe it,
do you, Mrs. 11.? Now, begging your par-
don, we are all ready for the next lesson,
are Ave not, Mabel, Freddie, Louie, Jennie,
Charlie, Ellen, Roy, Minnie, Eddie, Anna,
Lizzie, Nettie, and the rest of youV
It is now reasonably certain, says the Prairie
Farmer, that the manufacture of fine syrups and
sugar from sorghum can be made a vast and profit-
able industry, advantageous alike to the intelligent
grower of the cane and to the manufacturer of the
products obtained from it, and saving to the coun-
try millions of dollars annually which are now sent
abroad for these indispensable articles of daily con*
sumption.
182
GI.EANIKGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Apr.
DOOLITTIiE'S KEVIE\r AND COMITIENTS
ON THE ABC BOOK.
Continued from last month.
NUCLEUS.
A good swarm of bees in the Gallup frame will
touch the bottom and top of the hive, and also each
end where only 9 frames are used, but not the sides;
while with the L. frames they touch the bottom and
top only.
How is it that you have only seven frames in this
hive, when you say you use ten .In the chapter on
hives?
"We iisually use but 6 or 7 brood frames;
in winter, cliatt' division-boards take the
place of tlie other three, and in summer, a
frame of sections on each, outside.
POLLEN.
BASSWOOD YIELDS NO POLLEN.
If I am correct, basswood yields no pollen at all.
BEES ON CULTIVATED-GRAPE BLOSSOMS.
Did you ever see a bee on a tame-grape blossom?
Although they get pollen freely from the wild, or
frost grape, yet I never saw one on a tame variety.
Yes, sir! they work on our Concords nearly
every season.
DO BEES SEE OR SMELL HONEY?
Above, you give that the bees find honey by see-
ing the blossoms, etc.; but did they go into the hon-
ey-house by seeing- the bowls and boxes of honey
there? I think not, and guess you have got off the
track. It can be easily proven, that bees are drawn
toward honey by the perfume, for you can place it
where they can see It all day, and yet yield no per-
fume, and not a bee will notice it.
DO BEES OR PLANTS CHANGE THEIR HABITS. UNDER
DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES OR SURROUNDINGS.''
Is not this figurative language? The touch-me-
not is probably just as it was when it was first created ;
if not, God did not know the neoessitios of flowers
when he created them. That a flower has " learn-
ed" how and where to place certain organs to accom-
plish desired ends is a little strange talk, is it not?
POLLEN AND BROOD IN THE SURPLUS BOXES.
I find it right the opposite. I never had any brood
in the side boxes but once in my experience, that I
know of, but often have it in top boxes.
PROPOLIS.
PROPOLIS FROM BALM OF GILEAD AND POPLAR.
I have repeatedly seen bees getting propolis from
balm-of-Gilead and poplar buds, and a few at work
on the horse-chestnut; but this is so sticky they do
not like it so well,
QUEENS.
DOES THE QUEEN OR WORKERS DESTROY RIVAL
QUEEN-CELLS?
As far as my experience goes on this point, the
workers do this destroying of the cells. I know
queens do tear open cells, but believe the workers do
most of it when the idea of swarming is not enter-
tained.
PIPING OF QUEENS.
I guess no piping is ever heard in a hive till one
queen has hatched; at least, I never could hear any,
and I have experimented quite thoroughly on this
point.
WHAT DO BEES FEED THE QUEEN TO MAKE HER LAY?
What is this food that the bees feed the queen? I
claim it is the same as that fed to the young larvae.
When the queen takes honey, she helps herself to it.
AT WHAT AGE DO QUEENS COMMENCE TO LAY?
I once had a queen laying in just ten days from
the time the cell was sealed over, or three days after
the queen had hatched, and at another time I had
one that did not lay till 26 days from the sealing of
the cell.
QUEEN-BEARING.
INSERTING QUEEN-CELLS AT THE TIME THE NUCLEUS
IS MADE.
I have tried this plan till I know that my bees des-
troy at least nine-tenths of all cells so given, and do
not understand why yours do not. With my experi-
ence, I should not put such a plan in a book, if I
were to write one, but would say, wait 24 hours.
KEEPING THE BEES OF THE NUCLEUS FROM GOING
BACK HOME.
I should say that this one would get half the bees
that were in the old hive; at least, when I make
nuclei in that way the bees seem bent on going back
to the old stand; so I generally confine them for the
first day, letting them out toward sunset by the
second day.
INSERTING A CELL IN PLACE OF ONE THE BEES
HAVE BUILT.
That is correct; and I say, wait till they commence
to build cells, and you are safe.
ROBBING.
WHAT TO DO WHEN A COLONY CEASES TO DEFEND
ITSELF.
I cover the hive all up with a large sheet, and then
there is no chance of smothering; and, also, the
robbers are not confined to the hive.
A ROBBED COLONY GOING HOME WITH THE ROBBERS.
Did anybodj' ever know the bees from a robbed
hive to go home with the robbers? I never knew
such a thing to happen, and doubt its ever occurring.
I have had a few cases of the kind, and
several have been reported. Perhaps, friend
D., you do not have the experience(?) in rob-
bing we do.
DO BEES DISLIKE SNAKES?
I had plenty of snakes live under my hives tho
past summer, and the idea that bees dislike snakes
is all bosh.
SMOKERS.
SMOKE FOR YELLOW-JACKETS.
Smoke will drive yellow-jackets and bumble-bees
much quicker than it will bees, so they will leave
their nests entirolj' — the yellow-jackets rarely re-
turning, but the bumble-bees will return.
STINGS.
HOW DOOLITTLE MANAGES IN REGARD TO STINGS.
This is the way I always remove them; and if you
learn by instinct, as it were, to strike your hand
against your clothing at the moment you feel the
strike to sting, you wiU, in nearly all cases, remove
the whole sting, and suffer scarcely any pain. I
always wear a veil, as I don't want them in my face
if they did not sting at all.
VISITORS STANDING IN FRONT OF THE HIVES.
This is the worst trial I have, and I sometimes feel
like telling such persons that it seems as if they
should "know something;" but instead, I request
them to come back where I am, only to repeat it
when I open the next hive, and so on.
KILLING BEES IN HANDLING HIVES.
I think you make more of killing bees than is call-
ed for. When a bee's life is worth more to me than
my time is, I take much pains to prevent killing one ;
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
183
but, on the contrary, if my time is worth more than
the life ot a bee, the bee is killed, always striving to
kill as few as possible consistent with accomplishing
what is to be accomplished. We keep bees for the
profit there is in them, and that is what they were
created for— the benefit of man. Do you object? Let
us see: you keep a cow for the profit there is in the
milk and butter she affords you to eat or sell; but
when she gets old, so as to be of no value for milk
or butter, do you keep her for the good she has done?
No: you look to the profit again, and fat and kill
her, and, as you reason, God should hold you re-
sponsible for this act. Why not? Because he has
created the cow for the benefit of man, as he 5id the
bees; so when a bee's death is more profitable to me
than his life, there is no more harm in killing him
than there is in killing the cow.
USING SMOKE IN OPENING HIVES.
I always blow a little smoke under the quilt as I raise
it, and after that use no more unless they show signs
of stinging. In this way no time is wasted to have
them off from the tops of the frames out of the way.
Any colony can be subdued by blowing in a little
smoke at the entrance, and closing it, and then rap
on the hive a few times. In two or three minutes
you can do any thing with them.
SWABBIING.
NON-SWARMING HIVES.
Why not say bees swarm because it is God's plan
to keep them from becoming extinct, as much as it
is his plan for the birds to return to us each spring,
mate, and raise their young? With an apartment
that is suited to the bees for all seasons of the year,
that is not enlarged or contracted by man, the bees
invariably swarm if the season is propitious, and all
the combined ideas of man have not as yet been
sufficient to produce a non-swarming hive when
worked for comb honey, that was reliable.
DO BEES WORK LESS THE DAY THEY ARE GOING TO
SWARM?
I never could see a bit of difference as to the work
of a swarm, and I have watched closely to see, when
I knew a swarm had a sealed queeu-cell.
BEES SWARMING BECAUSE THEY HEAR OTHER HIVES
SWARMIMG.
No mistake, as far as my experience goes. »
FIRST SWARMS ISSUING TWICE ON THE SAME DAY.
I never knew but one first swarm to issue the
second time on the same day— a returned swarm, I
mean.
REMOVING THE QUEEN WHEN BEES ARE AT WORK
IN THE BOXES.
Both Elwood and Hetherington now take away the
queen from their stocks at work in boxes during the
basswood bloom, and claim that is the correct way
to get box honey with no swarms. I do not yet agree,
but may some time.
EXTRACTING THE HONEY TO PREVENT SWARMING.
I don't agree; your extracting reduces them, for
the time being, to a state of poverty, the same as a
dearth of forage; hence, all idea of swarming is
given up the same as it is when the flowers yield no
honey, on the principle that God has given them
knowledge enough to know that they can't prosper
outside of the old hive without a yield of honey.
TEASEL.
I have never known it to fail but one year during
the past eleven years, the time I have kept bees.
These road-side teasels are wild teasels, on which I
never saw a bee in my life. These have a blue blos-
som, while the tame, or Fuller's teasel, have a white.
TRANSFERRING.
DRUMMING THE BEES OUT, IN TRANSFERRING.
Why don't you drum out those bees to start with,
and have them out of the way?
Because I like the way I have given, best.
DOOLITTLE'S natural combs, VERSUS THOSE BUILT
ON FDN.
I have 1000 that I would not trade with you even
handed at venture, for they are perfection.
If you had to buy your fdn., I think you would
save all the comb you could.
The drumming is done by getting off the side of
the old hive, and getting the nails out of the cross-
sticks so no time is wasted.
UNITING BEES.
Alternate the frames, and thus mix the bees
thoroughly, and they will never fight at any time of
the year.
But tliey do sometimes, friend D., with us,
nevertlieless. I wisli you would try uniting
Cyprians in that way.
LOSING QUEENS WHEN UNITING BEES.
I never lost one in my life.
WHEN TO UNITE BEES.
I don't agree. August is the time to unite bees, as
I gave in A. B. J., Oct. No. The first part of Sept.
would do, where fall flowers are abundant.
It is far easier to unite bees in the brood form in
August than in the bee form in October, for the
brood the last of August are the bees of October.
VEILS.
I use the grenadine for the whole veil, and wear
one most of the time.
USING SHEETS OF MICA IN BEE-VEILS.
The mica does very well In hot weather, but in cool
the breath steams it up so it is entirely useless.
VENTILATION.
KEEPING SURPLUS BOXES WARMLY PROTECTED,
WHEN THE BEES ARE STORING HONEY.
You are just "shouting " here, and this is one
great secret of success in getting box honey.
VINEGAR.
Vinegar is also used for cleansing wax. See p. 209.
WATER FOR BEES.
EVAPORATING THIN, NEWLY GATHERED HONEY.
For my views on this matter, after conducting
many careful experiments, see " Evaporating
Nectar," on p. 173, Vol. 3, A. B. J.
WINTERING.
FEEDING UP FOR WINTER.
Why not feed the whole 30 lbs. in one or two nights
if they have plenty of comb room and plenty of
brood and young bees? That is the way I do.
CELLAR WINTERING, AND OUT-DOOR WINTERING.
Notwithstanding there are probably at this date
more bees wintered in cellars than any other way, I
winter half of mine in a cellar, and half on summer
stands, so I am sure of being right in one place or
the other every winter.
DOOLITTLE'S BEE-CELLAR.
My bee-cellar has not raised three degrees during
the winter since I built it, and we have had weather
all the way from 30° below zero to 65 above. Two or
three days of 65 ' above does not affect it a particle ; I
do not use a stove as do Elwood, Root, and others.
184
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Apr.
WHY BEES WINTER WELL ONE WINTER, AND DO NOT
ANOTHER, UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES.
This is candid, and I agree exactly. No one can
tell why two swarms, sitting side by side, as near
alike as two peas, should not winter alike; and yet,
often one dies before March, while the other comes
through a splendid colonj'.
FASTENING BEES IN THE HIVES IN AVINTER.
Packed in chaff, as you propose, bees do not need
an entrance at all, especially in the cellar, and out of
doors only where they can fly. Hence I close mine
as tight as I can make them at the bottom in cellar,
and generally do those out of doors.
WHEN TO TAKE BEES OUT OF THE CELLAR.
As you advise waiting till pollen is plenty (which
advice is good), your advice as to the time of day in
putting out is bad, as it is so warm at this season of
the year that robbing will likely result from those
set out previously, or from those wintered on sum-
mer stands. Set out when sun is an hour high, on a
warm day, and they will have a nice fly, and protect
themselves the next morning.
WEAK COLONIES THAT CONSUME SCARCELY ANY
STORES, COMPARATIVELY, NOT BEING OP MUCH
VALUE.
Beg pardon, but this is not so. The colony that
consumes the least stores in cellar wintering is al-
ways the best colony in the spring, and the one that
will remain quiet till pollen is plenty. Now set them
out, and you willhave no spring dwindling, but each
bee in the hive will be strong and vigorous, and as
the weather is warm, they rush things.
I agree with this, but my remarks were
meant to apply to those so small they could
not need much.
NO. OF STOCKS IN A PERFECT CELLAR, NOT IM-
PORTANT.
With a cellar like ours it makes no difference
whether there is one or 100 colonies in it, as it is not
dependent on the bees for warmth, but it is the tem-
perature of the gi'ound at a depth of 8 feet, and that
temperature is from 43 to 45 degrees above zero.
BEES THAT ARE FOUND ON THE FENCES AND W/VLKS
IN THE SPRING, LADEN WITH POLLEN, ETC.
I believe these bees die of old age, caused by a
used-up vitality from holding the excrement so long,
as I gave in the A. B. J., which friend Root and oth-
ers "blowed" about so much. If you will consider,
you will see that all evidences point that way.
SAVING SOILED OR MOLDY COMBS.
This sounds better than what you say on page 250.
I believe it well pays to save all pieces of worker
comb 6 inches square. This you save, while fdn.
costs money.
Conclusion.
G. M. DOOLITILE.
Borodino, N. Y., Nov. 1, 1880.
"OUK BEES."
FROM AWAY DOWN IN FLORIDA.
S BOUGHT them last February, and paid $5.00 for
three boxes of bees. Also another, badly in-
fested with moths, for which I paid nothing.
From this one I drove out the bees, took out the
comb and killed the moths, replaced the comb, and
returned the bees. In mooring, the comb broke
down in one box and killed the bees. We moved
them by boat 30 miles. Three swarms at home were
soon all right and at work. There is nothing pecul-
iar about them, only they are our bees. We had been
housekeeping 35 years, and these were the flrst bees
I ever owned.
Tlwir home is our "Island Home" on Merritt's
Island, in Indian River, Florida. This is not only a
land of flowers, but of sunshine. This is true of all
Florida in a general sense, but it is particularly true
of Indian River. The showers of summer are much
alike in all parts of the State. But in winter, when
old people, invalids and bees, need sunshine, it is
most abundant here. The sunshine of winter is
diminished on the Gulf coast by fogs, and in the
northern part of the State by cloudy, rainy weather,
I am confident that no part of the American Union
has as many hours of sunshine, particularly in win-
ter, as this Indian River country. Perhaps I don't
know, but I have lived in ten of these United States,
and made the study of climatology a specialty for
years.
Our bees, then, have plenty of sunshine, and that,
too, when it is most enjoyable, most conducive to
their prosperity, and makes wintering a subject of
quite another aspect as compax-ed with Ohio. It is
even quite different here from what it is in the
northern part of the State. All that part of bee lit-
erature that relates to wintering is of no value to
us. Every letter I get from the North tells of a ter-
ribly cold winter; but here, more or less bees could
be seen on the wing nearlj' every day, and choice
tropical and hot-house plants have bloomed in our
yard all winter. Of tropical fruits, we have in culti- '
vation the guava, pine-apple, oocoanut, mango, sapo-
dilla, cheremoya, and coffee; none of which show
any marks of frost. So j'ou can see that winter is
really eliminated from an Indian River year, and
that, too, when even in Florida not less than a mil-
lion of oranges were ruined by being frozen. This
much about winter and wintering. Now for the
summer. The two best colonics gave us two more
in MaJ^ These were hived in boxes, which they
filled in a very short time with the finest honey I
ever saw. It was from tho saw palmetto {SabaJ ser-
rulata.) It was thicker than white-clover honey,
equally as light color, with a peculiarly rich flavor.
The saw palmetto is very abundant here, and the
books say it blossoms from June to August; but
here U: blooms from February to June. The cab-
bage T^almetto (Sabal Palmetto), from some cause
bloomed but little in this region. Early in July we
transferred the five colonies to movable-frame hives.
Befoi'e and at the time of transferring we took from
them about 100 lbs. of honey. July and August are
said to be bad honey months here. During these
months they about hold their own.
The partridge pea {Cassia Chamcvcrista) is abun-
dant in this region, and blooms mostly in August;
but these and all other flowers were destroyed by
the terrible gale of August 20. About this time we
made a sixth colony by dividing. They went to work
as best they could, and seemed to be doing as well
as any of them; but none of them did much more
than get their living. As the weather grew cool
they were cross, and I gave them little attention
until Nov. 20, when I opened my eyes to the fact
that oiir bees were starving! One colony was already
dead, and others fast going the same road. Wo be-
gan at once to feed them with sugar-cane syrup, on
which they lived and prospered.
Dec. 24. Looked them over and found brood in
two of the hives.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
185
Jan. 1, 1881. They are beginniug to work quite
briskly. The West India pea-tree, called the pigeon
pea {Cajaniis indicus\ blooms all winter and affords
good bee pasture. Of these we have a few. A few
citron {Cilnis mcdica) blooms begin to appear, and
these atford both pollen and honey. So also the
lime iCitius limetta), and the lemon {Citrus limon-
um), furnish both pollen and honey and are begin-
ning to bloom. A few blossoms of the Spider plant
(Cleome pungcns) have made their appearance. In
the West Indies, its native habitat, this plant is
called " wild massambee," where it blooms the
whole year. Beyond these and a few other flowers
in the yard, I do not know where they obtain their
supplies. No more feeding is necessary.
Jan. 15. Found brood in all the hives. In one,
three frames of brood in all stages, and quantities of
young bees.
Feb. 1. The saw palmetto is beginning to bloom
quite freely, and the bees are having a grand time.
They are at it early, and hurry as if it were harvest
time. Bright sunny weather, ranging from 65° in
the morning to 75= at noon in the shade.
It is noon, Feb. 2oth, and orange-trees are bloom-
ing, and the bees are happy. Present indications
are that they will now have a continuous harvest
until the middle of June. And were it not for the
uncertainty of counting chickens before the eggs
are laid, I would tell you how much honey they will
gather. It is safe to say we shall have all we can
eat. J.4S. H. White.
Island Home, Brevard Co., Fla.
FRIEND JACKSOK'S TALK TO THE ABC
AND OTHER CL.^SSES.
WHICH IS THE BEST SMOKER?
EN regard to the best smoker (see E. Cadwell,p. 81,
Feb. No.) I would say I have used the Simplicity
cold-blast for the past two seasons; it has giv-
en entire satisfaction. I have gone one mile without
its going out when I was out transferring bees. It
has never been out of order. I find all work best
with good fuel. Rotten wood is best.
HOW TO GET RID OF A FERTILE WORKER.
To remove a fertile worker, take a strong colony,
cage the queen, and exchange places with the one
that has the fertile worker. In 2-t hours release the
queen with the same care as when introducing.
The one with the fertile worker should be given a
frame of young brood and eggs, and placed on the
stand where the strong colony was removed from.
The old bees coming in will destroy the fertile work-
er. In the evening, place a caged queen in the hive,
and introduce in theusualway. I have never known
this plan to fail.
LEARNING THE TRADE.
I fear two many of our young bee-keepers do not
realize what it is to learn bee-keeping. I have work-
ed at the watch-maker's trade for over 20 years, and
do not know it all yet. I have taught several young
men the trade, and the most of them think they
know more in six months than they do in ten years.
They soon think they should be allowed to set the
jewels and put the new staffs in the balance-wheels.
While watch-making is a very fine trade, I think it
more easily learned than bee-keeping. I do not say
this to discourage any one, but that they may be
more careful, and go slowly. I have been watching
the new beginners very closely through Gleanings,
and have learned many valuable lessons through the
failures of others. I have kept run of many, and
can see the cause of their failures. I think one or
two colonies are far better for any one to begin with
than ten or twenty. Then be in no hurry to increase :
if you double your number each year, the bees will
increase as fast as your knowledge. If we could
spend two years with some good apiarist, I think we
might be safe in starting an apiary of our own with
25 or ;)0 colonies, provided wo take and study the
journals. We could then see tke cause of success
and failure, and, with the good advice of the editors
from time to time, we need have no fears of blasted
hopes.
BOX HIVES TO START WITH.
Now, friend Root, T do not think your advice to L.
S. Smith pp. 135, 136, of March No., very good. I will
admit that, when he can manage bees in the box
hive he can in any other; but how is he ever to learn
how to manage them in the box hives? It is like
learning to swim before going into the water.
This being a very severe winter on bees, I think It
a good time to notice something about what kind of
aframe is the most successful in wintering. I have
worked on the plan of testing all things before adopt-
ing. I have used frames from 16 inches deep down
to the L. frame, and have adopted the Gallup frame
as the most practical. It is easier handled than the
L. frame, and for wintering, the bees are far more
compact. 1 packed 19 colonies In chaff on their sum-
mer stands, and in the Gallup frame, about Oct. 20,
and did not get to examine them till Feb. 26; then I
found 17 as strong as they were in October; 2 had
lost about a of their bees, and one queen was lost.
They all had brood in all stages, except the queen-
less colony; but none have enough to hurt them
much. I would rather my bees would not rear much
brood before April.
I like the new cover on Gleanings much better
than the old one. It looks cleaner and neater.
THE JUVENILE DEFJiRTMENT.
I do not think you can give the juvenile class too
much encouragement. Once get our childeren in-
terested in the study of bee culture, and we are on a
"specie basis." I like your idea of giving them book
presents for their letters. It gets them more inter-
ested in the works of God. Once get them thoroughly
interested in such studies, and we need have but lit-
tle fear of the haunts of the bar-room and gaming-
dens.
LADIES' DEPARTMENT.
My wife thinks the Ladies' Department should re-
ceive more attention. Many of the ladies could write
as good letters as the men; and it would be more en-
couragement for the ladies to study bee culture if
they knew what others are doing. Many of them
could make a far better living for themselves than
they do at much harder labor.
My wife has two colonies that she is learning to
manage. She thinks your Homes is one of the best
departments you have. My daughter can beat any
of us catching the queen when the bees swarm.
Fairland, Ind., March 7, 1881. L. R. Jackson.
You misapprehend my remarks in regard
to box hives, friend .J. I expected, of course,
the beginner would transfer them, and it
was that he might go through with this op-
eration, and thus gain experience while he
saved expense, that I gave such advice.
186
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Apr.
From Different Fields.
fHAVE often thought of writing to you about
the box-elder, it being', in my mind, a first-class
— ' bee-tree; but I had never seen any thing upon
the subject from others. Now 1 see that R. H. Mel-
lon, in March Gleanings, brings up the subject,
and his views coincide with mine exactly. The tree
is perfectly hardy, and its greatest virtue as a bee-
tree is, I think, in blossoming so much earlier than
anything else; and, as friend Mellen says, one can
cut a slit in the tree and have a flow of sap that will
keep the bees humming. I think it would not be
advisable to cut the trees much until thoy are of
good size. They are, however, a rapid-growing tree
and soon attain a good size. I have a little over 3i
of an acre, set 4 ft. apart, the trees seven years old
from seed, and from 15 to 25 ft. iu height, and, of
course, being so closely planted, are rather slender.
In spring they are one mass of blossoms, and the
vboes go wild over them. I have sold a good many of
them, and given awaj' a good many more. I live in
a legion of box-elders, lean get seed by gathering
it. I have a great many seedlings, and I have this
spring about 1500 or 2000 more that I want to set out,
and I Avill send, to any one who wishes to try a few,
10 nice little trees for enough postage-stamps to
cover expense of wrapping and postage,— say about
four 3-cent stamps; or, if you think I can do it for
less, say so, and I will try it. You have sent bass-
wood trees by mail, and know how much it costs to
dig, pack, and mail them. I should not like to agree
to send them for much less than the sum men-
tioned, as I am a busy man, and I am afraid I could
not afford the time.
Perhaps, friend Root, you will think my object in
writing this is to get a free advertisement, but it is
not. I have advertised catalpa seedlings iu Feb.
and March Nos., and have had loss than half a doz-
en orders (unless I count the postal cards I have re-
ceived telling me to forward trees or seeds as the
case may be and they would remit at some future
time). J can hardly do business in that way, my
friends. So I thought I would not advertise box-
elders, but as nearly as possible give them away.
H. M. Morris.
Rantoul, Champ. Co., 111., March 7, 1881.
We can hardly call it free advertising,
friend M., when one charges only enough to
pay postage and trouble of taking up the
plants. I do not think any of the brethren
will accuse you of selfish motives in making
such an offer.
THE TYPE WRITERS; DO THEY PAY?
Do you still use your type-writer for general writ-
ing, and do you consider it valuable? Do you know
aught of Yost's "Calagraph," claimed to be superior
to the type-writer? What we wish to know is,
whether these machines are pratical in actual use.
H. A. B0RCH & Co.
South Haven, Mich., Mar. 2, 18S1.
I use my tyi)e-writer constantly, and, for
aught I see. Gleanings would well nigh be
a failure if I were to be deprived of it. It
enables me to write very much faster than I
ever did with a pen or pencil, and the mus-
cular exercise needed to work it is quite a
relief over the comparatively still and steady
task of grasping a pen. On account of the
extra rapidity, it is a great help to an author,
where ideas come faster than they could or-
dinarily be jotted down in the usual way.
This much in its favor. Now, on the other
hand, a type-writer is hardly ])ractical for
postal cards, because the labor of fixing it in
the machine, and taking it out, is more than
when we simply use a pen or pencil. Much
the same is true with a letter, unless one has
to write quite a long letter. Unless one is
an editor, author, minister, or something of
the like, I hardly think a type-writer would
pay; and where one has the free use of his
right hand, and writes easily and rapidly, I
am not sure but the type-writer might be
laid aside for the more simple implements,
even after it has been i)urchased. I work
mine entirely with my left hand. I know
nothing of the machine you mention.
now TO START SEEDS QUICKLY.
One of our girls who always makes seeds
grow when nobody else can, wrote the fol-
lowing to one of "our customers, and I have
appropriated it for the benefit of you all, as
you will see : —
We have just sprouted Simpson seed in 4 days,
this way: Take a common earthen flower-pot, with
a hole in the bottom. Fill with fine leaf-mold and
sand; pour hot water on, and jam it down well into
the pot. Sprinkle the seeds on thinly, and roll them
in; then put a tumbler over it, to fit tight, and set
it in a saucer of warm water, always keeping the
saucer full. Then set the whole in a warm place,
such as the top of the reservoir of the cooking-stove,
or on the shelf of the pipe. As soon as they begin
to sprout, give plenty of light, near the window.
CHAFF CUSHIONS; WILL THEY PAY AS FAR SOUTH
AS GEORGIA?
I read reports in Gleanings and A. B. J. every
week from bee-raisers all over the country, but sel-
dom from my section. A cording to statements giv-
en by some apiarians, of the heavy losses from severe
winter, it seems enough to discourage the experienc-
ed, let alone the A B C class. Were they all put in
Blasted Hopes, that department would swell to a
journal of considerable size. In our section. Provi-
dence has blessed us with milder winters, and winter-
ing is not so dilHcult as in your section. In October
last I transferred four colonies, and took all the
honey from them, the comb being too crooked to put
in my hives. 1 fed them on A sugar; they gathered
a little honey until frost, possibly 2 or 3 lbs. Satur-
day, the 2(5th, I went into the hives to find the queen
laying. Brood in all stages was found. The swarms
were in as flue condition as I could wish them to be.
I took the precaution, just after the long cold spell
(unusual in our climate), to examine and clean out
every hive, air them a few minutes, and feed each
one pound of sugar, made into candy; the latter, I
suppose, " pushed " the queen to a sense of her duty.
CHAFF CUSHIONS.
As bees had always been wintered here in boxes
without protection, it was thought that chaff cush-
ions was a hobby of mine. Two hives had cushions
on each side, a blanket and cushion on top; one had
blanket on top; one with no protection. Result:
The first two came through all right, without any
perceptible havoc ha\'ing been made on their winter
stores; the one half protected had destroyed about
1881
GLEANINGS IK BEE CULTUKE.
187
half of theirs, while the one unprotected ate up all;
about one-fourth of the bees dead, and the rest too
weak to do any thing; but by careful nursing- it is
now all right. I owe all my success to Gleanings
and ABC which I have read and re-read with great
pleasure as well as benefit. 1 am studying the sub-
ject very carefully, and I do not want my name ever
dropped from your subscription list.
Greenville, Ga., Feb. 28, '81. F. M. Ledbetter.
We are just in receipt of Dr. Chase's sec-
ond Ileceipt Book, from the Chase Publish-
ing Co., Toledo, U. The book has been re-
vised, in bee culture as well as some other
subjects, so as to bring the whole up to the
present time. The siibject of ''diseases of
women and children" has also been revised,
and additions made thereto. While glanc-
ing through it, my eye caught the following,
which some of you "have recently inquired
about: —
LABELING ON TIN.
The difficulty of making labels stick upon tin
arises from the extreme smoothness of the surface;
to overcome this inconvenience, roughen the sur-
face with sand-paper before putting on the label.
This is a quick process on the tops of tin boxes; but
for labeling upon the sides of boxes, or cans, the
quickest way is to have the label made long enough
to go more than around, the extra part being blank,
or without printing, to allow the other end to lap
over it, and all is right, even with common paste.
"Wetting the tin with common white- wash and wip-
ing off, after it is dry, roughens the tin about equal
to sand-papering, as the lime corrodes the surface
somewhat.
The price of the book is $2.00, and we can
mail it to any address on receipt of price.
MOVING BEES IN THE WINTER.
Please inform me what I can do to keep my bees.
I bought 3 hi%-es last fall, and moved them in the
winter. Two swarms have died already, and the
other is very uneasy, and every warm day the bees
come out and do not go back, but try to run away.
I put a screen over the box so they can not go far,
and they will not go back into the hive, although
they have plenty to eat. The other hives that died
had 5 lbs. apiece, so did not starve. N. Dunbar.
Tallmadge, Summit Co., O., Feb. 36, 1881.
It may be that your bees would have be-
come diseased, and died as they did, with-
out their having been moved in the winter,
friend D.; but as a great many reports have
been given of bees that died after having
been moved in cold weather, I think it very
likely that it often so stirs them up that it
gives them dysentery. It has been suggest-
ed that the moving causes them to gorge
themselves with honey at a season of rest,
and, being unable to tly out and relieve
themselves, disease results.
Your bees came out as you describe, be-
cause they were diseased; and at such times,
trying to confine them in the hives is of no
avail. Bees are often moved, however, dur-
ing winter, without apparent harm, especial-
ly if moved in moderate weather.
IMPLEMENT FOR DESTROYING THE BEE-MOTH.
I send you a plan of a lamp, etc., that is very use-
ful for destroying moths. It consists of a pan of vis-
cid matter placed upon a stake, which is set in the
center of the apiary. A block of wood is placed in
the pan, upon which is placed a lighted glass lantern.
The moths, being attracted bythe light, dashagainst
it and fall into the pan, and are thus destroyed.
This lamp, as above, is used in the cotton-flelds of
the South for the purpose of destroying the cotton-
moth {Leucania umpuncta), and the plan is given by
Daniel Breed, Washington, D. C, in his report upon
'•Inventions for Insect Destruction," 1876. It will
pay to have one burning every warm night in every
apiary. Try it and see. N. F. Case.
Glensdale, Lewis Co., N. Y., March 5, 1881.
Thanks, friend C. The plan has been given,
substantially, before. 8o far as I know, tlie
bee-moth has almost ceased to be called an
enemy, unless it is the trouble they some-
times'make with combs left out of hives.
They do not annoy us otherwise, enough to
be hardly thought of, late years. Still, in
some localities, the device may be of great
value. Without question, a great many
kinds of harmless millers will be destroyed
also, if, indeed, there are any such. Will
Prof. Cook please tell us if all nocturnal
moths and millers are of the order of injuri-
ous insects?
AMBER SUGAR-CANE IN NOVA SCOTIA.
Like yourself, I am trying to sweeten the general
business of life with honey, and syrup from the Am-
ber sugar-cane. In this I have been greatly aided by
Gleanings, which I have carefully read from its
first number to the last issued. Our household has
become so familiar with you and your surroundings
that you appear more like a near and highly es-
teemed neighbor than a resident of distant Ohio.
But, to business. Last spring we inti-oduccd the
Amber sugar-cane into this section. It grew well,
but owing to late planting and drought did not quite
ripen. I put up a mill— a rude one for ex;veriment.
The various patches planted yielded from 100 to 200
gallons of syrup per acre. The quality, however, is
not up to our expectations. It is about as good as
ordinary W^est India molasses, and quite as dark. I
want a sample of the beautiful article you mention
in the Feb. No., p. 60. I know the sight of it will en-
courage the people to persevere. G. C. Miller.
Middleton, Annapolis Co., N. S., Feb. 26, 1881.
toads; how to banish from the apiary.
If they are quite numerous, Iget a dipper and go to
the cistern and get it full of water ; soft water is best.
Get some one to accompany you with both hands
full of salt. You go first and wet the backs of every
toad or frog, and your assistant comes afterward,
sprinkling them freely with salt. They will at once
start to hop off, and they hop, hop, as long as they
live; and when they get far enough away they stop
to die, if the dose of salt has been large enough.
This, I think, is the cheapest, quickest, and best way
to exterminate those " hoptiles. "
Please publish this in Gleanings for the benefit
of toad-afllicted friends. Wesley Baer.
Benmilter, Ont., Ca., March 4, 1881.
I have no doubt but that your plan will
work, friend B.; but really it seems almost
as if it was too much like "' fun for you, but
death to us." Can not these poor dumb
friends be carried away somewhere and set
at something useful? It is said they are
splendid in a garden, to rid it of Jioxious in-
sects. As I see them in my mind's eye,
188
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Apr.
hopping off by themselves to die, it some-
how seems appropriate that somebody
somewhere should drop a tear over their sad
fate, even if they have been guilty of gob-
bling up the bees.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE STINGLESS BEES OF SOUTH
AMERICA.
We, the Washtenaw Co. [Mich.], Bee-Keepers' As-
sociation, met as announced. It was a very inter-
esting meeting, of 30 members. Several papers were
read and discussed. Prof. Steer, of the Michigan
University, gave a very interesting account of the
"stiugless bees" of South America, and others, as
seen by him in his three years' travels around the
world, which he describes as no larger than our
house-flies; though they can not sting, they get into
the hair and whiskers, and bite. They would be of
no account to us, as they make but little honey (and
that is poor), but considerable wax, which is black.
They build their nests under limbs of trees near the
body. He thinks they would not endure our climate.
After his graduation, the professor started, by the
way of the Amazon River, with his gun and knap-
sack. Where conveyance could not be obtained he
went on foot. After his return with all his spec-
imens, there was no room in the museum. The
State appropriated §30,000 for a new building, which
is now being occupied, and gave him $10,000 for one-
half of the specimens. It is the largest and best
ever collected in this country— animals, fishes, birds,
reptiles, minerals, ancient crockery, etc., 20 tons
weight. What is especially rare are his birds of par-
adise, a large number. One can not conceive the
exquisite beauty of their plumage and form, if he
has never seen them. The professor crossed the
Andes, and from Callao sailed for Japan; from there
through the East India Islands.
He describes a race of bees in the mountains of
Formosa that are similar to ours; they are yellow,
like Italians. Their habits of docility are such that
the natives breed them in boxes made of slates,
along the sides of their huts (like your house apiary),
bat open inside as well as out, without disturbance
to the family. As the climate in the mountains is
similar to ours, he thinks perhaps they would be an
improvement.
We extended our society and called it South-East-
ern Michigan Bee-Keepers' Association. Next meet-
ing the first Thursday in May next.
Ann Arbor, Mich., March 8, '81. N. A. Prudden.
A TELEPHONE DETECTIVE.
I think if friend Baird [see page 97, Feb. No.] had
had a telephone running from his house to his " fine
turkey roost," he would not have had to resort to
the use of firearms; he could have said, "Boys,
which turkey do you want?" They would have gone
home satisfied.
I took two 1-quart tin cans and wire No. 30, and
made one run to the grist mill, a distance of 200
yards. I can, by placing my ear close to the can
that is in my house, hear footsteps in the mill dis-
tinctly; and when I am at work at the mill, and
want any thing from the house, all I have to do is to
go to the telephone and say, "Boys! " and here they
come with whatever I want. Now, why not have
one to run from the house to the apiary, where the
distance is so gteat we can not hear the bees when
they swarm? and if any rogues were to come after
night for honey, you could tell them where the best
honey was. The one I made cost only 15 cents, and
has already paid ten times its cost, say nothing of
the fun the boys have with it. Geo. W. Stites.
Spring Station, Ind., March 4, 1881.
Friend S., will you please describe those
tin cans a little more definitely? Our boys
have used something similar, but I believe
they used thin parchment stretched over for
bottoms of the cans, and tied the wire in the
center of this parchment. Their principal
trouble in keeping the machines in proper
working trim, was the expansion and con-
traction of the wire, by changes of tempera-
ture. "
COMB between upper AND LOWER STORIES, ETC.
How to provide queens and Italian drones, and
not lose strength in my stocks in the interim, is a
problem, especially as some are in box hives and
will require transferring. My Italian hive is from a
dollar queen procured of you more than a year ago,
and produced 60 lbs. of nice section-box honey last
season. How shall I prevent the joining of broad
section frames and brood frames below? In every
instance they are joined by comb, and necessitates
jarring to remove them. I see Kidder has tricked
some of our N. C. neighbors, by the card of H. A, Da-
vis In March Gleanings. They were here, and
made the same pretensions, anxiously insisting on
my influence to secure sale of State or county rights
to another party. But I had read too much in the
bee journals to engage in a swindle. I send you
their card, and it would have done you good to see
me showing the "Gen. Agt." some of my nice Sim-
plicity hives and fixings. I prefer the Simplicity
hives to any, because, in addition to the other ad-
vantage possessed by frame hives having no bottom
(fixed), it enables us to hold a hand with the moth
miller, and build to any capacity required. My nice
well-filled 1-lb. sections are the admiration of all who
have seen them. L. C. Cannon.
Spartanburg, S. C, March 9, 1881.
The attachment between the upper and
lower frames is usually prevented by reduc-
ing the space to i or f inch; but some
stocks, during a heavy yield, will fill it up
solid even then. Greasing the tops and bot-
tom-bars of the frames will, if I am correct,
stop it effectually. We are glad to hear you
so pleasantly baffled the patent-right men.
WHERE THIEVES BREAK THROUGH AND STEAL.
I would have ordered you to continue Gleanings
before now, but a thief broke in on me and robbed
me of all the money I had on hand, some $300,00 more
or less. I do not know how much I had on hand.
This left me very destitute of change for some time.
I trust as God saw fit to permit it, he will also see fit
to assist me to provide, etc.
My bees seem to be opening out on the spring
flowers splendidly. They are taking in the pollen
from the early blooms. Every day the weather will
permit, I find them on some of them. Like myself
they are very low in funds. Whether the thieves
" broke through and stole," or not, I can't toll, but
I am trying to prevent any more stealing by feeding
them in the open air every warm day. I am feeding
sugar and water. They seem to take it up greedily,
and I see no robbing now since I began to feed. I
have lost six colonies out of forty, all on their sum-
mer stands. I am using the Simplicity hive. I have
no company in the bee business within forty miles
1881
GLEAJ^mGS IN BEE CULTURE.
189
of me who use any other than the old-style hives, ex-
cept a friend experimenting with a few Simplicity
hives. D. L. Murff.
West Station, Holmes Co , Miss , March 7, 1881.
No doubt (xod permitted the tliief to
steal your money, friend M. ; but I am
very sure it was not his wish that he should
do so. and that one of the lessons he wishes
you to learn from the transaction is, keep no
such amount of money about you. where a
thief might be tempted thereby. "Whenever
you liave any such sum unemployed, put it
in your bank, and ^ive a check to whomso-
ever you wish to pay. If it is inconvenient
to put it in a bank for any reason, put the
greater part of it in an inside pocket, and
handle it in such a way that no one shall
know you have any such sum with you.
Carelessness in handling both money and
honey(is often the means of making thieves
of both men and bees.
niJft RED-CLOVER QUEEX.
The two queens we got of you last summer are all
right, while the ones we got from Mr. and
are all dead long ago. I believe the red-clover queen
to be a very superior bee. I also believe that the
most of cheap queens are worthless. If Red Clover
gets through all right, I will raise our own queens.
Our bees have been a dead expense so far. Will try
again. Mary A. Terris.
Purdy, Barry Co., Mo., March 10, 1881.
Such has been the case in our own apiary,
friend Mary, and as the red-clover queen is
once more strong and all right, while many
others are dead, we shall again raise queens
from our red-clover queen, at least to a con-
siderable extent. A little more charity, my
friend. Low-priced queens, raised honestly,
should be exactly like all others, only that
they are not as yet tested.
A GOOD REPORT ALL AROUND.
About two years ago I bought a " sample hive " of
Mrs. Lizzie E. Cotton, for which I paid :?1.03. I
thought this a high price for only a " sample " which
I could not use. I saw in Feb. Gleanings an arti-
cle, "Bee-Keeping for Profit, by Lizzie E. Cotton."
I concluded to ask her to send me a copy gratis, be-
cause I thought she charged me too much for the
sample; and, behold ! the other day I received a
copy free. I thank her for it.
I had ten colonies of bees last fall; wintered them
out-doors. In Feb., two which I transferred last
fall, swarmed out and united with the rest. One
had brood in all stages. One of the eight, which I
have yet, I bought in Nov. last for thiriy cents. It
was in an old store-box with broom-sticks for cross-
bars, and had 6 lbs. of honey. I transferred it as
soon as I got it home, and fed it sugar syrup and
candy. It seems all right thus far.
Henry L. Weiss.
Spinnerstown, Bucks Co., Pa., March 14, 1881.
wintering without protection, etc.
I will try to tell you how my bees have done so
far. I went into winter-quarters with 30 stands of
bees -29 extra good, 1 not very good; sold 3 since,
and the poor one died, so I wintered and have on
hand 26 in as good condition as I ever saw bees at
this time of year. The bees did not have a good fly
from the 15th of Nov. until yesterday (March 10.) I
fed rye meal yesterday; to-day Is not warm enough
to fly again. The most of my bees have chaflf in up-
per story, but those that have no chaff are seeming-
ly as good as those with chaff. I left all the 10
frames in, and those full of sealed honey. Some of
the side combs are yet untouched, and strong with
healthy bees. I had, for a wind-break, corn-fodder
set on the north side of the hives of most of them.
On one hive I left the section boxes on, and these
were filled with honey, and some bees clustered on
them, and yet wintered all right, while the ther-
mometer near them stood, Dec. 29th, 17° below zero.
I think I shall have plenty of bees to start in with
the early bloom. I also think I can sell bees by the
pound this spring, as it looks all right now. No
Blasted Hopes for me. W. St. Martz.
Moonshine, Clark Co., Ills.. March 11, 1881.
POLLEN, AND ITS RELATION TO DYSENTERY.
Has not friend Merrybanks struck the keynote at
last, in regard to the great bee malady, dysentery?
I made the remark to a neighbor, but a short time
ago, that if any one could find out the true cause of
the disease, it would be worth a fortune; here is
what I have observed this past winter. Last fall I
put flour candy over several stocks of my bees; soon
after, we h:id our first zero freeze, which lasted
about 2 weeks, then "one warm day that the bees
could fly freely, and at once I noticed signs of dys-
entery. Some stocks spotted their hives with the
well-known yellowish-brown color, and others with
a white or milky color, which made me think then
that the flour was giving dysentery; audi observed
particularly that the flour seemed to pass them un-
digested, or apparently in grainy lumps.
Well, after reading the E. A. Robinson letter, I
went out and examined a good stock that had died
with two good frames of sealed stores, but had got
clustered off away from them, in one corner of the
hive and had starved, and they were bright and dry,
and not the least spot or sign of dysentery about any
part of the hive; and further examination showed
butnow and then a scattering cell with a little pollen
in, perhaps a dozen in all, and nothing to indicate
that they had eaten any pollen. Tney had no candy.
Question: Can any bee-keeper who reads this
show that a single stock of bees have ever had dys-
entery when they have had no pollen at all?
A. A. Fradenburo.
Port Washington, Ohio, March 14, 1881.
green corn, again.
The only way we care to dry corn or eat it is to boil
it first, then slice off outer ends of grains thinly, and
scrape the rest so as to leave the hulls on the cobs;
then spread on nice boards, tins, or plates, and dry
in dry-house or stove, without scorching or souring
it, and we consider it far superior to the old way,
and a nice dish, and it requires but little cooking
after it has been soaked soft. As none mentioned
this way in your paper, I thought they had never
had any. Maria Demino.
Watertown, Washington Co., O., Feb. 26, 18S1.
OUT-DOOB AND CELLAR WINTERING.
Our bees did very well last season. We are winter-
ing 35 swarms— 20 in the house and 15 out-doors. Ten
of those out-doors are packed in chaff, and 5 with
boxes over them. They have been well^overed with
snow, and we do not see much difference in either
way of wintering. They are all doing well.
M. & W. Ottaway.
Volusia, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Feb. 28, 1881.
190
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Apr.
M'HAT AN A B C SCHOLAR HAS LEARNED BY EXPE-
RIENCE.
I have just commenced bee-keeping, and I don't
expect to make a failure. I have 3 Italian queens
that I bought last year, and one I got from E. M.
Hayhurst. She was out of the hive 36 hours, and it
was 8 days before I could get her to lay, and then I
had to give her a frame of eggs and larvae, and had
to build her up in the fall for winter. But her
daughters are hard to beat. I was over them all,
yesterday, and they had sealed brood in 4 or 5 combs,
but she hadn't an egg. "Would you breed from her
or her daughter? She is very dark, and her daugh-
ter very light, and two spotted. Would you raise
drones from the same queen this j'ear that you did
last, or would you change? I am going to work for
honey till I get thoroughly Italianized, and then for
queens and honey.
This has been a hard winter on bees. I think 50
per cent of bees in this pait are dead. One neigh-
bor has lost 13 out of 16. I have lost 25 per cent.
CAUTION ABOUT DIVIDING.
One thing I have learned, and it has cost me 80 lbs.
of sugar and 4 stands of bees, and that is, not to di-
vide too much. Will it improve Italians to cross
them with Cyprian and Holj--Land bees?
BRINGING FROZEN BEES TO LIFE.
I found a colony of bees dead, and was anxious to
see the queen; and while I was looking at her
through my magnifyiug-glass, she came to life, and
I fetched the bees in the house and warmed them
up, and in half an hour I had a good swarm all right.
Wm. Malone.
Oakley, Lucas Co., Iowa, March 7, 1881.
I should not want to rear queens nor
drones from any queen that was not a good
layer ; but so far as the latter are concerned,
it is quite unlikely your young queens will
meet any drones reared in your apiary. I
should pay very little attention to the color
of a queen, if I were rearing bees for honey.
I can not tell whether the Cyprian and Holy-
Land strain is going to be a benefit or not ;
but I am inclined to think they are. The
present season will tell, doubtless. You are
not the first one, friend M., who has brought
a swarm to life, after they were apparently
dead through cold and lack of stores.
BLUE THISTLE AGAIN; A CAUTION.
Being desirous of knowing more about the quali-
ties of blue thistle (jEc/iiion viilr/are),! sent a number
of letters of inquiry to bee-keepers and others liv-
ing in New Yo rk, Virginia, Georgia, and other States,
and from their kind replies the following was
gleaned :—
That beside "blue thistle" there ai'e two other
weeds growing in the U. S., belonging to the
Composite family, which are sometimes called blue
thistle; that the blue thistle that you sell Is "the
most enterprising" of the lot.
The most of the friends agree that, once in the
ground, it is there for ever, and that all efforts to
eradicate it will fail; that it spreads rapidly; that it
injures oats, corn, wheat, hay, etc. But the greatest
damagp is done to pastures. Several writers agree
that, if let alone, it will completely cover the ground
and choke out all other vegetation except briers.
This would be a very serious matter to us living in
the North, who depend so largely upon producing
cheese, beef, and wool. I believe the most of us bee-
keepers would rather stick to our splendid yield of
white-clover honey than have our pastures covered,
or partially covered, with blue thistle, and allowing
it to take the place of clover. They all agree that
stock will not eat it.
But perhaps you will say, "Don't let it spread all
over; keep it where you want it." Ah! that is
where the rub comes, for birds carry it, and there are
so many ways of scattering seeds, and then, once
disseminated, will it not cost the people millions to
keep it in subjection? A farnier living in Virginia
writes: "Shun it as you would an approach to the
'deadly upas-tree;' it is the greatest nuisance we
have to contend with." He sent me a package of it,
which proved to be Echium vulgare. I may add, that
some do not think blue thistle of much harm ; but no
one advises me to sow it, but, on the contrary, some
say, " If you want a fertilizer, sow clover; for it can
never give trouble." Permit me to say, in conclu-
sion, that E. vulgare was brought from Europe, and
is now, a weed in fields, from New York to Virginia,
and grows profusely in the South and West.
S. T. Pettit.
Belmont, Ont., Canada, March 8, 1881.
OAK LEAVES AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CHAFF.
I see and hear accounts all around the country of
bees dying while there is plenty of honey in the
hives. I have been in the habit, years past, of pack-
ing my hives in chaff; but in the spring the chaff
was moldy and damp, and injured the hive as well
as the bees, and had an unpleasant smell. This year
(or last fall) I used dry oak leaves with old carpet or
quilts laid over the brood nest. I examined them
this spring, and find the leaves all dry, and the bees
all in good condition. My experience proves that
dry oak leaves are the best to pack in, as they will
not mold or gather moisture, and will keep out the
cold when packed close, and can always be found.
W. H. Shedd.
Watseka, Iroquois Co., 111., March 9, 1881.
Leaves have been frequently mentioned in
these pages, but, friend S., I hardly see why
oak leaves should be better than any other.
"We have had no damp or unpleasant-smell-
ing chaff in our hives since we used the tin
roofs.
THE FOSTER FOUNDATION MACHINE, ETC.
I got a fdn. machine, or mold, of Foster, of Mt.
Vernon, Iowa, arid I must say that it is a perfect
success with me. No trouble, no slop, no waste, no
washing off of soap suds, and no tedious picking off,
bit by bit, of wax from the rollers, or imperfect
sheets, as I went through last season with the Dun-
ham machine. My Dunham cost me over $40.00
(with express charges), but to-day I would much
prefer the Foster, if compelled to choose between
the two. But we must have copper instead of
plaster.
I have gone over my bees in the last few mild
days, and cleaned up the hives, removing dead bees,
etc.; rather awkward job with the chaff hive when
the upper part is filled with loose chaff and planer
shavings. I found all but one in good condition,
with brood in all stages, but not in large amounts.
Placed a frame of candy on top of frames of each
one (though all had honey) to induce continued
brood-rearing. E. T. Flanagan.
Belleville, St. Clair Co., 111., March 7, 1881.
ISSl
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUSE.
191
HOLY-LAND BEES FOR WINTERING.
^fy experience in wintering Holy-Land bees has
been different from yours. Mine have stood the
winter much better than Italians or blacks. I hav3
never had bees in better condition than the colony
is that contains my imported Holy-Land queen.
"Perhaps one reason is, because they have been pre-
pared for winter with more than ordinary care.
TENEMENT HIVES.
I got some 15 or IS swarms of black bees late last
fall, that were to be killed, and put them in chaff
tenement hives. I put my black bees and some Ital-
ians in such hives; gave them 6 frames of honey
each; put thick chaff cushions on top. Now, when
I had them thus prepared I felt happy. I thought
they would certainly stand the coldest winter; but
now for the result: The bees prepared thus never
clustered on a small place as sensible bees do; they
kept up a continual roaring, commenced breeding in
the winter, got the dysentery, flew out the coldest
weather, and perished, and now are nearly all dead.
The moth worm got in some of them and ate them
up; others, where I have but four in one hive, are
in good condition. Does not this go to show that
bees can be kept too warm, even on their summer
stands? I also wintered some in half chaff hives
made with chaff only at end of hives. I put 3 colon-
ies In each of those hives. The colonies prepared
thus clustered against the division board, and out-
side combs got frosty, and some of the bees starved
with plenty of honey in outside combs, and the most
of those bees have dysentery, and are in bad condi-
tion. I. R. Good.
Nappanee, Ind., March 14, 1881.
"We never think of wintering our bpes anywhere
else than on their summer stands. All have winter-
ed safely. I have 26 stands, all in good order; we
don't think of feeding; we leave them plenty of
stores, so there is no occasion for feeding. Peach-
trees are in bloom, bees bringing in pollen by the
quantity. My colonies averaged about 35 lbs. to the
colony, which I sold at 15c per lb. readily, while hon-
ey from the common hive (or gum, as called here)
was dull at 10c. Bees won't notice buckwheat here;
I have planted several times, but it is no use; the
only thing I plant for bees is mustard. That blooms
in the early spring from fall planting. It is just be-
ginning to shoot now; in a week or two it will be in
full bloom. T. L. Davidson.
Early Branch, Hampton Co., S. C, Feb. 18, 1881.
CALIFORNIA, ETC.
I have received a number of letters lately, request-
ing me to give a description of California in regard
to bee-keeping. "Well, I don't think there is one-flfth
part of this State that a man can make a living in by
keeping bees. The good places are in patches, and
the most of them, I think, are already overstocked
now. I know that my section of the country, which
is a small one, is good for bees on a space not to ex-
ceed fifteen miles square, but in the southern part of
the State, I understand that bee-pasture is more reg-
ular in the mountains, but well stocked with bees.
We have a good prospect for a large honey harvest
the coming season, because we have had plenty of
rain the past three months. "When we have plenty
of rain in the winter we look for large j ields of hon-
ey; and when we don't have plenty of rain in the
winter, bees don't do much, for we don't look for
anyraiQ from the middle of April till about the mid-
dle of November. That would be quite a drought
with you, 1 suppose. I am in an irrigated district,
so I have a little the advantage of mountain apiaries
in a dry year, as they call them here, when we don't
get much rain in the winter. "Well, I had '330 swarms
of bees last fall, and have the same now; lost none,
and they are getting plenty of pollen and some
honey. Now I should like to hear how some of the
bee-men succeed with if ppio nodiflora, our main de-
pendence for good honey here.
HOW to keep bees from BUILDING TO THE CAP
OR HIVE.
Can you tell me some cheap varnish, or something
to put inside of super or cap to prevent the bees
from sticking comb to it? I had considerable trouble
with the bees sticking comb to the cap from the end
sections.
HOW TO MEND RUBBER BOOTS.
Also can you tell your bee friends how to mend
rubber goods after being cut or cracked? I once
knew a shoemaker who could mend a rubber boot or
shoe as good as new, and I would like to know how
it is done. O. E. CoON.
LeMoore, Tulare Co., Cal., Feb. 22, 1881.
I know of but one way, friend C, of keep-
ing the bees from building combs where you
do not wisli any, and that I have given many
times before; viz., greasing the wood witli
tallow. — Mending rubber boots may be
thought pretty far away from the subject of
bee culture, but as many of our friends wish
to get out among their hives in this damp
spring weather, it may not be out of place,
after all. One of our boys, who is a shoe-
maker by trade, furnishes the following,
which may be of service: —
CEMENT, FOR MENDING RUBBER BOOTS.
Take about 1 pint of benzine; put it in a bottle or can. then
put a piece of pure rubber in with it, and let it dissolve. When
dissolved, it should be as thick .is synip; if not, add .a little
more rubber: or if too thick, add a little more benzine. Put
the cement on the patch, and also on the boot, and let it dry;
then piit another coat on each ; let that dry, then put the patch
on tlie cut. Before putting the cement on, take a rasp or fde
and make the pla<-e where you wisli to put the patch quite rough.
The rubber must be perfectly dry.
BEES ABSCONDING WITHOUT A QUEEN.
Why could you not just as well have said some-
thing about the singular circumstance of S. P. Yo-
der's bees [p. 133, March No.], absconding without a
queen, and not returning to their hive, as the A B
C class so invariably believe such is never done?
Nokomis, 111., March 7, 1881. E. Sandford.
I beg pardon, friend S., for not considering
the point you mention. It is, as you say, a
very rare thing for a swarm to go off in that
way, without a queen ; but, although I have
never seen them do so, 1 have pretty clear
evidence that they sometimes do. As a
usual thing, they go back to the parent hive,
even after being hived; but sometimes it
seems they do not. If there should be among
the bees one who might act in the office of a
fertile worker, they would likely stay, and
]3erhaps this was the case with friend Yo-
der's bees. These cases are, however, so
rare that I should never chase after a swarm
if I had their queen in my possession.
DYING IN WINTER FOR WANT OF STORES.
Upon opening my hives this morning to learn how
they had come through the "hard times" of this un-
precedented winter, I found one colony dead un-
der rather singular conditions. The combs were all
bright and clean, and no signs of dysentery, and
192
GLEiVNINGS m BEE CULTUEE.
Apr.
contained considerable sealed honey; but what puz-
zled me the most was the fact that the bottom of
the hive was covered to the depth of half an inch
with granules of white honey about the size of
homoeopathic pellets. These were not sticky at all,
but dry and quite hard, as may be seen by the sam-
ple I send you.
I would like to have some of your readers explain
the cause of honev being deposited in this strange
place. I will add, that the colony was not fed in the
fall, but had plenty of natural stores.
Chicopee, Mass., Mar. 16, 1881. John D. White.
I should say it was a dear case of dying
for want of Avater, friend W.. exactly as tliey
do when they have nothing but grape sugar,
liardened in tlieir cells. The granules on
the bottom of the hives were thrown down
thus, because the bees unsealed cell after
cell, and licked off the liquid portion, drop-
ping the dry grains, and then perished.
Their beautiful round shape is a peculiarity
of certain kinds of honey in the candying
process. I found some yesterday in our own
apiary, that seemed to "be mostly basswood
honey. After uncapping the cells, it was
found full of these miniature shot, as it were,
with a small portion of liquid honey in the
interstices. These pellets have much the
taste of grape sugar, which they doubtless
are in composition, although they were
formed by the extremely cold weather of our
])ast winter, from honey gathered from the
tlowers. If losses of this kind were very
common, it would well behoove us to make
some provision for giving bees water during
the winter ; but I believe they seldom suffer
thus until they begin brood-rearing largely,
and usually the condensation furnishes
water enough, or more than enough. Fur-
nishing water at the same time we give
them candy, will greatly hasten brood-rear-
ing, as has been abundantly shown in our
back volumes.
INTRODUCING VIBGIN QUEENS.
My experience in introducing virgin queens differs
from that of yourself and Mr. Lund, related on page
82 of Feb. Gleanings. I introduced seven last sum-
mer; tive successful! J'; one of the two unsuccess-
ful ones was given four days after the first swarm,
and the other two or three days after. I simply put
the young queen down at the entrance, and let her
run in immediately after the first swarm issued,'
though in one case not till 2-4 hours after.
bee-stings and rheumatism.
My mother had been unable to dress herself, sew,
or lift a cup of tea with her right hand for over three
years, from the effects of rheumatism. One morn-
ing she was helping among the bees, and received a
slight sting on the left hand. In half an hour she
was as sick a person as ever lived. Her whole body,
from the top of her head to the end of her toes, ap-
peared like one mass of stings. She recovered in
about three hours, under the use of aconite and
camphor, and could use her arm and hand as well as
she ever could. J. P. Mills.
Mills' Mills, N. Y., March 13. 1881.
FRIEND HAYHUKST'S REPORT.
We went into winter-quarters with 93 colonies in
our yard, all in first-class condition, excepting three ;
these had the indiscretion to make a raid on neigh-
boring cider-mills, after they were fixed for winter,
and w-ere very much reduced thereby. We now
have 90 first-class colonies, all breeding nicely. The
three weak ones have brood in various stages, and,
having excellent queens, I hope to make them val-
uable also. The bees have been working on Graham
fiour for several days. The past has been a most
disastrous winter for bees in this locality, some
apiaries being almost entirely depopulated.
E. M. Hayhurst.
Kansas Citj', Mo., March 17, 1881.
CHAFF PACKING, ETC.
My bees are all in good condition, with one excep-
tion, as far as 1 have examined. I put in winter-
quarters, on their summer stands, 19 colonies,
packed above and on two sides with old carpets and
chaff. I found one queenless; the rest are brooding
nicely. Bees in this locality made very little surplus
honey; from 12 colonies I got only about £00 lbs. sur-
plus, and increased, by artificial swarming, 5, and 2
naturally. I have 3 colonies in the Quinby, 3 in
Langstrotb, and the remaindf>r in the Mitchell hives.
I get the best results from the Quinby, but it is too
expensive for profit. The Mitchell has not sufficient
space above the brood-chamber for surplus arrange-
ments; I intend to convert them into L. or Simplic-
ities. F. S. MOSSTELLEK.
Sharonville, O., March 21, 18S1.
>Tii§€uvaginQi
ENCOURAGING.
If^ KIEND ROOT : — You may put me in the Smile-
ry or wherever you please, so you do not put
me in bad company. The goods I ordered
came all right, with the exception of the needles,
which followed suit through the mail. But while I
was pleased with the goods, this was not all that
tickled me. This day, Feb. 35th, was mild, and I ex-
amined all my colonies at home, and found them in
excellent condition. The whole 24 bid fair for not
only weathering the storms of winter, but for being
in good condition to send forth their legions to sip
the nectar of the flowers — the fabled "food of the
gods." If the season proves a good one, I may have
honey to sell and some to eat. In view of the terri-
ble ravages our severe winter has made in my neigh-
bors' bees, I feel grateful to be so fortunate as I am.
In the language of Shakespeare, I feel—
' ' Jly nature tickled witli good success. ' '
But in this, as in other things, I am reminded to
"rejoice with trembling." There are yet dangers
to be avoided, and casualties may occur, that might
blast our anticipations. In the language of the
Scottish bard, addressed to a mouse whose nest he
had turned up with the plow,—
• ' But, Mousie, thoti art no thy lane,
^n proving loresight may be vain ;
Tlie best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft a-glee,
And lea'e us naught but grief and pain
For promised joj- "
Whether successful or not, if spared I will report
in due time. I know of but fewstandsleft inall this
section. Some have lost from twenty to thirty
stands. Wm. Ballantine.
Sago, Muskingum Co., Ohio.
Bees all right; came through the winter splendid-
ly. Wintered on summer stands. Think I never
had them do better. But the fretful monthof March
is just before us. J. W. Johnson.
Shelby ville, Shelby Co., 111., Feb. 25, 1881.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
193
FRIEND HOOPS WIXTEK-PROTECTOR BEE-HIVE.
I have read Gleanings with interest during the
year past, especially the experiences of the various
members of the ABC class. I have never publicly
announced myself a member of that class, although
I became one last May. I then bought 2 colonies of
Hiram Roop, Carson City, 5Iich., in bis " Winter-
Protector" hive. I brought them home all right;
doubled them during the season; took from them
100 lbs. extracted honey, 35 lbs. crate honey, and kept
a plenty for bees during winter. I was sick from
Sept. 10th till Dec. 6, and bees received very little
care during that time. I filled side and rear cham-
bers full of good dry sawdust about Christmas, and
left them, I feared, with not enough honey. During
my sickness, one colony became queenless and re-
mained so for some time, owing to a failure to rear
a queen, and my losing the one I bought of you, by
the cold.
The winter has been very cold, and constantly so-
only three warm spells. To-day, with some misgiv-
ings I opened the hives. Result, as follows: Three
hives with brood in each. Bees on all the frames.
Dead bees on each bottom-board, which I cleaned off.
As many live bees now in each hive as any time last
fall. The fourth colony is the one mentioned as
queenless, but will live through, I think, without
trouble if the next 60 days are not too hard on them.
I gave each colony more honey, and kept some for
April and May. My account with apiary Is as fol-
lows:—
? colonies at SIO.CO each (minus hives) §23.00
Cr. by i colonies (Dec. 31, 1881), at §8.00
each $32.00
By 100 lbs. extracted honey, sold atl2!4c.. 12.50
By 35 lbs. crate honey, sold at 20c 7.00
Total ."$51.50
Deduct cost of bees $20.00
Balance S31 50
Now, isn't 150 per cent on cash outlay a pretty
good investment?
If bees are all right next May I shall feel much en-
couraged, and shall try Roop's hives another year.
McBrides, Mich., Mar. 7, 1881. F. A. Palmer.
My bees are in fine condition, storing both honey
and pollen from peach, plum, and wild prairie flow-
ers. All wintered finely in Simplicity hives on sum-
mer stands without protection, and this is the sever-
est winter in Texas for 30 years. The Italians you
sent me last year are ahead too plain to question. I
will Italianize this season. Dr. J. E. Lay.
Hallettsvjlle, Texas, Feb. 28, 1881.
Bees are all right yet; they all had a good flight
yesterday. Last season was one of the best seasons
that we have had for five years— one continnal flow
of honey from the first of June till the 20th of Octo-
ber; first, white clover; then smartweed the re-
mainder of the season. Aaron Deardorff.
Palmer, Christian Co., 111., Feb. 28, 1881.
I cut fdn. in small strips, and don't care if they
don't reach across the frame. My bees are all alive
but one hive. I received 40 lbs. of honey to each
hive last year, and an increase of two hives to each
old one. Steward Francis.
Dunbar Station, Neb., March 8, 1881.
I was very much afraid 1 should have to go into
Blasted Hopes, but matters have turned out a good
deal better than I expected. Some time In January
I noticed my bees getting restless, and were bound
to come out, and I lost a great many in that way;
but when I got the March Gleanings I found out it
was dysentery; and now we have had a few fine
days, though we have yet a foot of snow. They
have had a good fly, and I made some candy out of
coffee A sugar, and gave it to them, and they seem
all right now. I could not get the candy to suit me,
but did the best I could, though I could not get it to
break off my finger like an egg-shell. I went into
winter-quarters with 19, and came out with the
same, but some were greatly depopulated, and some
were first class. Thomas Purdy.
Westover, Ont., Can., March 10, 1881.
Sd^*} and flu^vie^.
^ HAVE now in my house apiary 82, which seem
M all right; had 1C4 last fall; have about 16 in
apiary 2 miles out; expect to lose some yet;
nearly all the small colonies, and those in the old
box hives have died, and some in my double chaff
hives; but I think these were disturbed, and made
restless and uneasy by the mice when the weather
was cold. N. N. Shepard.
Cochranton, Pa., March 16, 1881.
THE STIKGLESS BEES OF SOUTH AMERICA.
[Our friends will remember that we said we had
written to one of our South American subscribers in
regard to the matter. Here is his acknowledg-
ment of the receipt of our letter]:-
I received your letter and prospectus for Dec. 8th,
1880. I shall send you letter and orders next, and
hope to be able to give you some information about
the bees in question. I wrote to Paraguay for it,
and offered good prices for hives with native bees.
To introduce queens to black bees or Italians seems
to me a funny idea. Mr. Noise is book-handler. I
receive the Gleanings by him. Your subscriber
and obedient servant is J. Noelting.
312 Calle Cangall, Buenos Ayres, S. A., Feb. 14, 1881.
BLACKS AND HYBRIDS WANTED.
Will you have any black or hybrid queens for sale
this spring? My bees are nearly all gone, and I have
lots of nice frames of comb, and would like to stock
them up, but can't buy bees here for any reasonable
price, as but few are left, and those are very weak.
D. W. Fletcher.
Lansingville, N. Y-, March 21, 1881.
[We have no blacks nor hybiads, and it would hard-
ly pay us to buy them to send out again. Will those
who have such make it known? We will advertise
them without charge, for the present, for accommo-
dati on. Take care of j'our combs, friend F., and you
will find use for them all.]
My bees have wintered finely, and without loss, in
my new chaff hive. The contrast between them and
my former single-walled hive is very marked in the
matter of wintering, and I am more and more con-
vinced that chaff' hives are the hives. I make all my
own hives now. P. R. Russell, Jr.
Lynn, Mass., March 6, 1881.
Bees are wintering very well so far in the cellar.
They had a good fly the 8th of this month. Those
left on the summer stands with no protection have
died rapidly. One beekeeper reports, "Out of 140,
I can not save 10." C. M. Crandall.
Independence, Mo., Feb. 17, 1881.
194
GLEAXmGS m BEE CULTURE.
Apr.
Bees are wintering well so far with me, but it is
not quite time for the pull yet. G. M, Doolittle.
Borodino, N. Y., Mar. 7, 1881. >
FIRST RECORD OF NEW HONEY.
I began extracting yesterday! Willows have been
in bloom two weeks— maple also.
Eacelaiid, La., Feb. 15, 1881. CnAS. S. Larkin.
I have 325 colonies of Italian bees.
T. J. Martin.
Rocky Mount, Bossier Par., La., Feb. 7, 1881.
[A very goodly number, friend M. ; but can't you
tell us a little more about them?]
CALIFORNIA.
At present the outlook for a good honey crop in
Southern California is not brilliant. Rain has been
driven away several times by north winds.
Los Angeles, Gal., Mar. C, 1881. J. Madory.
I feel thankful that my loss has been so light. Out
of 184 swarms at the close of the honey season last
fall, I have at present 156; but the severe test is yet
to come during this month. N. E. Prentice.
Castalia, Erie Co., O., March, 1881.
I winter in chaff hives. Outof T5 put up one swarm
had starved, and one was nearly gone -with old age
I think. Several had become very uneasy, and were
much reduced. All that 1 examined had more or
less soiled spots in their hives, but were usually
strong. S. C. Perry.
Portland, Ionia Co., Mich., Mar. 6, 1881.
improvement on CLARK'S NAIL-BOX.
Suppose, instead of a label on nail-box (p. 122) you
put a loop to hold a sample nail. This will show at a
glance what is within. One-fifth of bees on sum-
mer stands are dead. J. E. Dean.
Fishkill, N. Y., Mar. 9, 1881.
[Very good, friend D., and many thanks for the
idea.]
Bees are wintering in very poor condition in this
section. Nearly all the bees will perish where they
are kept out-doors. We have ours in cellar, and will
have no loss to speak of; thej'' seem to be in as good
order as when put in on the first days of November.
The prospects are good for a good honey season;
that is, if the people have any bees to gather it.
Camargo, 111., Feb. 14, 1881. J. V. Caldwell.
A LONG winter.
Quite a number of bee-men in ihis county have
lost every colony they toad. I think my loss will not
exceed 8 per cent. I have examined a number; find
eggs and sealed brood in strongest colonies. Bees
had a good fly the 5th of Nov., and then on the 30th
of Jan.— the longest cold weather ever known in
southern Ohio. I had one ton of surplus honey last
summer. J. B. Rapp.
Owensville, Ohio, Feb. 25, 1881.
another offer of dried corn.
Having noticed in Gleanings that you want to
know what you could get dried sweet corn at, we
can furnish it to you for 7c per lb., not including
freight. We dry large quantities every season— a
hiuidred barrels or more, and have had no trouble to
sell at that price. Wc can send you sample next
fall, when we get to drying. We do not want to tell
you what bad luck we have this winter, as you would
class us in Blasted Hopes. E. Sherman.
Preston, Hamilton Co., Ohio, March 7, 1881.
SmOKER COIiUMlV.
M'OW, friend R., I am one of those users of the
vile weed put up in the shape of smoking to-
' " bacco. 1 thought of breaking the habit last
summer; but it was so handy to smoke the bees
with that 1 did not know whether you would send
me one of your large size cold-blast Simplicity smok-
ers. I \oill quit smoking. I have been a smoker for
ten years, and during that time I think I have look-
ed a good deal more like a simplicUii smoker than
yours does; or, it may be'asiJ7i2:>lcto7!.s)7io/£er.
Horton, Mich., Mar. 3, 1881. C. E. Larrabee.
You offer a smoker to all your subscribers who
will quit the use of tobacco. I have used the weed
for 12 years. You send me one, and the day of its
arrival I will quit, God beiug my helper. Send Bing-
ham's cold-blast, large size. 1 am afraid j'our offer
will cost you more than you expect.
Bees are almost all dead here; they were killed by
fruit and carelessness. Some left their bees as they
stood on the summer stands. Arrista Bailey.
Bedford, Ind., Mar. 5, 1881.
Later:— The smoker came to hand all right, and I
will honor the pledge I have taken.
If my offer of smokers will be of lasting
benefit to those who give u]) the tobacco,
friend B., though it should be a temporary
loss to me in the start, it will be a gain to
others in the end, and God will, in some way,
see that I am no great loser. Very simple
means, in God's hands, often bring about
great good. Let none of us be weary in well
doing. Perhaps it may help you some to
know that our friend " L>." is at this moment
undergoing the ordeal. Although it comes
hard, he is going to pull through, for he " is
on the Lord's side."
You will see that I have sent for a smoker without
sending pay for it. If I am not entitled, I want you
to send it just the same, and I will send the pay for
it. If I am right, you off red a smoker to those that
were tobacco-smokers it they would leave off the
filthy habit. Well, I commenced smoking when I
was 19; amnow57; have always been a hard smoker.
I made up my mind to quit, the Lord beiug my help-
er. Well, I prayed earnestly that he would help me
in his own way. I felt that in my own strength I
could do nothing. Well, before the day came I had
set to quit, my appetite for it was gone, and now I
am as much disgusted with it as can be. Bless the
Lord for it! Chas. E. Larabee.
West Chazy, Clinton Co., N. Y.
Please send me one of Bingham's Standard smok-
ers, for I have quit using the ivecd; have not used
any since I saw j'our offer in Oct. Gleanings. I
have used it for over 15 j'ears. If you send me a
smoker, and I ever use tobacco again, I will send
you a $5.00 greenback to pay for it. My wife is look-
ing over my shoulder as I write this, and she says
she will write to you and let you know if I use the
nasty, filthy weed again.
Ten per cent will, I think, cover the loss on bees in
northern Michigan. J. A. Collier.
Hart, Oceana Co., Mich., March 8, 18S1.
Many thanks for the smoker. It is just splendid.
It came on double-quick time. The boys are watch-
ing me very closely; but let them watch; and with
God's help I will stick to my pledge.
Colby, Mich., March 10, 1881. W. R. Trussel.
1881
GLEANINGS IK BEE CULTURE.
195
§iur f CMi#.
Choose you ibis day whom ye will serve.
-Josh. 24:15.
MY friends, the subject I would consider
to-day is, whether any one can be a
• Cliristian who chooses ; or. if you
please, can any one be a happy and joyous
Christian? In other words, can any one of
you at any time step out of your desponden-
cies and discouragements, and be happy, or,
at least, peaceful, right off, at once':' The
objections that will "be raised are, that it
would be literally Ininging heaven upon
earth, almost; and inasmuch as this is a
world of sin and sorrow, it can"t be done ; it
is impossible. If I read my Bible aright,
God did intend we should have a heaven
here on earth, if we would accept it; but if
we will not take it as a free gift, of course
we do not have it. I know this is talk, but
so is bee culture talk; and if you did not
verify it by practical work, it would end in
talk ; but if you try what you see recom-
mended by the different friends, and it
proves right and good, the result is some-
thing more than talk. I want you to try
what I say, and see if it does not prove good.
If I am correct, the dirticulties that lie in
our way in choosing a Christian life, or a
happy life, are much like the difliculties that
lie in the way of getting up in the morning.
Suppose we have decided in our own minds
that it is best for our health, best for our
work, and best for v>s in every way, to go to
bed at 9 o'clock, or earlier, and get up at 6
o'clock, or earlier. You have over and over
decided upon this course as the best; but
when 9 o'clock at night comes, there is, as
usual, so much on hand that you put it oif
and put it off, until it is 10, and perhaps
even ]l,and fiually you have only the old
stor>- over again, of IJeing late in getting up,
late at breakfast, late at work, and very
likely are made unhappy all the forenoon,
and possibly all day, just on account of this
lazy, shiftless fashion you have got into, and
have given way to, day after day. Joshua
said to the people, ■' Choose you this day
whom ye will serve." You have chosen lazy
inclinations, or at least you have chosen to
disobey your good sense and judgment and
wisdom. Suppose you should say you did
not choose it ; you chose the better waj'— but
Avhaty Dare you tell me you could not help
it? Do you not mean you icouhl not help ity
Did Joshua mean the i)eople were to choose
God on that day, and then go and serve
idols? Perhaps you will say that you have
tried going to bed at 9 o'clock, but'it wasn't
any use. for you just lay awake an hour or
more, while you might have been doing im-
portant work. Well, my friend, if this is
the case you are ready to get right down to
work ; but you want to first learn that your
feelings and your inclinations are one tliing,
and your calm and deliberate reason anoth-
er. Inclinations will continually clamor for
the old order of things, or a worse one, if
you give way to them, while calm reason
says it won't do, and has got to be stopped.
Heason,— or, if you choose^ you, yourself ,—
the choosing, or deciding power that lies in
you, must assert its prerogative as ruler, or
■'• boss of proceedings," and must take
charge of the body and inclinations. The
intelligent part of you that reaches up to
God, and that prevents you from being only
an animal, must step forth and take things
in hand, something like this: —
" Look here, old fellow, you have got to
straighten up. I will put you to bed, and
there you are to lie ; and if you choose to lie
awake, do so ; but remember, you are to be
up with the light, sleep or no sleep ; and if
you lack sleep, you must learn to take it at
the appointed hour. I am boss of this busi-
ness, and know best, and you will certainly
soon learn to be as ready to sleep at 9 as you
now are at 11. God made the daylight and
sunshine on purpose for such bodies as you ;
and, besides being healthier, it is far cheap-
er. In bed you sliall go, and there you shall
lie during the hours that I, your lord and
master, have calmly and deliberately de-
creed are for your best and greatest good."
Is that a new doctrine? " He that ruleth
his spirit is greater than he that taketh a
city." How would it answer, my friends, if
you should take exactly that course in re-
gard to all your habits in eating, drinking,
bathing, exercise, etc., as well as sleeping?
Have you any doubt of what the result
would "be? Well, to go a little further,
you may say that one day this higher
self decides one way, and another day in a
different manner. I'have before spoken of
this, but I think it is mostly a mistake. You
may be, for a day or more, biased in your
reason by a feeling of spite against some
one; but at such times you are to wait.
Kemember, feelings (especially personal feel-
ings) are not "• the boss;"' they are only ser-
vants. Your cool, calmer, and better self
tells plainly which course is best, in almost
all matters of life. Especially is this the
case with the heart that goes often to God
in prayer, and therefore seeks the highest
good of all mankind, rather than a solely
selfish good. When this purer part of us
comes out, this God part, as it were, and
stands free and clear from selfish feelings
and passions, all mankind think pretty near-
ly alike. In questions as to what is really
best for community, not only do all Christ-
ians pretty nearly agree, butso, also, do un-
believers, and people of every class, when
you can get them to be really honest. Even
the criminals in our prisons have good judg-
ment, and a clear understanding, on most
important questions. Although there are
thousands who do not pay their debts. I have
never seen a man yet who, when shown a
promise of his, in his own handwriting,
would ever argue that he ought not to keep
that promise. All mankind have a respect
for consistency; all love truth. Every one
of you, my friends, could write down a feAv
great principles for ruling your conduct in
life, and you would, if you took a look at
them in your calm moments, subscribe to
them every day in life. Xot only this, your
friends and neighbors would subscribe to
them also. Let us see how this little text
will work:—
"Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before
God."
196
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Apk.
You all agree to the first, I am sure. There
is not one among you all who would think
of disputing the wisdom of such advice,
even if he were not in his calmest moments.
Have I put it too strongly? Well, how
about mercy'? I am sure you would all say
the same in regard to this, if the mercy were
to be shown you, after you had transgressed
in some way. Well, just apply the first a
little to it, and we shall probably all agree in
all of it, pretty nearly. In regard to walk-
ing humbly before God, T presume that in
this, too, almost everybody will think it at
least a very good idea for their neighbors so
to do ; and so applying the first, we all come
round to about the same point.
Well, if all mankind believe about the
same thing in regard to all the great essen-
tials, why is there so much trouble and mis-
understanding, to say nothing about the
crime in the world? The men who came to
steal friend Baird's turkeys [see p. 97, Feb.
No.], very likely believed just about the
same as our liiend did w^ho was calling to
them out of the window. Suppose these
men could have been quietly captured in the
act, and brought into the house ; wliat would
they have had to say in extenuation of their
course? Would they have said that, as they
understood it, it was right, and fair for them
to go in the night and take the turkeys
friend B. had raised witli care and trouble?
Would they have been likely to have pleaded
ignorance of the laws of man or God? Not
at all, for we all know w^hat is right and just,
alas ! but too well. Their trouble and your
discontent, my friend, is from the ' same
common cause ; we know what is right, but
we do not follow after that knowledge. It is
not lack of wisdom ; it is only because we
choose evil rather than good.
Now, holding the points that have been
made, let us take up another, that I have
talked of to you before, many times. Sup-
pose you have an alarm clock, to waken you
in the morning ; but because yon don't feel
like it, you pay no regard to its faithful sum-
mons. You all know that you very soon get
into a habit of not hearing it at all. If any
of these calls to duty are disregarded, we
soon cease to heed them. Well, now, there
is a queer element in sin that makes him
Avho sins bitter and uncharitable toward
those who obey, or ai'e striving to obey. If
you have a neighbor who gets up early, and
you don't, you are almost sure to think he
has some purpose in so doing that is not a
good one. If you have yielded to your feel-
insrs in doing "that which is wrong, and your
neighbor is striving and praying for a pure
heart, nine times out of ten you will call him
a hypocrite, and take pleasure in railing
about hypocrites as a class. Who has not
heard bad men talk about the corruption of
our ministers, condemning them as a class?
I have told you something of how my class
of saloon-keepers in the jail talked. They
fairly got np on their feet, and gesticulated
in the vehemence of their denunciations, and
yet none of the clergy had been in any way
instrumental in causing their imprisonment.
I have heard that animals with the hydro-
phobia become mad at the sight of water,
and hence the name, signifying "water-
madness." Well, one who has chosen Satan
for his father ; one wdio is deliberately com-
mitting voluntary sin day after day, is
crazed, almost at the sight of a Bible, or at
the mention of ministers, or any other ser-
vants of Christ our Savior. Lost w'omen
often show^ this in a remarkable degree.
They would l)urn every Bible in the land if
it were in their power. This attitude of
heart is, of course, while they have chosen
evil, and have most emphatically rejected,
and are at enmity with, the spirit of Christ's
teachings. Even 'their actions seem to say, —
What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of
God? art thou come hither to torment us before the
tinie?-MATT. 8: 2y.
Well, is it possible for such ones, steeped
in sin, to accept Christ, even if they wished?
Can one who is in the bonds of Satan believe
in Christ or the Bible if he tries so to do?
You see, of course, he can not, and hold to
his sinful life or ways. The only thing to
be done is to be remodeled, made over new,
or, as Jesus terms it, "■ Ye must be born
again." " But I do not believe in the Bible,"
says the poor crime-stained brother or sis-
ter ; " I have tried to believe, but I can not."
I am sure, my friends, the point is clear be-
fore you. The talk about belief is simple
folly and hollow mo(;kery. There is no need
of wasting time and talk about what you be-
lieve, or what you do not ; the great impor-
tant point is, to obc)/. As long as the indi-
vidual does not obey, and does not propose
to, we can not expect him to profess any
honest belief. Do yoit see how^ beautifully
Christ's words come in here?—
If any man will do his will, he shall know of the
doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak
of myself.— John 7: IT.
Note also what Paul says,—
For the preaching of the cross is to them that per-
ish, foolishness; bat unto us which are saved, it is
the power of God.— Cor. 1: 18.
Do you not see that, at least to a certain
extent, even our beliefs are subject to our
control and our will power? In your calmer
and letter moments, you decided" it was best
for you to get up earlier in the morning, and
in spite of the clamoring of inclinations, you
literally put yourself to bed, and took your-
self up. You put your weak and tired body
to bed, because it "was the best and safest
place for it. Instead of serving wrong and
weak inclinations, you, like a wise and good
ruler, chose wisely for your weak body.
Now^ our text says, •' Choose you this day
wiiom ye will serve." It does "not say any
thing about beliefs. You decided about
your earthly body, and for its best welfare
and safety. Have you yet decided in the
same way for your 'immorJal soul? Where
will you put yourself when you lie down for
that last sleep? Whom are you going to
serve? Take the New Testament nnd read
Christ's sermon on the mount. Read his
sayings and teachings all through. As you
read, ask yourself how it would probably'an-
swer,— what would be the effect on your
life, — if you should decide to serve him; or,
if you choose, to lay out your life in accord-
ance with ills teachings? No matter about
beliefs now ; just candidly sum up what the
result %vould be to make such a life your
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
197
choice. Doubtless a great deal of it looks
strange and perplexing ; but is it not prolia-
ble that miicli Avill be developed and unfold-
ed as you look into it, that is not apparent
now? Does it not begin to look safe, secure,
plain, and restful, as you go into the sub-
ject further? What harm can possibly come
from taking up such a humble, quiet, peace-
ful life as is here spread forth V —
Take ray yr>ke upon you, and learn of mo; fori
am meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find peace
unto your souls. For my yoke is "easy, and my bur-
den is light.— Matt. 11:39, 30.
Suppose you should choose it, and live it,
and as you come down to death it should
transpire that the Bible is a mistake, and
that skepticism and infidelity are right,
would you, on your dying bed, think you,
have any thing to lamentV I am appealing
now to this higher and purer intellect tliat
God has given us all. Answer me soberly
and candidly, or, better still, answer the God
who made you. What answer would the
highest wisdom known to mankind indicate?
Where is the safest place to live and to die, —
following Jesus and the Bible, or the world
and skepticismV "Very well," some may
say, "I am ready to accept the New Testa-
ment; but what about the Old?" My
friend, your house is on fire, andtiie thing.to
do now is to go for water, wherever you can
get it. After we have put the fire out, and
the smoke has cleared away, we will have
time and a clear vision ; but for the present,
trust Jesus. He says, over and over, the
Old Testament is all right, and we are just
going to put it all on to his shoulders. If
any trouble comes in here, at the bar of
judgment, we will throw all the blame upon
him, God's only Son. Nothing pleases God
more than to have us show him we have ac-
cepted his Son's words, and are determined
to follow and hold fast to him, through all
sorts of trials, and under all circumstances.
Remember, if yon reject the Bible you have
nothing. All the philosophy that was ever
invented since man has been upon the earth
gives no comfort, offers no savior, no help in
trouble, and no peace on a dying bed.- Lis-
ten to tlie words of that beautif alhymn from
the immortal Charles Wesley:—
Other refug-f have I none,
Hangs my helpless soul on thee:
Leave, oh, leave me not alone.
Still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed,
All my help from thee I bring;
Cov'-r my defenseless head
With the shadow of thy wing.
You have looked the matter over calmly
and quietly, with honesty and candor before
God, contrasted a life guided by a pure and
simple trust in Christ with one without any
such faith, and have longed, hungered, and
thirsted after righteousness. You have not
only said I wish I were a Christian, but you
have gone a little further, and said I want to
be a Christian. Doubts, diffictdties, and,
worst of all, inclinations, rise up and clamor
and object ; but the soul that God gave you,
that part of you which he created in his own
image, rises up in supremacy, and asserts its
privilege of saying, just as it did when put-
ting the tired body to bed, " Child of weak-
ness, ignorance, and sin, I, the responsible
part of this temple of clay, after having care-
fully and deliberately canvassed all points in
regard to your best and greatest h^.ppiness,
do unhesitatingly decide, that you are to be
subject to the rule of Christ as your Lord
and Savior; and I do hereby give warning to
all feelings and emotions, all doubts, and fits
of discouragement, that you are from hence-
forth to be the servants, and Christ Jesus
your Lord and Master. In this little tem-
ple, of which God in infinite love and mercy
has chosen me to be the head, there are to be
no rebellious thoughts toward him tolerated,
and I do hereby this day set my name and
seal that, henceforth and for ever, so far as
lies in my power, this whole life shall be put
on the Lord's side. Will appetite, temper,
uncharitableness, doubts and unbeliefs, dis-
couragements, stubbornness, and all other
feelings that may be apt to rebel, please take
notice? ''
Now, inasmuch as beliefs are greatly the
effect of the lives we have led, as we have
seen before, will it do any harm if the indi-
vidual, or any individual, makes a choice of
a Christian life, as given above, no matter
what he believes, or thinks he believes?
Suppose one whose stumbling-block in the
way of becoming a Christian is unbelief,
chooses as above, will God accept such a one?
Can any one have faith in God who wishes
he had it? My answer would be, most em-
phatically, yes. It may not come just at the
minute ; but put yourself right over on the
Lord's side, with an earnest determination
to stay there, no matter what comes, and the
faith will be on hand, against any emergency.
Whoso Cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.—
JOBN 0:37.
Choose you this day whom yo will serve * *
* * * But as for me and my house, we
will serve the Lord.— Josh. 24:15.
'Tis Saturday night. The rooms of the
factory are now all deserted, and " JSI.,"
"D.,"and myself are sitting alone at the
table. Tlie work of the week is over, and
both young men are in their Sunday attire,
looking clean, pure, and happy. I have just
been reading from my well-worn Bible, —
Whosoever wiil be great among you, let him be
your minister; aud whosoever will be chief among
you, let him be your servant.— Matt. 20:26, 27.
I will tell you why we are here. On the
day before D. came out of jail, as we knelton
the stone floor for the last time, I remarked,
" D., we are now going to kneel together for
the last time,*' meaning the last time while
he was a prisoner under the law ; but I care-
lessly omitted to put in the words, " here,
under these circumstances." He looked at
me, and I caught his bright dark eye as he
said, —
" It may be for the last timehere; but, Mr.
Root, I hope it shall not be the last time that
you and I shall kneel together in prayer, by
any means."
I hastened to apologize, but the words have
followed me. M. too had said several times
that he missed the long talks we used to have
together, and so I suggested that we should
have every Saturday night for a sort of anni-
versary of old times, and for a little prayer-
meeting of our own. Now, was there not
198
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
Apr.
rare wisdom iu the suggestions from both
these boys? Are we not in danger of forget-
ting that when one comes out, or even joins
the church, he is only just started on tlie
right track? Do you remember what Jesus
said, in almost his last words, to the way-
ward Peter?—
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon
Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more
than these? He saith unto him, Tea, Lord; thou
knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed
my lambs.— John ^1:1.5.
Now, my friends, I need not ask of you
whether you think It will be a good tliing
for all three of us to meet thus "together in
prayer (of course, all others are welcome to
come who choose), for the finger of God is so
plainly stamped on it that no one could
hardly err therein ; but the point I wish to
make is this: the new lives of these two, —
yes, of all three of us,— is simply the effect
of—
Choose you this day whom ye will serve.
If we remembei the choice we have made,
and hold to it, God only knows what may be
the ending of just these three lives. Sunday
evening, at our usual evening prayer-meet-
ing, I was looking round a little une^isily, be-
cause I did not see " D." in his accustomed
place. A few minutes more, and in he came
with one of his old associates, whom I should
not be surprised to hear had never been in
such a meeting before. " iSIay God bless the
boy!" I mentally ejaculated ; and methinks
I hear a prayer of similar import breatlied
from many a'heart away along the line of my
readers. Is it so? And are there not more
who will say to-day. and say it again at the
tirst opportunity, before your pastor and
friends, — ''As for me and my house, we will
serve the Lord"?
It really seems as if God prompted my
good friend Uumford to send the following
lines to close up what I have been saying.
Read them, and see what you think about
it, dear reader: —
rXDER HIS EYE.
When 3-ou tliink, when you spe.ak, when you read, when you
write,
When yoxi sing, when you w.illc, when you seek for delight,
To be liept from all evil at home and abroad,
Live always as under the eye of the Lord.
Whatever you think, both in joy and in woe.
Think nothing you would not like Jesus to know;
AV'hatever you say in a whisper or dear.
Say nothing you'would not like Jesus to hear.
Wliatever you read, though the page may allure,
Read nothing unless you are perfectly sure
Consternation would not be seen in your look
If Uod should say suddenly, ' • Show me that book. ' '
Whatever you write with haste or with heed,
Wiite nothing you would not like Jesus to le.ad;
Whatever you sing in the midst of your glees.
Sing nothing that God's listening ear would displease.
Wherever you go, never go where vou fear
To answer if God asks, •• Why are you here;"
Whatever the pastime in wliicli yuu L-ii;;age.
For the cheering of youth, or the solace <ir age.
Turn away from each i)leasure you'd shrink from pursuing,
Were God to look down and say, ■ • AVhat aic you doing;"
Dear Friend:— I find the above in the Christian Ad-
vocate, and thinking it would be so well if we could
alt act it out, I believe it would be of much use to
set friends thinking, if you could find a corner iu
Our Homes for it. I. E. Rumford.
Bakersfield, Cal., March. 1881.
ALL YE THAT L.4.BOR, AND ARE HEAVY LADEN.
I have a nice, almost a luxuriant, village home,
but yet I am bo awful discontented that life is a
burden. I am not ignorant of the kind of medicine
you would prescribe— but— well, I have an extrava-
gant wife and family (especially the daughters.)
Without egotism, I can say that I am pleasant and
good-tempered. My greatest, anxious concern is, be-
cause my family arc so thoroughly absorbed in the
pleasures of this world. I dread the future, for I
would be a Christian but— but I am not. X. Y. Z.
One is tempted, at first thought, to be al-
most indignant at a man who can write as
has this brother ; and yet, when we reflect
that, although we are not tempted by Satan
(and our lives made unhappy), in just the
way he is, there are a great many who are
discontented and unthankful, even when
surrounded and blessed by nil that should
make one's life happy. Shall we not rather
weep at the weakness of our fellows, than to
censure? Friend Z., your wife and daughters
may be somewhat at fault; but by far a
greater fault rests on your own shoulders,
and in fact the greater part of their fault
rests on you. You once had a faculty of
winning your wife, or she would not be your
wife now. Am I not correct? Again, the
very fact of a man's being the father of
grown-up sons and daughters should, in
Itself, be to him an unending thrill of joy.
They are alive and well ; can you not thank
God for that? You can win those daughters
over to your way of thinking, if you are only
half in the right, just as surely as you won
their mother in her youth. Would you listen
to a human being oh the face of the earth
who would speak unkind and uncharitable
things of them? and yet you have listened
to the prince of darkness.
You say your greatest concern is for them,
fiiend Z. Let your greatest concern be for
yourself ; go down on your knees and say,
''God have mercy on me a sinner;" get
these thoughts out of your head and heart,
as if it were a hideous leprosy, which it
really is, and then can you say, as did
David, —
Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sin-
ners shall be converted unto thee.— Ps. 51:13.
No wonder you are unhappy, my brother,
for so is every one who listens to the whis-
perings of Satan. Yeiy likely you are right,
in the main, and your wife and children
wrong ; but for all tliat, you are in the main
at fault. You are at fault, in that there has
not been a loving confidence and trust be-
tween yourself and every member of your
family. One who can not agree with his
own ilesh and blood can rarely agree with
himself, and hence the discord and discon-
tent. But how about the present? What
shall all those do who find themselves un-
happy and discontented, from other or like
causes? I can not tell just what is best and
wisest for friend Z. to do ; but God can, and
will. Tat the case entirely in his hands ;
plead with him and pray for those who are
going wrong, and there is no such tliing as
tail. Of course, one Avho puts his trust in
God does nothing under the impulse of the
moment, but is guided solely by the result of
the calm and deliberate decisions of his bet-
ter moments. There are moments of cool,
calm, deliberate wisdom, in the life of al-
most every one— moments when, unstirred
by passion, prejudice, or selfishness, his
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
199
.ixidgments are wise and just. Sometimes
the individual can not exercise this where he
liimself is a party, but only in a case where
he has no interest. Kven thieves and rob-
bers have tliis sense of fitness and justice, as
I have explained. It is this divine part of
humanity, or God part, that must rule. It
can only be done by committing? one's whole
life to God's care, and s<)in^ to him faith-
fully and almost constantly in prayer. It is
not so much because we lack wisdom, but
because we will not use that wisdom, or that
we will not let it come uppermost. AYe
choose rather to listen to, and cherish, the
more agreeable whis])erings of Satan, in just
the way our poor brother has dc)ne. Will it
pay? If friend Z. will take God into his
confidence, and with a strong hand root out
these wrong feelings, he will in a litfle time
find the love and friendship of theseof whom
he has spoken, the most precious and joyous
experience he has ever known upon earth ;
and instead of having discontented thoughts,
his heart will be continually breaking forth
in thanksgiving and praise.
Bye hath not seen, nor car heard, neither hnve en-
tered into the heart ot man, the things which God
hath prepared for tliose that love him.— I. Cor. 3:0.
Those of you who have read Part First of
Our Homes will remember that I know
something of what I am speaking. You will
observe that friend Z. stops abruptlv without
giving any reason why he is not a Christian.
My friends, there is no reason to give ; none
in his case ; none in yours, none in that of a
single individual on the face of the earth. It
is, over and over again, simply —
Choose you this day whom ye will serve.
On page 289, of June No. for last year, was
a letter from a minister who had become in-
volved in debt, as some of you may remem-
ber. I presume you also reccollect the ad-
vice I gave him, for there has been some in-
quiry as to how he turned out. I think the
following letter may interest you. You will
observe I am in the habit of using " X. Y.
Z." as a sort of general signature in many
of these matters, simply for convenience'
sake.
Dear Brother Root:— It has been a long time since
1 wrote to you, and believing that you are a true
friend to me, I thought perhaps you would like to
hear something special about me. Your advice
given me last year has never beeu forgotten, nor
has it been adopted and acted out in life in all re-
spects. But so much of it has been, that I am a new
man in consequence. Not merely a new man In a
financial or business sense, but religiously, spiritual-
ly, morally, and mentally; and I feel under lasting
obligations to you, and thank yovi even as I do the
Lord. Oh how sweet your society will be in heaven I
how inexpressibly dear your voice and presence will
be judging from the tone of your letters to me. I
sold my Interests in the political paper at Webb
City, Mo., and came to Carthage in mid-summer, de-
voting my time partly to my religious paper, and
partly to the ministry. — striving to get out of debt,
and then suspend my publication. I made an at-
tempt to publish It weeklj% but failed, and came out
more in dept than before, and was more in trouble
than ever. I then determined to follow your advice
just as nearly as I could, having no other out let. A
complete change in life began, and every idol I
could discover in my heart I took to God to be cast
out, let come what would. It may not surprise you,
but it did me, that pride ruled my heart almost en-
tirely, excluding the meek and lowly Jesus. To give
up all this, and a great deal more, was most trying
tome; but It had to go, and it did go; and then I
came nearer the Lord than I had ever been in all my
life. 1 could plead with God as a man could with
man, it seemed to me. My family were gone on a
visit; fall and winter were near; I had no money,
and was in debt. What could I do? God said, "I
am thy portion," I trusted him, and he prepared a
field of labor for me, and also pay for my services,
partly in advance, so that our wants were met, our
most needful debts were paid, and I saw that men
were touched under my preaching more than ever.
I am a happy man, 1 love the Lord, and he loves me.
My paper is no more. I am preaching all my time
and hope soon to be entirely out of debt. Yours in
Jesus, — X. Y. Z.
" NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP."
Friend Root:— The death-scene which you des-
cribed in the Feb. No. of Gleanings was so beauti-
fully suggestive, that, although entirely unacquaint-
ed with the parties (except through Gleanings), I
could scarcely resist the inward promptings which
urged me to embody it in verse. I here send you a
copy, should you see fit to publish It.
A triljute to the memory of the Infant daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Shane, whose last words were a volun-
tary repetition of her little evening prayer.
Her work on earth is fully done,
And she is ripened for the skies.
Sliall she not hasten to the throne.
Wlien Jesus whispers her, ' 'Arise' ' !
Her parents weep; but e'en those t^ars
Are not withotit a liealing balm;
Their little heaven-bonnd knows no fears,
But all with her is holy calm.
And ' ' now I lay me down to sleep ' '
(Once more she would repeat her prayer),
' ' I pray the Lord my soul to keep ' '
(And God is surely listening there;)
" If I should die before I wake ' '
(Life ebbs — she hastens the lines to close),
' ' I pray the Lord my soul to take ' '
And then she finds a sweet repose.
The ' ' amen ' ' trembled on her lips.
Her little eyes ,are closed in death;
Sufli hcuvrn l)(>rn frioi-y must eclipse
The iiroudest monarch's proudest breath.
No far-famed bishop's last adieu
Can cast such death-scene in the shade.
Be ours a trust as pure and true.
When we must in the grave be laid.
And to this end be ours a life
Dcvctcd wholly to the Lord;
With every inl)rcd sin at strife.
Accordiii;^- to tlie Savior's word.
A7id, hriuKiii!-' forth (he daily fruits
Of ri).rlitic>usiii'ss ;i]id peace (ind joy,
A L'liristi:in life stril;es deeper roots
Than aught that's earthly can destroy.
Mrs. HestekA. Awhey.
Cottam, Ont., Feb. 16, 1881.
I presume many of you will be pleased to
know how brother Matthews is succeeding in
the line that God seems to have so striking-
ly marked out for him. Head: —
Another year Is gone, and we (the Prison Mission)
have abundant cause to be grateful to a kind Provi-
dence; for over 3,000,000 pages have gone out to Tex-
as, La., Ala., Tenn., Ark., Col., Mo., la., Kan., Neb.,
Min., Wis., Ills.. Ind., Mich., and two boxes ready
for Raleigh, N. C. No railroad fare in seven States
during 1880. Financially, the first year of any suc-
cess since '75. All would have gone free if friends had
been thoughtful and careful In sending. One broth-
er gave (sent me) $50,00 for incidentals and when
the year's work was balanced, there was !J cents left
200
GLEANINGS m BEE CULTURE.
Apr.
over. Brother and sister Axtell gave a swarm and
hive; also divided them, and we received 105 lbs.—
$21.00. This furnishes the stationery and all deficien-
cies in postag-o and postal cards, and leaves ¥14.77 for
stationery for 1881. Your $5.00 and sister ^\'.'s $5.00
nearl3' covered stamps, and others' postals. Not be-
ing quite enough, sister A. covers deficiency. One
kind brother raised house and o(Bce rent. Thus the
good Lord has cared for us. Drayman brought 13
boxes yesterday, 9 from Bro. Hastings, Boston; one
ton fresh choice matter. Railroads passed it free;
also 3 Iowa sacks and one Michigan package, all in
one day. I am busy on boxes for California, and
sacks for Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois prisons.
Sent bo.x (100 vols.) magazines to Detroit- House of
Correction. If you see fit, I wish you would empha-
size friends sending me by mail; thus I receive
thousands of choice pages, otherwise lost. I now
ask the express companies only to carry to prisons
from here. Railroads will bill sacks and boxes free
upon application from me; but some suppose all
roads carry free if a box is left at any depot. Here
lies my trouble and expense.
I gratefully acknowledge receipt of yoiir journal.
It is of great value, and I preserve it for future use.
May God reward j'ou, my dear brother, for your
deep interest in our prison mission. Prosperity and
success to you in your labors for 1881!
Onarga, 111., Jan. 13, 1881. "W. D. A. Matthews.
Or Iietters from Those "Who have Made
Bee Culture u Failure.
THIS CUT EXPRESSES MV FEELINGS AT A LOSS OF
ABOUT 15 COLONIES.— C. H. L.4KE.
LET US MEDITATE (AFIER SUCH A WIKTER).
fHAVE just looked over my bees, and find 16 out
of 38 colonies with " nary " a live bee. Among
' the dead ones are queens from M'Cord, Burch,
Cyprian, Palestine, Roop, Oatman, and daughters of
imported queens, so I shall not be able to tell who
has the best stock. I now have plenty of hives.
frames, and combs, for another year at least. " Ad-
versity hath its benefits." I shall need no supplies
for 1881. J. L. Mock.
Columbus, O., Jan. 31, 1881.
I think fully five-sixths of the bees are dead in this
locality, and, as a general thing, left considerable
honey. D. B. Teague.
West Milton, Miami Co., O., Feb. 8, 1881.
There were 87 colonics of bees in 1 his township
Nov. 1, 1880. At present alive, 18; 14 percent of box
hives lived. I. P. C. Steddom.
Webster, Wayne Co., Ind., Mar. 13, 1881.
My neighbor who lost 10 out of 26 colonies has now
lost 5 more, and says he expects to have almost none
left by May 1st. He has been in the business for 35
years. Too much experience makes some persons
careless.
Do you not think it no more than fair that those
who have given such good reports in the past should
also report when they lose so much? I should like
to see them in Blasted Hopes when they deserve it.
May be I had better tell you that another neighbor
who has 10 colonies has no losses this winter, so that
I am not the best, you see, and the danger is not all
over yet. I think I'll wait until May 1st and then
send a report. James A. Nelson.
Wyandott, Kans., Feb. 12, 1881.
Keep on writing, friend N.
As I am always anxious to see reports from others,
I will endeavor to give a report (not very encourag-
ing) of the loss of bees in Randolph county. The
crop of surplus honey, in a manner, was nothing;
yet they had plenty stored in the brood-chamber for
winter iise, some having 50 to 75 lbs. In order to
give a little idea of the different modes of wintering,
and how they came out, I will give the names ot a
few of the leading bee-keepers.
E. Davis had 37, lost 37; in Mitchell hive, out-
doors, with cloths on top. A. Frazier had 14, lost 13;
packed in chaff on summer stands, Mitchell frame.
J. Henshan had 14, lost 14; not protected at all;
Langstroth hive. J. Thornburg had 31. lost 17; in
Simplicity hives, packed in chaff on summer stands.
Z. Edwards had 18, lost 18; in American frame, not
protected at all. Wm. Johnson had 16, lost 15; in
chaff hives, without cushions on top. A. Hoke had
21, lost 30; in bee-house; sawdust-packed walls;
temperature kept at desired rate.
This looks like worse than Blasted Hopes, docs it
not, friend Root? The most of us are tint going to
give it up yet. I think it is better to spend a little
money for a few bees than to let the hives and those
nice straight combs go to waste, and also the honey,
which is so nice for spring feeding.
Winchester, Ind., Feb. 14, '81. J. H. Thornburo.
BLASTED HOPES, EVEN IN MISSISSIPPI.
I had last fall 34 hives of bees. They are all dead
but 6, and 3 of that number will play out with all the
feeding I can do. When thej' get out of honey they
become perfectly demoralized, and feeding seems to
do no good. The fruit trees are in bloom, but it
seems to do them no good. The long-protraoted
rains which commenced the last week in August de-
moralized the people worse than the bees. There is
not one man in twenty who will pay his debts. I
worked all last year on a credit, and am now nearly
1881
GLEANIXGS 12} BEE CULTURE.
201
as bad off as mj' poor little bees. They were brought
to starvation by the floods, and we are nearly in the
same fl.x from the same cause. But the clouds have
dispersed, and every tbinj? is reviving- a little. I
hope we shall be all right in a short time again.
Ofahoma, Miss , March 6, '81. A. G. Dento.v.
Well, friend D., you make out a pretty sad
case, even down in your land of almost per-
petual flowers. There is certainly some
truth in your remark, that when bees get
demoralized and discouraged, feeding seems
to be of little avail ; but, my friend, even if
the bees do get thus, you must not. J.,ook
up ! there is a God above, and one too who
has left a letter, written expressly to just
such poor sinners as you and I, which says,
"Come unto me, all ye that are weary and
heavy laden, "■' etc. lio you not sometimes
read this letter, friend D.?
MR. M£RRYB.\NKS AND HIS NEICa-
BOR.
(^(g wpHIS hive," says Mr. JNIerrybanks, "is
Jjl"' not intended to be used so much for
— ' getting surplus honey, as for fur-
nishing bees by the pound, and rearing
queens for the market, etc. However, when
a heavy yield of honey comes, and it becomes
desirable to have it stored in a shape proper
for table use, we will take full combs built
on nice clean fdn., and when they are nicely
capped over, we will set them aside, either
for table use or for the use of colonies that
need such aid in the fall. These circular
cakes of honey can be laid on a plate, and
cut up as we cut up an ordinary pie, giving
the children, of course, a smaUer slice than
the older ones, lest they get sick by having
SURPLUS HONEY FllOM THE PAIL BEEHIVE.
too much sweets.'' Here friend M. gave
a glance at Mary, who sat over by the
stove, coughing from the effects of her bad
cold. " Should the colony get very strong,"
resumed friend M., "and show no signs of
swarming, we will put another pail right up
against this one, placing the mouths oT both
close together. Xow there will be two ways
of getting surplus honey in this second pail.
One is to attach fdn. to the side, in such a
way as to have the bees build the pail full of
solid honey, the combs running from the
bottom to the top, so that when the pail is
carried by the handle, in ttie usual way,
there will be little danger of the combs
breaking down."
" But what Avill prevent the queen from
rearing brood in this second pail, and vour
having brood and pollen in it instead of a
pail full of pure honey?" suggested John's
mother.
" Oh!" said Mr. M., " we can easily manage
that by putting a separator of perforated tin
or zinc between the two pails. This bucket
of honey, you know, will be easily carried to
market, and even if a little should leak out
there will be no dripping, for the pail will
hold honey just as well as water. A round
pane of glass can be put over the top of the
pail, to keep out dust and insects. By the
way, this round pane of glass can also be
used to close the mouth of the hive, so as to
make a very pretty observatory bee-liive, for
timid people. In this case, we should need
to sew a sort of cushion around the edges, so
as to make the glass fit bee-tight, and also
keep in the warm air of the hive."
At this juncture, John's father pulled out
his pipe, and began feeling in his pockets
for tobacco and matches. Whenever he got
an idea in his head to which he wanted to
give utterance, he instinctively began to
seek for that self-same pipe. Friend M saw
the motion, and so pleasantly shook his head
at him th^it he put the pipe back in his pock-
et. Of course his neighbor never presumed
to dictate in such matters, but he had such
a pleasant, kind, good-natured Avay of re-
minding one of a failing, that the two were
never any the less friends, even though they
Avere not alike in many of their ways and
habits. He knew that his wife very much
disliked to have him smoke in-doors also,
and so he very pleasantly put the pipe back
in his pocket,' and proceeded to criticise the
new hive withoiit it.
Friend M. here took a chair and sat down,
for he was well aware that the soundest and
most sensible criticisms would come from
John's father, for he was, despite his many
shiftless and dilatory ways, a man of good
practical common sense, and one who might
easily have been a man of means and intlu-
ence'had it not been for some failings of his,
and his love of the companionship of a class
that were really very much his inferiors. He
commences, —
■' But, neighbor M.," says he, "even for
rearing bees and queens, you have got to
take out all the frames before you can get at
the last one, and you have not only got to
put each one back in its exact place every
time, but you have got to put each comb the
same side'to the front as well. Is this so?"
"Exactly so."
" And is not this a great objection? "
" On the contrary, it is just what I think
w^e need to do, to make the most bees and
honey."
" Why, then, do you not go back to the old
straw hive, or hollow gum, and be done with
it?"
"I would go back to the straw hive, or
some thing pretty nearly like it, if the combs
were movable. JSTowjust look here a min-
ute. To say nothing of the advantage of
these round combs, to retain the animal
heat, we will consider a little the way many
of the movable combs are used. Hives are
made to open easily, nowadays, and with
the modern smokers it is easy to open a hive
safely any time we wish. Well, a new be-
ginner gets a hive of bees, and iiroceeds to
open up the brood-nest, some cool day in
April. He gets the combs all out, finds the
queen, turns the combs, many of them, end
for end, throwing a patch of unsealed brood
right opposite a cold cake of honey, or some
empty cells that the bees had not yet covered
with their cluster. Perhaps he thinks to put
the combs back in the same order they were
before, and perhaps he does not. j\lay be,
202
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Apr.
as he lias read an empty comb should be
placed in the center, to give the queen
empty cells in which to put in eggs, he pur-
gosely divides the brood-nest. As the combs
ad been built by the bees, or at least trim-
med and lengthened out so as to give just
room for the bees to pass and do their work
(letting a depression on one fill an elevation
on the next, etc.), when they are swung
around and replaced, the bees have all this
work to do over again. Very likely, if one
should look carefully after the hive was
closed, he would lind great empty hollows
left between some of tlie combs, and bulges
pushed right into some comb, in another
place. In the latter case, perhaps a dozen
poor little bees were mashed into^the next
comb.* AVell, this is not the worst of it.
Bees have a wonderful tact for economy of
steins in the working season. They put the
new pollen for the young unsealed brood
right in the cells opposite, that the nurses
may have the food right where it is needed.
Wliere you find a comb of imsealed larva;,
you Avill often see the comb opposite to it
one solid mass of pollen-lilled cells ; and if a
couple of rainy days ensue, tliis pollen will
be all used in an almost incredibly short
space of time. Now, what will be the effect
of interposinga comb just here, or of placing
this great wall of pollen off to some other
part of the liive? Madam, what would you
say," here friend M. jumps up and turns to
John's mother, —
" What would you say if some one should
come into your house some ironing-day, and
put your cook stove over in the lot across
the way, your basket of clothes up stairs,
and your ironing-table down cellar, and tell
you to go on with your work that way, for
modern science had shown that more and
better work could be done thusV Now, this
is not exaggerated. As we look over the
journals, we fall to wondering why it is,
that beginners make such awful work of
wintering, while the old hands winter their
hundreds, losing not to exceed 5 per cent,
and some not even a colony. Is it not rather
a wonder that they succeed in getting colon-
ies through the summer evenV"
Here our friend wiped his face with a large
red handkerchief, and began feeling in his
pockets for something he wanted. While he
was hunting, John stepped backward, and,
striking his heels against the wooden bowl
that had not yet been placed on the table,
fell over into it, and si)lit it in several pieces,
leaving the candy in nice shape to give that
poor colony out of doors.
John's mother was perhaps the most
troubled one of the party, at tliis his second
accident, and commenced a most humble
apology ; but friend M. stopped her by say-
ing he was more than half glad it was brok-
en, for the bees would have built an empty
coml) in the bowl any way, and that, on the
whole, he preferred a division-board made
with a cushion around the edge, with a good
stout handle attached, so it could be ])ushed
into the hive with a sort of revolving motion,
making so tight a fit that no particle of the
warm air of the hive could get out, to say
*I have found bees thus imtiiisoncd, and still aliv(>, on opcninp;
iv hive fuuriliiys after it hail Ucou hastily closed by the careless
owucr.
nothing of leaving cracks or channels where
bees can get through. Here he fished from
one-of his pockets a copy of the British Bee
Journal, giving some of friend Abbot's ideas
about working with hives and combs. Here
is what friend M. read to his little audience:—
WHAT TO DO, AND WHEN AND HOW TO DO IT.
Increasing THE Brood-Nest. — Under the influ-
ence of stimulative feeding' in hives in which the
bees have been crowded together by the dividing-
board, the breeding will go on so rapidly that every
available cell will be occupied with eggs and larvte
before there has been time for young bees to come
into life, and, acting upon impulse, amateurs will be
apt to enlarge the nest to give further liberty to the
queen to deposit more eggs and cause more brood to
be created. In this matter we would advise extreme
caution. Bees that arc well able to maintain life-
supporting heat for themselves and the brood (for
the brood generates comparatively little and needs
the presence of bees) in, say, three frames of comb,
may IJlnd a dilTiculty in cold weather in generating
sufficient for that of a fourth frame, and its intro-
duction would probably do mischief. We would,
therefore, refrain from adding the fourth until the
population has begun to increase and the chief of
the brood approaches maturity, and then we would
place the added empty comb by the side of it vro
trm. Many writers advise that the com!) in question
should be placed between those containing brood,
which advice is sound when the weather is sufficient-
ly mild to preclude danger, but in early days we
would prefer that the bees Indicate sufflcicney of
strength to take charge of it (by commencing to
breed in it) before we would force its absolute care
upon them by giving it a central place. Bee man-
agement is like playing a game of draughts or chess
— it may bo very easy to make a dozen moves, but it
is stupidly absurd to move at all without considei'-
ing what is likely to happen afterward.
"There!" exclaimed he after he had fin-
ished. " That is wiiat I call good sound
sense. Now I want to tell you some of my
ideas about feeding:" but," friends, as our
story is getting long, I think we will listen
to the feeding part next time.
ClEA«mCS m BEE CULTURE.
-A.. I- :eicdot,
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER.
MEDINA, O.
TERMS: $1.C0 PER YEAR, POST-PAID.
FOR CLUBBING RATES, SEE FIRST PAGE
OF READING MATTER.
3Vi:3E3UIl\r-A., -A.I>IT. 1, 1881.
Foil the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I
not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like
a Hint, and 1 know that 1 shall not be ashamed. —
Isaiah 50:7.
» ♦ «
We have to-day, March 31st, 3935 subscribers,
and a yard of snow "on the ground — more or less.
Make every day count, and at night ask God's
blessing on what you have done through the day.
We will pay 15c. each for the April No. of Glian-
INGS for is;9. Put your name on the wrapper, and
drop us a postal.
A orkat number of letters are on hand, waiting
for a place, so do not be disappointed if your own is
not in this number.
1881
GLEANIKGS IN BEE CULTURE.
203
Not even yet any Dictionaries, but we bare most
excellent promises of some very soon. "We will re-
turn the money any time you wish.
I OMITTED to say, last month, that the price of the
book. Barn Plans and Out-Buildings, is $1.50, and
that we can mail it on application.
Ip anv one who advertises in Gi-t;anings does not
fulfill all promises and settle up all differences satis-
factorily, you will confer a favor by reporting him to
Friend Biirch, too, reports having wintered every
colony in his large apiary; but I really wish he had
told us how m;iuy there were. Please say how many,
friends, when j ou report.
Nice, pure, maple sugar, stirred, white, in lib.
bricks, at lOc. per lb. Tin-top for bees or children.
Nine cents per lb. only, in large cakes, just as we
buy it from the farmers.
TuF. Kansas Bee-Kecper is the iWe of a fair-look-
ing little sheet published by our friends Scovillo and
Anderson, of Columbus. Kansas. Vol. 1 No. 3 is just
on our — corner of the type-writer.
FuaNiSHiNG bees in the spring months will likely be
precarious, and. therefore, ple.ise let us all resolve
to bo patient. You can have your money back any
time, when you get tired of waiting.
Our friend R. Wilkin, of San Buenaventura, Cal.,
has received one order from England for 20 tons of
honev. What do you think of that? If all he sends
out is as good as the lot he sent us, I don't wonder.
Do not stand around with your hands in your
pockets, and have the neighbors all lausrhing- at you.
Go to work, and let the neighbors see that, if a bee-
keeper is down, he by no means proposes to stay
down.
Buy your bees and queens of those nearest to j-ou
who advertise; but do not send to me, unless you
are willing to wait until your turn comes. If you
are in a hurry, teli them to return the money, unless
they can ship inside of a specified time.
We shall not be able to send our bees by the pound
before Aprin5th, and not then unless the weather
is favorable. If you must have them right olf, I
think some of the friends in the South will be best
able to furnish them.
After gettingthe engravings made for a sun evap-
orator, for ripening honey, we are so unfortunate
as to have lost the b-tier that came with ihe draw-
ings. May wo trouble the friend who sent the plan,
to give us his name once more?
Sign your name to your letters, or— get some en-
velopes and paper with your name printed on them.
See how little they cost, by referring to the counter
store. Two letters are at hand to-day, containing
money, without a scratch to tell who sent it.
Wk have tried four queens by mail, in the Pcet
cages, and all died promptly. At their present val-
ue, this is rather expensive business, and I think we
shall not try many more before about May, as per
our price list. We have sent some cages to a South-
ern friend, with instructions to send us one queen
at a time until they begin to come through all right.
Thk willow-tree friend Oulp mentions on pape U.
Jan. No., has arrived, and it is a thing of beauty, I
assure you. Even some cuttings sent along with it
are covered with the white catkins, almost ready to
bloom, showing that it blossoms at a very early age.
It will be one of the bright objects on our honey
farm, when covered with bees the first thing in the
spring.
Save your hybrid queens, and fill up those empty
hives. Save all the blacks, and hybrids too, that
you can Ity hands on, anywhere about you. Stop
buying supplips and high-priced queens, but maue
that apiary bring in some money. Atk your wife
if she does not think this good advice.
Put your name and address on your letter, hcforc
you write a ivord. If you can not afford to have it
printed on, write it. Letters containing money are
now of almost daily occurence, without any trace
to tell who wrote them, or where to send the goods.
"Whatever does ail you," to be so careless? I a'nt
cross a bit,— only in earnest. " Do you mind?"
A SWAIIM OF bees HALF A MILE LONG.
No. no, dear reader, it isn't one of owr swarms, but
it Is the Apis dorsofa, where Frank Benton is, in
the Isle of Ceyhni. He didn't see them, but a gentle-
man told him that, when they swarmed, the swarm
was almost half a mile long. I will give you the let-
ter telling about it, next month. Don't get uneasy,
boys. Frank will take gtiod care of them.
In giving credit for the tutnbler feeder last month.
I should have said Finch & Bartlett. where I said
Finch & Crane. This came about innocently, by
supposing it was the present partner of Mr. Finch,
instead of his former one, Mr. F. J. Bartlett. of
Strongsvillo. O. This latter gentleman seems to be
the inventor, while Finch only presented the feeder
to my notice. I presiune it was also partly, if not
all, my carelessness, in getting the idea that Finch
was the principal inventor f)f the feeder. I hope
both gentlemen will pardon me.
We have just had a most pleasant visit from Dr. C.
C. Miller, of MarCngo, Ills. Friend Miller has declin-
ed what most of us would call a large salary, just
that he mwy live out in the country, and work with
bees. As he raises hcmey and nothing else, he takes
just as much pains to keep good hybrids as any oth-
er; and I am inclined to think there is a good point
for all of us who are honey-raisers. Take good care
of the queens you have, instead of wasting time and
money, and keeping your hives queenleas, and then
perhaps getting a queen that will produce less honey
than the ones you took out.
Several have written me that the Waterbury
watches are offered by others at a less price than
what I sell them at. 1 admit this; but it is for those
sent out untested. We are now testing every watch
that we send out, and those we sell singly at retail
are all carried in the pocket before being sent you.
If we do this, I can not sell them any less than our
advertised rates. My experience has been, that
none of you are satisfied with a dead watch or dead
queen at any price, and I therefore shall not ask you
to pay your money for such. Perhaps not more
than one in five fail to go right off. as they come
from the factory; but nobody that 1 know of wants
to be that fifth man.
Every few days some friend writes an indignant
letter, saying he ordered something just as plainly
as could be, .and yet we sent some other thing. The
letter is lookedup, and the fault was not ours, but in
the order. We miiil the letter back, to show we were
not at fault, and then comes quite a humble apology.
Now, in view of this fact, would it not be well to be a
little mild in complaining, and say you think you
ordered so and so, instead of being so very posi-
tive? Suppose even when you know you are right,
you should use the little preface to your remarks,
" If I am not mistaken," 1 ordered so and so. Our
boys and girls here are trying hard to be faithful,
just as you are; but it eases the burdens of life
amazingly, to get gentle, kind words. The most of
you are gentle and kind; but I think we can all im-
prove a little if we try. Do not you? Sometimes I
have a dim recollection of something that " sutfereth
long, and is kind." Was it you or I, think you?
GOOD NEWS.
The American Grape Sugar Co., of Buffalo, N. Y.,
have at length produced a sugar entirely free from
the slight bitter taste that has heretofore character-
ized even the best refined grape sugars. It is a pure
product of Indian corn, and is as pure and simple a
sweet, as the best grades of maple sugar. Just
"taste of it yourself, " if you are incredulous. We
will mail you a sample for 5c. . which, I think, will
settle the discussion. You might as well try to stop
the snow from coming down (this 29th day of March)
as to try to stop this wonderful new industry of mak-
ing good sugar from Indian corn. lustead of the un-
kind words in regard to it that have been mostly
prompted by ignorance and prejudice, it seems to
me more meet we sh luld unite in a prayer of thanks-
giving for a blessing s.'^nt to the children of men,
hardly less, in its promise, than the one that came so
suddenly a few years ago from the depths of the
earth, which is even now shedding light through
your home, and, for aught I know, illumines strong-
ly the pages your eye rests on this moment.
204
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Apr.
duiriJh
Underthis head ivili be inserted, freeoE charge, the names of
all those having honey to sell, as well as those wanting to buy.
Please mention how much, what kind, and prices, as far as pos-
sible. As a general thing. I would not advise you to send your
honey away to be sold on comniission. It near home, where
you can look after it, it is often a very good way. By .all means,
develop your home market. For 25 cents we can furnish little
boards to hang tip in your dooryijra, with the words, ' ' Honey
for Sale, '" neatly painted. If wanted bvmail, 10 cents extra for
postage. Boards saying "Bees and yueens for Sale," same
p-ice,
CITY MARKETS.
St. Louts, March 23.— Present market quotations
are as follows: Honey. — Ready sale. Comb 16@18;
top rate for tanc.v bright; strained and extracted,
ll@.12cl^B). Beeswax.— Firm. Prime yellow 21, dark
at 20c. K. C. Gbker & Co.
New York.— Replying: to your postal of the 19th
inst., permit us to say, that buyers' quotations are
as follows: Honey. — White clover. In ueat packages,
16@IT; fair clover, in neat packag'es, li©15. Other
off grades are selling at lower prices. Buckwheat
honey in neat packages, 11 to ll>. Large boxes, 2c
per pound less than above prices. aeesivax.—Fvime
quality 2i to 27c tor 2001b. lots.
March 23, 18S1. H. K. & F. B. TnuRBER & Co.
Cleveland.— We give you Cleveland market re-
port as follows: Honey.— Choice white, 1-lb. sections,
unglassed 19(?ii20; choice white, 2-lb. sections, un-
glassed, 17@18; choice white, 2-lb. sections, gUssed,
15@16; dark, I and 21b., unglassed, ]4@16. Extracted,
in 10 to oO lb. cans, 12® 14. Comb honey is scarce,
and good demand; extracted, fair suppl.v, light de-
mand. A. C. Kendel.
March 20, 1881.
Cincinnati. — Under date of March 22d, friend
Muth writes: No changes in the prices of honey and
wax. The demand is fair for extracted honey. Comb
honey entirely neglected.
Chicago, March 22.— Present market quotations
are as follows: Ho/iey.— Light comb honey is in great
plenty, and prices weak and uncertain, btit quoted
at 18@20c for 1-lb. and 2-lb. boxes for choice, and 14©
16c for fair to good, while dark lots, large boxes. &c.,
are worth 10 to 12c. Extracted honey, SCgjlCc. Bccs-
tt'a.r.— 20@23c for light, and ISQ-lTc for dark.
Alfred H. Newman.
I have for sale 1 bbl. of mixed clover and fall gath-
ered honey (not buckwheat, however), which I will
sell for 9c per lb., delivered on the cars here. Bar-
rel, 7uc. BvitoN Walker.
Capac, St. Clair Co.. Mich., March 20, 188L
CIRCUI.AKS AND 1»RICB LISTS KE-
CEIVKD.
Wm. C^ary & Son send out a vfi-y neat circular. We arc so
much pleased with their notice of the Cyprian bees that we copy
their remarks.
' 'Cy PRUN Bess— We v.-ill raise a few queens of this variety dur-
ing the coming season to sujiply those of our customers who
may wish to trv tlum. but can'givc no guarantee as to their
working nu.iUt'ics, as they h.ive nut been thoroughly tested; all
we can sav i-i, they arc beauties as tar as looks is concerned.
Tiieprii-i' '„: the-r .'imviis will be .$1.00 each ' '
AVe will fuini.sh botli Cyprian and Holy-Land queens at same
prices, ujuUt same conditions.
J. r. H. I'.rown, Augusta, Ga., issues a ta.sty 26-pago price
list of .apiarian sujjplics.
Hiram Roop. Carson City, Mich., has sent us a one-leaf cata-
logue of .apiarian fixings.
J. P. Moore, Morgan, Ky., sends out an elegent cheirograph
price list.
W'. ^V . C.ary, Jr., Colerain, Mass., sends us a ipage price list
of hives, bees, etc.
H. >I. Morris & Co., Rantoul, HI., send a 4-page circular and
price list of fruit and shade trees.
From H. P.aiber, .\cliiaii, Mich., we have received a 2 page
price list of liives, bees, puultry. and small fruit.
James A. XcImiu, Wyandott, Kan., dealer in fdn. , etc., has
sent a 4-page priiv li^t of liis spccialt.y.
F. L. Wright, I'laiiilidd. Mich., has issued a neat cheirograph
circular relative to small fruit, bees, queens, etc.
The Champion HcL-Uive Mfg. Co., Newcomerstown, O., send
out an 8-page circular of apiarian supplies.
(t. W. Thompson. Stelton, N. J., has sent a 4-page price list
of bee-keepers' supplies.
A. Lamontagne, Montreal, Can., has sent us some sticcimen
)).agesof ••The Ration.al Culture of Bees. Grapevines, and Sugar-
cane." The work is in the French language, and beautifully
illustrated.
Paul L. Viallon, Baj-ou Goula, La., has issued a very pretty
16-page circular of apiarian supplies.
Friend Good, Nappanee, Ind., issues a nice cheiro-postal price
list of queens and bees. Holy-Land strain.
J. F. Hart, Union Point, Ga., sends an 8-page price list of
hives, frames, etc.
W. H. Mcltoniel, New Carlisle, Ind , sends a G-pagc circular
of hives and bees.
George H. Lamb, Wilmington, N. C, sends us a postal price
list of Italians queens.
The American Novelty Works, Worcester. Mass. , send two
neat circulars of hives and bee-keepers" supplies generally.
S. Valeutinc. Dciubic Pipe Creek, Md., has sent us an elegant
4-page price li.st of queeii>, bees. etc.
L C. Root & Bio. , Mohawk, N . Y. , send us a nice 12-page cir-
cular of beekeeping supplies.
F. A. Siiell, Milledgeville, 111., sends out a pretty 18-page price
list.
J M. Brooks ct Bro , Columbus, Ind , dealers in Italian bees
and fancy pigcuiis, t-cnd a two-page circular.
t)ur friend ijliver Foster lias sent a most beautiful elieiro-
grajili circular of his fiiii. iiiacliiiie. <ineenliees, etc. It is worth
sending for on this account if nothing more.
Dadant & Son send us an extra nice circular, with some extra
nice samples of fdn .
A very pretty catalogue of 40 pages from H. A. Burch & Co.
Aside from the description of goods for sale, a laige part of the
little book is devoted to useful hints in regard to working with
bees.
Chas. D. Duvall, Spcncerville, Md., sends us a 4-page price
list of queens, bees, etc.
\
took the premium over Flat Bottom, Dunham, and
all other makes at thp N. E. Bee-Keepers' Associa-
tion at Utica, Feb.. 1881.
Price of foundation made on same machine,
1 to 2.5 lbs., for Section Boxes, ."Joc
25 to 100 " " " " 5iic
1 to 25 " " brood chamber, 45c
25 to 100 " " " •' 40c
I. L. SCOFIELD, Chenango Bridge,
4-6d Broome Co , N. Y.
CYPRIANS and Italian Queens or Nuclei. Des-
criptive Circular and Price List sent free.
Address JULIUS HOFFMAN,
1-4 Fort Plain, Montgomery Co., N. Y.
ITALIAN BEES Al iEENS !
Bees, Full Colonies and Nucleus; Bees b.v the
pound. Combs of Brood, Section Boxes and Comb
Foundation. Prices reasonable. For further par-
ticulars address FISCHER &- STEHLE,
4d Mariei; a. Washington Co., Ohio.
H0I\1:E ^T LAST!
Having bought the planing mill of H. C. Smith,
and supplied it with new and improved machinery,
and experienced workmen, I have 30,000 feet dr.y
white pine lumber, and got the Simplicity Bee-Hive
pattern of A. I. Root, and manufacture the Lang-
stroth Hive and Apiarian Supplies. Send and get a
Price List. SID. D. BUELL,
3-5d Union City, Branch Co., Mich.
B.OOT CHAFF HIVUS,
Nailed, painted, and chaff packed, with frames, $2 25
each. Same unpainted, 8^1.90. Same in flat, $I.HO.
4 EZRA BAER, Sterling, AVhitesides Co., 111.
BEDDING AND
Vegetable Plants !
Choice new varieties; spring list now readv; send
for it. R. MANN & SON. Lansing, Mich.
4d P. O. Lock Box, 374.
ITAlilAN QUEENS ! I am prepared to furnish
pure queens at a low price. Untested, in May,
$1.00; June, 90c; after, 8Jc. Send for circular.
CHARLES D. DUVALL,
4-9d Spencerville, Mont. Co., Md.
FOR SAJ^E, 30011 all-wood brood-frames in the
flat; *l(i.O) per 1000; tho lot all together,
$25.00. Speak quick. A. A. FRADENBURG,
4-5d Port Washington, Tusc. Co., O.
SCROLL-SAWYERS. Send2-ct. Stamp at once for
Special Offt-r, ;ind save money. Be livelv.
4 C. H. PARKER, Coldbrook Springs, Mass.
Strawberry Sresnlioiise
1881'
GLEANIXGS IN BEE CULTURE.
205
NOW READY!
Our new circular and price list for 1881. AVe have
something' new for every bee-keeper. Remember,
we are larffely engaged in practical bee-keeplug', and
know what supplies of are most value^in the apiary.
You should see a description of our feeder. Yon
will want one. Our new JJoiible-Dral't Smoker
is perfection. See what one of the most practical
and bcst-infcrmed bte-keepers of the country
thinks of it: —
"Since your g-ieat improvement in smokers, as re-
pards to the double blast, you undoubtedly have the
inside track of all the others in the market. This,
with the superior workmanship and materials used,
should place your smoker at the head of the list, and
secure for It a favorable patronaue for ISSl."
G. M. DOOLITTLE.
Price of smokers: By mail, SI. 50 and §1.75.
Our book,
QUINBY'S NEW BEE-KIEPifiG,
is pronounced the most practical work published.
Price, by mail, ^1.50. We furnish every thinjj- used
in advanced Bee-ciilture. Send for illustrated cir-
cular. L. C. ROOT & BKO.
Mohawk, Herkimer Co., N. Y. 4tfd
MAKE BEES FAY
By introdnein? the l>est strains, tested for excel-
lence. My imported queen of 'T9, picked from Root's
be-<t grade , still reiyrns with power. —Queens from
her:— Tested, $2 50: untested, SI. 00. After July 1st,
tested, $l..50; untested, 75c. Same warranted pure,
Sl.OO. Mailed safely, free. Mv drones are best pure
stock. Full colonies of bees, SS.OO. Nuclei, --frame,
$2.00. Use molded fdn. ; it needs no wire, will not
sao-. and payg hhj. Price. 40c. My new machine,
$5.00; outht, jiiO.dO. An.v size made to order. Sat-
isfaction guaranteed. Send for circular, and liccp
posted. OLIVER FOSTER,
4tfd Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa.
Your S
Till you have read new price list for the spring
trade. Wax is now cheaper, consequently
1 can furnish you a tine article cheap
and made on the best machine;
ALSO ITALIAN AXI) CrPEIAX BEES,
QUEENS, HIVES, SECTIONS,
and anv thing- you may want in mv line. Price List
free to all. J- ^^. CA.T^r>Wl:i:>1L,.
4-9d Cambridge, Henry Co., Ill,
IJIVES, SECTIONS, AND B0Xe3
Material for Langstroth Hives, including Brood-
Frame. i\) cts. each; Lewis V-shaped groove One-
Piece Section, any size to 6x6, $5.00 per lOOO. Lewis
One-Piece Honey-Boxes, all sizes, $2.00 to SI. 00 per
100. including glass; Dovetailed Sections, any size to
fixC, Sf.uO per lOOii. Manufacturing experience of 20
years, t-eud for Price List.
G. li. LEWIS (Successor to Lewis & Parks),
Watertown, Wis., April 1, 1881.
A'. J3.— There is no patent on the Lewis One-Piece
Section. 4tf
SEND FOR MY LARGE ILLUSTRATED CIRCt'-
LAR ! It will tell you what I have for sale. If
you keep Bees, don't fail to do it.
Address B. S. UNDERHILL,
•i-6d Williamson, Wayne Co., N. Y.
Seeds and Plants!
I will send prepaid, and guarantee safe arrival in
good condition, purchaser's choice, of the following
collections:—
20 Verbenas, $1 00
15 Basket or Bedding Plants, 1 00
12 Geraniums, 1 fni
12 Tuberoses 1 00
12 New Varieties Colesu 1 00
12 Varieties Hou«o-Plants, consisting of 3 Gera-
niums, 2 Coleus, 1 Centur.v, 2 Abutilons, 2
Besronias. 1 Cigar-Plant, 1 Heliotrope 1 00
12 Best Varieties Vegetable Seeds, .50
12 " " Annual Flower-Seeds, 75
9 " " Pansy Seeds, 1 no
6 " " Perennial Flower-Seeds 60
6 Choice " for Greenhouse or pot culture 100
12 Best Early Tomato Plants, 25
12 " Late " " 25
12 Sweet-Mountain Pepper Plants 23
Purchasers may divide collections. Send for Cat-
alogues. WM. F. ELWOOD,
4d (195 Dominick St.) Rome, Oueida Co., N. Y.
i, Cyprian \imi and h% •'> Cheap !'
I will sell my bees, 100 stocks of Cyprians in L.
hives, and in good condition.
Last senson. neisrhbor J. S. Hughes and I Cyprian-
ized all of our bees, and those within range, with
queens reared from the Jones importation, and
Hoflman's drones. Prices after June 1st:— 1-frame
Nucleus, from $2.00 to $2.50; 2-frame, $.3.00 to $3.50;
3-f rame, $1.00 to S^.^O. Nuclei will be well stocked
with bees and brood, including pure Cyprian queen
of this year's raising. Full stocks (10 L. frames) $7.
to $9.00. A few mismated Cyprian queens for sale
at COc in Peet cage. Warranted Cvp. queens, $1..50.
Tested, aftpr July 1st, $2.00. No foul brood in this
section. Bees for sale by the pound after June 1st.
Satisfaction guaranteed. For further information
and ref., please address J. B. R. SHERRICK,
(No circulars.) Mt. Zion,
(This ad. appears but once.) Macon Co., 111. 1
Plymoyth Rock & Light Brahma
From extra-flnc breeding yards, at R2.00 per 13, or
$3..50per23. ]V. II. A^I^T^T-::^,
4-6d KIRKWOOD, ST. LOUIS CO., MO.
CHOICE ITALIAN BEES
FROM ORCHMD APIARY.
Dollar Queens, only SOc; Tested, $1.50. Ten-frame
colonies, $.5.75 to $8.00. Every thing first-class, and
equally low. JS^Send for circular, and save money.
3tfd E. A. THOMAS, Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass.
Eggs for Hatching!
From my prize-winning Brown Leghorn Fowls,
which are unexcelled in America for Size, Laying
Qualities, and Beauty, at $2.09 per 13. §3.50 per 26, or
$5.00 per 39, packed in baskets, and warranted to
hatch well. W. N. CROFFUT,
4 Box 796. Binghamton, Broome Co., N. Y.
J. M. BROOKS & BROS',
AMERICAN ITALIANS.
PURITY OF STOCK A SPECIALTY.
4-9d CIRCULARS FREE.
COLUMBUS, - BARTH. CO., - INDIANA.
206
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Apr,
"There's nothing so successful as success." For
many years past, we have labored to improve the
Italian bee, aiming- to obtain a strain of bees that
would safely survive our coldest winters. That wc
can write success upon our (apiarian) banner is in-
dicatei by the fact that even in this most disastrous
winter, every colony of our large apiary is in tine
condition. ()th(ns report tine success with our Ital-
ians. On Miirch Hth, M. E. Loehr, of Palestine, Ind ,
wrote U8 that, last fall he had 98 colonies, and now
all are dead but three — two of these beinp- very
weak. The other ctlony contained one of our
queens, concerning which he says: — "I was sur-
prised to And this colony strong and healthy, and
am sorry I did not purchase all ray queens of you,
they being stronger in bees now than in the fall.
Could say much more in praise of your bees." To
the
READEf^S OF CLEANINGS
wo would say: If yoti want bees that are peaceable,
industrious, aad hardy— in short, want to possess
the BEST bees, 'fry our Italian!!).
OUR 40 -PAGE CATALOGUE, FREE TO ALL.
4d II. A, EXJrtCII «fc CO.,
SOUTH HAVEN, VAN BUREN CO., MICH.
VAN FRANK'S DIRECT DRAFT
GOLD-BLAST BEE-SMOIER!
Simple aud durabl', and not liable to get out of re-
pair. Price $1.00. Write for a liberal discount on
^ doz. lots. Single smokers sent bv mail on receipt
of $1.15. Address W. W. VAN FRANK,
4d Newberg, Cass Co , Mich,
1881.
Send for our now Circular and Price List of Full
Colonies, Nuclei, and Queens. We guarantee satis-
faction. S. D. McLEAN & SON,
2-7d CuUeoka, Maury Co., Tenn.
GRAPE SUGAR
For Feeding Bees !
Send for our Price List before you buy.
3-5d I. L.. SCOFIELD,
CHENANGO BRIDGE, BROOME CO., NEW YORK.
WANTED !
Employment in an apiary during the summer
months. Have had .5 vcars experience in the work.
4tfd E. P. STILES, Student, Ann Arbar, Mich.
CHOICE QUEENS
FOE, 1881 !
Dollar Queens $1 GO
Ttsted " 3 00
I guarantee satisfaction every
time, or money refunded. No
blocks in my neighborhood. All
queens raised Irom A. I. Root's
imported stock. Send for cir-
cular. HOWARD NICHOLAS,
4-Pd Etters, York Co., Pa.
ALBINO, ITALIAN, I am prepared to fur-
' ' nish early queens, pure
Albinos, Italians, and
AND HOLY - LAND Holy-Land Queens, bred
from select stocks. War-
ranted to be pure; safe
QUEENS, FULL COL" arrival guaranteed. Also
Hives, Novice's Extract-
n.wo ^n^^ ,,«*,. or, and Apiarian supplies
ONIES, ETC., FOR generally. Sendforprice
list. Address
, ^ ^ . . S. VALENTINE,
I XXi I Double Pipe Creek,
-^ <--"-' -L i 3-5d Carroll Co., Md.
CHAFF HIVES!
A SPECIALTY!
SEND FOR CIRCULAR.
J. P. WATTS,
LUMBER CITY,
2-4 Clearfleld Co., Pa.
Bee-Keepers' Supplies
It will pay you to get our prices before purchasing
your Supplies. Good Langstroth Hives with 8-inch
cap, frames, quilt, etc., in the Hat, 60 cents each.
Manufactured from good pine lumber. Workman-
ship unexcelled. Crates, Sections, Extractors, aud
Dunham Foundation, a specialty.
HIRAM ROOP.
3-Gd Carson City, Montcalm Co., Mich.
BEES FOR SALE !
fKf\ Colonies good healthy swarms of Italian
rjvj Uec-s at $10. eacli, in nearly new, 8-frame.
well-painted hives, delivered on board ears in good
shipping order. E. H SHERWOOD,
4-5 Fishkill, Dutchess Co., N. \'.
C. OLM'S COMB FOUNDATIOI MACfflNE.
9-iucli.-Pricc $25.00.
The cut represents the 9-inch machine; the cheap-
est made until now. Send for Circular and Sample.
3it<l €. OL.IU, Fond du Lac, Wis.
John Baxter, Pickering, Ont., agent tor Canada.
1881
GLEAKINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
211
Contents of this Number.
INDEX OF DEPARTMENTS.
Back List —
JJte Dotanj 22!
bee ]':iit<)niologrj- —
Blasted Hopes 2«
Cartoon Kii
Kditoiials S.')!
Heads of Grain 238
Honey CoUmin 2r)e
Huniijiiffs and Swindlea —
Juvenile Pepartnicnt 235
KindWords from Customers214
Ladies' Department 234
Lnncli-Rooni —
Notes and Queries 243
Reports Encouraging 224
Sniileiy - —
The (Jrowlei-y —
Tobacco Col uiuii v S52
l^DEX OF HEADS OF GRAIN, NOTES AND QUERIES,
AND OTHER SHORT ARTICLES.
Apis Dorsala 219
Amber Cane 2:«i
Axtell's Report 241
An ABC Scholar's story. . . .253
Bliss' Sun Evap'r 220
Bees outside of Hive 239
Hot. -Boards of Ai-t. Stone. . .231
Bo-t Hives 21<.i
Benton in Java 2iy
Banner Apiary 2l.'i
Bees and <i's for May 'Si!)
Coming Bee 228
Cellars Ahead .-241
Circulars Rec'd 2.').")
Comments on Doollttle 210
Calver's Report 2;i7
Cottonwood . ■. 243
Cellar Wint 22B
Drone-laying Queens 241
Dark Italians 232
Ex. Old Honey 240
Fair Play 255
Gallup's Ideas on Stores 221
Int 222
Grimm's Report 217
Individuality in Bees 238
Introducing 244
Killing Drones 231
Ivind Word for Railroads... 214
Leaving see's on all winter. 242
Lang, on Blacks and Ital's. .222
Lobdell's Report from N. Y.22C
Mcri-ybanks 244
Moore's 2-liive Apiaiy 23U
Miller's Report 231
Marking Queens 240
Man Proposes 214
.Measures 2,t5
-Staple Sugar 2.-.5
Notes from Georgia 230
New Honey 243
Xew Gr. Sugar 243
(!nr Own Apiary 2111
I'rfveiiting Swarming 212
Packing Bees in Texas 238
I'help's Apiaiy 237
Plaster for Fdii 243
Red Clover, Ital's, etc 244
Ramble No. 4 233
Simp. Plant in Colo 214
Suiplus Combs 238
Sweet Com 240
Sugar-Cane 2.54
Starter Machine, New 218
Side and Top Storing 232
Skunk Cabbage 223, 243
Smoker Column 252
Townley 's Iteport 221
lurn o^ the 'rune 256
Tin Cans 227
Trigona 227
Tea as a Honey Plant 238 .
Wii-ing Frames 224
Women and Bees in Neb 234
Wint. 2 Col's in 1 Hive 339
Water for Bees 241
Willow 223
What killed the Bees; 253
SAVED !
You can save timo and money by using our Comb
Foundation. We make a choice .irtiole for lirtiod
frames, also a very superior article for scctiODS.
Samples of ei;ch will be sent free to any address.
Send postal c;.rd fnr samples .ind circular.
Address, J. A. OSIJDflNE,
.5 Ilantoul, Champaign Co., 111.
All who are in want of nice, prolific
ITALIAN QUEENS !
Will do well to consult my circular before purchas-"
ing el.'iewhere. Don't fail to ih) it.
5d E. A. THOMAS, Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass.
ITALIAN QUEENS!
From select queen of A. 1. Root's importation.
Queens from hoitie-bred st<'ck if desired.
Tested, in Mav, $i.iO; June, $:IM); after, $2.00.
Untested, iu May, *1.50; June, $1.25; after. §1.(10.
Bees, per lb., same as untested queens. All queens
warrauted. Safe arrival and satisfaction guaran-
teed. S. A. SHUCK, Bryant, Fulton Co., 111. 5d
800D NEWS!
mOLDKD
The new metal f da. mold a Success ! I hope to fur-
nish them soon. Improvod plaster mold, Sif.TS.
Bees and queens of profitable strains.
See OLIVER FOSTER'S circular,
5d Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa.
1881
EA^PtL^i^
1881
C. OLM'S COMB FOUNDATION MACHINE.
SEND FOR SAMPLE AND CIRCULAR.
5tfd C. OliM, Fond du Lac, Wis.
HEADQUARTERS FOR
Pu.H,E Albino and Italian Queens and Colonies
for 18S1. As I make queen-rearing a specialty, I
guarantee to those ordering from me just what they
bargain for. Circulars free. Address D. A. Pike,
2-id Box 19, Smithsburg, Washington Co., Md.
SOUTHERN QUEENS
Ready in MARCH. Bred from best imported
mother. Tested queens to breed from, f^.OD. Ordi-
nary, $2.n0. Untested, fl.OO. Postpaid. Send lu
j'our orders. Address
l-5a CHAS. S. LARKIN, Raceland P. O., La.
HIVE x^ArrvrACTURims.
Also imported and home-bred Queens, Full Colo-
nies, and nucleus colonies. Bee-Keeper's Supplies
of all kinds. Market price for beeswax. 4-Td
NICHOLS & ELKINS, Kennedy, Chaut. Co., N. Y.
31.31: WIS^ <fc 33330? AVIL3i:il,
Manufacturers of
4 5d 24 SUMMIT ST., TOIiEDO, O.
'XT'OUR NAME, printed on 25 extra choice ehromo,
X &c., cards, and 5 choice Gladiolus bulbs, for
only 25c. C. E. C.a.noles, Hereford, Balto. Co., Md.
OUR PRICES FOR JULY I
One Pound pure Italian Bees, ... 85
One " hybrid Bees, T5
One Comb of Brood, - 75
One untested Queen, $1 00
Special prices on large orders.
5ttd FISCHER & STEELE, Marietta, Wash. Co., O.
33. s. Gr I '^T' El 3>ar ,
luT'entor and Sole Makiufacturer of tlio
FOUNDATION PRESS.
All Presses warranted to give satisfaction. The
only invention to make fdn. in wired frames. Our
thin and common fdn. for '81 is not surpassed. Send
for Catalogue and samples.
4-6d D. S. GIVEN, Hooposton, Illinois.
BEE-KEEPGRS, Send one dollar for the EX-
CELSIOR COLD-BLAST SMOKER, the very
' best. Sent free by mail.
W. C. R. KEMP,
5 Orleans, Orange Co., Ind.
mmm um im mn m ss m \
MAHEB, & GKOSH, 34 N. MONBOE ST.,
TOLEDO, OHIO.
Hand-Forged Razor Steel Knife
for 50 cents. Maher & Grosh, 84
N. Monroe St., Toledo, O., will mail
Knife like cut;, post-paid, for 50c.
Extra heavy 2- blade for rough
"= )ge, Tuc. Our Best 2-blnde, oil
mper and tested, SI. Pruner, oil
uiper, §1. Pruning Shears, ^1.
.lil goods exchanged free if soft
or flawy.
212
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
^IaY
Names of responsible parties will be inserted in
any of the following departments, at a uniform
price of 30 cents each insertion, or |2,00 per year.
$1.00 Queens.
Names inserted in tJiis dkpay-tment the first time with-
out charge. Afte/r, 20c each insertion, or $3,00 per year.
Those whose names appear below a^ec to furnish
Italian queens for $1,00 each, under the following
conditions: No guarantee is to be assumed of purity,
or anj-thingof the kind, only that the queen be reared
from "a choice, pure mother, and had commenced to
lay when they were shipped. They also agree to re-
turn the money at any time when customers become
imTEtient of siich delay as may be unavoidable.
Bear in mind that he" who sends the best queens,
put up most neatly and most socurelj', will probably
receive the most orders. Special rates for warranted
and tested queens, fumisned on application to any
of the parties. Names with *, use an imported queen
mother. If the queen arrives dead, notify us and
we will send vou another. Probably none will be
sent for $1.00 before July 1st, or after Nov. If want-
ed sooner, or later, see rates in price list.
*E. W. Hale, Newark, Wirt Co., W. Va. 3-1
*A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
*H. H. Brown, Light Street, Columbia Co., Pa. Itf
*E. M. Hayhurst, Kansas City, Wo. 1-13
♦Paul L. Viallon, Bavou Goula, La. Ittd
♦D. A. McCord, Oxford. Butler Co., O. 1-13
*S. F. Newman. Norwalk, Huron Co., O. Itfd
*J. T. Wilson, Mortonsville, AVoodford Co., Ky. 6-6
*Chas. G. Dickinson, Sou' Oxford, Chen. Co. N. V. 1-10
*Wm. Ballantine. Sago, Musk. Co., O. 3tfd
J. S. Tadlock, Kingsbury, Guad. Co., Texas. S-T
*W. H. Nesbit. Alpharetta, Milton Co.. Ga. 3tfd
*J. O. Facey, New Hamburg. Ont., Can. 4-9
*H. Nicholas, Etters, York Co., Penn. 4-8
W. S. Canthen, Pleasant Hill, Lan. Co., S. C. 4-6
*Jobn Conser, Glenn, Johnson Co., Kans. 4-9
*J. H. Burr;ige, Concord, Cab. Co., N. C. 5
*Fischer & Stehle, Marietta. Wash. Co., O. 4-9
Mas. P. Stcrritt.Sheakleyville, Mercer Co., Pa. .Itfd
H. Barber, Adrian, Len. Co., Mich. .'')tfd
*01iver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa. 5tfd
Black and Hybrid Queens.
I expect to have, some time in May, ten or twelve
black queens. If you would like to purchase them
you may have them at whatever figure you name.
K. MaIjLAlieu.
Hopewell, Bedford Co., Pa., April 2J, 188L
I have about a dozen hybrid queens for sale at
f 1.00 each. Otto Kleinow.
Detroit, Mich., (opp. Fort Wayne.)
I do not make a business of queen-rearing, but
have a f^w blacks that 1 would dispose of at 3.5c, and
if you will tell me how to put up bees, I can let 1 lb.
or more go with queens if wanted at $1.00 per lb.
J. J. D.vvinsoN.
Grand Baj-, Alabama, April 8, 1881.
Hive Manufacturers.
Who agree to make such hives, and at the prices
named, as those described on our circular.
A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
Sid. D. Buell, Union City, Branch Co.. Mich. 2-T
P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, Iberville Par., La. Itfd
S. F. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. Itfd
J. F. Hart, Union Point, Greene Co., Ga. 4-3
M. S. West, Flint, Genesee Co., Mich. 2-7
Feundafion Manufacturers.
Who agree to make such foundation, and at the
prices given, as described in our circular.
A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
Jas. A. Nelson, Wyandott, W.vandott Co., Kans. 4-9
E. S. Hildemann, Ashippan, Dodge Co., Wis. 4-5
W. Z. HUTCHINSON,
Rogersville, Genesee Co., Mlclil^nu,
would be pleased, upon request, to send you his cir-
cular and price list (printed on the cheirograph) of
Italian queens and bee " flxin's." 4tfd
SEND for my circular and price list of Italian
Colonies, Queens, and Apiarian Supplies.
5Ud H. H. BROWN, Light Street, Columbia Co., Pa.
ITAliIAN QUEENS ! I am prepared to furnish
pure queens at a low price. Untested, in May,
$1.00; June, 90c; after. 8Jc. Send for circular.
CHARLES D. DUVALL,
4-9d Spencerville, Mont. Co., Md.
Ai\ Italian Queei\
FOR
15
CENTS.
We guarantee to every one who sends a dollar for
the American Bec-Kceper, to send a pure untested
Italian queen for 1.5 cents more.
4-Td E. M. HARRISON, Lebanon, Laclede Co., Mo.
PURE STOCK! I shall devote the coming
season to rearing HOLY- LAND QUEENS
for sale. They will be reared in an apiary by them-
selves, away from other bees. The price will be as
follows: —
Dollar Queens, before June 15, - - - f 1 25
Each, after that date, 100
Tested Queens, after June, each - - - -2 50
Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed.
3-8d I. R. GOOD, Nappanee, Elkhart Co., Ind.
Bees by the Pound.
Those whose names appear below agree to furnish
bees by the lb., and at the prices given in our circu-
lar.
I. L. ScofieUl, Chenango Bridge, Broome Co., N. T.
S. C. Perry, Portland, Ionia Co.. Mich.
J. P. Moore, Morgan, Pendleton Co., Ky.
W. R. Whitman, New Market, Madison Co., Ala,
(;;ha5. Kingclev, GreeueviHe, Greene Co., Tenn.
C. D. Wright, "Baxter Springs, Cherokee Co., Kans.
H. B. Harrington, Medina, Medina Co., O.
W. St. Martz, Moonshine, Clark Co., Ills.
O. H. Townscnd, Hubbardston. Ionia Co., Mich.
G. W. Gates, Bnrtlett, Shelby Co., Tenn.
W. S. Canthen, Pl.-asant Hill, Lancaster Co., S. C.
J. G. Taylor, Au^rtin, Travis Co., Texas.
J. H. Burrage, Concord, Cabarrus Co., N. C.
Fischer k Stehle, Marietta, Washiugton Co., O.
VANDEVOORT
FOUNDATION !
Ten square feet per pound. This foundation took
the iirize over all others for use ia surplus boxes at
the N. E. B. K. ConventicMi. Send for samples.
5-6d G. W. Stanlky, Wyoming, Wyoming Co., N.Y.
COMB FOUNDATION MACHINES
I^1103J Sl.OO TO
55.00.
Comb fdn. from 33 to 40 ets. Italian Queens from
imported mothers. Untested, $1.00; Tested, $3.00; 50
now ready. Fountain Box, to run the wa.x right on
the plates, without spilling a drop. Send for my
new circular. JOHN FARIS,
5tfd Chilhowie, Smythe Co., Va.
WANTED !
A four or live horse-power engine and boiler. If
to be bought at a bargain, must bo in good condi-
tion, and in running order. Description required.
5d O. H. TOWNSEND,
Hubbardston, Ionia Co., Mich.
18S1
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
213
Hives, sections, and boxeJ
Material for Langstroth Hives, including Brood-
Frame, 40 cts. each; Lewis V-sbaped groove One-
Piecc Section, any size to 6x6, $5.00 per 1000. Lewis
One-Piece Honf-y-Bo.\es, all sizes, *:i.00 to $4.00 per
100, including glass; Dovetailed Sections, any size to
6.\6, $4.00 per 1000. Manufacturing experience of 20
years, tend for Price List.
G. B. LEWIS (Successor to Lewis & Parks),
Watertown, AVis., April 1, 1881.
N. JB.— There is no patent on the Lewis One-Piece
Section. 4tf
GUARANTEED
Italian Queens!
I guarantee all my queens to be purely mated
from imported mother. Safe arrival and satisfac-
tion guaranteed. Send lor circular. Untested
Queens in May and June, $1.50. July and after,
$1.00. Tested Queens, May and June, $3.50. July
and after, $3.00. Select tested, $:J.50.
Address— L. C. M'PATUIDGE, M. D.,
2-Td Carroll, Carroll Co., Ind.
Before Purchasing
any Italian or Cyprian bees, send for our 20th annu-
al price list. Full colonies. Nuclei and Queens, at
greatly reduced prices. Also headquarters for Api-
arian supplies in New England.
WM. W. CAUIT & SON (formerly Wm. W. Gary),
3tfinq Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass.
IMPBO VEB
Langstroth Hives.
Supplies for the Apiaiy. Comb Foundation a spe-
cialty. Being able to procure lumber cheap, I can
furnish Hives and Sections very cheap. Send for a
circular. A. D. BENHAM,
2tfd Olivet, Baton Co., Mich.
NOW readYi
Our new circular and price list for 1881. We have
something new for every bee-keeper. Remember,
we arc lai-gely engaged in practical bee-keeping, and
know what supplies of are most value in the apiary.
Yovi should see a description of our feeder. You
will want one. Our new Doiible-Mraft Smoker
is perfection. See what one of the most practical
and best-informed bie-keepers of the country
thinks of it:—
"Since your gi^at improvement in smokers, as re-
gards to the double blast, you undoubtedly have the
inside track of all the others in the market. This,
with the superior workmanship and materials used,
should place your smoker at the head of the list, and
secure for it a favorablei patronaife for 18H1."
G. M. DOOLITTLE.
Price of smokers: By mail, $1..50 and $1.75.
Our book,
QUINBY'S NEW BEE-KEEPINQ,
is pronounced the most practical work published.
Price, by mail, $1.50. We furnish every thing used
in advanced Bee-culture. Send for illustrated cir-
cular. L. C. ROOT & BRO.
Mohawk, Herkimer Co., N. Y. 4tfd
FU&B BRBD FOVXiTRlT.
I am now prepared to fill orders for eggs from the
following: P. Rocks (Corbin strain), L. Brahmas,
S. S. llamburgs, S. S. Polish (Bearded), Brown Leg-
horns, W. C. B. Polands, Rouen and Pekin Ducks,
Toulouse Geese and Bronze Turkeys. Eggs packed
in the most approved manner. Poultry for sale in
the fall. Send for Price List. Address
4-6 H. S. ROSS, Box 138, Seville, Medina Co., Ohio.
IQOI ITALIAN BEES AND QUEENS FOR SALE,
lOul and Bees by the pound a specialty, cheap as
can be and live. Address
A.W.CHENEY,
5 Kanawha Falls, Fayette Co., West Va.
BEE-KEEPER'S
SUPPLIES !
SEND FOR PRICES.
A. F. STAUFFER,
Sterling, Whiteside Co., 111.
Will take hees in excliavge
HEADQUARTERS FOR
Early Italian & GyBriaii IJneeiis.
Imported and home-bred; nuclei and full colo-
nies. For quality and purity, my stock of bees can
not be excelled in tho United States. I make a
specialty of manufacturing the Dunham foundation.
Try it. If you wish to purchase Bees or Supplies,
send for my new circular. Address
Itfd DR. J. P. H. BROWN, Augusta, Ga.
1881 ITALIAN (QUEENS! 1881
Xestetl Qneeiis $1 oO
Warranted Queens.. 1 OO
Cyprian Queens, imtestcd 1 00
As most all the Dcllar queens
I sold last year were pure, I
will warrant thcra this year.
J. T. Wilson, Mortonsviile,
2-7d Woodford Co., Ky.
YaMevoort Coi Foiiatioi
took the premium over Flat Bottom, Dunham, and
all other makes at the N. E. Bee-Keepers' Associa-
tion at Utica, Feb., 1881.
Price of foundation made on same machine,
1 to 25 lbs., for Section Boxes, 550
35 to 100 " 50c
1 to 35 " " brood chamber, 45e
35 to 100 " " " " 40c
I. L. SCOFIELD, Chenango Bridge,
4-6d Broome Co , N. Y.
FOR SA1.E! Pure bred Pekin Duck eggs, for
hatching. Packed securely and delivered at
exprj^ss -office on receipt of price, $3.00 per eleven.
Address H. C. JOHNSON,
3-5 Reesville, Clinton Co.. Ohio.
MAKE BEES PAY
By introducing the best strains, tested for excel-
lence. My imported queen of '79, picked from Root's
hest grade, still reigns with power. — Queens from
her:— Tested, $2.50; untested, $1.00. After July 1st,
tested, $L50; untested, 75c. Same warranted pure,
$1.00. Mailed safely, free. My drones are best pure
stock. Full colonies of bees, $S.00. Nuclei, 2-frame,
$2.00. Use molded fdn.; it needs no wire, will not
sag, and pays hig. Price, 40c. My new raachiue,
$5.00; outtit, $10.00. Any size made to order. Sat-
isfaction guaranteed. Send for circular, and keep
poKfed. OLIVEK FOSTER,
4ttd Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa.
At Kansas City, Mo.,
I breed pure 7tfl?iVm and Ctjp'iaji bees for sale. I
warrant my "Dollar" queens to be mated by pure
yellow drones, and guarantee safe arrival anfl per-
fect satisfaction.
May - - - $3 00
June - - - - 3 50
after " - - - - 2 00
in May - - - - 1 .50
in June - - - 1 35
after " - - - - 1 00
Bees, per lb., same prices as Dollar queens.
Please address all letters plainly to
3-5d E. M, HAYHURST, P. U. Box 1131.
Tested Queens,
"Dollar"
214
GLEANI:^fGS IN BEE CULTURE.
May
KIND WOPS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS.
The smoker came all right. I like it first rate:
think it is the boss. Away g-oes the tobacco for g-ood.
Sandwich, 111., April 25, 1881. G. M. Tue.a.t.
1 srncss all the goods ordered have been sent and
received. The diutionary is very nice; saws work
nice. >[■. A. Saunders.
Hudson, Mich., April 19, 1881.
The pnttj"-knife is the handiest thing I have about
the apiary. Jon.v C. Gillilaxd.
Bloomlield, Ind., March 14, 1881.
T have just received the 1.5-cent dictionary. It is a
" houncor" for the price, sure. Rob't Qoixn.
Shellsburg, Benton Co., Iowa, April 15, ]8sl.
I h.irdly see how you can sell envelopes so cheap.
I pnv more here lor envelopes wilhout printinq:.
Wiutleld, Mich., April 9, 1881. Lee S. Cobb.
I have received my two dictionaries. 1 memoran-
dum-book, 1 dinner-born, and one rule— very nice
things for the price — wonderful for the money.
Please accept thanks. David Scqwahtz.
Berne, Adams Co., Ind., April 18, 18Sl.
I like your book best. I would not be without the
ABC. alter having once seen it. It looks as if a
child might manage the bees after studying it.
Mks. Fred Bethe.
Abilene, Kan., March IT, 1881.
Please find inclosed $1.00 for the A B C book you
so kindly intrusted me with. I am well pleased
with it. I think it would be well lor every bee-
keeper to have one. I would not take a $5.00 gold-
piece for it if I could not get another one to fill its
place. 'KVm. Astrv.
Franklin Square, Col. Co., O., March 15, 1881.
A KIND WORD FOR THE RAILROAD COMPANIES.
The extractor arrived this morning in good condi-
tion. Those whose hands it passed through in so
long a journey certainly deserve a great deal of
credit. Fruit and forest trees are in bloom. Bees
busy, drones tlying, and— now for business.
Mason, Mason Co., Tex., Mar. 7, '81. M. C. Swan.
I received the two little knives yesterday O. K.
One pleases the lady at the sewing-machine and
work basket; the other, the little sister with her
pencils at school. We think it so funny to receive
Things of all sorts by mail, besides letters, that I
think I must keep a deposit there. A. W. Bryan.
Gadsden, Etowah Co., Ala., April 5, 188 L
As it is rather dull without Gleanings, I thought
I would drop you a line with a doUir inclosed.
Please send from the first of the year, if you can;
if not, a year from now. My husbund is away, and I
want to happily surprise him when he comes home,
with Glealings. F. V. Button.
Cob Moo Sa, Oceana Co., Mich.
I have sometimes in life shed tears when angry;
again when grieved ; but a feeling of sorrow fol-
lowed. On reading Our Homes in your paper I have
shed many tears, but they were tears of joy. I keep
no bees. Nearly 50 years ago 1 rambled through the
woods in Medina. 1 am now 73 ^ ears old. Inclosed
please find $1.00 for G oEAMNCis. Luciu.s Bkach.
Port Huron, Mich., March 10, 1S81.
If Merrybanks and John have never hit others
they have me. and have taught me, too, more than
one serious lesson. Severe dignity and intense
respectability have been the death of numberless
papers and journals, while the homely, sincere,
earnest periodical that tells of the ups and downs of
real life, as people live, prospers, for, they are al-
ways welcome visitors. L. M. Shumaker.
Danville, Va., April 20, 1881.
ABC book came to hand all right. One item In it
was worth more than the cost to me already. I had
been reading about Simpson honey-plants all winter;
had made up my mind to invest $iMO hard earnings,
and ABC let out the right name, "Carpenter's
Square." Just any amount all around here. I have
seen it in several States, but it grows larger here.
To-day I picked up some old stalks l}i in. square,
and nearly 10 ft. long. W. T. Kitter.
LincolQ, HI., April 19, 18S1.
Every article that I sent to you for arrived here
promptly, and gives entire satisfaction. The mag-
nifyiug-glass will help me to look for eggs -in the
comb, as I can ni)t sec them without glasses of some
kind; and the smoker, I do not know; it may not be
so good as some others, but I would not take double
the money paid for it and be without it one week,
which is just the time from writing to you for it and
the time that it arrived here. With it I can tame
bees that are as fierce as B°ngal tigers.
Kocheport, Mo., Apr. 10, IS'^1. Tiios. Cuapman.
[Our friend S. Young, who wrote us last month
that he had given way to temptation, and got to
using tobacco again, has made a fresh start, and on
a better basis 1 trust. I have heretofore been un-
able to get him to attend the Sunday-school near
him; see what a start he has taken now:]—
Mr. Wilson and mj'selE went to meeting to-day,
and we had as happy a time as F ever had. We went
early, and had to go into the Bible-class the first
thing, and you can bst we stood up to the rack,
read in the Bible, answer.^d all the questions
that were asked us, and we intend to go again. I
think I shall work at the blacksmith trade from this
on. My kind respects to you and all the shop hands.
Samuel Young.
Chatham Center, Ohio, March 2S, 1881.
[To be sure, you were happv, friend Samuel. Now
do not let Satan coax you off the track any more,
but stick right to that Bible-class, and, my word for
it, j'ou will be one of the sti-ong pillars in a very lit-
tle time. Both you and your friend want to go early
and "stand risht up to the rack," every Sunday.
You have hit the nail right square on the head, and
may the Lord bless and prosper you in that black-
smith shop!]
MAN PROPOSES, BUT GOD DISPOSES.
[If our friends will look at pp. 141 and 141, of March
number, and thea read the following letter, Ihey
will see that I have been the innocent victim of a
h>ige"joak;" but for all that, God seems to have
taken the matter in hand, and I hope, trust, and
pray it may result in a huge Sunday-school. Bead:]
Now, friend Root, many thanks for your advice,
and I will try not to let a swarm go. But I must
have your heln until the first of August; and now,
with the Lord's permission, I shall try my best.
Bees have wintei-ed first rate, and every thing
looks as if we should have a good honey crop.
You make me say, on page 144 of Gleanings for
March, " I never could get used to getting along
without it," when I meant to say that "1 never
could get MSCcJ to it." I sent to you, thinking I
should receive a smoker, and you have sent me two;
but I have sold one, and it is all right. You think
tobacco must be very high, $1.00 per lb.; well, I
know that if honey were one-fourth as high, it
would be very nice.
Now for the Sunday-school. I have 21 names, but
have not had time to see them all. I think there
will be 2' or 28 in all. I hav^e said to them that it is
to be free to all who will come. You must send mo
the rule that you wish me to go by.
I have always had to use tobacco with my bees, as
I coulil not find any thing that would subdue them;
but I was thinking that 1 shoulil have to give them
vip, as the use of tobacco was hurtful to me.
Charles P. Ballow.
Half Moon Bay, Cal., Feb. 15, 1881.
[To be sure, you are to tell them all to come, friend
B. A Sunday-school that was not free to every hu-
man being, high, low, rich or poor, 1 would not give
much for. Invite them in that way, and after they
get there, treat them in that way; and If every one
who goes and helps that school along has not reason
to feel that God has sent them an especial blessing,
just set me down as lacking in wisdom. I will at
once send you a simple outfit to start with, and you
can pay me for it whenever you get contributions
enough. Now, friends, let us pray for friend Ballow
and that Sunday-school, away off there in California,
started under such a queer combination of circum-
stances. Whj% that extra smoker must have been
a providence, for I have no son of an idea how it
came to be sent. Give the money you got for it to
that Sunday-school.]
DEVOTED TO BEES A:VI> II03VEY, A>'D iI<»rJ2 IINTEIIESTS-
Yol. IX.
3IAY 1, 1881.
No.
o.
1
Published Monthly.
A. Z. ROOT,
Publisher and Projmetor, \
- Medina, o. J EstciUisliecl in 1873. \^£^'£M^''^^''^^^'^^^^^
fTKRMS: Si. 00 Per AKNUM. is AtivaxcE:
I 2 ( 'oiiks for Si. 90: S for §2.75; 5 for Sl.OO: 10
I or iiioic, 75 c-ts. each. Sinprle Xnmbtr, 10 cts.
{ Aililitioiis to clubs may be made at club
Above art' all to hv sent to OXE Posi-
IVOTES FROM THE BANTVER APIARY.
No. 18.
MY "revised" report FOR 18S0; HOW THE COLD
WEATHER SHRANK THE " FIGGERS."
^^S/f-Y. haA'c been having a " spell " of cold weath-
er, for this time of the year, but this 7th
day of April it is warm enoujrh for rae to
sit out in the sunshine, upon the wheelbarrow, and
compose this article, scribbling it down in phono-
graphy upon a scrap of paper, while I keep an eye
on the " twins," and see that they don't run into
the mud.
I suppose, by good rights, that the Banner Apiary
ought to be draped iu mourning, the flags hung at
half mast, and its owner consigned to "Blasted
Hopes;" but as it is, there are three colonies (1 had
eleven last fall) holding the fort (yes, and two of
these were bought this spring cf a neighb<ir wh(jse
apiary I Italianized two years ago) while their owner
is "poking" about the country, bujing bees of his
more fortunate neighbors, and empty combs of his
less fortunate ueighbcrs. (It's an "awful" goed
spring to buy empty combs.)
How did I lose my bees";' Well, I'll tell you the
best I know how. In the first place, I " felt it in my
bones " that we were going to have a hard winter on
bees, so 1 sold 18 colonics, all that I had except four
swarms, and these were in my tenement hive. They
were made up very strong, and had plenty of honey;
but they acted very much as did friend Good's bees
in his tenement hives; they would not quiet down
as sensible bees ought to, but kept " tear ing around,"
if I maybe allowed the expression, and eating lots
of honey. When it was real cold weather, so cold
that bees could not fly, there would often be two
quarts of bees hanoing out at each entrance. In
January they commenced to have the dysentery,
and then they "just went." I do not feel like blam-
ing the tenement hive for my loss, as friend York,
who lives a few miles from here, wintered 30 colo-
nies in tenement hives, losing only three swarms.
Late in the season I had an opportunity to trade,
with two difl'erent parties, and get some black bees
at a bargain. There were three swarms at one place
and four at another. The men of whom I obtained
the bees had always wintered tlacJr bees with little or
no protection ; one bad never met with veryhcaA"y
losses, and the other had never lost a swarm; so I
concluded to risk these bees without protection,
just this once. (There, 1 couldn't keep the "little
chicks "out of the mud without cha?ing them most
of the time, so they had to go into the house, and I
have found a more comfortable seat in the shop-
door.) Three of the swarms that I had away from
home were in two-story Simplicity hives, were very
strong in numbers, and had plenty of honey. 1 saw
them in January, and they were so strong then that
I thought they would stirely go through. In Febru-
ary there was a thaw, arid a few days later I was in-
formed that my bees were dead. When I moved the
hives home, then I discovered the trouble. The bees
had moved into the upper story to winter, and the
dead bees had accumiilated upon the tops of tho
frames in the lower story, and shut the hees in. There
was nothing over the frames, and the bees had tried
to get out through the crack where the cover joins
the hive. There was a big ring of bees clear around
the inside of the hive close up to this crack. It
seemed as though they had died struggling for free-
dom. I thought, "Oh if I had only brought my bees
home, where I could have seen to them I"
Two other swarms that were away from home
starved, even if they did go into winter-quarters
with 30 lbs. of honey. Another was so weak that I
put it in with another swarm. The swarm that came
through all right was in a double-wail hive, no chaff,
but just a dead-air space.
It sometimes fairly makes my head " swim " when
I think of all the articles that IhaA'C readthis spring
upon the subject of wintering bees. One says, win-
ter tho bees in a cellar, and have the cellar dry; an-
other says the same, only you must have the air
damp. One says, "Give your bees water while in
the cellar;" another says, "Don't." One says.
" Leave the bees out of doors, and give them protec-
tion ; " another says, " Raise the hives upon blocks,
so that thej' can have plenty of air; " and the Dick-
ens of it is, bees have been wintered successfully
with all of these different methods. There are two
things, however, upon which most of us agree, and
that is, in havingplcnty of youngbees and plenty of
good stores. I don't think the white-sugar diet for
winter has been tried as much as it ought to have
been. At present, I feel verj- much like following
Doolittlc in one respect, and that is, to put part of
216
GLEA^UNGS IN BEE CULTURE.
May
mj' bees in a cellar, anil leave part of thpm out of
doors.
Am I (liscoui-agcd? Oh, no! not in (he least. I am
buying more lie cs, and shall probably do a larger
business the coming season than over before.
Bogcrsyillc, Mich. W. Z. Hutchinson.
OIK
OWN APIARY.
B^^Y FRIENDS, to-day is the 13th of
'n, April, and all that remains of our
— *^ apiary of SOU colonies last fall, is 7 fair
stocks and 11 nuclei. Of course, we sold a
great many in the fall, and the rest were
doubled down to about 140, just before that
cold spell in November. All were in chaff
hives, and well protected, but they were not
nearly as strong as I knew they sliould be to
stand a hard winter. 1 have explained be-
fore that the unexpected cold weather pre-
vented our selling our usual number of
queens in Oct. and Nov., and so we had the
choice of killing valuable queens or running
the risk of being able to winter them, as we
had previous seasons. The 11 nuclei we
have taken out of the chaff hives, and set in-
to o-frame nucleus hives, covered with wire-
cloth at the top and bottom, and have set
them in the engine-room, to preserve the
queens, if we can, until we have a day warm
enough for them to fly. I have also bought
80 colonies of neighbor Rice, who has Avin-
tered his all right in the cellar (he did not
raise any queens for sale, you know), and I
shall probably purchase a great many more.
The outlook is sad, I know, from reports. It
is very sad to many of you, who feel as if
you had not the means to buy more bees to
cover your combs before the moth may take
possession of them. Still further, what is
the use of buying more when we get so little
honey, and then lose them almost every win-
ter?
I see, by the letters, that some of the
friends are almost inclined to repine at a
kind Providence, and to doubt whether
God's hand is really in it at all. Suppose,
tor instance, that every day's w^ork was a suc-
cess, and that the weather was always propi-
tious. Would constant sunshine and favor-
able weather contribute more toward making
man grow strong and self-reliant, than the
average amount of ditticulties that one meets
in the usual duties of lifeV Does it make a
boy grow into a great and good man by giv-
ing him every thing he wants, Avithout ask-
ing him to work and strive for it? Surely
God knows ; and he watches not only anx-
iously, but even lovingly over ns, his chil-
dren, and he most assuredly will cause every
thing to work together for our good, if we
only love him and look up to him for help
through it all.
In 1808 I lost all my bees but 11 colonies,
and as everybody else, almost, was about to
give it up, I felt very much like giving it up
too, as my friends urged. I did not, though,
but went quietly to work and built the 11 up
to 48, and wintered them all, as I have told
you in the A B C. Erom the 48, 1 took, the
next season, 61G21bs. of honey, and sold it all
at a large price. Suppose, now, I had given
pp. Gleajtings would, never had been
started, the A B C book would never have
been written, and the world, in all probabil-
ity, would have been considerably poorer in
health, honey, and happiness. It is true,
many thorns have come with the roses ; but
none of us would have enjoyed our favorite
pursuit as Ave do noAV if it had not been for
these failures. You can never feel the keen
enjoyment that comes from success until re-
verses have taught you how much success
costs. The reverses have stimulated us and
given us an enexgy to Avork and study and
ieivrn, that success alone never could have
done. God knoAVS best. I have long been
thinking of a plan whereby we might raise
bees out of season, or, if you please, inde-
pendently of the weather and untoAvard sea-
sons, as many of you have gathered, by my
experiments Avith manure-heaps, artificial
heat, the greenhouse, etc., in the years that
are past. Well, I haA'e felt pretty sure, for
some time, that the matter could be man-
aged Avith the light we have noAV, Avere I not
too lazy or negligent to set really about it.
Well, this spring's disasters have stirred me
up to the point, I think, and I feel now just
like going into it in real earnest. Even if
Ave do raise queens, and reduce the strength
and vigor of our bees, I feel sure that it is in
our poAver to raise more, and build them up
at any season of the year, if we Avill only
take the trouble. I can raise plants in our
greenhouse of almost any description, and
keep them going all Avinter long, not only as
Avell as they can be raised out of doors, but a
great deal better ; for by keeping off cold
Avinds, and scorching suils, and giving plen-
ty of Avater, I can produce a growth that is
hardly ever seen in the open air. Eor about
a Aveek I have had a colony that was almost
at the point of death, in the greenhouse. Al-
though their entrance opens right out of
doors, none of the bees try to go out in un-
seasonable Aveather, and since they have got
accustomed to their home, I have kept the
entrance closed, except Avhen the Aveather
Avas tit for them to lly. The steady Avarm
temperature seems to "have restored them to
perfect health, and the queen lias been laying
so finely, that I have taken the Avhole 11
weak ones that Avould have surely died out-
doors, even in the chaff hives, and put them
indoors too. As soon as it is really Avarm,
I shall take them back to their hives again.
As they emitted the usual bad smell of bees
Avith the dysentery when first brought in, I
placed each one in a three-frame nucleus
hive, having Avire cloth over both top and
bottom, and then place them up from the
floor, so the warm air of the room could have
a full circulation right through them and
the combs. They have been there 48 hoitrs,
and, although confined, the bad smell has
nearly left them.
NoAV a Avord nbout giving up. Every time
you give up and retreat, you Aveaken your
faith in yourself; and if you are not careful,
you also weaken your faith in God. EA'ery
lime you pull tiirough and conquer, you
gain conlideuce in your powers, and are
much better able to surmount the next
obstacle. You are, perhaps, Avell aAvare
that many of our large York State bee-
men use a stove or furnace in their bee-
1881
GLEa^JN'INGS I:N' BEE CULTUUE.
217
rooms durinj? the severest part of the
weather. Their bees do not fly, either.
In L. C. Hoot's Quinhi/s Xeio Bcc-Keep-
inq j-ou will notice that great stxess is
laid upon the necessity of artificial heat
where bees are wintered in cellars during
veiy severe winters ; and (Jninby's point,
that the most successful cellar wintering is
in cellars directly under the kitchen stove,
during severe winters, is one M'ell worthy of
being looked up now, since the past winter's
losses.
April 19.— To-day our few stocks are (the
strongest of them) biinging in natural pol-
len. They seem to have very little ambition
to start brood-readng. as yet. but the new
pollen will doul)tless give them ambition. I
am inclined to agree with the brother in the
South, who said that even feeding would
not work this sining. Neighbor Clark has
wintered 9 without losing any, and neigh-
bor H. has over a hundred yet^ and some of
them quite strong. I have purchased, of
neighbor Kice, 89 colonies, to be delivered
any time I think best. These will be at once
divided, as they will bear it, and we shall
soon have our apiary alive again, with the
aid of abundance of combs aiid stores. The
following is from friend Doolittle, so it
would seem that the queen-rearing apiaries
are not the only sad ones after all.
Bees are dying fearfully here at present. My loss
will exceed 40 per cent. Snowing hard to-day from
the N. E., with ground frozen nearly solid. No par-
ticular plan of wintering seems to be exempt, as
losses are reported with all modes. Cellar winter-
ing and chaff packing prove the best, yet much los3
has occurred with these. Yours in haste,—
Borodino, N. Y., April 12, '81. G. M. Doolittle.
I
April 22.— We are having beautiful weath-
er now, and the soft-maples are in bloom,
but the bees refuse to be comforted, and the
weaker will not repel robbers in spite of any
thing we can do. Our number is now down
to 12, but friend Rice is to bring us ten col-
onies this afternoon, that we may save some
of our valuable queens. We have perhaps
five colonies that will pull through without
help. Here is another letter from Doolittle.
I am thinking about building a bee-cellar, to
put half of our stock in next winter.
Bees are suffering badly now% as we have had a
week of snug winter weather, which is hard on
weak swarms. Had not some of those fellows who
shouted "bees all right" the fore part of March,
better waited till the first of May? We aren't
through the woods before May 15th in this locality.
If this weather keeps on long I shall lose half of my
bees that were wintered on summer stands packed
in chaff. Those in cellar are doing much better.
Reports of losses come in thicker and faster from
all through the North, and the end is not yet. Tell
W. Z. Hutchinson that he has defended his position
on late queen-rearing admirably, and as any thing
further would be uninteresting to your readers, we
will let it drop. G. ^I. Doolittle,
Borodino, N. Y., April 8, 1881.
2G//i.— We have had a week of glorious
weather, and the 12 remaining colonies are
every one of them coming up. although some
pf tljepj slowly, The 10 colomes purchased
of neighbor Rice are doing beautifully, and,
j what is queerest, are storing new honey and
I building new combs from the soft-maples.
I do really believe that, if this weather con-
tinues, the bee-keepers of our land, as a
whole. Avill make a very creditable season of
it after all. One point' begins to impress it-
self strongly on my mind : God in his wis-
dom is throwing the Xorthern brethren on
the mercies, as it were, of our friends in the
South. They, and they alone, can help us
out of our stVails. by furnishing bees by the
pound to replenish the destitute hives in the
Xorth. Gird up your loins, ye men and wo-
men of the South", and lielp iis. To further
this new industry, I will give, gratis, for the
month of June, the names of all who will
fiu'nisli bees at our list prices. Xow, be not
backward or faint-hearted, but turn in and
give it a trial, even if you do fear you won't
pay expenses. Here is a card from friend
Gates, that tells the kind of a story we want
to hear:—
I will try furnishing bees to your customers, and
gmrantee safe delivery, to the amount of five
pounds per day, and am willing, in fact prefer, for
you to fix the price. I have forty-seven stands, but
part of them are blacks and hybrids. We have had
only one day so far that the index has shown a gain,
and then one pound; raining now. Please send me
word how much weight of Viallon's candy to use per
pound of bees per day to destination. I will try
some bees to you early next week. I want an im-
ported queen, if able. G. W. Gates.
Bartlett, Tenu., April 23, 1881.
As nearly as I can make out, 1 lb. of bees
will need fib. of candy about every 10 days.
I rather think you will have to give them
water in the tin A^'ater-bottles I described to
you last season. Perhaps you would do bet-
ter to have us send you by mail one of our
cages all fixed for a pound of bees, and then
you will know just how to go to work to
inake them. If you want me to set the price
of bees, mixed Italians, blacks, and hybrids,
I would say $1.60 per lb. for this month of
May.— you' to guarantee safe delivery of a
full pound of live bees, but your customers
to pay all express charges. Xow, friend G.,
if you do not rnake some money, and do a
great deal of good besides, it will be your
own fault. Boys, send him your orders.
•♦••^
GEO. GRIMM'S REPORT.
^rajUREKA! The danger is over. I again breathe
J*^]| freely, now that I know the result. And
what do you think it is? Good, beyond my ex-
pectations. I can speak now with certainty, for I
have this day completed my round ti'ip of examina-
tion. My bees were wintered in three different cel-
lars; 221 in my home cellar, and 105 each in two
other cellars, situated five and ten miles from home;
a sum total of 431 colonics. Those in my homo cel-
lar were placed on their summer stands April 16th,
and those in the outside cellars April 19th. Of those
at home, 14 were dead when I removed them from
the cellar; of the other tw^o lots, 10 and 11 were
dead respectively, making a total loss of 35 colonies
j out of 431 wintered in, or about 8J3 per cent; since
I then I have lost one and doubled up three, whicb
i makes the loss about 9^? per cent. It will not reach
218
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
May
10 per cent, as I had expected. Immccliately after
removiug them from the cellar I examined them
carefully. I found them even in better condition as
to bees than they usually are when removed from
the cellar, but having little or no brood. They have
been in the cellar Q'A months, and have consumed
from 10 to 13 lbs. of honey, according to the size of
the swarm. Those that were in good condition, and
had sufficient honey for the present I did not dis-
turb, but allovved them to clean out their own hives,
which work they have by this time nearly complet-
ed; those that were weak I transferred into clean
hives, and strengthened up with bees got from
another apiary; and those that were short up for
honey I feed sufficient to last them for several
weeks. I found several that were quccnlcss, and
supplied them with queens taken from hives that I
had counted dead, but a few of which had the queen
and about a dozen bees left. I may possibly lose
one or two more, but think not, as all the poor ones
have been well strengthened up, and brood-rearing
has generally begun. Yesterday I fed some rye
Hour, as many were short of pollen; but to-day it
was unnecessary, as they brought both honey and
pollen from soft-maple, which are just beginning to
blossom.
And now I will lake the liberty to say a few words
upon the much-discussed subject of "wintering-
bees." But hold! I forgot to state that, in my
chalT-hive apiary (consisting of one colony), I Inst
100 per cent. The question, " How can I winter my
bees successfully in both mild and severe winters? "
has lately gained in importance with a great many
readers. As far as concerns myself, I have solved
it. The thought of winter as connected with bees
has lost its dread with me. Many different theories
have been advanced, experiment after experiment
made; the novice has hastily adopted every plan
that seemed feasible, and usually abandoned it after
the first trial. Cellar wintering and chafC packing at
present lay the largest claims to success. This win-
ter has been a severe trial for both, and tested well
the soundness of their respective claims; and I be-
lieve that, for this climate, cellar wintering wears
the laurel wreath. That a great many bees were
lost in cellar this winter does not disprove the fact
that bees can be wintered there successfully every
winter. The experience of our veterans in bee cul-
ture is a better guide than the little-sought-after
and gratuitous advice of our novices. Compare the
success of masters in the profession that winter in
cellars with the success of masters in the profession
that winter by chaff packing or any other way, if
you wish to arrive at the truth. Komember this in
all cases. If you compare the success of the former
with that of the latter for the last five years you
win become convinced that bees can be wintered in
cellar with almost perfect success every winter, and
that they can not in any other known way. The
reason why so many failed is simply because all de-
tails had not properly been attended to, all condi-
tions had not been complied with. One thing more:
It has been stated that bees wintered in. cellar are
less hardy and more subject to spring dwindling
than those wintered out of doors. I dispute this;
my experience has led to no such conclusion. Im-
mediate, proper, and continued attention from the
time of their first flight to the time when they bo-
gin to work will prevent all loss in^priug. Cleaning,
gtreagtheninff, equalizing, feeding, guarding against
robbers, should be the order of the day. If this rule
is closely followed, the complaint of many bee-keep-
ers, that they lose more bees in spring than in win-
ter, will cease. Geo. Grimm.
Jefferson, "Wis., April 33, 1881.
Many tfianks, friend Grimm. Your points
are excellent, and I agree with yon, that
careful cellar wintering is, on the whole, the
safest, in the long run. I have felt anxious
to know whether you consider artificial heat,
in connection with cellar wintering, so very
important as our friend L. C Boot seems to
consider it in his book. If I gather correct-
ly from your article in our March No.. I be-
lieve you do not.
A NEW STARTER MACHINE.
HEM you published a cut of Parker's little
machine for pressing in starters it came
in my mind that it would be better to work
it by foot, and have both hands free to handle sec-
tions. I therefore made one and used it last year with
much satisfaction. I inclose a drawing of it. It is
CLARK'S STARTER JIACIIIXE.
made of 's pine, except the prcsser-block, which is
hard wood with rounded edge, which dips down f^c-
casionally into the V-shaped cut in the end of the
board which contains honey. Some small pieces of
wood are tacked on each side as guides for the sec-
tions; the horizontal piece is fastened by one screw
to the table, with the end projecting over enough to
work the lever by placing the foot on the pin at the
bottom. A 3-16 or }i inch wire is sufficient to put
through on which to hang the lever.
Sterling, 111., April 20, 1881. Norman Clark.
Many thanks, friend Clark. Your ma-
chine is quite ingenious, and where one has
a great many starters to put in. it will doubt-
less be quite an acquisition. We formerly
used a similar one, as you may remember,
for putting in whole sheets. This machine
was illustrated in one of our former volumes.
CIRCUIiARS AND PRICE LISTS RE-
CEIVED.
C. K. Ticimltt. AVhitriiove Lake, Mich., sonils us a Ipag'P cir-
cular of liives, frames, etc.
■Win. Ballantine & Son, Sa^o, 0., issue a 1-pagc circular and
price list of Italian bees.
S. D. Buell. Union City, Mich., has sent us a 12-page circular
of apiarian fixtures.
J. v. CaUlwcll, Camhridpc. III., sends out a postal circular
and price list of l)ccs and queens.
H. U. r.roun, Lidht Street. Pa , sends us a 12-page price list
of things needed in the apiai-j-.
15. S. Underhill, "Willi.amson. WayneCo., X. Y., scudsusanS-
page circular of supplies for the apiary. ^
G. M. ■Wetherbee. San Fr.ancisco, Cal., sends a neat postal
price list of bee materials .
n. A.Pike. Smithsbnrg. ^6., seii^s us a 4-page circular of
Italian queens and bees.
1881
GLEANINGS IX BEE CULTURE.
219
APIS DORSATA.
FTTHffDER FARTICDLAUS IN KEGARD TO THE " CHASE"
AFTER THE WONDERFUL BEES.
M S friend Jones" letter that accompanies
P^ friend Benton's letter is (luite inter-
— ' esting we give that also.
Friend Root : ~1 send you another very interestiug-
letter from Mr. Benton, and it seems that these
wonderful bees are creatiua- great excitement in the
bee world. I have come to the conclusion that they
may be valuable, even though we lose some of them
in winterinj? (some thing I do not anticipate). Could
we not extract the stings from the dead ones, and
sell them for toothpicks?
I will be able in your ne.xt, I hope, to give your
readers full particulars of this wonderful bee, and
all about Sir. Benton's future movements. In the
meantime, I will say that he has been instructed to
bring several hundred queens from Cyprus and Pal-
estine,—principally Holy-Land queens, and after re-
cruitiug his bees from Java,Cey Ion, and other places,
he will bring them with all his Holy-Land and Cyp-
rians by the quickest route he can to Liverpool; fly
and prepare them there, and forward them on to
me, and I will meet them when they land, and he
will return back for more and further researches.
I will give you more full particulars in fwlure, as it
appears from his last letters that he has not got
some of my instructions sent him there, but I hope
he will, as they are very important. I have cabled
him, which is very expensive. Yours faithfully,—
D. A. Jones.
Here is what Frank himself says :—
Batavia, Java, Feb. 14, 18S1.
Dear Mr. Jo?iejf:— I arrived here with hives all O.K.,
though some are weak. I will try to save them all.
I have, after much work, finally got on the right
track and on the right side of some of these Dutch
officials, and fully expect to sell the lot of hives— as
many as I can put in order— at £5 each. I thought
Ceylon a pretty hard place to accomplish any thing
in— much harder than Cyprus or Palestine; but it is
not a circumstance. There are no interpreters
here— no natives can speak English, German, or
French, and only those who have fine government
positions can speak Dutch. Having gotten hold of
some good men now, I think Iwill get help to secure
wild bees; but since they haxo, every one of them, to
be gotten from the forest, to be kunted as yet, and
then secured, I do not believe I can get a large num-
ber; but I think I shall not meet with losses on the
return. Yours in haste,— Bexton.
Bentenyoeo, Java, Feb. 15, 1881.
Friend Jonc>' :—I scribbled this note yesterday
with a pencil, but came away without mailing it in
Batavia. The matter of selling the bees is more cer-
tain now. I brought them a day or two ago to this
place by rail, and am fixing them up as best I can;
and as soon as the sale is completed will remove
them to the Government Agricultural School, which
is near the hotel where 1 am slopping. The queens
are all right, but in some hives there are but a hand-
ful of bees, and in the strongest only three combs.
They are brood rearing, and I shall keep it up by
feofling all they will take, and equalizing brood.
Then I will leave instructions about continued feed-
ing. The Government wants to make a thorough
test of the matter of introducing European bees
here. The bees Mr. Itykens took from Europe, 24
hives, nearly all died before he reached Port Said.
Five colonies in very weak condition arrived here,
and have since gone up. Mr. Rykens is now in Europe,
sick; but they expect him to return sometime. The
head of the Government Department of Agriculture
has instructei one of the officers of the Govern-
ment Agr'l School here to furnish me aid in secur-
ing some of the wild bees, opis duisata; so as soon as
I have gotten the hives 1 bought in fair shape I wiU
start out after them. I have not yet seen a bee of
this race, but have seen two combs of these bees,
which are three feet by three and a half feet, and
are IV2 in. thick where brood was reared; 20 cells,
about, to the square inch. Bees must be 7iof an inoh
long. The combs are never built horizontally— could
not be, but are perpendicularly placed on the
branches ef trees. The natives get the honey and
wax from them, although I was told this morning
by a gentleman who has been here for 50 years, that
they "sting fearfully." Of course, too much depen-
dence must not be placed upon such a statement.
Many who are not bee-keepers would say the same
of our honey-bees.
I can not now tell exactly how much money I will
have when I get back to Cyprus, for I do not know
what I must pay out yet. The very cheapest man-
agement I can adopt is still costl}-. Everj' move
made by an American or European costs " like six-
ty" here. There is no choice; the money must be
" forked over" or notlthig can be done. They bleed
everybody who comes, else he goes away without
having accomplished any thing. I hope to leave
here March 4th for Singapore, and take the steamer,
which should meet me there for Ceylon. I have
promised to arrange the boes I have left tkere, some
hives of which are now in Point de Galle, and for
which I was to be paid on their delivery in Colombo.
Then I expect to get colonies of apis dorsata there,
now that I have learned more of the matter, and
know where they are actually plentiful.
From Ceylon I will sail about INIarch the 3Tth, ar-
riving in Port Said about April 13th; then Cyprus, as
soon as possible; thereafter, where I expect to re-
ceive further iuPtructlons as to future operations.
Fr,a.nk Benton,
BOX HIVES.
wh^vt heddox says of them.
^J E VERAL years ago I proposed to run an apiary
^> on the box-hive system. Novice at once made a
' department for mo, and any other old fogies who
might still adhere to such old notions. When I made
the proposition, that if any one would purchase ray
present apiary I would commence a box-hive apiary
and would start with box hives and black bees, I
expected to soon write an explanation of the style of
box hives. What first moved me to make such a
proposition was, that I had just visited the Bingham
apiary and found tho only hive of any merit that I
had ever seen, that did not embrace the Langstroth
principle. The box hive, a» you all know, was a hive
made of frames whose ends were tight-fitting. Just
before my article abo^■e refaered to was written.
Novice called this same plan "a box hive." Well, I
thought if that was a box hive, surely a box 0 inches
deep, 24 long, and 11! 2 wide, would be also. In a box
of that kind, I proposed to put eight movable top-
bars, to which the bees would attach their combs,
220
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUllE.
May
also three or lour inches down the end of the hive.
On these bars we set our boxes (on a honey-board),
and when wo had them placed, covered all with a
eap. "When our practiced eye said, "Some thing is
wrong- with that colony," we proposed to whop it on
its back, and look to the top of the shallow concern,
and cut out or insert queen-cells if necessary. In
cases where the combs must conic out, slide our long
knife along- the ends of the hive, and sever the con-
nection, and whop it back, and remove the combs
the same as with frames. Well, for some cause or
other I did not write the description, ami visions of
old rough boards, iy4 in. thick, nailed up about 20 in.
high, with grain running up and down, were in-
dulged in by our readers all over the counti-y. The
advantages of these modern box hives were that
they were Simplicity-er, cheaper, a good thing to go
after a swarm with, much quicker manipulated
where the combs were not necessarily to come out,
and, though not such good educators, a good thing
for well-learned bee-keepers, whose business was
honey-producing on a large scale. But for reasons
that I am about to mention, I would be using them
to-day.
You will recollect that at that time comb founda-
tion was a thing of doulit among the masses, espe-
cially the practical producers. We were then testing
it, and the lots that we could get were either cheap-
ened with paraffine or ccresin, or else beautified by
l)leaching the wax. All of these compounds, when
made into fdn., were f ailiu-es. But since we have got
comb f < lundation that thf; bees draw to honey-coml)
(full brooding depth) in 24 houi-s, we need a frame to
put it in; and why? because it canuotbe used in full
sheets, with new hives (with full and large swarms),
unless wires, or some similar and more costly and
complicated device be used. We can't wire a top-
bar without a bottom-bar. We can't use the two
without end-bars, and there is the frame. Thus we
see the frame grandly fits a place it was never made
for. Very likely, had fdn. been successfully invent-
ed first, it would have suggested frames.
About black bees: I had both blacks and Italians
in my yard. The latter had nothing to boast of su-
periority. Not till I got of Mr. Oatman some of the
long- leather-colored strain, of Dadant's importation,
did I see yellow bees that were superior to the large
brown German bees that I had, all points consid-
ered, and as yet they have little to boast over these
bees. Crosses between the two strains have been
the best bees I have ever seen. Each have many
superior points, hence the controversies oi the past,
" Blacks vs. Italians," " Italians vs. Blacks." Let us
have the good traits all in one race. It is easily ours.
At that time I was using l^i-lb. sections, in which I
stuck pieces of suitable comb. Here let me say,
that the best of these pieces were not equal to the
f oimdation of to-day. I know that friend Doolittle
says, "Use these strips of comb yet;" but I say
imto you, just try fdn., properly made In full sheets,
in your sections, and you will not go back to any
other system. For three years I never let any per-
son (except some experienced bee-keeper) see fdn.
about my place. I feared it would injure the sale of
comb honey. I thought ignorance might be bliss.
Well, ojily one person out of hundreds who ate
combs made from fdn., and some poor fdn. at that,
ever said a word. We ate it, and we do still. " Fire
i!< the great purifier," and I feel right well about
chewing any beeswax that I ever saw. My hands
who work for me, visitors who oomc in to see the
wonders of the new system, are sure to be chewing
scraps of fdn. much of the time. Did you ever stop
to mechanically analyze impurity? Let us be gov-
erned by our reason and not our emotions. Savages
have more emotion and less reason, by far, than ci%--
ilized folks. You can'not turn me against any com-
modity that presents pleasant sensations, and leaves
no unpleasant reaction. Whims have cost this
world much comfort and many grand improvements.
A^•oid the whims of people, and do liy them as well
as you do by yourself, and fear not.
REPORT TO DATE.
Out of 212 colonies, nearly one-half are dead and
worthless; about one-half were packed with chaff,
and one-half with sawdust and shavings aboA-e. The
loss is greater among those packed with chaff,
though they being in another apiary it is no test of
packing, that we can be sure of. I use two styles of
boxes,— the one described in March Gleanings,
page llii, and a costly, well-painted box that incloses
the whole hi\e. The old rough boxes are ahead, but
we think the style of box not the cause. More than
nine-tenths of the rest of the colonies in this county
are dead, I think. While occasionally a man has a
majority left, I know of several owning between 50
and 100 who report, " all dead long ago;" " I am done
with bee-business," etc. In my acquaintance, not
one bee-keeper in fifty (not a specialist) has come
out even, in the l<>ng nm. Most of them fail by sup-
posing that they can get the modern income by the
ancient outlay. Some thing has not been seen to
come from nothing, since the world was made. lam
now having a big time with fdn., and will report at
some further day if desired.
If my readers will excuse the plainness of the ex-
pression, I will say, that he who says that tinned
wire for comb fdn. is not a perfect success, has
found out just that much less than I have.
James IIedixin.
Dowagiac, Mich., April 18, 1881.
BlilSS' SUN E VAPOR ATOK.
fjRIEND ROOT:-I noticed on page412,Sept.No.,
that W. S. Hart wanted to know how to con-
— ■ struct a sun evaporator. Inclosed you will
find a rough sketch of one that I made mj'self this
summer; which may be of use to him, and some of
the other bee-keeping friends.
In sketch No. 1, A is an opening two inches wide,
covered with wire cloth extending the whole length
of the tank, and the whole is covered with a narrow
roof, to keep out the rain; B is an iron rod to
hold it together; C C are posts, 3x1 in.; F is a piece
of 3x1, extending across from post to post under the
bottom, and is let into the posts VA inches, to sup-
port the weight. E E are pieces of iron bent around
the posts, and bolted to F to keep it from spreading
apart at the bottom.
1881
GLEA]S"INGS IN BEE CUETUIIE.
221
Sketch No. 2, A A A A arc window glass, B B B
are the posts; C C C are the ends of the bolts; D is
the houey-s'ate. The tank is made of two-inch
plank, and is 7 ft. long, 3 ft. wide, and 20 inches high,
all inside measure. The ends should set back from
the ends of the sides about two inches, and let into
the sides and bottom about ■'« of an inch. Thereof
should be made tight, so that it will not leak; one
side is made of boards; the other side has glass in it,
so as to let in the sun, and should face the south.
HOW TO PUT IN THE LINING.
Go to the tin-shop and buy some sheets of L C. tin,
and have the tinner turn the edges and eads for
clinching, as they do fcrronfing. Lay the bottom
out on a tloor, hammer down the clinches, and solder
all tight. Take the measure of the inside of the tank,
and then turn up the edges and ends of yourbottom
lining to that size, making it hi inch smaller all
around than the inside of your tank. Now put the
bottom lining in its place; begin on one side and
put in the rest of the lining, one sheet at a time,
clinching and soldering as you go. The lining should
be bent over the top of the tank, and nailed to the
outside with lath-nails.
The above tank ought not to cost more than $15.00,
and will hold about 3000 lbs. of honey. The whole
should lie treated to a good coat of paint.
It would be difficult to tell just how fast it would
ripen newly extracted honey; it would depend upon
the weather and how thick the honey is when ex-
tracted. If the weather is cloudy, cold, and damp,
it would not ripen the honey as rapi<Uy as it would if
it was clear, hot, and drj^ Here in L. A. Co., an
evaporator of that size would ripen (if full) rather
thin honey in about i or .5 days; it depends upon
how thin the honey is, and how thick you want it.
You can extract the honey befoi'e it is capped over,
if you have clear weather to ripen it in.
Los Angeles, Cal., Oct. 28, 1880. W. W. Bliss.
/>af6r:— I made a little change in the evaporator.
I put rods through the legs, below the tank, the
same as aliove. Tell them to paint it black, or some
o. her dark color, as it will absorb tho heat.
W. W. B.
REPORT FROM FRIEND TOWNIiEY,
THE OKIGINAL CHAFF-HIVE MAN.
™^.w^.,^ ROOT:— With the hope of inducing
fpl others to subscribe for Gleanings, I have
given away nearly all of the back numbers.
Not having them now to refer to, I am not able to
state just when I wrote to you, recommending chaff
as a winter protection to bees. Soon after its ap-
pearance in Gleanings, some of your correspond-
ents claimed "priority of invention." Now, I have
no wish to deprive any one of well-deserved "credit;"
on the contrary, I shall be most happy to divide tho
"honor" with all claimants. Present your claims,
gentlemen, but don't all speak at once. Previous
to the winter just past, I have had tho best of suc-
cess wintering bees packed in chaff; but the last
winter has been " too big a boo for the colt. " Out
of 60 colonies in my home apiary, I have lost 9 up to
date, April 18th, and about the same percentage of
loss in the one away from home.
In conclusion, you will confer a favor that will be
reciprocated in any way you may suggest, if you
will please insert, in the reading department of
Gleanings, the following advertisement:—
FOR SALE,
But not recommended, 38 chaff-packed, wintering
hives, at a price much below their actual cost.
J. H. TOWNLEV.
Tompkins, Jackson Co., Mich., Apr. IS, 1881.
Why, friend T., you do not mean to say n
out of ()0 i.s sutlicient grounds for feeling
blue, do you? Or is it that you prefer to use
the phaft in tlie original plaii we lirst started
on, without having any ))ermanently packed
chaff hives at all? Please enlighten us.
Those who have lost less than 1-3 per cent
this year belong in lleports Encouraging
department it seems to me.
GAI.l.i:P>S IDEAS ;
ON PLENTY OF STORES.
^[pjDITOROF GLEANINGS :-Our Califoniia bec-
J>[jij]| keepers complain of eastern bee journals, and
say that they contain too much about winter-
ing; that there is no trouble about wintering here,
etc. The great trouble here is, al)out cari-ying our
bees through a dry summer. My impression is still
strong, that they can be carried through every sea-
son here with perfect success, but not with the pol-
icy that some pur.sue. Boos should not be robbed
here of all their stores in the fall, any more than in
tho East. Stocks that were left full of stores last
July are now full of brood and bees, while stocks
that were rolibed of their stores lato in the season
are now comparatively doing nothing, while their
near neighbors' bees are doing nicely. It requires
good management here in California in order to lie
successful, as well as it requires skill and manage-
ment in the East. True, bees will winter here suc-
cessfully on a very small supply of honey; but in
order to be successful, they must either bo strongly
stimulated, or they must have a large amount of
stores to fall back on. They can gather pollen in
some localities the entire year. By the way, I know
of a splendid locaJity for raising bees and queens,
and thoy could be kept perfectly pure; but the qual-
ity of honey would not bo good for market, and 1 do
not know tho quantity that would bo stored, but
they could be bred at all seasons. Some good relia-
blo queen-breeder ought to occupy that locality.
Well, Mr. Editor, you see I am off tho track, as sure
as fate. A good two-story Langstroth or Simplicity,
well filled with stores and bees, will be self-support-
ing, even in a California dry year, and they will
yield their owner from 100 to 300 lbs. of honey in a
good season, and ha\-e their hive well stored with
honey for the dry season, if it should come; and if
it does not come, the surplus honey can easily be
taken out in the spring. Do not rob your bees too
closely, e^en in California.
GLEANINGS IN I3EE CULTURE.
Mat
GALLUP'S PLAN OP INTRODUCING QUEENS.
The reailcrs of Gleanings, or at least quite a num-
ber of them, know that I have had quite a large
practical experience with bees, and now I am going-
to toll them how I introduce a valuable queen when
I want to bo certain of success, and without a proba-
bility of failure. It is a well-known fact to practical
bee-keepors, that at certain seasons of the year we
can introduce with ease by various processes, and
then again we will fail. Now, it is the old bees that
play the mischief, and not the yuungones. We once
in a while find a colony that will not accept a strange
queen on any conditions. Now, when I receive an
imported queen, or any valuable queen that I wish
to be certain about, I go to any populous stock and
take out one card of sealed and hatching bees, to-
gether with the adhering bees. Then go to another
and do the same until I have three or more cards or
combs (be sure not to get the queen from any of
those stocks), place them in a new hive and on a
new stand, and you have a stock prepared to re-
ceive your new queen. By mixing bees from sev-
eral hives, they discover their queenlessness at once ;
and by allowing the queen to be caged 24 hours in
your prepared stock, or until your old bees are all
gone back to their parent stocks, which they will do
the first fair day, liien there are none but young
bees left. Liberate your queen, and build up to a
full stock by giving sealed brood as fast as required.
Of course we use a division board in the new or pre-
pared stock until filled up. In 40 years' practical
experience I have never once failed by the above
process. We introduced the imported queen we got
last fall, by the above process, and wintered her on
4 cards, and built up this spring to a full colony.
E. Gallup.
Santa Paula, Ventura Co., Cal., April 4, 1881.
We like your ideas of plenty of stores first
rate, friend (t.; but after having given the
plan of mixing bees to get a place for intro-
ducing queens a pretty thorough trial, v:e
have decided rather in favor of nuclei con-
taining bees from only one hive. The re-
sult was rather contrary to my previous
opinions, I must confess."
^■•■1
POINTS OF DIFFERENCE BETVVEEN
BLACK AND ITALIAN BEES.
[Continved from page 166.]
flHE Macks are more ready than the Italians to
work in surplus-honey receptacles not closely
' ■ connetted with, the main hive. My shallow
cbamber between the tops of the frames and the
honey-board, which admitted the bees and the heat
of the hive so freely into the supers, was a great
Buccoss with the blacks. When the hive was crowd-
ed, and the honey harvest good, they so filled the su-
pers that the newly forming eomb could seldom be
seen, except when the bees were taking their after-
noon playspell; and if the honey-board was left off
they began their new work at the top of the \ippor
cover. The Italians, however, as though distrust-
ing the safety of storing elsewhere, are reluctant to
begin comb-building, except in close connection
with their brood-nest. Supers placed on the shallow
chamber are often neglected, even when supplied
with combs, while they so overfill the combs below as
to check greatly the proper increase of bees. If the
boney-board is removed they usually begin to build
from the tops of the frames, extending their tombs
upivard, even when their weight eauscs them to
bend more or less before thej' can be attached to
the top.* I was finally compelled to dispense with
the shallow chamber for Italians.l-
5. Tlic comb honey made hy the Macks from any
li'jht-colored supplies is usually more attractive than
that stored from the same sources hy Italians. This
is owing to the former leaving a larger air-spaco
than the latter between the cappings and the sealed
honey.1;
6. With a queen of the current year, the blacks will
hardly ever swarm, while, long after the usual swarni-
ing season, young Italian que»ns will often lead off
swarms.
v. " Black bees are much more sensibly affected by th»
loss of their queen than the Italians. The almost
frantic agitation which usually follows the removal
of a queen from a black stock, is well known. Re-
moving large numbers of queens for sale during the
working season, from Italian colonies, such agita-
tion was the exception instead of the rule. In most
cases the only special sign that the bees missed
them was the building of queen-cells. This greater
attachment of the blacks to their queen is in some
cases a loss, as they seldom attempt to supersede an
old or inferior queen, and are thus much more liable
to become queenless than the Italians, who do not
hesitate to take timely measures to replace a queen
whose fertility is much below par.§ A careful ob-
server has given, in the French Bee Journal, satis-
factory proof of the numerous losses resulting from
the death of aged black queens. It is probablj' the
fact, however, that more bees are lost in winter in
Italian than in black stocks, oven if more entire col-
onies of the former than of the latter do not perish
— the strange attachment of the blacks to their
queen inducing them to cluster more compactly, in
order to be nearer to hor.
8. In biiildinr/, an Italian swarm seldom begins as
many combs as the blacks, and therefore toorlcs them
more compacthj, squaring them out, as it were, as they
proceed.W
9. Black bees mill readily build, between guide-
frames, worker combs, tohile it is very difficult to get
any satisfactory result in this line from Italians.
They will abandon the hive over and over again, or
sulk for days doing next to nothing, as though they
were conscious that, in the combs thus unnaturally
separated, they could not prosper, ignorant, of
course, that the separators would eventually bo re-
moved.
10. The Italians, both young and old, adhere with
much tenacity to their combs when they are lifted from
the hive, while the blacks, more especially those neicly
- Thov sometimes'build a number of small eoiubs in the shape
of buttresses, to keep their main work in proper position until
they can reach to the top.
+ If the supers rest upon the tops of the frames, nn<l have no
bottoms, and the guide combs, or ' ' starters, ' ' are fastened to
the tops of the frames ofthe lower hiveand near oue of the up-
rights of the supers, the Italians will readily till them by extend-
in)? their combs upward. If bottoms ai-e used, they should be very
thin, and the stai-ters should be low down, and attached to one
of the upritrhts. Instead of swarminpr uj) into the supers like
blacks, so tew enter them that the whole process of comb-buUd-
ing can easily be seen.
t Mr. W. W. Gary .showed mo combs of sealed honey made by
the Ei^jTitian bees, which looked very much like honey whieli
had ' ' sweated, ' ' from being kept in a dami) place
§It is only since the introduction of the Italians that it has be-
come such a common occurrence to And two laying queens in
the same hive, usually the failing mother and the vigorous
daughter.
II Jlr. Cary found that the Egyptians, in extending their combs
downw.ard, built tluni almost a» sijuaieat the bottom as though
they laid off their work by a carpeater's rule.
1881
GLEANII^.GS IN BEE CULTUEE.
223
hatched, ttiwhle off so readily as to annoy the operator
by crawling up his clothes, or exposing themselves to be
trodden upon."
11. When the hive is oldened, the Italian queen and
workers are disposed to remain quiet, and ivhcn the
frames are lifted out, the tcorkers spread themselces
over the combs. For this reason, as also from their
bright colors, Italian queens are readilj' found,
while the blaclcs, both queens and workers, often
fairly race olf the combs, and that greatly increases
the diflSculty of many important operations.
12. Under adverse circumstances, the Macl:s arc far
more easily discouraged than the Italians. I soon
learned this to my cost, when I was obliged to use
black bees in making nuclei for rearing Italian
queens. If any thing occurred to dishearten them,
often without any apparent reason, their nuclei
would swarm out and decamp with their queens— a
thing which, with proper care, seldom happened
, When 1 was able to make all of them of Italian only.
' , 13. TIte Italians will, in some seasons, from the
second crop of red clover, hiiild new combs and store
them ivith honey, ivhcnlilaek stoc}(S,inthc sameapiary,
are losinij weiyht.**
14. Italians suffer little, compared with the blacks,
from the ravages of the hec moth. After Italianizing
my apiary, it was often difficult to find a single worm
in a large number of stocks, while, if a black stock
was brought to me, I could count, with almost abso-
lute certainty, on finding a number. The much
greater number of holes in the comb of the blacks
than in that of the Italians shows plainly how much
more the former suffer from the larvaj of the moth.
When the blacks become hopelessly queenless, they
seldom offer any opposition to the moth, while the
verj- opposite is the case with the Italians. Before
their introduction into our apiaries, the moth was
the great bugbear of our bee-keepers— as witness
the multitudes of patent moth-proof (!) hives.
15. Italians are far less lihely than the blacks, to roh
or he rohhed. Those who have kept only Italians,
can form but a faint idea of the incessant vif^ilance
required, during the whole working season, to pre-
vent robbing among black bees. Even when forage
is abundant, much o-reater caution is necessary in
manipulating with black than with Italian bees.
When I had only a few black stocks and a large niim-
ber of Italian, nearly every bee that attempted to
rob when the hives were opened during a good yield
of honey, was a black bee, and drone combs set out
in the open air to be emptied of honey by the bees,
would be almost exclusively visited by them. Black
bees, when vigorously attacked, unless very strong,
are apt to lose heart and give up the contest under
circumstances in which, even if their honey is stolen
from them, the Italians will persist in fighting and
killing, until often only a handful are left.
16. Tlir Italians, by their superior energy and great-
er length of proboscis, ivill, on an average of seasons,
gather inuch larger stores of honey than the blacks.
When honey superabounds, the blacks do well
enough; but when it is scarce, and can be got only
by luiusual energy, then the superiority of the Ital-
ians is very manifest.
•^Until I i-oad Mr. Benton's intevpsting statements in Kind's
Kee-keepei"s Magazine for April, us to the superiority uf t\n-
('J))ricns, I feared tliat if , like the blacks, they could f>c easily
sliaken off from their combs, thev might reseuible them also lii
their falling propensity.
*'In unusually guod honey rears, the blosjsoms of thefirst crop
of red clover are so surcharged in the sweets, and bees can ob
tain It so easily, that they pay little attention to \yhite clover.
In expressing the opinion, that the Cyprians unite
the best qualities of the blacks and Italians, I do not
speak from any personal experience with them, but
rely largely on the testimony of exports, both in
Europe and America. M. Cori and CountKrakouski,
after having, for over twenty years, sought out the
best varieties, and who seem to have tested more
kinds than any other apiarians, have at last settled
down upon the Cyprians as greatly superior to any
yet tried (See British lice Jo?<j-)iaJ, Vol. 8, p. 10), while
oiu- own Frank Benton, after rmequalcd facilities
for arriving at the truth, belie\es the Cyprians to be
a pure race, and a much better one than the Italian.
If I had an apiary of Italian bees, I should Cyprian-
izo them with no more expectation of regretting it
than I had when I discarded the blacks.
Oxford, Ohio, April 21, 1S81. L. L. Langstroth.
I am happy to add. that my experience
corroborates ahiiost, if not quite, every point
friend L. has made ; and inasmuch as this
paper is the most exhaustive article we have
ever had on the comparative differences of
the two races of bees, giving minutely the
queer points and peculiarities of each, I feel
like, for one, tendering our old teacher a
vote of thanks. All in favor of such an ex-
pression say — ay!
OE HONEY PLANTS TO BE NAMED.
HONEY FROM SKUNK CABBAGE, AS A MEDICINE.
fN March Gleanings, Mr. W. E. Me Willi asks If
you know an y thing about skimk cabbage (Sym-
' plocarpus foctida.) If j'ou will refer to the U. S.
Dispensatory you will find a full historj- of it, and
that it is a doctor's roof, used as an anti-spasmodic
and expectorant, and why is not the honey made
from it a good cough syrup? E. R. Douglass.
Martinsburg, Mo., March 30, 1881.
WILLOW, ORNAMENT.U..
I send you by to-day's mail some cuttings that
beat anything for pollen for bees I ever saw. If you
will plant or stick them in some damp ground they
will grow just like willow cuttings. Please give
name. Spring is one mouth behind time.
Smithsburg, Md., Apr. 18, 1881. D. A. Pike.
"Why, friend P., they certainly are willow,
I should say, but they are more beautiful,
with their great-sized blossoms and varie-
gated colors (plumage, it seems to me, it
ought to be called), than any thing I have
ever before seen or heard of, in the shape of
a Avillow. We will plant a part of them, and
send the rest to Prof. Beal.
I FEEL that I shall do you a kindness in recom-
mending, especially among our 5-cent books, two
particular ones. They are "Sheer Off," and " Silver
Keys," both written by A. L. O. E. Althovigh both
are stories, the Christian precepts are most excel-
lent and helpful, and my wife and I both broke forth
in exclamations of surprise while reading them, to
find that any writer couZd come into our own Uvea
with so much helpful counsel.
224
GLEAivINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
May
^VIRIING FRAMES.
A WAY TO DO IT WITHOUT MAI'IIINERY.
MERE is my way of wiring frames. Take a piece
of ^A board 3 feet long by 9U inrhes wide,
and on it place another piece 5-16 thick, and
perfectly square, that will Just lit inside of frames,
and lined as in diagram, and fastened with four
small screws. This board should be hollowed on
\
V /
/
bottom edge 1-16 in. with a true sweep from corner
to corner, so the bottom of frame, in wiring, may
spring up to the board. Now for the operalinn, the
board being ready (understand, my frames are all
made without being piuiehed:) Taki; this board
across jour knees, place the frame upon it, swing
your button on, to hold the frame on to board; have
a small awl, and make holes right where lines <m
board come to frame; then "cant" up your board
and drive a six-oz. tack about half way in to center
of bottom of frame; measure off your wire, 7 ft. 3
in.; take hold of the two ends, and slant from top-
bar, through the two center-holes, down through
bottom-bar, back up through, and bring ynur diag-
onals down through bottom : draw tight, and take a
turn or two around the tack with each end, and drive
the tack in, leaving it sticking through. Place the
bottom of your tin bar over the point of the tack,
and spring in top swing of your buttons, and you
have a perfect frame, and I can wire one every S'i
minutes. I send this for the benefit of beginners.
You will see, by springing in the bar, that it will
press the bottom of frame back on a straight line.
I punch the two center-holes in top under the guide-
bar, next two over, and ends under, passing diag-
onally over one and under the other, bringing them
down to the tack. L. S. Smith.
Cherryfield, Me., Apr. If, 1881.
Many thanks, friend Smith. Although
your plan of l)oring the holes by hand seems
a little ]al)orious, if you can do a frame every
2^ minutes, you do pretty well. The uay
we manage here to get the wire just the
right length, we take a thin hoard, just i-
the length wanted, and sharpen both ends.
Cover these ends with folded tin so tlie wire
Avill not cut into it, and then wind the wire
from a pair of swifts over the board. When
all on, cut the folds at one end, and you have
exactly the length, and a bend right where
the middle comes. This enables you to draw
it through right. Girls about a dozen years
old put the wires in with a frame quite sim-
ilar to yours. We pay them SUc per hundred
frames, and they can do a hundred in a day
without working hard.
Neiohuor jAQUiTH,of New Portage, bought of us,
July 21st, 1 lb. of bees and queen, which he put at
once on empty combs, without any brood, and he
says now, April Vth, that they are a good swarm. Of
course, they were fed, the season being poor; but
they had no other help. This answers partly the
question that has been asked so many times, as to
what 1 lb. of bees and queen will do, in a hive tilled
with combs.
|^^oj% §n§cumgmg.
^ AST fall I packed in chaff 03 swarms, and have
Jlyjl now 57; wintered a few on 3 combs. Many
here have lost all their bees. Fiiend Townley
(I believe he is the man) has placed allot us under
obligations for having introduced chatf as a protec-
tion for bees. The bee-keepers of America should
present him with a medal or a handsome sum in
cash. J. A. Newton, M.D.
Boonville, Ind., April 10, 1881.
I think a>)OUt half of the bees in this part
of the State are dead. I wintered in the cellar,
and had unusual success. Out of 90 stocks, Cyp-
rians, I lost onlj' 3 (one was queenless, and
one starved.) In an experience of some 10
years, I never had my bees conic through so well be-
fore. Give me a good cellar for a winter such as
this. For early and late breeding, give me the Cyp-
rians. I. B. R. Sheurick.
Mt. Zion, Macon Co., 111., April 15, 1881.
In consideration of the multitude of gloomy re-
ports, we would add another cheering one to ours of
an earlier date. We have a small apiary of 8 stands
of blacks, about 0 miles in the country; 3 chaff, i L.
and 3 old box hives, all of which are in splendid or-
der, and are to-day testing the new candy you sent us
last week. They.were warmly tucked up under 4-
inch chaff cushions, but had no other protection or
care; were out on their summer stands.
Cleveland, O., March 31, 1881. A. C. Kendkl.
I put 155 in a cellar, or bee-cave, on the loth of No-
vember, and have just finished taking them out to-
day, the 1.5th of April, live mouths, or 151 days, with-
out a fly, and all are alive and kicking. Have not
lost one so far. Some few had dysentery. One of
these were Italians; about 30 were hybrids; the rest
were blacks. Now how will this jibe with friend E.
A. Morgan's report in last Gleanings? he says, "If
you must winter in cellars, put none in but pure
Italians." I merely refer to this to show that black
bees can be wintered in cellar as well as Italian.
Quite a large number of bees have died in this coun-
ty, as we have had a terrible winter. There is still
lots of snow on the north hill-sides yet.
ROBT. QuiNN.
Shellsburg, Benton Co., Iowa, April 15, 1881.
Or liCtters from Those "IVlio Iiave MficIo
Bee Culture a Failure.
(^ITAKTED. into winter-quarters with
^jj) about 140 stocks, in chaff hives, well
protected, but pretty weak in bees.
During the Avinter and spring, the queens
Avere sold out of perhaps 20 of them, and the
bees were put Avith otliers. To-day, April 22,
I have 12 hives with bees in them. Three of
the 12 are gathering pollen fairly, but the
other 9 will pull tlirough, only Avith the A'ery
best kind of weather and care. The cause
of the loss, so far as I can tell, is, hrst, too
few bees ; second, that the combs were
liandled and mixed during the process of
uniting after queen-rearing, so that the bees
1881
GLEANII^GS m BEE CULTUEE.
225
had no chance to build and ^yax up in old
tough comLs before the approach of cold
weather, as they usually do ; third, the long
Avinter, which gave them no aood opportuni-
ty to fly, for a period of nearly G months. I
am not (^uite sure in my convictions,
from the fact that others lost heavily, who
complied, so far as I can tell, with the lirst
of the above conditions, and also that some
wintered well whose bees were in as bad
shape, or nearly so, as mine. Another thing,
I do not know why those three fair colonies
came out better than almost a hundred
others.
The above report is from myself, A. I.
Eoot, Editor of Gleanixgs.
P. S.— I should feel agreat deal" badder,''
but there are so many other sufferers in the
" same boat,'' that, some way, in one sense,
I rather rejoice at being among you, espec-
ially if my presence will in any way " en-
liven the gloom "' that seems to hover over
the greater part of the bee-keepers of our
land.
P. S. No. 2.— I just want to say, that, with
God's help, I don't mean to be here another
spring. How is it with the rest of you,ljoysV
I have fought bravely and long against the— what
1 am now persuaded— inevitable; but I was forced
to succumb at last, and came with feelings of indig-
nation and chagrin to the inhospitable door of Blast-
ed Hopes. I knocked; the door was opened with
alacrity. I stepped within : I saw enthroned upon a
throne built up of ruined homes and lives, of shat-
tered purposes and plans, of blighted prospects and
expectations, a monster in looks and attitude —
Blatitcd Hiypcs ! Why are so many bright hopes and
anticipations born within us, only to be crushed and
trodden to death by this fiend?
In the summer of 1878 I was seduced, by tlattering
accounts published in your journal and other papers
to embark in the bee-kecpiug- business. I bought
six colonies of bees, in Langstroth hives, and win-
tered them successfully that winter, but did not get
any surplus honey. The
next winter was much the
same, and last summer was
worse than any previous
year, so that I had to feed
as late in the fall as the
'^'^ weather would permit.
When the first line day
of spring came this year I
went forth with buoyant
spirits to examine my
stock. I opened a hive ; not
a live bee in it. 1 went to
the next; it was in like con-
dition . My heart began to
Ei' smite within me. I went
Hf down the whole length of
my apiary with like result,
llp^ and, coming to the last, I
• sank down upon a box,
=^ overcome by despair. I
send you a sketch of my-
selt at this point of affairs,
times, and is the only thing that can stop the fast-
flowing tears of despair. R. W. Rudney.
Dayton, Ohio, April 4, 1881.
PECULIAKLY AGGRAVATING.
About five-sixths of the bees here died this winter.
I had 7, and 5 died; and one of the others came out
and united with the other, and then they killed both
queens. That leaves me queenlcss.
Noah Milleu.
Bradford, Miami Co., Ohio, April 14, 1881.
I do not think you will get to buy many bees in
this section of the State, unless they be the dead
ones, for there are more of that kind than the other;
but I suppose, you have enough of that class in Ohio,
though I hope they are not so plentiful as they are
around here. David C. Smith.
Lewisville, Henry Co., Ind., March 2*i, 1881.
Bad luck to me in wintering! My bees lost 70 out
of 88, with prospect of losing more if cold weather
continues much longer. The last six weeks has been
death to them. I have lost over 50 within that time.
Chaules E. Glaziek.
Adams Center, Jetferson Co., N. Y., April 9, 1881.
I know how it is, friend Charley. " I've
beenthar."
" Busted " again ! One stand of bees left out of 2:1
in fall. That makes 136 colonies in 3 winters. Now,
you fellows who are taking the bee fever, just take
a look at my apiary; 100 little cedars, set of hives,
frames, boxes lying around ; dead bees, bare ground,
piles of snow and ice, 3 feet deep. The linden har-
vest last season lasted 3 or 4 days all told, and that
was the best of the year. No swarm of bees here
could make enough to last over winter. I fed over
300 lbs. in frames last summer. Heaviest snowstorm
of the season fell on the 19th. J. E. Jarrett.
West Point, Iowa, March 17, 1881.
blasted hopes.
taken by my little daughter, who happened to be
looking out of the window. Do not frown when you
see the pipe; it gives me great comfort at such
Never before, in the recollection of our old bee-
keepers, has there been a winter so detrimental to
our industrious little pets. There have been sea-
sons when the useful insects were few in number,
but never, previous to this date, have bees been so
nearly extinct as now in this vicinity. Last fall no
less than 3C0 colonies of the little follows decorated
and made happy the homes of our neighbors; but at
present about 293 colonies are no more. Apiarists
gave but little attention to the little honey-gatherers
last fall. Out of 30 good colonies, I have but one
feeble colony remaining to mourn the loss of their
deceased neighbors. E. J. Hinshaw.
Lynn, Ind., April 1, 1881.
After thinking I was doing a nice thing by feeding
up my weaker stocks of bees last fall for winter,
this spring's examination revealed the fact, that my
18 stocks were all dead but one. Your cartoon for
April represents me very correctly, meditating what
I should do with hives, besides some 35 new hives
over, not used, mostly filled in top story with sec-
tions, foundation starters, and tin separators. Truly
these are blasted hopes. The winter was so long
continued and cold, without any warm days for them
to fly, I feared the result. My bees ware all common
blacks, and I thinli I shall try again with Italians. I
should have said, however, that the bees were most-
ly short of stores. Horace Kingsbury.
Lockport, Niagara Co., N. Y., April 15, 1881.
226
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
May
SUCCESSFri-i CE1.1.AR WINTEKIXG.
fijP TAKE this moment to fulfill my pledge to re-
Jjl port my success in wintering my bees; and I
do it very cheerfully, for the great desidera-
tum ill bee culture is wintering, and we are all anx-
ious (I suppose) to adopt the best methods. You
may recollect that at my last report I had 138 liives in
cellar, 9 lli-story box hives, and 129 imp. Simplicities.
I put them in about the 15th of November, and took
thoin out April 15th. I have handled them all over
this week. I find one box hive with bees all dead;
they died in January of dysentery. Two Simplici-
ties had no queens, and the bees all left them at the
first fly, and went into the other hives. In one other
hive I found no brood nor queen, but about 4 quarts
of boes. All the others, 125 Simplicities, have brood
in all stages, and plenty of eggs. The 8 box hives
seem strong, and that is all I know of them ; 4 of the
125 were so weak in bees that I put in division-
boards to help them keep warm; and 10, which had
plenty of bees, were so light in stores that I gave
theiu one card each of sealed basswood or clover,
and should have given more, but there were eggs or
brood in nearly all the combs, and it was difficult to
make room for it Avithout taking out brood, eggs, or
honey. The rest, 111, are all very heavy, and full of
bees; nearlyor quite one-half of them are literally
full of bees, so that they lay out when the sun shines
on them. I think there are more bees to-day than
there was when I put them in the cellar. This, I
think, is better than last year. To guide or help
those who may adopt cellar wintering, I will again
describe my cellar. It is 16 by 26 inside measure,
7 feet high, in dry sandy soil, the bottom paved with
pounded stone. A 4-inch tin pipe goes from cellar
to a very tall chimney, which receives the pipe from
a large sub-burning stove, in which there was tire
kept, day and night, while the bees were in the cel-
lar; and a 4-inch pipe enters one cellar window at
opposite ead from chimney, and turns down by
elbow terminating near the cellar bottom. But this
was not enough ingress, and I had to open an out-
side door many of the nights. The pipes, both from
stove and cellar, arc made very tight so as to admit
no air to the chimney, but from the cellar when the
stove-dampers are closed.
If my memox-y serves me, you said you would give
one insertion of bees for sale by the pound. (That
is just like you, to advertise gratis when it is to cut
off your own business, just because it will help some
poor fellow who has lost his bees.) If I am correct,
you may say to the friends that I will supply bees by
the pound at your rates, to the extent of 10 bushels
or so, and will put in queens when I have them, for
50 cents each (mind, they are blacks and hybrids
raised from Italian drones), but they are large,
healthy, and enterprising bees— a good strain of
workers or honey-gatherers. H. V. Train.
Mauston, Wis., April 31, 1881.
Many thanks, friend T., but I think your
ten bushels of bees will be gone quickly, as
soon as the friends ^et this journal. You
give me more credit than I deserve ; it was
partly because it was next to impossible for
me to fill the orders, that made me give this
offer. Your offer of putting in queens, oven
blacks, is very liberal, and will doubtless
prove a great hel]) to many who are anxious
to get bees on their combs. I think I shall
have to build a cellar like yours, or similar.
ENCOUR AGIXG REPORTS AlVD BliASTED
HOPES
BOTH IN THE SAME LETTEU.
f THOUGHT I would write a few lines to you and
let you know how we poor (?) bee-keepers in
"^" this section of the country have made out this
cold winter which has just passed. It has been a
very bad winter for the most of the bee-keeping fra-
ternity: but as for myself and a few of my neigh-
bors, we have no reason to complain so far. A few
of us here wore wise enough to put our bees in a
good cellar built for the purpose (well ventilated),
and have been very successful with them; and, by
the waj', I am inclined to think it the best way.
There were four of us who put our bees in one cel-
lar, and I will now give you the number of colonies
put in this cellar, and the amount of losses, which
we consider very light:—
A. Jennings 146 lost 5
W. Turner 30 " 0
C.S.Lobdell 35 " 1
G.S. Merritt 18 " 1
Total 229 7
Another neighbor, Mr. C. S. Hand, put in his cel-
lar 74 colonies, and lost only 3. We think this a pret-
ty good report, and we don't any of us feel like be-
ing put in Blasted Hopes. Our bees are all doing
finelj" at present, tilling from five to eight spaces in
hive with bees.
I will now give you a different list, although we
do not feel like bragging over them, for some time
we may have bad luck as well as they, and we would
not like to have them brag over us when we have
bad luck:—
W. Makely, in cellar 300 col., lost CO
H.Gould, outdoors 185 " " 185
J.Snyder, " 70 " " 70
E.Snyder, " 100 " " 100
E.&G.Snyder, " 15 " " 15
J.H.Lamb, " 15 " " 15
Z. Lockwood, " 55 " " .55
H. Kelley, " 13 " " 10
J. M. Hannay " 15 " " 15
Total 608 525
All of these were within a circuit of about three
miles of me, ia different directions, and there is a
number from whom I have not heard any thing. If
you consider this report worth putting in Glean-
ings you can do so; and, bj' strict attention to bus-
iness, we hope to be able to give a good report next
fall. By the way, I think that Gle.\.nings is one of
the most interesting papers I ever read. I would
also Siiy, if any dealer in apiarian supplies or queens
who happens to read this will send me his catalogue
and price list, it may be some benefit to them some
time. C. S. Lobdell.
South Waterloo, N. Y., April 20, 1881.
Some kind friend has sent us a copy of the Sagi-
naw (Mich.) Moniinfj Herald, detailing the losses of
the bee-lvcepers of Flint and Parwell counties. The
reporter states that, out of 1359 colonies, but 433 are
alive. O. J. Hetherington lost 349 out of 250. Dr. L.
Whiting lost 50 out of 90, while the Wilkin sisters, of
Farwell, Clare Co., lost only 2 out of 50, and came out
ahead by a long way of any of the old veterans in
the vicinity. It may not be fully demonstrated that
women are equal to the task of handling the reins
of government, even should they want to do so; but
I think it Is pretty certain they can manage bees-
ay, and liecp them, about as well as men can.
ISSl
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
TIN CANS FOR RETA1I.ING HONEY.
WT seems to me that tin is, without qnes-
III tion, destined to be the material to hold
— ' the great bulk of our extracted honey.
All of our canned fruits are sold in tin, al-
most to the exclusion of glass, and it would
seem as if the reasons for so putting the
fruit on the market would equally well apply
to lioney. The Dadant pails, or a pail with
a cover! are without question the best thing
for retailing lioney in places near to your api-
ary; but ill no way that I can see are they
adapted to shipping honey long distances. I
regret this, for the idea of having a ))ail that
Avill be worth all it costs, after the honey is
used out, is a very ini])()rtant one indeed;
but I can see no ])racticable way by which we
(jan solder a pail up tight, as it "must be to
hold honey safelj', and then get the lid off
without marring it, after it is in the hands
of the consumer. It is true, we might solder
a very tlnn cover of tagger's tin over the top
of the pail, just under the cover proper, but
to unsolder this, or cut it out, without leav-
ing sharp and dangerous, to say nothing of
unsightly, edges, is a matter not easily man-
aged. (Jf course, a tinsmith might do it;
but to devise means or tools by "which the
average housekeeper could do it is another
question.
Well, suppose we drop this idea, at least
for the present. What kind of packages
shall we use for soldering up honey as they
do fruity Our friends in California have de-
cidedpretty unanimously, I think, on at least
two staple sizes— fifty-lb. cans for honey in
bulk, and 2-lb. cans for honey for retail-
ing directly to the consumer. The 50-1 b.
cans, or at least those sent us by friend Wil-
kin, are made 9i inches square,' by 13i deep.
I presume this square form is chosen be-
cause two of them can be cheaply crated in
a strong-box, making a secure lOU-lb. pack-
age. The plan of making these cans is ex-
tremely simple. Take 4 sheets of tin, of such
size that, when i inch is fc^lded on each of
the foursides of each, they will measure just
9jxl3i. Now, these folds" are not to be clear
over, nor are they to be a right-angled fold,
but only at an angle of about 4-3 degrees. In
other words, a miter angle, such as we see
on a picture-frame. In fact, we will put the
four sheets tog<4her (their longest edges to-
gether), like a picture-frame, and solder them
so as to make a tall square can, without top
or bottom. The top and bottom, made in
the same way, 9i square, are now dropped in
and soldered! This makes a strong can, and
very smooth looking, on the outside ; but on
the inside these folded edges are all sticking
in toward the center. Such cans can be
made with very few tools, and by one who is
not a practical tinsmith. To get the honey
out, we have only to punch a hole in one
corner ; Avith a smaller hole for a vent, in
the opposite corner of the same end. we can
pour it out as readily as we would pour from
a pitcher. Three sheets of tin, 14 by 20,
make the Whole, with some to spare. I pre-
sume a fair price for such oO-lb. cans would
be about 50c. , or perhaps 40c. by the hun-
dred.
Now. the other popular can, the 2-lb. one.
is of course made round, to save labor and
material. The most economical shape for a
honey-can, as well as for a hive for bees,
would be a sphere ; but as that is out of the
question, we take a cylinder as the next best
form. I fear many of the can manufacturers
have not hgured well on the best proportion
for these cylinders. I mean the proportion
the height'should bear to the diameter. I'er-
haps we should use the tin to best advantage
if we had the height and diameter about
equal ; but we find, in cutting tin, that the
circles for tops and bottoms waste largely,
while the piece for the sides can be got out
so as to use almost every i)article of the sheet.
Now, while friend Wi'lkins' 2-lb. can holds
exactly the same as mine (about a i)int and
a half"), his is ii in diameter, and 8 inches
high, while mine is .3+ in diameter, by 4 high.
Mine is about the proportion of an "ordinary
2-lb. fruit-can. There may Ije a reason for
making cans so large arouiid ; but if there is,
it is unknown to me. Of course, we must
have a hole left in the top of the can, to pour
in the honey. We make this in all the covers,
with a H-inch punch. A two-inch punch
Avill then cut a cap to just cover it. We (ill
these cans rapidly, by selting them in a large
tin pan. and fixing this just at the proper
height under the gate of an extractor can.
To make the honey run rapidly. Ave warm it
until one can just be.ir his hand on the can.
This will make it flow fast, and it is much
easier to stop when the can is just full. Not
a particle is allowed to get on the "cover, or
the solder will not stick. A hole must be
pricked in the cap before soldering, or the
steam Avould interfere Avith a perfect joint.
After the cover is Avell soldered, a little sol-
der is dropped into this liole. The cans are
now labeled, and then are ready to be packed
into boxes, two dozen in a box. For the
sake of keeping the labels clean and bright,
AA'e use new clean sawdust. Thurber's price
for choice honey put up in this Avay is 8S.00
lier case of tAVo dozen boxes. This Avould be
o3ic. per can, as the cost to the retailer. At
this price, he could not well sell it for less
than 40c. Our price is, for the best honey
we can get, S6.00 ]ier case, and Ave retail it
for 28c. ])er can. Where one has freight to
pay on it, it Avould have to be sold for 30 or
3oc. Honey soldered up in this A\-ay is clean
to handle, and AAill keep in good condition
for a hundred years.
TRIGONA, OR BRAZI1.IAN STINGLESS
IIONEir-BKE!!^.
{Continued from page IGT.)
^p] HERE are about fifty species belonging- to the
Jl"' genus Trigona described, and thirty of the
— ' genus Mclipona; these insects are the sting-
less honey-bees of South America; there are also as
many in Mexico, and they are found in India, Africa,
Australia, and the islands of the Eastern Archipela-
go. A few of these are black, but the majority are
of different shades of yellow or reddish brown. The
Trigona vary in length from about two to four lines_
Their wings are longer than the abdomen; the stig-
ma is distinct, with its inferior margin rounded; the
abdomen is short, somewhat triangular, compressed
beneath, and forming a corona, or sharp edge, down ■
2f^8
GLEAJflNGS IN BEE CULTURE.
May
tho center; the mandibles are serrated, denticulate,
•r sometimes edentate.
The form of the palpi differs considerably in the
various species; in some, the two elongate basal
joints of the labial palpi are narrow, and only slight-
ly widened at their base; others are more widened
at the base, and have also a broad, thin, semi-t):ans-
parent, llattened margin. The tongue also varies
g-reatly in its relative proportion to the labial palpi,
being longer or shorter in different species.
The arrangement of their brood-cells resembles
those of wasps — horizontal combs and vertical cells
at one side of the comb only. These are about one
and a half inches in diameter, and used for brood
only. The honey-pots in the nest belonging to me
are from three-eighths to half an inch diameter, and
are coated with resin, with an opening at the en-
trance large enough so that oTily one bee can pass
through at a time; these pots are filled with pollen
and honey. Some of the Tritjona construct their
nests in the hollow trunks of trees, others in banks
on the ground; some suspend their nests from the
branches of trees, whilst (me species constructs its
nest of clay, it being a large size. Mr. Stretch found
a nest of TrUjona at Panama several feet in length,
in the hollow of a tree, containing thousands of in-
dividuals. Mr. Peelialt, of Catitagalla, in Brazil,
kept four species of Trbjona in his garden, to study
their habits. He had one hive of Trifjoiia Mosiiuito,
one of Tri\jona riifiaus, one of Tr'njona Mnndacaia,
and one of Trignna Urucu. He says he has observ-
ed " Trigana r-iijicrus swarm just like the European
honey-bees, about the end of March, when the cold
time begins, whilst in April, May, June, and July,
they appear to increase very scantily — I suppose in
order not to raise loo many useless feeders. Their
mode of life appears almost identical with those of
Apis Mdliftca. I have found only one queen in a
hive."
Tho quality of the honey varies considerably in
the ditferent species of Tr('(/o?ia; of one it is said to
be very good; that of another, tolerably so; of an-
other, it is poor and rather tasteless, whilst that of
Bonie is said to be unpalatable. This may be account-
ed for by the different species of the genus Trigona
visiting different flowers, caused by the different
relative length of their tongue, adapted for reaching
the nectaries of the particular howcrs which they
usually frequent. Those species of Trigona that
have their tongue short, frequent flowers having
open corollas, whilst others, furnished with an
elongated tongue, extract their food from elongated
tubular flowers.
Although the Trigona can not sting, an apiarian
would be compelled to beat a hasty retreat if he
should attempt to meddle with their nest. For such
an offense, the little fellows will make a terrible at-
tack on any person, and in a second the hair and
eloth<;s of the attacking party are filled, and with an
offensive sq»eaking they will cut off his hair — a
much worse disfigurement than a sting. (Here we
seethe wisdom of the Creator in endowing all liv-
ing creatures with instincts or instruments for their
preservation.) It is therefore impossible to succeed
in any way with such a species, and the natives can
get possession of only a taste of tho honey which is
found in their nests, by threatening them with death
and destruction by building a large straw fire, and
stifling the bees with smoke. A) I of these stingless
bees, and also the better qualities which do not make
an attack on the hair, and which are In some respects
similar to ours, resemble ours in outward appear-
ance only, but in nature have nothing In common
with the Apis 3IcJlifica.
The wax-like material of the comb is resin, which
Is gathered from the trees and leaves, and accord-
ing to its kind is more or less greasy, black, gray,
and yellow. The hind part of the Trigona body, in
consequence of the missing organism for the secre-
tion of wax, is comparatively too small, and there-
fore this wax is not of animal origin, a'^ is the case
with ours, but a vegetable substance. For this rea-
son, those bees need less honey for their nourish-
ment; they do not live together in large families,
and have small houses and little work.
I think I have said quite sufficient to prevent my
clever American-Cousin bee-masters from wasting
their money on such profitless insects as " stingless
bees." William Cakr.
Newton Heath Apiary, Near Manchester, Eng.
■ ^ i«>^—
the: coiuiivg bee.
" AND HOW TO CATCn niM."
^pp^EAR GLEANINGS:— As you give me so many
Mn) ^ood ideas onmypetoccupation, bee-keeping,
I don't know but I ought to add a mite to your
useful store of knowledge, provided your worthj'
editor thinks it worth adding; and as the "Coming
Bee" S(!ems to be the great absorbing theme of the
day, ransacking the distant "isles of the sea,"
and the far-off " Eastern climes," if possible to " find
him," I thought perhaps a few items as to how to
"catch him" nearer home might be of interest to
many of your readers, and especially your ABC
class. My experience in bee-keeping runs back
over a period of 35 years, in Virginia, Iowa, and Cal-
ifornia. I think I owned the first Italian queen west
of the Mississippi River, which I got from Mr. Lang-
stroth in July, 1801. For the first 6 or 8 years I " bred
for stripes," as that seemed all the go; but I finally
came to the conclusion, that honey pays better than
stripes, and so changed my "base of operation," and
soon had tho satisfaction of knowing that I was
right.
I sold out in Iowa in April, 18T2, and came to Cali-
fornia, and soon had a lot of foul brood on shares, to
try my luck in bees in California. Then in Novem-
ber I bought 45 colonies, intending to make bee-
keeping my business while I remained here. Arid
now, in as few words as I know how, I will tell you
how I have managed them, and let you be the judge
as to whether or not I acted wisely; and if I am on
the track of the " coming bee " or not.
I tacked a label on each hive, and made a note, not
of the stripes (some had one, others two and three,
and some had none), but of the amount of honey
each one made, and also of their other good and bad
qualities. Then when the season closed I made a
note of each colony in my memorandum-book, se-
lecting my breeders, and condemning those with un-
desirable qualities, while all was yet fresh in my
memory. 1 then bred my queens and drones from
my best queens, and destroyed my poorest, and this
I have kept up ever since. I also get bees from dif-
ferent places, far and near, to improve my stock
and prevent in-and-in breeding; and as a further
improvement of my stock I sent an order for 13 Ital-
ian queens to Mr. J. Oatman & Son, Dundee, 111., as
Mr. J. Heddon and others claimed that he had the
best stock of Italians in this country for business.
1881
GLEANINGS m BEE CULTUEE.
229
When, in August, 1879, eleven arrived safe and
sound, my neighbors took 3 and I kept 8, but lost
one in introducing. I raised only 8 or 10 young
queens that fall, as I don't like to raise many queens
from a stock until I have Qrst tested it.
This brings us to the season of 1880, which will
bring out the sjjccia? points I wish to notice in this
article. The season was cold and windy, and bees
did nothing but swarm until after July ~flth. I
raised about 60 queens in the spring, and about half
Avere Italians. I aimed to have half of my drones
Italians, but don't think I succeeded. When I say
Italiau, I mean the Oatman stock. I call my stock
the American bees. Yes, full-blooded American
stock. But out of all my young Italian queens, I
don't believe I have one that mated with an Italian
drone. Whether any of the American queens mated
with any of the Italians, I do not know, as they do
not yet breed up to a fixed typo of rings, horns, etc.
I pronounced all the queens I got fxom Mr. Oatman
as pure. On the 20th of July I commenced hauling
my bees to the river. I was then living three miles
out on the phiins, and every thing dries up during
the summer. I moved fi3 on the Stanislaus, and left
them in charge of a neighbor bee-keeper. They
made but little honey there, and 24 I moved on the
Great San Joaquin, where I had charge of them my-
self; 12 were full-blooded Americans (9 were young
queens, and the other three were one and two years
old;) my 3 Oatman queens (the other 4 having died,
and another died this winter) and 8 Oatman daugh-
ters, and one which, I think, was a granddaughter
from a '79 Oatman queen, that I think was super-
seded last spring.
Now, here I will give you a table of my 24 colonies,
as I copy from my memorandum-book:—
Year when made.
No. Col. Stock, Etc. 1878 1879 isso
6S A ' 79 American queen 70 l.oO
70 Oatnifin'..' .".'.'.'.'.".'..'.". .!....'!..!!!..'."!.' ns
71 American lOB
7'Z Anu'iican lH
<;i (iranddaughter, Italian, nicelionej' 2'!5
71 Italian 90
7.A Italian J 118
715 Oatiiian, dfnd now 87
77 Aiiii'i-ir-an, I'dudcinnccl 50
78 '79 Italian, bnt littk'grtim . 1(10
79 American, very t'ummy . 108
«(» American 100
81 '79Italiau ■ 100
82 Italian, no gum • 90
8.3 American, condemned M
84 American 81
8.5 -TOAm.-riran 140 135
86 'TSAmorii'an 90 150 135
87 '7yitalian lS:i
88 Oatman - — . • 22
89 American ■ 1X1
90 American *
91 Italian, no jjnm ■ 120
Now, from the above tabic you will see that 3
made no honey. They were very weak, and lost
their queens when I moved them to the river. Some
of the others were weak too; so you see thatldidu't
have all my best colonies in this lot.
The above table summed up makes over 2300 lbs.
all comb honey; the 11 Americans made 1341, an
average of 113 lbs. per colony; the 3 Oatman made
117, an average of 59, while the 7 daughters and
granddaughter made 1093, an avernge of 136. But a
glance at the above table shows that the granddaugh-
ter beat them all. While she made 235 lbs., she is
also credited with making the nicest honey.
Among the different lots of bees that I got I never
before last fall figured up so closely the amount of
honey each strain of bees made, and I must confess
that the figures astonished me. Now, I never found
fault with Mr. Oatman's queens or bees; but I have
no doubt but that he has as good a stock of Italians
as can be found anywhere. My neighbor who got
twoof those queens we got from him claims they
arc the best stock he ever owned, and that about the
only honey he got last fall was from his full-bloods,
and from the few queens he raised from them, and
he told me, just the other day, that ho wouldn't take
$10.00 for them. But what puzzles me is this : while
the full-bloods figured so low in honey, why did their
daughters, mating with ray improved drones, figure
so high? The average of 50 lbs. for the full-bloods,
against 113 tor the Americans, clearly shows the su-
periority of my strain; but why did none of the
young Italian queens mate with the Italian drones?
were the American drones so much more active and
long-winded, so that the ItHlian could not keep up
in the chase after the queen, or what was the cause?
Can you, friend Root, or any of your readers, solve
the problem?
Now, am I not on the right track to " catch him "?
Doesn't my plan embrace "long-livedness," "long-
windedness," and " long-tonguedness," and every
other "long thing" that it takes to make up a su-
perior strain of honey-gatherers?
A few of our bee-men. and they are by far too few,
claim that the drone is " a mighty factor in the im-
provement of the honey-bne." But I claim that he
is not only "a, but the mighty factor." I have long
since been satisfied that the " drone does more to
determine the character of progeny than the queen,"
and have acted accordingly, and have had no reason
to regret my labors in that direction. Now, friend
Koot, what advice ought I to give your manj' read-
ers; to go and do as I have done, or to get an im-
ported queen e^ery few years, and breed from her
only? Another question I would like to have many
of our queen-breeders answer: In many of their
circulars sent out, they set forth in glowing terms
the superiority of the Italian bees, and especially
their " fine improved strain," which has cost them
years of painstaking and care to breed up to its
present standard, and then wind up by saying all, or
nearly all, our queens will be bred from an i-ra-p-o-r-t-
e-d m-o-t-h-e-r I And right here I shall make a bold
challenge, without the least fear of a successful
contradiction. Not one queen-breeder that is breed-
ing onlij from imported mothers ever has or ever
will make any improvement over the original race;
but those who adopt a course similar to the one I
have adopted will be the ones that J, at least, shall
look to as the ones that will give us the coming bee.
Neither do I care where he comes from, nor what
he is made out of; but he is on the way as sure as
fate. Now, friend Doolittle, what do you say to
this? Isold my little farm, hence am not settled;
but as soon as I get settled again, and if I continue
in the bee business, which I expect to, I hope to of-
fer a reward for a better stock of bees than mine.
Now, friend Novice, if you will pardon this long
letter, I will quit right square off, and not say anoth-
er word on this subject. 1 was going to say some-
thing, but I see I can't, about that hive. I sent you
a model filled with raisins. I have so improved it
that you would hardly know it. I have used it three
years, and consider it the best hive I know of, in the
way I handle bees. J. F. Flcjuky.
Hipon, San Joaquin Co., Cal., March, 1881.
I think you are pretty nearly, at least, »n
the track, friend F.; but as I understand
your experiment, is there not room for us to
230
GLEA^'IXGS I:N J3EE CULTUEE.
May
consider lliat a good many of the results
may liave been accidentar:' It is very likely
that no further considerable good luay come
from more imported bees. We shall this
season rear queens largely from our red-
clovei' queen, and other breeders will proba-
bly select some extra queen from among
their stock, and it Avill then rest with the
purchaser of queens to say whetlier they
want one from a choice honie-bred queen, or
from imported stock as heretofore. Last
season, nearly half of oiir orders were for
queens from our red-clover stock.
FRIEND MOORE'S "TWO-HIVU" API-
ARY.
AND ■WHAT HE DID WITH IT.
^ COMMEXCED lust season with two colonies of
Jjl bees, one Italitms and the other blacks. So you
sec I had just half and hulf of each kind. Well,
the Italiiins are far ahead of the blacks. I run the
blacks entirely for Increase. Also increased the
Italians some. Increased both to seven very fair
colonies, though the season was so poor that I had
to double the number up to five colonies, and feed
syrup made of coffee A sugar to keep them from
starving- in the fall. I Italianized the blacks, bought
three wen k colonies from a neighbor, united them
Into one, and now have si.x colonics, which have
wintered nicely up to date.
NATURAL QUEEK-CELLS, AND TWO QUEENS IN A HIVE.
The Italian colony described above builds natural
qneen-cplls all the season, commencing, as they did,
ia the latter part of May, and continuing so late in
the season that the last queen that hatched could
not get fertilized on account of there being no
drones. The colony was not stimulated in the least.
In fact, the surplus arrangement was on all the sea-
son, and the b?es drew out ten frames of fdn., and
gave 46 lbs. of nice extracted honey from white clo-
ver (which was about twice as much as obtained
from any black colony in an apiary near by), and
built about 40 natural queen cells. I also made two
strong two-frame nuclei from it, and took some
frames of brood to build up weak colonies occasion-
ally. Strange to say, the bees kept on building
queen-cells. 1 list as if they had been crowded for space
or stimulated under the impulse of natural swarm-
ing, which was not the case, as they showed no sign
of swarming the whole season, and the last thing
they di'l in the fall was to hatch out a fine young
queen, which was kept in the hive for several weeks,
and then killed by the bees just before cold weather,
as she was not fertilized. So you see they will keep
two queens in the hive. The bees are the yellowest
I ever saw. A great many of them show four dis-
tinct yellow bands. The queen is very prolific, and
her daughters are also, one of which has shown the
same disposition of always keeping a laying daugh-
ter in the hive to help her. Of course, I always take
the young queea out when she has commenced lay-
ing; but, as an experiment, I let one stay in the hive
25 days after she had commenced laying, and have
seen the young and old queen on the same frame of
brood in less than hulf an Inch of each other without
showing the least sign of fighting. I am experiment-
ing, and as all of my queens (except two) were rear-
ed from natural cells, I hope, by the end of the com-
ing season, to have several that will keep two queens
in a hive.
DIVISION-BOARDS MADE OV SLATS LIKE THE MATS.
By the way, friend Itoot, what is your decision on
those comb-guide division-boards, a description of
which I sent you last year? I am wintering three
two-frame nuclei in one of your L. Simplicity hives,
by means of said division-boards (two of each kind),
and on examining them Feb. 9th, I fcuad them in
splendid condition. What is the price of basswood
strips for the mats per 100? I see by the mats that
thej^ are cheapcrthan comb-guides, and will answer
just about as well, if not better, as the strips are
thinner. M. B. Moore.
Morgan, Ky., March 15, 1881.
Please let us know more about that queen,
friend M.. and especially whether the young
queens have the same distinctive trait. It
is certainly a very valuable trait in a queen.
— The mat division-boards have been fre-
quently suggested, and used, if I am correct.
The oiily objection I know of, is the labor re-
quired to tack so many strips on, for they
have to be tacked in many places in each
slat, to make the board substantial. It
would, without doubt, make it more like the
old straw hive, in its property of keeping dry,
and absorbing moisture. We can furnish
the strips forl.jc per hundred; by mail, 40c.
SOME NOTES FRO.TI GEORGIA.
fi HAVE been reading Gleanings today, and, as
I notice no reports from Georgia (except one in
— ' Growlery) I venture a short account of my lit-
tle apiary of about 20 colonies. I have been using
the movable-frame hive but two years; but during
this short time I have made more money, and re-
ceived more genuine pleasure from my bees than
from all the former period of my bee-keeping in the
old way. I think I am making progress; have been
very successful in introducing Italian queens; intro-
duced 11 last year without loss; attempted to intro-
duce one received from Hutchinson, without having
water in the cage, which was the only one I ever
lost. Last fall, in preparing for winter, I used your
chaff division-boards and thick chaff cushions; was
laughed at a little by my Southern friends, but as
the winter through which we have just passed has
been unusually severe, the laugh is now on the oth-
er side. Every culoiuj came throwjh in splendid con-
dition. Even one nvicleus, 2-frame, came through all
right, and is now on the high road to ])rosperlty. We
are still having strange weather for this section. On
the night of the first inst., all of our peach crop was
killed, the mercury going down to 2()\ The fig-trees
were killed down to the ground during the severe
winter. I have not seen a single live fig-tree in our
section. The weather continues very windy and
cold, ice an inch thick the first three days of the
month. Corn, which was planted at the usual time,
about March 10th, was killed, and the farm-
ers are plowing up and planting over again.
The apple crop is still sate, not having advanced suf-
ficiently to be injured. The poplar (or whitewood as
you would call it) is about to bloom, and as it is to ua
what linden is to you (a very important crop, both
for honey and brood-rearing), the prospect of having
it cut off indicates "Blasted Hopes." Bees have
done but little for the past three weeks, as it is too
cold and windy for them to fly during the greater
part of the day. I have been feeding a little to keep
up brood-rearing, and stocks seem strong and ready
18S1
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
231
for business. My Alsike clover, now in its second
j'car, is looking fine, ami may supplement some of
the bloom which has been cut off by frost. It
blooms new in May.
By the way, friend Root, one of those tested qvieens
which I bought of you last fall has now a hive full of
the most beautiful bees I ever saw, and they are
working just as well as they look too. I wish I
could get 20 queens reared from the same mother.
WHAT TO DO WITH LIVE DRONES.
I suppose you will say that I should rear from this
queen what I want; but during that long cold wet
spell of weather, thousands of drones hatched out in
some old box hives which 1 had bought, and I don't
know how to get rid of them. How will It do to make
the entrance small, so that when they get out thoy
can't get back? Also, how would you destroy them
after shutting them out? A word about bottom-
boards.
BOTTOM-BOAHDS OF ARTIFICIAL STONE.
Last fall a man came to my house with a load of
Portland cement, and wanted to make some hearth-
stones. I saw his samples of work, and concluded to
let him make me one bottom-board, just to try. I
gave him a pattern of Cook's bottom-board, and in a
few monienis he had made the best one I ever saw.
It is perfectly true, will never warp, and is hard as
granite. He molded it as we would lead. It cost 40
cents; entrance, alighting-board, and all, is one solid
rock. He had a patent on his mixture, but I sup-
pose any good worker in cement could make up tiie
mixture with the same result. 'VN'hat do you think
of it? F.N. Wilder.
Forsyth, Ga., April 5, 1881.
Fastening drones out of the hives does not
seem to work well ; but shaking all the bees,
drones and all, into a box, and then cover-
ing it with wire cloth, or perforated metal,
that will just let the workers crawl out, is a
practical way of getting rid of all the live
drones in a hive. After the workers are all
out, kill the drones with hot Avater, and feed
them to the chickens. — ^Bottom-boards made
as you relate have often been suggested, and,
if i am correct, tried to some extent; but
the objection I should have would be the
coldness of the stone in cool weather. This
may not, however, be a very great objection
in your climate, friend W.
m m ^
REPORT FROilI DR. C. C. mililiGR.
OVERSTOCKING.
f STARTED in the spring of 1879 with 154 colonies,
and increased to 250; but, about July i, the bees
— ' stopped storing, and, the swarms made latest
remaining weak, I united down to 230, and got the
last in the cellar Nov. 25th, having taken 4263 lbs. box
honey. I lost not quite 4 per cent in wintering, and
finished taking them out of the cellar April od, 188i),
in fair order. Sickness and death in the family pre-
vented proper attention, and I am ashamed to say
that, by apple-bloom time, 21 more had perished
through queenlessness or starvation, so that I com-
menced 1880 with 200 colonies. The season was a
poor one, and my bees did not seen* to do as well as
did those of farmers 2 or 3 miles distant on either
side of me. In fact, most of mine seemed to lose
rather than gain, and I am stronsly inclined to the
opinion that they would have dune much better if
there had been only half as many. At the begin-
ning of buckwheat bloom, I moved some 80 colonics
3 miles away, putting most of them on the edge of a
large field of buckwheat. These gained considera-
bly, and those left at home did better than they had
done. Was it not because there were less of them?
For the last few years I have been watching very
closely this matter of overstocking, and I think it is
bound to come to the front as a point of vital inter-
est; but it is a point in regard to which it is exceed-
ingly difHcult to come to any definite conclusion. I
would give considerable to know just how many
colonies I can keep in my home apiary with the
greatest amount of f of o? profit. Looking at my ex-
perience of 18T9, I should think perhaps from 100 to
150. In that season the 151 colonies seemed to do
well the first part of the season, storing- 4263 lbs.
honey, and increasing (artificially) to 250 culonies.
When the bees ceased storing, July 4, f he clover was
apparently in good condition, plenty of blossoms,
and weather all right, and up to this time the force
of bees had been increasing very rapidly. Was not
the sudden stoppage of storing caused by the great
increase of brood and flying bees to bo fed? Still,
climatic influences, of which I understood nothing,
may have been at work; and I confess myself very
much in the dark on the whole subject. I should
like very raKch that those who have had experience,
or who have been making close observations, would
give us the benefit thereof. The man whom I have
been watching with most interest in this direction is
D. D. Palmer, who has kept a large number in one
apiary, and, if I mistake not, said that he expected
to keep 400 in the same place. Will he kindly In-
form us whether he has had any reason to change
his views?
THE PAST WINTER.
It is not time yet (April .5) to make a full report;
for with the thermometer at 5^ this morning, apples
will not bloom for some time. But as my report is a
bad one, and perhaps something may be learned
from it, I give it now. Commenced Mny, 1880, with
200 colonies ; decreased to 162, and took 58 lbs. sec-
tion honey (not 58 lbs. per colony, but the grand
total from all my apiary was 53 pounds.) Nov. 20 to
24 I put 149 in cellar, and packed 1-3 in chaff outdoors.
April 2d there were in the cellar 40 dead and 109 liv-
ing; outdoors, 7 dead and 6 living. How many
more will go I can not tell. As my average loss in
wintering during the previous 4 winters was less
than 2 per cent, there must be some reason for so
great a change, having already lost nearly 2" per
cent of those in cellar. On the whole subject of
wintering, I don't feel that I clearly understand any
thing for certain; but by talking over what we do
know of failures, we may gain some lesson for tho
future. Last fall (as, indeed, all last season), forage
was scarce, and my bees were within half a mile of
two sorghum-mills and a cider-mill, with others at
greater range. Nov. 15th the ground froze up and
remained frozen; and after waiting till Nov. 20th
tho bees were taken into the cellar in this frozen
weather. Nov. 29th I closed tho house and went to
Pennsylvania, not opening it again till March 24th,
tho thermometer having stood as low as 30° below
zero, and I have no doubt it froze in the cellar. On
attempting to make a Arc in the stove in the cellar, I
found there was in one chimney no draft, soot and
ashes having stopped it. It seems as if here were
232
GLE AXING S IX BEE CULTUKE.
May
reasons enough for los? ; loss of bees by the thou-
sand at the sorghum-mills, bad stores from cider-
mills, bees taken in during freezing weather without
a fly for perhaps 2 or 3 weeks previous, and left in a
cellar without sufficient ventilation, and part of the
time in a freezing condition. But all of these causes
put together I do not believe were as effective as
one other, and the cause of nearly all my loss can be
expressed in one ^vord,— starvation. True, if they
had been kept warmer, less stores would have done,
and some of them that, starved away from their
stores would have been able to reach them; but we
may as well call things by their right names, how-
ever humillatiTig the confession may be, and let the
errors of the past be so much experience to help in
the future.
April 7.— I have examined with some care 25 of the
stocks that died in the cellar, and find 10 contain
honey and pollen, and the hives arc daubed with
dysentery; 3 have no honey, some pollen and the
hives daubed; 1 with a httle honey and pollen and
clean combs; 10 with neither honey nor pollen, and
clean combs. In some of the hives classed as hav-
ing no honey, there was a little honey out of reach
of the cluster. This docs not give so many as I sup-
posed of clear cases of starvation, but leaves my
former ideas, in the main, correct.
niVES OF PEAU UEES
should bo taken at once from the cellar. Don't
leave them a day, but take them out now, for every
«3ay they are left in the cellar the combs are spoil-
ing, and will soon be worthless. Clean out the hives,
clean off the combs, and keep them in the dry till
needed for new swarms. If any combs contain
honey, of course they should be where bees can not
reach them, but not in the cellar.
Marengo, 111., April 7, 1881. C. C. Miller.
called dark Italians. §aid hybrids all showed the
three bauds when we "looked for them right "—that
is, beudiug the body, or placing them on a window,
etc. I have never seen any dark Italians (that
showed all signs of purity) that were any crosser
than the light ones; in fact, not cross at all. No
necessity for a bee-nat or veil while handling them,
and I know they are better honey-gatherers, and win-
ter better than the light beauties so much admired
by some. Mr. Adam Grimm came to that conclu-
sion years ago, for he told me a few years previous
to his death, that, for profit he advised" keeping the
dark Italians in preference to any others."
The above is not theory, but facts, for I have not
.lumped at these conclusions, as I have made bee-
keeping my business for the last fifteen years, hav-
ing handled plenty of blacks, hybrids, and both light
and dark coloi-ed Italians; and for my use I greatly
prefer the dark pure Italians to any of the others;
and I am sure, when bee-keepers use a proper
amount of care in testing their bees, the dark Ital-
ians will no longer have the name of being cross.
O. H. TOWNSEND.
Hubbardston, Ionia Co., Mich., March 10, 1881.
In regard to the test of purity, t would say
that I kuow of no other standard than the
ItaUau bees in their native home. As those
from our imported queens, many of them,
do not show all the Ijands distinctly, unless
placed on a window, I consider it safe to say
pure Italian bees do not all show all the
bands unless so placed.
DARK ITA1.I.1NS; AKE THEY CKOSSEU
THAN THE lilGHT-COL-
OKED ones;
tDO not think it fair, in testing Italians, to bend
the bees or place them on a window to facili-
■ — ■ tate the finding of the three bands, as I am
fjuite sure that the worker progeny of a simon-pure
Italian queen will all show the three bands peculiar
to the race, as they stand in a natural position on
the combs. In connection with this, they all have
light rings of hair, or down, on all that part of their
bodies back of the yellow bands above referred to.
These rings of down are sometimes worn off from
some of the bees when they have had honey cr syrup
on them, as in case of robbing. If the absence of
these rings is caused in this way, the back part of
the abdomen will present a shiny appearance. If a
colony has the least trace of black blood about it,
some of the worker bees will lack part of these
rings of down. Such will not be shiny black unless
they have had honey or sjTup on their bodies.
I have two or three colonies of hybrids which show
the three bands, and that without beudiug or placing
on a window; but some of the bees in these hives
lack part of the rings of down. Some of the yellow
bands are somewhat cloudy, but they are there "all
the same." We do not allow any drones in the
above hives, as the (iueens are daughters of a hybrid
queen whose workers were nearly all marked with
the three bands— somo two, an<* once in a while one
was black. I have known some who kept Italians,
and some well-marked hybrids, whieh latter they
>mi9n
THE UEASON H HY AVE AUOPTED THE
rLAN OF SH>E AND TOP MTOKING
COMBINED FOR SECTION HONEY,
I^•STEAD or TIERING UP, ETC.
KEN we first commenced bee-keeping we
used the Langstroth frame, and used Avhatis
termed the tiering-up plan to secure box-
honey; that is, as soon as the first lot of boxes were
two-thirds full, raise them up and place an empty
set between them aud the brood-chamber. To do
away with the trouble of raising those partly filled,
many put on two tiers at once; but the results, as a
rule, are in favor of the former. The year 1870 was
the first really good honey season we enjoyed after
we engaged in the business of bee-keeping. Whoa
the season was over, upon footing up we found our
best stock had given us, in box honey, 110 ll>s. We
considered this a large yield till we found that our
friend Betsinger had done much better with hives
adapted to both side and top storing. The years
1871 and 1872 proved to be rather poor seasons, and
so our experiments were, most of them, a failure all
around. In 1873 we made a few side and top storing
hives, to test the matter thoroughly. At the end of
the season wc found we had used too many boxes, as
the bees had more commenced than they could fin-
ish; still, those finished were fully equal to those
taken from any of those worked on the tiering-up
plan, and we had nearly as many more which were
unfinished, as a clear gain. This experience con-
vinced us of one thing, and that was, that bees built
comb much faster at the sides than on top, while
they stored honey much the fastest over the lirood.
We were obliged to arrive at this conclusion: that, if
we wished to secure a <^03d yield of box honey from
1881
GLEA:S"INGS IX BEE CULTURE.
233
our bees, we should raise the sections built full of
comb, or nearly so, at the sides, to the top as fast as
full boxes were taken from the top, placing the emp-
ty sections at the sides as far as possible. Thus we
worked till 1ST7, discarding the tieriug-up process
more aud more, and adopting the other. At this
time our hives were about equal, being half for only
top storing, and half for side and top storing com-
bined. As the season of 187T closed, we found that
ISo lbs. was the hcut done by any of our colonies that
had been worked with top boxes only, while three of
those worked on the side and top storing plan com-
bined, had collectively produced the large amount of
890 lbs. ; one giving :30ii, another 301, while the third
gave28fi; while those stocks in our combined hive,
taking the whole together, had averaged 2J0 lbs.
each. This was a clincher in favor of the combined
plan, and to-day all tieriug-up appliances arc out of
date in our apiary. AVe now uge the Gallup frame
exclusively, for wo have become convinced that
more surplus honey can be obtained by its use than
by any other; still, there is no trouble in ■working
the L. frame on the combined plan. We also were
forced to the conclusion some time ago that , if we
wish to make the most box honey possible, the
frames in the brood-apartment must be full of
brocd (Jiof honey, nor tmply vomh) at the time the
honey harvest commences; if not, the first storing
will be done in the space luioccupied with brond, in-
stead of the bees going into the boxes, AVe have
found, from experience, that, if there is room in the
brood-chamber for the bees to store from 6 to 8 lbs.
of the first honey gathered, they are very loth to en-
ter the boxes. Instead of going to work in the boxes
with a will, they will crowd the queen with honey to
more or less extent, whenever such conditions are
present, to the end of the harvest. But let them
have every available cell full of brood, and the first
honey gathered will go into the boxes, thus inciting
an ambition to store in the boxes rather than in the
brood-chamber. To this end, if we were using the
L. frame we would use but 7, as 7 L. frames give
about the same brooding space as 9 Gallup. If 10 L.
frames are used (as a rule), the two outside frames
will be filled with honey, and bees will not travel
over a frame of sealed honey to go into boxes at the
sides, as quickly as they would enter them if the
brood was close to the boxes— on the principle that
the further from brood the boxes are, the less honc}'
will be obtained. To sum up, if we wish a good
yield of box honey, use so few frames in the hive
that the queen keeps them literallj' full of brood, and
so arrange your boxes that they come close to the
brood, both at the sides and on top. As fast as full
boxes are taken from the top, raise those partly
filled at the sides to the top, putting the empty boxes
at the side. To use friend Heddon's words, we
would say of this plan, " I am not prejudiced in its
favor because I adopted it; but I adopted it because
I was prejudiced in its favor." G. M. Doolittle.
Borodino, N. Y., March 24, 1881.
If I am correct, the above is one of the
most valuable of friend D.'s contributions,
and I do not know why so few use side-
storing boxes, and raise them to the top
when full ones are taken off, unless it is that
it is some trouble. There is no way to get
large yields of comb honey without care and
trouble, that I know of; and, for that mat-
ter, any thing else that is really desirable.
baitible: no. 4.
LAKE GEORGE, .VXD LAST OF THE MOHICANS.
j^l'TILL keei)ing our e3-('s upon those mountains,
^> and our foot still upon historic ground, we
ranil)le from our county due westint*^ Warren
county. Hej'c, fifteen miles from an apiary, is lo-
cated the lively and growing town of Glen's JFalls.
The noble Hudson here dashes over a barrier cf
black rooks, forming a iMi'ttu'escjue fall, and a spl«u-
did wati'r privilege, of which the enterprise of ni lu
has made abundant use. Here are located a number
of saw-mills, and thousand-^ of logs are annually
floated down from the up))er Hudson to feed the
never-ceasing demand of the maiuifacturer. Glen's
Falls is the head of railroad navigation. If you
would travel further north you must seat yourself in
one of the many stages that ply here for the trans-
portation of the thousands of summer tourists who
visit that beautiful and world-renowned sheet of
water,— Lake G.eorge. Sometimes, when we wish
for a few days of relaxation from the cares (^f home,
several families will club together, hire a cottage
near the lake, and spend several days in fishing,
boatiug, aud htinting. The waters of this lake are so
transparent that the bottom can be seen from the
boat for many feet in dojirh. A few years since, at
< j|e of
.■%edii
seen half subm(!%ed in the gravily bed of the lake,
twenty feet from the surface. The waters of this
lake seldom get entirelly frozen over until late in
January.
We would like to invito you, friend Novice, and
your wife aud your children, and any number of our
brother bee-keepers, even to a whole conventiou of
them, to one of our autumn vacations here. We
M'ould guarantee you one of the finest fish chowders
you ev<H- sat down to. The ladies of our party share
the perils of the deep with their husband-j, and be-
come expert fishermen — no, flshorworaen sounds
better. How the children love to skim over the sur-
face of the waters in our light boats! Wouldn't you
shoufc, though. Master Ernest? wouldn't Blue Eyes
plunge her hands into the clear water, and toss it
aloft in the sunlight? How you all would make the
welkin ring, and the rocky shore resound with a
rousing boat song or a gospel hymn I
Although we leave our bee cares at home, wp cer-
tainly see all the bee-hives around the houses we
pass. Libbie— that's my better half— says I can see
a bee-hive through a house, a barn, aud a stone wall.
That beats the Philadelphia lawyers, who can only-
see through a brick.
This region, we should think to be a good honey
locality, from the number of hives we saw along the
road. On account of the many mountains, the soil
does not receive high cultivation ; but the forests are
filled with chestnut and basswood. The honey raised
here is most ly on the old plan— in large boxes, and
a market is found in the village of Glen's Falls. Wo
are not much acquainted with the bee-keepers in the
vicinity of Glen's Falls; but within the corporation,
James T. Burdick has a fine apiary In Simplicity
hives on the hexagon plan. Mr. B. supplies his
neighbors with bee-hives, sections, etc., which th«
aforesaid saM-mills saw out for him, and the public
are supplied with honey in the most approved shape.
Mrs. B. is also becoming quite an export in bee man-
agement, and will not allow her husband to get bet-
tor posted than herself.
This region is also noted f®r it* vast fiejtls of buck-
234
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
May
wheat, and we find some of our friends hero insist-
inj? that l)uckwhcat honey is the best flavored honey-
in the world.
Near Glen's Falls is located an extensive terra-
cotta works. This is made from a species of clay
found here, and marl, which is found a few miles
north. Some have broached the idea that this spe-
cies of earthenware can be u.-!ed for bee-hives; but
we think it has never been tried. This Is a g-ood op-
portunity for some patent-hive man.
Here at these falls is located one of the scenes in
one of those admirable works of fiction by J. Fenni-
more Cooper, "The Last of the Mohicans." At the
f )0t of the cataract is located the famous cave in
which the heroes of the story defended themselves.
Now, some one told us, or we imagined that this
cave ought to bo full of t)ecs and honey, like those
California caves where tons of honey could be taken
out. After much difliculty we clambered down the
rocks, at the imminent danger of falling headlong
into the whirling waters below. We entered the
cave, Itut not a bee nor poiuid of honey greeted ovir
eyes. The shape of the cave, cmuiug to a point
above, would bo a good place for bees to cluster and
commence their work; but wo fear they will never
occupy it, as the spray is thrown in showers over the
entrance. So, farewell to the last of the Mohicans.
Hartford, N. Y., April, 1881. J. H. Maiitin.
Tliaiiks, friend M., for your kind invita-
tion, but we have a very pretty kike near
home, and, what always interests me, is a
swamp of yeUow tlowers at one end of it.
I once located a hive of Italians near this,
an'1 had the pleasure of sseins them store
honey when bees everywhere else were rap-
idly using up their stores.
}adk§' §(iiiadiffj^it.
FLOUR FEEDING INSIDE OF THE HIVE.
ff^-^r! OW I wish j'ou were here to-day, so that I
Js[5i|[ could take you by your coat-sleeve and lead
' you to a hive which has "Bully" chalked on
in front— expressive, if not in good taste. I would
take out the cushion, and you could look down into
the wooden feeders covered with glass, one contain-
ing dilute honey, the other unbolted flour, which arc
placed right over the brood-nest, and tucked around
with woolen carpeting to keep in the lieat. You
would there see bees loaded up with white balls on
their Ifgs, and many at work, while the other feeder
is almost deserted. No natural pollen. Snow upon
the ground in places yet, and now raining. " What
shall the harvest be?" Mrs. L. Harrison.
Peoria, 111., March ;«8, 1881.
Why, jNIrs. II., you have actually solved
the problem of getting bees to take flour
without flying out-doors. I have just been
telling Mollie. in the Juvenile Department,
what girls might do, and I begin to think I
should liave said women too. — You will need
to be a little careful that the bees do not
store more flour than they can use, and have
it harden in the cells. It has also been sug-
gested that pushing brood too rapidly, so
early, has a tendency to start spring dwin-
dling. I wish yon would give us reports
regidarly from this hive with that chalk
mark on it. L. C. Root and some others
think it best to let the bees alone until near-
ly into May, and I have sometimes been in-
clined to think they were pretty nearly right.
SOME COLONIES CONSUME MORE THAN OTHEHS;
SOILED COMBS, ETC.
I am an A B C scholar, and highly prize the pa-
tience you manifest, and the plain manner in which
you explain some of the crooked things concerning
bee-keeping. I began 3 years ago with one swarm
of black bees. Increased up to ol last fall; the win-
ter came on early and severe; I was consequently
late in getting them packed (as I pack in chaff on
summer stands.) March 10th I unpacked them to
see what condition they were in, and found I had
but IT colonies left, all but one of which were in
good condition. I cleaned off bottom-boards, and re-
packed. Those colonies that died were mostly afflict-
ed with dysentery; a few seemingly starved with
plenty of stores in the hive. One or two, I am sorry
to say, had eaten up every bit #f honey, which
proves to my mind that some colonies consume more
than others. How can I clean comb which has been
soiled by dysentery, so I can use the comb for ex-
tractor? Which pays better, to use extractor or
section boxes? Jennie Walcott.
Berlin, Ottawa Co., Mich., March 15, 1881.
I am very much obliged, friend Jennie, for
the credit you give me of being kind and pa-
tient, for it is an awful big mistake. I am
not half as good as most of you give me cred-
it for being. For example, I had just begun
to declare I would not tell how to clean emp-
ty combs another time; but on the whole I
think I will, and if you And the same thing
over and over in tliis journal, you must just
think it was because every friend who writes
asks it now until I have got demoralized, and
keep telling it over and over. No house-
keeper in the world can handle honey equal
to the bees themselves; and before I thouglit
of putting the combs in the extractor, if they
are anywise stispicious looking or smellino;,
I would put them one at a time in the mid-
dle of a strong colony, and let them fix and
cleanse them up, all sweet. Then you can
extiact.the honey, if you wish; but I think I
woukl prefer to use all such comb for build-
ing up new stocks, and extract the new hon-
ey. I can't tell which will pay best in your
locality. Every bee-man or bee-woman will
have to test their own market in this re-
spect.
HOW THE WOMEN WORK WITH BEES IN NEBRASKA.
I have often thought I would like to tell you
something about Nebraska for bees, and that
report from Pawnee City sots my pen going.
That town is only about ^J miles f romTecumseh, but
Mr. M.'s bees (perhaps they were blacks) seem not
to have done as well as mine. Bee-keepers in this
part of the country say that the last two years have
been very poor for honey. I can not .iudgc, for my
bee-keeping commenced in May, 1879. I bought 4
swarms of Italians, one hybrid and two black, one of
them weak, in box hive; got a neighbor to help
transfer it and show me the queen, as I knew noth-
ing about bees. Borrowed "Langstroth on Honey-
Bee, " sent for A B C, Gleanings, etc. During that
season I increased the 7 to 30, besides losing 4, three
of which absconded, on account of ants probably,
and one strong natural swarm '.which gave rac the
1881
GLEi^JNI^^GS IX BEE CULTUEE.
23.5
slip by getting a queen-cell tucked in some corner
where I missed it. I took 50 lbs. box honey and 150
extracted. Of course, I made mistakes, and could
see when too late where I could have done better;
for instance, about the 20th of Aug. I extracted all
the honey from some hives. A dozen others, equally
full, I left for box honey, and got but 50 lbs., when,
if I had thrown it out of their combs, they would
have filled up in ten days, as the others did, and I
could have taken it again the 1st of Sept., for they
kept gathering honey till nearly the last of the
month. I left them on summer stands with no pro-
tection, except quilt over frames; lost (i swarms, but
they were some that had small chance for their lives,
although they each had CO or 70 lbs. of honey. I had
used some hives with only loose covers or boards
laid over, and, in a rush of other things, afterward
neglected to get covers made. One year from the
time they were bought I had sold, of bees and honej^,
all that the 7 cost, and had IS swarms left, which I
increased to GO; sold $15.00 worth of queens, and
took 1500 lbs. of extracted honey. I never fed them
except on rye flour in Mai-ch. It was so dry, and
honey so scarce in July, that the bees would not take
care of all the eggs from the best queens. Then I
ought to have fed, and would if I had thought of it.
I worked all the time with them from the 15th of
May to the 30th of Sept.; went through every hive
twice a week, and nearly always found something
that needed to be done. I think bees can be made
to do much more by changing frames from center as
soon as full, and by keeping close watch, to right any
thing which gets wrong. Making swarms seems
much easier to me then hiving natural ones, even
when they alight on the lower limbs of an apple-tree,
as I had a few do. My way is to take a frame of
brood that is nearly ready to hatch, and covered with
bees from each of three hives; put them in a hive,
and after a day or two give them a queen-cell, or, if
a queen, cage her for two days, which, after losing
several, I concluded was the safest way. Enough
bees would remain with those that hatched, to make
a nice young swarm. 1 always work with bee-veil
and gloves fixed so no bee can get in, which 1 think
the better way, for ladies especially; then they are
safe, and need not feel nervous. I seldom use
smoke: open a hive slowly, and let it be a minute or
two before I move at all, and then not too quickly.
Last fall, of course, I did not dream of such a win-
ter, for wc never had any thing like it, therefore did
not protect the bees. The last time I examined, 1
had lost over half of them, and expect to lose more.
They have not had a flight since early in November;
but if I had lost them all I should say, " trj' again, "
for I believe Nebraska is one of the best places in
the world for bees. Usually, they begin to gather
pollen in March, and they can live and Increase all
spring and summer on forest and prairie flowers.
We have as yet but little clover. Hcart's-ease and
other wild flowers give our honey harvest from the
1st of Aug. to late In September, and our winters are
dry, with very little snow. I think the bee business
is very interesting, and much better for the health
than being confined indoors. Mrs. J. N. Martin.
Tecumseh, Neb., March 10, 1881.
Yeiy well done indeed, my friend, and
your resolution not to be discouraged, but to
try again, even if you lose them all, is one
that some of our older oues would do well
to copy.
^ AM a little girl 9 years old. My name is Cora J.
jij^ Sawdey. I sent my photo to Blue Eyes two
years ago; it was taken standing with my doll's
carriage, and one doll in it, and one sitting in a chair
by the side of me. I go to school at Poolville. It
was out last Friday. I attend the Methodist Sunday-
school at Earlvillo. My papa has got 77 colonies, or
did have last fall; he is trying to winter 43 on sum-
mer stands in chaff hives, the rest in a bee-house
made for that purpose. I claim two or three of
them, and mamma two. You see that makes papa's
number smaller. Papa gets mine mixed with his so
much I can't hardly keep track of them. I can tell
one of them, for I have my name stamped on the
front of the hive. I guess I shall have to mark the
rest of them in the spring, if I can find them. Papa
says it is a hard winter for bees. It has been 32" be-
low zero here. Coua J. Sawdey.
Poolville, Mad. Co., N. Y., March 7, 1881.
Very good, Cora. If I were you I would
have my name written on the hive in great
big letters, so that everybody who comes to
your house would know which are your bees.
Many thanks for the picture of yourself and
the dolls.
I am a little girl 13 years old. Papa keeps bees.
We had 56 last fall, but lost 6 this winter. Our bees
are in pretty good condition this spring. Papa uses
the Langstroth frame. He gave me a hive of bees
the other day. Axnie Siggixs.
. East Hickory, Forest Co., Pa., March 39, 1881.
Very good, friend Annie, for you and your
father too. Let us hear how much honey
you get from your hive.
Seeing so many letters from the boj's and girls, I
thought I would not be behind. Now, in the first
place I don't know but it would be as well to say
that my brother takes Gleanings, and likes it very
much; but I don't think it would be as well to waste
a great deal of time over unnecessary talk, so I will
" speak my piece " and step out.
Well, what I had to say was this. Last summer, I
think it was, my father was " looking at " the bees,
and mother, being very much interested in them
(more than she has been since), took her sun-bonnet,
and, being vmwell, a stool also, and started for the
bee-yard. Arriving there, she placed her stool (not
very near the bees, I assure you) an<l sat down to
witness the operation. But I think my father wit-
nessed the funniest operation, when, a few minutes
after, he heard a noise, and looking up, saw his good
wife, cricket in hand, coming for the house at about
the rate of half a mile a minute. But the sun-bon-
net—oh! where was that? She found it a little
while after out in the yard. She also found a sting
in her hand, and she didn't lose the swell of it either
for as much as a week. Well, I presume when moth-
er sees this letter she will think I have wtitten
enough for this time and on this subject too; so,
promising to write again if you want me to, I will
close. I am 13 j-ears old. Julia R. Tuxtlpj.
Hampden, Hampden Co., Mass., March 30, 1881.
Here is your book, Julia, but are you sure
it is just the thing to be making sport of
your mother's mishap? She might take the
stool and chase after you.
236
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
:^rAY
I see some letters from very young bee-keepei'S. 1
am older than the most of them; my age Is 15. In
the spring of 1880 my brother, who is a bee-keeper,
anrl has 30 colonies of bees, gave me a swarm of hy-
brid bees in a Langstroth hive. I Avas to attend to
it myself; so when they tilled the first set of surplus
boxes I had no more to put on, so I had to make
then. I presume you will laugh to think of a girl
making 2-lb. section boxes. 1 made them all myself,
and got 48. lbs. of honey. I help my brother look for
queens. I look on one side of the combs while he
looks on the other. He lost 3 colonies out of 33 this
winter. Mine are all right so far. Nearly every
bee-keeper about here has lost all, or nearly all, his
bees except us. My brother takes three bee papers,
but I claim Gleanings as mine. My brother got 100
lbs. of comb honey from one hive. We all like the
Home Papers. Mollie E. Caxolks.
Hereford, Baltimore Co., Md., March U, ISSl.
"Well done, IMollie. Yours is a tip-top let-
ter for a girl of 15, and there are lots of grown-
11]) bee-keepers that haven't done near as
well as you and your brother. Your exam-
ple of making the boxes yourself, when you
could not get them otherwise, is an excellent
one for all of us. That is just the way to
learn to he independent of circumstances. I
know girls can do a great many things that
people often think they can not do, and may
be that is just the reason I always have so
many of them working for me.
I am a little boy live years old; and mamma says I
may print a letter to you, and tell you all about our
nice fields of snow; they are so pure and white, real
little mountains of snow, too, and the high fences
play hide and seek in them, while my two sisters
and I go over them with our coasting sleighs; and
the snow even hides papa's two-story chafC hives,
and when he shovels it from the entrances we can
just see his hat above the snow '. Last summer the
bees stored but little honey; and they have not had
a tly since the tenth of last November; and papa
says " many poor little bees have perished this long
winter." My papa loves to care for his bees. I do
not attend school, but study reading, writing, spell-
ing, figures, and music, at home; I can play "Hail,
thou long-expected Jesus," on the organ, and some
exercises. We have a pet bird that sings nicely, and
will fly to our hand when we call him. He likes
mamma's house-plants very much — I think as much
as we like Gleanings. I help papa with the bees,
and on the farm. I will tell you what I can do, the
next time I write. I am tired now.
Johnnie E. Olsen.
Nashotah, Wis., April i, 1881.
Very good, Johnnie. If I am not mista-
ken, you are the youngest one in our class
that ever Avrote me a letter. ^Ve send the
book.
My pa takes Gleanings and keeps bees; but we
don't get any honey. Some of our bees are in Koot,
and some in Parker chaff hives. We have not lost
any yet, and pa says if it should be a good season we
will have lots of honey. AVe have lots of snow and
mud, and can't go out, because we have had the
diphtheria. I have not been out-doors since the
IVth of March. I am 9 years old. My sister is V and
brother Karl is 5. We had a little brother Ralphs
years old, but he died of the diphtheria on Sunday,
March 2Tth. Oracle and I go to school and to Sun-
day-school when we are well enough. Pa says the
reason he don't write to you as other bee-keepers
do, is because he would be put in Blasted Hopes;
but he don't look like Mr. Lake.
Harry L.vwrence.
Bloomington, Bl., April 8, 188L
Thank you for your good letter, Harry.
Tell your pa if he has lost no bees in winter-
ing, he is certainly not a "Blasted Iloper."
Poor little suffering Ilalph has gone, and I
can well imagine the sorrowing hearts that
he left in that little home circle. AV'eep not,
for he has a home in heaven, where you will
all meet him, if you do right and love God.
Be kind to Grac'ie and Karl ; read the little
book to them we send, and try to make your
mother happy. She feels the loss of the
dear little one more than you or I, perhaps,
know any thing about.
MRS. LI'CINDA A. HARRISON'S TALK TO THE JUVE-
NILE CLASS.
l.ESSOX SECOND.
I'm caught in a trap, just as many a mouse before
me has been, because we didn't think. I had no idea
of writing any more to you when I quoted, "Thus
end eth the first lesson." AA'ill Mr. Koot and you let
mc off with a story— not a "make believe," but an
"o'er true tale"? I was at Cincinnati last fall at the
bee meeting, and, by the way, children, while I think
of it, Mr. Root was there, and he is like Uncle Ned —
" has no hair on the top of his head, the place where
the hair ought to grow."
I like to talk, and my tongrcis like the man's cork
leg, that, when it got to going, he couldn't stop it;
but when it is run down I listen to other people. Mr.
Hays was there ; I presume he is a relative of the e.v-
President, for j)i'csidenis, you know, have so many
kin folks, and they both live in Ohio. I wanted to
ask him if he wasn't, but I didn't. I was too bash-
ful. It does not matter whether he ever had a rela-
tive in the White House or not, as he is a bee-keeper,
and, what is better, an amateur bee-keeper (that is,
one who keeps bees for the love of it, or, as we say,
for recreation, which means for play.) Mr. Hays is
a lawj'cr, and stays in an office among books, and
writes; and people come there to ask about law, and
some are filthj- fellows who chew and smoke tobacco,
so that he needs fresh air and sunshine, and seeks it
by playing with his bees. They are queer pets, are
they not?
Most of you children have a dog; and when you
come home from school he is glad all over; rolls over
and over, capers around, jumps upon you and kisses
(you may call it licked) with his tongue; but it is
his way of kissing; he don't know how to pucker up
his mouth. Mr. Hays has a little daughter who runs
to meet him, glad all over, when he returns, and, tak-
ing hold of his hand, says, " Now, papa, we will go
and work with the bees." He has other little daugh-
ters, but they don't care any thing about the bees;
and I doubt if they love him as well, as they are not
interested in the same way. This one is always his
companion when he is in the apiary, helping him and
asking questions. She said that she would like to
have a swarm of bees, and her papa gave her hishcst
swarm. All papas would not have given her the best
as he did, but some poor little one that was good for
nothing. After awhile she wanted to have two col-
onies, and her papa told her that her swarm was
large enough iK> divide and make two, and she did it
1881
GLEAXIXGS I:N BEE CULTURE.
237
hfrsolf, just as she had seen him do. Isn't she a dear
little girl? I'm so sorry that her papa didn't bring
her to Cincinnati with him, for then I should have
taken her in my arms and loved her, and kissed her
In aunt Luoinda's sweet plaoc, which is under her
chin, where no one else ever thought of kissing her.
Who will tell me next month who are going to take
care of the bees when those are gone who arc taking
care of them now? Mas. L. Haukison.
Peoria, 111.. April, 1881.
HOW AN A B C SCHOLAR MANAGES.
FRIEND PHEIiPS' APIARY.
^^OD have frequently expressed a desire to visit
W the homes and apiaries of your many friends
— ' and subscribers. With your many and in--
gent duties, that would of course be an impossibili-
ty, and it remains for us to do the next best thing;
i. 0., send you the homes and apiaries— on paper.
Inclosed, find a rough drawing of mj'' apiary, show-
ing also a rear view of my home, etc. The arrange-
ment of my hives may interest some of your readers.
APIARY or W. G. PnELP<;, QALEXA, MU.
They are laid out in blocks of 9, six feet apart
from center to center, with entrances facing in-
ward. A 12-foot center avenue runs the entire
length of the apiary, with the honej--houso at the
upper end. Intersecting this at right angles are
similar avenues which communicate with outside
ones. Each hive in each block is painted a different
shade from its fellows, and run in colors from light
red to pure white. Thus any confusion among the
bees is avoided, and each can easily mark his own
dwelling. The apiary, likewise, presents a very at-
tractive appearance from the street, which is al-
ways a desirable point. A cedar hedge protects the
apiary on the north from the wintry blasts, and a
large apple-tree affords a delightful shade for the
honey-house in summer. Last year I planted grape-
vines in front of each hive, with a view of shade;
but the intense drought killed 9i of them. I
shall try it again. Hitherto, tomato-vines well
trained on trellises have proved excellent protec-
tion for my bees, but it is some trouble to renew
them year by year. My bees have wintered finely,
and without the loss of a single colony, which, consid-
ering the mortality every where, is very flattering
to my methods of management, packing, etc. I
have many items in reference thereto which would
doubtless interest your readers, and I may give you
some of this when I have leisure.
Galena, Md., March 1, 1881. W. G. Phelps.
f BOUGHT the bees that I asked your advice
about, and am well satislicd with them so far.
' — ' I moved them to my home on the 2d day of
March, and found onlj' one stand dead; they had
starved to death, as there was not one cell full of
honey in the hive. I cleaned the combs all out nice-
ly and hung them back in the hive for a new swarm
when they come out. I have taken the C empty
gums and made frames for them, so that I can try
my hand at transferring when it is time. I had 6
wagon loads of fine coal cinders hauled, and laid off
two seven-hive apiaries as directed in A B C, and
made a mound of cinders about S or 10 in. high un-
der each hive, and put a strong thrifty Concord
grapevine to each mound. I have ordered a load of
sawdust, to go in front of my hives, and also my
scantling, 2x4 in. for the trellises. I have made one
chaff hive from dimensions in A B C, and it is some-
thing of a curiosity around here, as none of the bee-
men have ever seen any thing like it. I have also
made me a honey-knife like the pictures in your cii--
cular, with blade 15x1 ;i in.; is that too large to be
handled with care? I also made a Simplicity
cold-blast smoker that works like a charm. I don't
know but I can smoke the bees clear off the place
with it. I shall try it if they sting me much, I as-
sure you; but I hope I shall not have to use it at all.
I have 14 stands to commenc e with, and only 4 of
them in movable-frame hives, and I presume that
the combs are built in all directions in those 4.
Eight of the others are good box hives, with two
boxes in upper story, some thing like the Farmer's
honey-box. Would you transfer them, or would you
fill the upper story with frames for this season, and
get what you could out of them? I want to adopt
the chaff hive altogether as soon as I can; but, as
you say, I want to "go slow" until I see my way
clearly. I don't think that I am out any thing yet,
as my bees are alive, and working every day that is
warm enough, and I could sell them to-morrow for
more than they cost, if I would, but I am going to
have a little fun myself watching them work this
summer, if it is the Lord's will.
Union Mills, Pa., Apr. T, 1881. TiM. Calveb.
Well done, friend C. I think your lioney-
knife a little large, but it may be all the bet-
tei', if you get used to it. I would by all
means transfer them if I had time and want-
ed to learn. As long as you can sell out so
as to pay all expenses, you are on safe
ground.
Last season I told you of the progeny of a black
queen that was up earlier in the morning on the Spi-
der plant, than any of the Italians. Well, we had an-
other black colony that, for a time, seemed to equal
any stock in the yard, and the queen did about as
good business in filling the new fdn. with brood as
any I ever saw. Do you wish to know what the
point is of all this I am saying? it is this: When I
find another such queen, I am going to keep her;
and if you think there is danger of getting hybrids if
yen send your orders to me, send them to somebody
else. I am going for the most energetic queens and
bees I can find; and if 1 lose my queen trade, I shall
be happy raising honey. The most of our queens
this season Avill ba reared from our red-clover strain,
probably. Of course, we do not propose to let such
black queens as we choose to tolerate, rear drones.
238
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUIIE.
MAY
From Different Fields.
CHAFF HIVES VERSUS SIMPLICITY, EVEN IN SOUTH
CAKOLINA.
fi SEND you my experience with chaff hives vice
Simplicity, to show you the difference in this
— ' climate. In the fall of 1879 I had two colonies
of Italian bees that tallied the same amount of sur-
plus that season, the amount heinf? 03 lbs. comb
honey per colony. Wishing to try chaff hives in this
mild climate, I made one according to directions
given in your ABC, and transferred one of the
above-named colonies to it in November, first weigh-
ing the frames and honey of each hive, so as to give
them the same amount of honey. Each colony came
out in the spring of 1880 in good condition, but the
chaff hive did not consume as much of their honey
as the one in the Simplicity. The consequence was
the colony in the chaff hive commenced brood-rear-
ing much earlier in the spring than the one in the
Simplicity; however, the one in the Simplicity was
strong in bees before the first honey in the field was
ready to gather. Now, those two colonies were run
for extracted hooey, and below you will find the re-
sult.
The colony in the chaff hive gave mc 133 lbs., and
cast two swarms; the one in the Simplicity, 87 lbs.,
and cast one swarm— a difference of 45 lbs. and one
swarm. As extracted honey is worth I'ZVi cents per
lb. here, and a swarm of Italian bees $5.00 without
the hive, we have a difference of $10.63- a pretty
good sum I think.
Now, Mr. Root, I would like to have you or some
one else explain why bees, unprotected from the
sudden changes of temperature, consume so much
more of their stores than when they are packed up
so as to prevent sudden changes. W. S. Cauthen.
Pleasant Hill, Lan. Co., S. C, Jan. 25, 1881.
It is very simple, friend C, is it not? The
honey in cold weather acts as fuel, and there-
fore the better the protection, the less fuel
will be needed to keep up the temperature.
Is not such the case with all other stock?
THE CARE OF SURPLUS COMBS, ETC.
Mr. G. M. Doolittle said, in one of his letters to
Gleanings, that all straight worker combs are the
sheet anchor of bee-kcepiug. Will he please inform
us through Gleanings how he cares for his empty
combs and keeps them from being destroyed by
moth worms in warm weather? Will tarred paper
answer to cover the lloor of a honey-room? Will the
smell of the tar affect the honey? AVill bees clean
combs in which swarms have died with dysentery?
and is it safe to piit new swarms In such combs?
Can you inform me how to put sweet corn in tin
cans so it will keep? E. D. Howell.
New Hampton, Orange Co., N. Y., March 19, 1881.
If I am correct, friend D. always has bees
enou^^i to cover his empty combs by the
time the moth is liable to injure them, say
in ]SIay and June.— I should be a little afraid
of the tarred paper. Use the nntarrcd
sheathing.— Your question about combs from
bees that have died has been asked and ans-
wered so many times I begin to almost fear
some of the older ones will begin to com-
plain at so much repetition. The combs are
just as good as they ever were, to put new-
swarms on, no matter if they are soiled and
lilled with bees. Give a new swarm a chance
at them, and see. All experiments that have
been made seem to determine, also, that, aft-
er being thus worked over by the bees, they
are just as good for another year.— Canning
corn is a trade of itself, and is pretty sure tu
be a failure in the nands of a novice. Better
evaporate it or dry it.
DOES IT PAY TO PACK BEES IN CHAFF OR COTTON
SEED IN TEXAS?
I answer, it docs. I packed my bees in cotton
seed, and 1 had the pleasure to-day (March 28) of
hiving the first swarm of bees around-a full peck or
more of bees— over 50 nice queen-cells, and thou-
sands of drones. I have kept bees about 15 years,
and never had a swarm come out before the lUth of
April before. I havcmy handsfuUnow; remember,
every tenth swarm is the Lord's and will be so
marked. The Judas-tree gave us a fine yield of
honey from Feb. 20th to March 30th. The apple is
now in full bloom. All other fruits have shed their
bloom. The dewberry is beginning to bloom, and
soon we will reap a rich harvest from this, as it af-
fords plenty of nectar. The Cyprians, although first
to commence brood-rearing, are making no prepara-
tions to swarm. The December-mated queens (Cyp-
rians) are doing good service; from small 3-framc
nuclei they have 6 frames of brood and 4 frames of
honey, all made since Feb. 3d, the daj' they began
bringing in pollen from the elm. Apiculture is re-
ceiving more and more attention every year. All
bee-keepers ought to be teuipc ranee men. Our bees
would not sting us half so hard if we were. I threw
the old pipe ivhirlliw, but you need not send me a
smoker. 1 have quit the pipe for good, just as I did
whisky ten years ago. B. F. Carroll.
Dresden, Texas.
Nevertheless, friend ('., you shall have a
smoker too, and maN i^iod ue praised for the
stand you have taken.
TEA AS A honey-plant, ETC.
Many in this State and Georgia raise tea for home
consumption. I can not say as to its honey-produc-
ing qualities ^as mentioned in March No.), but should
think it might be a good honej'-producer. The
flower looks very much like that of the strawberry.
I will also state that a lady in this State is growing
coffee successfully. Some of the berries were sent
to the Department of Agriculture at Washington,
and there tested and pronounced good. The pre-
mium offered by the Commissioner of Agriculture
for the first pound of coffee raised in the U. S. was
then paid to her. I see no reason why we can not
raise most of the tea used in this country, after we
have once invented a process for curing it by machin-
ery instead of by hand, as they do in China.
New Smyrna, Fla., Mar. 38, 1881. W. S. Hart.
INDIVIDUALITY IN BEES.
During the last season I had a little experience
which was new to me, and as I don't remember to
have seen any thing in the books about it, I give it
for the purpose of drawing out the experience and
observation of others in the same direction. One
swann—hybrids 1 call them (possibly they are pure
Italians),— hived July fi, 1880, after filling their hive
below, they went up into section boxes, and contin-
ued to work in them more or loss all the season,
1881
GLEANINGS m BEE CULTURE.
239
making in all 38 lbs. of surplus iu section boxes; and
when it was taken off in the fall, I found the entire
lot to be white-clover honey of the most delicious
character, while the honey from the remainder of
the hives was mixed— some clover and some fall
flowers, as proldenrod, thistle, etc. Fall flowers were
quite plentiful, and the most of the hives left the
white-clover pasture for " other fields and pastures
new." ^yhy didn't this colony al?o? Is it possible to
breed a race of bees with individual peculiarities so
marked? If so, some of your vineyardists' neigh-
bors ought to try to develop a race that will not like
arafic juice. Etgese Sixor.
Forest City, Iowa, March 21, ISSl.
You afe correct, friend S., in your obser-
vation in regard to individuality among
bees. Similar cases have been known iiere-
tofore. This brings out a valual)le point,
and we are ghid you ha^■e called attention to
it. "Who can say more?
AMBER CANK.
The main thing is to get it started; after it once
gets a start it grows very rapidly. Have your
ground newly plowed, so as togive the cane a chance
with the weeds; and to give it a still better chance,
have your seed sprouted; dampen the seed with
warm water, and keep warm until the sprout makes
its appearance. If the weather is favorable, It
should be up nicely iu three days after planting.
In answer to inquiry on p. 86, Jan. No., I would
saj', our apiary has been located for two years with-
in one mile of a cane-mill, and we have had no
trouble with bees bothering the mill. If you will
clean your evaporator every morning with sulphur-
ic acid and water, in equal quantities, you will find it
will improve the color of your syrup, and it beats
the old plan of scraping the deposit from the pan,
ail to pieces. M. L. Hudson.
Charles City, la., Feb. 16, 1881.
BEES DOING WELL OUTSIDE OF THE HIVE IN COLD
WEATHER.
In November, 1879, 1 drove through the c juntry in
my one-horse express. I stopped in Stanly ville
some time in the afternoon on account of a severe
snowstorm and cold wind. I stepped into a shoe-
shop; and as I am known as the "Bee-man," the
subject of conversation soon turned upon the hon-
ej--bees, by some man telling me he had heard I
made " bee-kings," and sold them. Another man
living near there said that his father's bees had nev-
er swarmed in 10 or 13 years, l)ut they build all over
their hives on the outside. I expressed my desire
to see them, and he kindly accompanied me to the
bee-yard, an old-fashioned shed. The only access to
the bees was in front. Soon the old gentleman
joined us, as he had seen us come across lots; how-
ever, he was so hard of hearing that I could not get
much satisfactory information concerning this won-
derful looking hive. They were box hives, about 1
foot square by 18 inches high ; they were suspended
in a sort of rack about 15 inches from the ground;
no bottom-board; the brood-combs extend within
1 inch of the ground; the combs were very black;
might have been several years old. Upon close in-
spection I found the whole colony packed away in
this comb, looking like a big round ball. The top of
the ball did not reach the hive proper by about 4
inches. I opened my eyes wide. Here was a nice
swarm of bees in the open air, so to speak, clean
and snug, no dead bees lying around. Very little
comb was built in front of the hives, but the sides
and back of the hives were finely decorated, at least
to a bee-keeper's eyes. The combs were built regu-
lar and straight from the roof down, from 2 to 10
inches wide, and about 3 feet long; nice white comb,
both worker and drone comb partly filled with sealed
honey. If all the combs had been well filled, they
would have weighed 200 lbs. or more per hive on the
outside. 1{. Stehle.
Marietta, Ohio.
Thanks, friend S. From the reports we
have had during past years, I can readily
understand how this may be ; but how
about robbing, when there comes a season
of scarcity? Are all colonies so strong that
they defend their honey when out in the
open air, with no sort of a hive about it?
Friend 8., I will pay your expenses in going
to see this same apiary again, just to see
how the bees stood this past winter. Who
can guess, now, boys, in wnat condition he
will lind it? If they have wintered well, will
it not help friend Renders idea of ample
ventilation ■;'
WIXTERIXG TWO COLONIES IN ONE CHAFF HIVE.
Friend Root; — We have experienced the severest
winter to our memory. Our bees were confined to
the hives 8 weeks, the longest period we ever knew.
The cold weather began earlier in the season than
usual; but, fortunately, like friend Merrybanks, I
had my bees all prepared nicely for winter before
the cold weather came. I went into winter-quarters
with 11 colonies, 10 in 5 chaff hives, arranged as des-
cribed on page 577, Dec. No., and 4in a tenement hive
of mj' own make. I have not lost any yet, for which,
you may know, I am thankful, when I tell you that
about 80 per cent of the bees in this vicinity, tliat
were left to take care of themselves, have "gone
where the woodbine twineth. " J. P. Moore.
Morgan, Ky., March 14, 1881.
The plan alluded to by friend M.. is divid-
ing the two colonies by a division-board
made of slats similar to our comb-guides,
and in this case, at least, it seems to have
answered all right. I would warn those try-
ing it, however, that if your division-board,
by warping or carelessness, should permit a
single bee to get through, one of the queens
will be sure to be killed.
It ought to be a crime for anybody to trouble a
man who is as busy as you seem to be in the bee
line. When a man is in trouble", it is a relief, some-
times, to talk with others about it. I have read
Gleanings and the ABC you sent me, and I have
been blowing and talking A. I. Boot management
ever since. My next neighbor is a man 65 years old,
and has always kept bees, and his father before him.
He says, "■ I don't believe aivnrdof it." Itellhimany
man ought to be knocked down on the spot to dis-
pute almost any theory upon any subject nowadays.
I gave him the A B C to read, and it has " laid him
straight," and his exclamation is, "I do not know
what this world is coming to." The trouble is, my
neighbor had 20 hives, and I had 15, and all of them
in splendid condition, and very strong swarms the
first of last December. My neighbor took one course
with his and I another. He let his stand out (as he
says old-fashion), and they have taken the blasts and
storms of this uncommon winter, and lost them all
240
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Mat
but one swarm, and that is a good one. I saw it yes-
terday. I tell him they were frozen to death, as
they were mostly dead the tirst of March; and in re-
gard to my own, I built a snug tight house or cover-
ing, double, and stuffed it with short straw, and dur-
ing mild sunshine would open it, and the 1st of
March my bees seemed to be all right, with no indi-
cation of loss. I let them out for a fly the 5th of
March, a beautiful sunshiny and warm day, and it
seems they all came out and had a fearful emptying
of themselves. Since that time, March Mh, they
have dwindled and died, and have all died but three
swarms. They are strong and all right. Now, then,
my conclusions are: my neighbor's bees ought to
have died, every one of them, for the want of care,
and they have except one; and my own, what shall
I say? Kot a storm of any description has touched
them; only the hard frosts of 20° below zero al-
most all winter, and that they all lived through;
none of either lots were short of honey. The ques-
tion is, why have my bees died so? I do not ask you
to write me, but I inclose you a shinplaster for
some thing tliat will tell or explain it. We live in a
country where white clover and basswood abound.
Your management of bees is certainly wonderful.
G. A. Legc.ett.
Schodack Landing, Reus. Co., N. Y., April, 1881.
ilany thanks for your concluding remark,
friend L. I confess it is '' wonderful," even
to myself ; for I have " managed "' about 140
colonies down to about 2-5, more or less.
When the sun comes out again, I will try to
tell you exactly. I feel just now as if I
would rather do something with bees that
wasn't wonderful, if it would result in teach-
ing this great A 1> C class how to keep them
over from fall to spring without losing any.
I should be very glad to be "troubled" by
any and all of you, if I could be of any use
in the way of an adviser.
MARKING QUEENS TO TELL THEIR AGE.
One of your correspondents suggests marking
queens bj^ painting their backs different colors, cor-
i-esponding with different years, to know their age ;
and for the benefit of those wishing to mai-k their
queens so they can always tell their age, I will de-
scribe a plan that will do it all times without fail:
As soon as your queen begins to lay, clip her wings
on one side only, which will prevent her from ever
flying again, as well as to clip all; next season, as
you are overhauling your bees in the spring, catch
the queen and clip one of the remaining wings,
which shows this to be her second season, and the
next season clip the remaining wing; or, in other
words, clip a wing every season until all are clipped.
It is no long job, usually, to find them at this sea-
son of the year; and if you do not find them readily,
mark the hive and try again the next time you look
them through.
DRYING SWEET CORN ONCE JtOKE.
We think we are a little ahead yet for nice dried
corn, which we prepare as follows: Pluck your
corn while in full milk; then draw a "hetchel"
(made by driving ,5 or 6 shari)-pointPd carpet tacks
through a thin piece of wood so the points stick
through from li to 14, in.) over it Until all kernels are
broken open; then with the 7jac/: of your knife you
can scrape out all but the hull, which will all be left
upon the cob. To dry, spread upon dishes thinly,
add set in a moderately hot oven- hot enough to
scald. Stir occasionally until dry. The above saves
the trouble of boiling, of exposure to flies, and is
quicklj' dried and taken care of. The only fault we
can find is, it is uU gone weeks ago. If you wish, we
will tell you how to prepare corn for " corn oysters."
We think it is one of the best dishes to prepare from
corn. F. H. Cyrikius.
Seriba, N. Y., April, 1881.
Many thanks, friend C. Your plan of
marking queens is given by Langstroth, but
we have found it unreliable, as so many
queens get their wings mutilated, from dif-
erent causes, especially after they get to be
a year old or more. Your suggestions in re-
gard to drying corn are excellent, and I know
from experience they will prove valuable.
Our mammoth sweet corn is now such a mag-
niftceut dish, if I may be allowed the e.x-
pression, that I have desired Sue (my wife,
you know) to give me her recipe for cooking
it, and I am a going to have it printed on a
thousand little i>aper bags, and next fall each
bag is to be tilled (1 lb.) preparatory to being
placed on the ll)c. counter. If we can get
it put up equal to that we have now, I shall
expect it to retail for 10c per lb. about as fast
as Eliza can pass the packages over the
counter. Perhaps not (juite so fast, but I
shall expect every one Avho buys a package
to become enthusiastic on the corn business.
Send us your recipe, by all means, friend C.
Young man, raise corn. Don't '' go west,"
but raise corn where you are, and then —
dry it.
coMMirNTS ox doolittle's comments.
1. If the bees that are robbed do not go with the
robbers, where do they go?
2. The comparison between a bee and a cow is too
large, and proves too much. Wc kill cattle for food,
but not bees. They are God's " creatures as much
as the cattle "—not ours. I believe he notices every
bee that we kill by our carelessness. I do not stop
to think about the profit, when trying to save their
lives. A. A. Bradford.
East Jeffroj-, N. H., April, 18S1. -
EXTRACTING OLD HONEY, ETC.
Can cards of sealed honey that have remained in
the hive several years be extracted so that the
combs can be used again? What per cent, if any,
will remain in the comb after extracting? At what
temperature must the honey be to flow freely from
the combs?
I started into the winter with 61 stocks, mostly in
the Langstroth hive; have but 44 left; they have
stood on their summer stands, but in a sheltered po-
sition, which is one reason why I have not lost as
many as my neighbors have. I started five years
ago with one swarm; have sold and given away 4;
all descended from the one; they are the black bee.
K. MEATYAltD.
EUicott, Erie Co., N. Y., March 37, 1881.
Some old honey is quite difficult to extract,
especially if it is partially candied in the
combs. Sometimes you may not be able to
get out more than half of the honey. Of
course, the weather should be as warm as
possible, without melting or softening the
combs, so they will be liable to break down.
I think I should use such old combs for
building up new stocks, and let them take
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
241
out this old honey for rearing brood, and get
my crop of extracted from the new. Bees
will manage candied liouey without trouble,
in the summer time.
REPORT FROM MRS. AXTELL.
We are losing largely in our bees this cold winter;
50 colonies are already dead, and probably many
more will die; but "the Lord gave and ho taketh
away; blessed be the name of the Lord." We do not
feel that we have any right to feel one murmuring-
thought, neither are our hopes blasted in respect to
the bee business; for i£ the Lord gives us strength
we will sec how much we can m ike out of the re-
maining ones, as tht-y all belong to him, not to ns.
Those in the cellar seem veiy quiet, and have, as far
as we can judge, wintered well; but it may be the
quiet of death, as the weather is yet too cold to set
them out. D. D. Palmer, of Sweet Home, says his
are all dead, and he wants to sell all his hives and
cjmbs. Mr. Sculder, of same neighborhood, had
only 30 left out of 180 some three weeks ago. Our
queens last fall, it seemed to me, did not fill their
hives with eggs as heretofore; consequently colonies
were weak. Sarah J. W. Axtell.
Itoseville, Warren Co., Ill , April 15, 1S81.
WHAT ARE OLD COMBS WORTH TO WORK INTO WAX?
What had I ought to pay for old comb to work into
wax?
Bees have wintered very well in this part of Maine,
although it has been the hardest winter known for a
number of years. C. M. Jones.
Solon, Somerset Co., Me., April 8, 1881.
This is a very hard matter to answer, friend
J. It depends very mucli upon whether the
combs are new, and mostly wax, or whether
they are largely made up of old cocoons and
propolis. New white combs are almost all
wax, but oftentimes the old tough ones are
scarcely i part or even less of wax. I know
of no better way than to buy a few and see
liow you come out. If you do not get wax
enough to pay for what >ou paid, and the
trouble of rendering, you' will have to pay
less next time. I am very glad indeed to
hear that bees have wintered well in one
northern locality.
WATER FOR BEES IX WIXTEH.
Mr. Langstroth says that in the winter, 5 out of 6
bees die for want of water. I have a " patent " of
my own for watering bees. It has saved my bees
for several winters on their summer stands. I claim
no patent. I break up chunks of Ice and lay them
on the frames. The heat of the bees will melt all
they want to drink. JOHX Clixe.
Watson, Effingham Co., 111., April, 1881.
I hardly think bees die often for want of
Avater, unless they are confined to stores of
candied honey. The matter is one that
needs looking "into, Avithout doubt ; but most
of us feel as if our greatest difficulty was in
keeping the bees sufficiently dry. No doubt
tliey melt the ice, but this assuredly chills
the cluster, by so doing, and I should greatly
fear it would harm them, unless the colony
were very strong, or the pieces of ice very
small.
cellars AHEAD.
I feel about as much like going into Blasted Hopes
this spring as I ever did, and perhaps you will think
best to put me there. I have kept bees, or had the
care of them, some 40 years; and duiing that time
have had ups and downs, losses and crosses and dis-
appointments; but none have inflicted a wound
deeper than in the present caso. Last fall J had !„';>
swarms, all in good condition, as I supposed; 20
swarms were Italianized with choice queens of my
own raising, from 4 nice queens I took from the
woods (that made it seem all the better, you know),
and what was better yet, the young queens were all
right and piirely fertilized late In the season by
drones kept for the purpose. But to the point: Of
the 123 swarms, I sold 24 last fall and the fore part of
winter; of the 99 left, I have lost all but 29, includ-
ing 15 of my choice queens. I think I shall lose
down to 19 swarms. Here let me say, my bees were
put into a building prepared for the purpose, about
the middle of January. My building was prepared
thus: 8 in. of sawdust on the outside, 8 in. straw on
the inside, all well packed. Why didn't my bees win-
ter better? Others have lost from }i to all. Cellar
wintering is ahead here. H. F. Newtox.
"Whitney's Crossing, N. Y., April 12, 1881.
I think you are right, friend N., in decid-
ing that good cellars are almost the only
sure winter repository, in a winter like the
past. It is quite a difficult matter to make
any building frost-proof during such weather,
unless it is at least partly under ground.
DROXE-LAYIXG QUEEXS.
I have one queen that won't lay an}- thing but
drone-eggs. What must I do with her? Must I kill
her and raise another one? I have taken all the
drone larvae from her. AVas that right? She was
a fine queen last year, and I lost one queen; but
along came a starved-out swarm, and I took care of
them, "you bet." Almost all of the bees hero are
dead. I was the first man that ever used a frame
hive here, and everybody is watching me. One says,
" You will kill your bees." J. W. Travlor.
Mt. Joy, Delta Co., Tex., April 9, 1881.
The best queen in the Avorld, friend T., is
liable to turn drone-layer at almost anytime,
and there is no better Avay than to kill them,
that I know of. Removing the drone comb
from the hive will be of no avail, for she Avill
lay in Avorker comb all the same. Either
give them another queen, or remove all the
brood comb, and give them some good brood
to rear another queen from, "i'ou Avere for-
tunate to find a runaAvay swarm, to put into
your queenless hiA^e just in time.
IXTRODUCIXG QUEEXS.
1 had a call last fall to go 50 miles from Wenham
to introduce some Italian queens. I wanted to in-
troduce them and return to Wenham the same day.
To make quick work of it, I prepared some introduc-
ing cages as follows: I made a ll^-inch hole in a
piece of wood 3 inches square and half an inch
thick; nailed a thin piece on one side to keep the
bees in, and wire cloth on the other. I cut a slot in
one edge clear through to the cavity and filled it
with home-made sugar candy. The bees were in
movable-comb hives, and the frames were covered
with thin quilts. After removing the queens from
the hives, I placed the introducing cages on the
frames under the quilts, and let the sugar come di-
rectly over the opening between the frames, so the
bees could get at it and release the queen. The re-
sult was, the queens (8 in all) were all safely intro-
duced. Can any one do better? H. Alley.
Wenham, Mass., April 14, 1881.
242
GLEAKINGS IK BEE CULTURE.
May
TO PREVENT SWARMING.
As a good mauy have lately Inquired how to pre-
vent swarming, I will toll how I prevented it, or,
rather, circumvented them after they had swarmed.
This may not be a very important subject at this
time, as most honey-g-rowors are probably anxious
to have all the swarms they can this season. Yet
there will be some who may have more swarming
than they wish— especially late in the season. In
this locality, where we get most of our surplus in
the fall, it is generally best to let each colony cast
one swarm; but it is the August swarming we wish
to prevent. The plan I have practiced for the last
three years is this: I hive the first one that comes
out. The second swarm I unite with the colony that
sent out the first swarm, and so continue, always
uniting the last swarm with the colony that sent out
the last preceding one. I have done this when sev-
eral swarms issued the same day. It is not neces-
sary to cut out the queen-cells, but it may be well to
do so, especially if j'ou do not expect the next swarm
to issue before these cells could hatch. "When all are
done swarming, the last colony can be united with
the first swarm. I like this plan much, as it pre-
vents increase, and yet gives each colony the vigor
of a new swarm. It is well to give more room at the
time of uniting, even though the new colony is not
larger than the one that previously occupied tjie
same hive. E. 8. Easterday.
Nokomis, Mont. Co., III., April, 1881.
liEAVING SECTIONS ON Alil. W^INTEK.
¥0U ask for some brother wh(5 has had an experi-
ence with sections on all winter to stand up.
— ■ Well, as I stand C ft., I will say, " Don't do it."
I have been keeping bees here for 5 years, and never
lost a colony in winter or spring until this winter.
Last fall I left a few boxes on one hive for the bees
to carry the honey below. When I examined them in
February I found them dead. They had consumed
every drop of honey in those sections, and then
starved with about 30 lbs. of honey below in the
body of the liivc. My neighbor, Mr. Gibson, had
about 20 colonies with sections on most of them, and
every one of them died. I gave a stock last summer
to an old friend, and he left the sections on two tier
high, and lost every bee before Jan. 1st. Now, don't
make the change in the ABC you speak of until you
have tried it for three winters. My experience for
five winters justifies me in putting an enamel cloth
down tight over the frames, with a six-inch chaff
cushion on top. My bees came out all right every
spring. Should you want my plan of wintering, I
■will send it.
Bees are wintered on summer stands five inches
from the ground. 11. D. Cutting.
Clinton Mich.
There, " that is just as I expected, and al-
ways thought it would be." 'Twou't work,
and Ave have got to give it up. But hold on,
friend C; were those colonies packed in
chalf hives, and Avere they such as had given
good yields of honey the season before?
AVere they good strong stocks on old tough
combs? You see, I do not like to give up
such a wonderfully easy way of doing things.
You almost make a body think that friend
Ivendel's colonies that came through thus
only wintered well in spite of unfavorable
conditions, eh?
Later:— The following is just at hand from
friend.Kendel: —
Having just read your comments and suggestions
upon our report on page 171, April, 1881, we are very
strongly reminded of our xarious experiences of the
past 21 years with bees. We started about 1838 or '59
with a box hive, purchased of the venerable bee-
keeper, E. T. Sturtevant, who divided it for us and
transferred into 3 L. hives. They did well, and wo
ran up to .5 or C hives. We always wintered out of
doors ia the poor (not good; old careless way, some-
times losing a hive or two in wintering, but never
lost one, except where the cuts in the old honey-
boards were closed. AVe would usually leave the 6x6
boxes on all winter, which usually were quite emptj\
It seems to us now, as we think back, that, with this
course, bees w<'iuld not H^'- out every time the sun
thawed the snow a little; and, in fact, they do not
now Avhen we do not have them perfectly aii'-tight
abOA'c, nor do we think they begin brood-raising o\it
of seasoTi, which in a measure necessitates their fly-
ing out for water when it is too cold for them to re-
turn. AVe know that many old bees will crawl out
in comparatively cold weather, and die; the same
would probably die and blockade the entrance if
they remained inside, but there are not many serious
losses of bees in their prime. AVhen they fly out and
become chilled before thej' can retui-n, colonies will
sometimes become almost depopulated in a few
hours. If by slight top A'cntilation you can thus
keep them quiet until suitable weather for brood-
raising, and then cover snugly, and stimulate by
feeding, should we not in a great measure overcome
the dreaded " Spring Dwindling "?
Cleveland, O., April 5, 1881. A. C. KtNDEL.
In April Gleanings you wanted to know some
thing about leaving sections on all winter, and said,
" Now, has anybody else (besides A. C. Keudel, page
171, last No.), ever been guilty of leaving the sections
on all Avinter?" In this neighborhood the people
raise their honey in boxes, and they all invariably
leave them on all winter, and claim that they do bet-
ter than any other way. Last year I had my comb
honey built in small frames extending crosswise
over the brood-frames (L. hive), and these frames
were 6 inches deep, and long enough to reach across
the hive. Over the top of these frames I put a coa--
er, leaving it entirely ojien between the two sets of
frames. Noav comes the point : six hives have been
left that Avay all Avinter, and they are in splendid
condition; in fact, they ai-e stronger tlian those that
had quilts on top of the bottom frames. I closed
the entrance of the six hives so that only one bee
could pass at a time. I think I shall winter all mine
that way next winter. Charles Kingslev.
Greeneville, Tenn., April 8, 1881.
Seeing an article in April Gleanings in reference
to sections left on all winter, 1 would say, a neigh-
bor has Avintered all his without protection, with
caps left on (empty). Every one to-day is extra,
strong, while I, Avho thought I Avas doing right, took
caps off and put quilts on; cups were glass to hold
aboiitTlbs.; hives (Quinby's simple movable comb)
sitting side by side; mine are all weak, his are all
strong; mine were the better in the fall. We have
had only 12 days that bees have flown at all,
E. Ladd, Jr.
Beverly, Macon Co , Mo., April 5, 18S1.
1881
GLEAI^INGS IK BEE CULTUKE.
243
On page 171, April No., you say if there is such an
Individual in the company, let him stand up. I will
stand up long enough to answei- your question. In
the winter o£ 1876 I left the sections on five stocks
as an experiment; they wintered well, but no better
than others. Two of those stocks had their sections
left during the spring. The result was, they did not
breed up as fast as those that received better care.
I have tried leaving the sections on twice since, but
can not think I gained a single point by it. The
past winter I left an extract ing-t op filled with honey
on a strong stock. They left the main hive, and
moved upstairs where I found them this spring in
fine condition. About that idea you kept so long:
Do you want us to believe that you held it over
thirty days? H. T. Bishop.
Chenango Bridge, N. r., April, 1881.
In April Gleanings you gave a statement of bees
having wintered well where sections and cases had
been left in hives above the frames or brood-nest,
same as during the honey season, and ask if others
have had bees wintered in same way; if so, " let
him stand up." Now, my dear sir, I would like to
obey, and "stand up;" but I have been so severely
afflicted for years, I can not; but as I recall, you
can not mean me, but the other man. My father.
Rev. J. B. Miller, did not get his bees all cared for
before winter set in, and five colonies were left with
all the sections on during the winter, and they are
on yet, April 20, 1881. Of 30 colonies wintered, but 3
were lost, and but few, if anj', are as strong as these
five. They wintered in chaff hives bought of you
two years ago. To-day they fly strong; are very
busy gathering off the little now offering for the
busy workers. A part of these filled their sections
once last season, and partly the second time. One of
them sent out a strong swarm May 3,1880, that made
■iO lbs. of surplus honey in section boxes; another a
swarm May 4, that did well; but no record was kept
of how each colony did. So much for the 5; but
were they really neglected? Many bees in this local-
ity died during the winter; some of dysentery, but
more from starvation. "Who next?
Alliance, Ohio, Apr. 23, 1881. Jesse Millek.
*iol^jS and §mrkf
W HAD 15 stands of bees last fall, 12 of them in L.
J*|[ hives. I have lost 3 of them. Three that were
in chaff hives are all right. This winter has
been a hard one on bees; half of them are dead now.
' S. L. Dennisxox.
Peoria City, Polk Co., la., March 14, 1881.
My bees wintered almost without loss; but the
springing is horrible' N. A. Prcdden.
Ann Arbor, Mich., April 19, 1881.
Dear friend : — 1 tell you, the cellar is the place to
winter bees, and no more words about it !
C. R. Miles.
Pawnee City, Neb., March 28, 1881.
My bees are still all alive, but a few of them are
weak. I had some mixed oats and rye flour out for
them to-day. I counted 60 bees, loaded, enter their
hive in one minute — one a second. S. M. Mohleh.
Covington, Ohio, Mar. IS, 18S1.
THE NEW GRAPE SUGAR.
The grape sugar came through all right on the 7th.
It is very nice— I think better than the sample you
sent me a year ago. The bees take it readily, and
seem to enjoy it hugely. B. Both.
Port Allegany, Pa., April 11, 1881.
I started to winter 4 swarms, but lost one with
dysentery. The rest I am feeding maple sugar, and
I think they are doing finely. I have had but little
experience with bees, but find that I can work with
them without any difficulty. G. W. Wolf.
Clayton, Mich., April 11, 1881.
NEW HONEY.
On March 14th, from 5 hives I took over 150 lbs.
willow honey from upper stories, since which I have
transferred to L. hives, and increased to 12, all very
strong. W. W. AVilson.
San Bernardino, Cal., April 6, 1881.
cotton-wood for HONEY, ETC.
The winter has been long and cold, but at Intervals
bees have had a fly, and, in chaff hives, have winter-
ed well. Some will lose heavily; all out of chaff will
lose some. I have 27 in chaff, all in good condition
so far. Bees here gather both honey and pollen
from Cottonwood In as dry a season as 1880.
Arvada, Jefferson Co., Col. R. H. Rhodes.
POLLEN FKO.M SKUNK CABBAGE, ETC.
I went into winter-quarters with 22 swarms; have
21 left; almost all of them now are pretty strong in
numbers; they have been carrying in pollen from
skunk cabbage for the last 8 or 10 days when the
weather would permit.
Jonathan D. Hutchinson.
"Windsor, N. J., March 18, 1881.
plaster casts FOR FDN.
In my description of the plaster casts, I said, take
2 parts plaster and 3 parts sand; but I have found,
after working the machine a while, that the sand
don't help the casts. I believe it makes them hard-
er; but after working the machine awhile, it be-
comes rough, and makes the fdn. imperfect.
Cicero, Ind., April 16, 1881. Eli.as Berg.
As to the bees, I am short just 10 hives out of 93;
lost most of them by their coming through queen-
less, and had to unite them. So far as I can learn,
most of those who did not give their bees winter
protection have lost hea^^lJ^ some losing all they
had. J. Mattoon.
Atwater, O., April 16, 1881.
winter queens.
"We see a little in Gleanings about winter queens.
There is one in our "yard" that made her appear-
ance last February that tec think can get away with
any of Doolittlc's summer queens; and when she
can not have just what she wants, she can " pipe"
louder than "Henderson's best."
E. M. Havhurst.
Kansas City, Mo., April 4, 1881.
We have had very bad luck with our bees this win-
ter. Some men have lost as high as 123 swarms. I
am a new beginner, but I made f9.00 from four
swarms, after paying for the hives, in one season ;
but the honey the bees gathered this last season was
of a very poor quality; it was thin, and no substance
to it. Two of my swarms ate as much as 40 lbs. of
honey apiece. Geo. W. Dean.
Shelbyville, Allegan Co., Mich., April 18, 1881.
24.1
GLEANIKGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
May
THE SIMPSON PLANT IN COLORADO.
I send you a few seeds of the only flgworl plant I
have seen in this county. It has been watched for
the last three years. It commences to bloom about
the first of June, and from that time to about the
first of September there will be from 15 to 30 bees on
it constantly, "from early morn till dewy eve." It
seems to me no plant can be more valuable for
honey. It grows very bushy, and not over 18 inches
high; comes up from the root every year. Last sea-
son it had no rain nor irrigation, and continued in
blossom two months. Chas. B. McRay.
Canon City, Col., April 18, 1881.
[It appears to be the regtilar plant such as wc
have, friend W. With cultivation, I think it would
grow as ours does, from 4 to 7 feet high.]
RED CLOVER, ITALIANS, ETC.
My bees being Italians, why did they not work on
red clover, as there were 40 acres or more in this
neighborhood? Why did I not get any surplus when
those who kept blacks around me did? What will
be the best way to get my bees pure again, as they
are now hybrids, and my pure queen is dead, and
most all the bees around here are blacks? I suppose
I can't do it until there are no more blacks here,
can I? Otto G. Josenhans.
Owosso, Shiawassee Co., Mich., Mar. 21, 1881.
[Red clover, like most other plants, sometimes
fails to yield honey. If the blacks got honey from
it, and your Italians did not, why try to have your
bees pure, friend J.? Keep on with your hybrids. I
am inclined to think it was because your Italians
were weak, and the blacks were very strong, if such
were really the case. You can rear pure Italians, no
matter how many black bees are around you, if you
choose. See " Italianizing " in the AB C]
We are having by far the worst snowstorm of the
season. Hill, of Mt. Healthy, has not lost one stock;
has 112; since 1868 he has lost not one in wintering!
and he uses mj- hive, and has always had over 80
stocks. L. L. Langstroth.
[Do you see that, my friends? Friend Hill has re-
ported all along his system of wintering (chaff pacli-
ing, etc.), and now friend L. reports that, with to-
ward a hundred colonies, and 113 this year, he has
not lost even one colony since 1868. There may be a
mistake in the figures, and friend L. may have meant
tosay]8T8; but even then I doubt whether we have
another man in the United States, if we have in the
world, who can say that. Is it accident, think you,
for so many years in succession? Now I will tell
you: Let us go next fall and see friend Hill, and
learn his secret. Would we iiot make a fine bee
convention if we should bring our baskets and give
him a surprise party?]
MR. niERRYBAJVKS AND HIS NEIGH-
BOR.
A CHAPTEHTIIAT TELLS SOMETHING ABOUT
GETTING DISCOURAGED IN BUSINESS,
AND GIVING UP.
^?^ERIIAP8 some of the friends would
Jf* like to know Avhy the town in which
Mr. Merry banks and his neighbor
lived was called Onionville. Well, I have
thought for some time I would like to tell
you the story ; and as there is a good moral
in it that seems to be quite in season just
now, I think I will tell it.
Near the site of the town there had for
many years stood a tract of low swamp lands
that never produced any thing but wild
swamp-grass, and was considered by all of
no value particularly, for any ]iurpose.
.Finally, some eccentric youth took it into
his head that, by a system of underdraining,
etc., this land could be so reclaimed as to
raise good crops. This piece of foolishness,
so the neighbors said, he got from some
papers or books, or some other like imprac-
ticable nonsense on which he had been wast-
ing his time ,whenhe would have been better
employed at work like the rest of them. He
did not argue the ]:)oint with them much,
but very quietly went to work and tried the
matter on a small scale ; and, as luck would
have it, his first venture happened to be on
onions. The crop was excellent, and the
demand good ; but he still kept quiet, al-
though he did a vast amount of thinking, and
studied those foolish books and papers more
than ever before. The next season he had
his plans matured and ready for business.
lie rented, at a very moderate sum, perhaps 5
acres of this swamp land, and with a force
of picked men he went to work letting off
the surplus water by means of open ditches.
Every thing seemed to favor him, and in due
season rows of bright green onions, as
straight as the streets of a city, rose up be-
fore the astonished gaze of the people ; and
the clean culture, with the bright green con-
trasting against the background of the black
soil, made a sight that was worth going
miles to behold ; and, in fact, people did go
miles just to see the beautiful sight. Did
they all give u]), and admit there was some
thing in book-farming after ally
Well, some did, but a great many did not.
Some who knew from experience what a
crop of onions might be expected from a
growth as was there before their eyes, de-
clared that the whole United States could
not consume so many, and that his crop
would bring them clown so that onions
would not be worth 10 cents a bushel. Our
friend still kept still ; for, in fact, he could
not afford to waste valuable time in argu-
ment. He just minded his own business.
In due time, the bulbs began to show them-
selves, and when the crop was beginning to
ripen, he was still on the ground, curing
them and preparing them for market in the
best manner. Not a weed had been allowed
to grow in the whole plat, and the sight was
almost as grand in the fall as it was in June
and July. Where in the world will he put
them aliv In due time they found out. With
wagon-loads of boards about a foot square,
and like loads of cheap lath, the same hands
that cared for the growing plants in a twink-
ling reared pyramids of cheap boxes, or ship-
ping-crates, and soon the whole enormous
crop of over liOUO bushels was not only safe-
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
24o
ly sliippecl to ;i distant city, but a sudden de-
mand for a nice article of onions so turned
things in his favor tliat they sold for about
$3000.00 cash, and our hero was owner of
the whole tract of land, a]id had money in
bank besides. Onions, onions, onions, was
the cry everywhere, and the next year every-
body Avent to raising onions. Losing sight
of the fact that oui" friend had not only se-
cured the very best ground for the crop, but
had put his whole life, soul, and bjains into
it, they expected to do likewise, l need not
tell you how they failed ; you have, most of
you, seen it. They were too lazy to pay the
price of the crop that he paid for his. Now,
the saddest part of it comes yet. The next
year he went to work to do the same thing
over again. Of course he could do it again,
if he had been all through it, and had done
it once. But he didn"t. I do not know
whether it was that so much success had
spoiled him, or whether it was accident that
favored him so much the first year ; but I do
know thftt, as I drove past his place in the
fall of the next year, I saw him idly sitting
on an empty basket in the middle of his field,
with a single hand with him, and this hand
also was sitting down in the rich black soil,
doing nothing. The onions had failed in a
great many places ; and where they had not,
they were small in size— some of them not
larger than hickory-nuts. AVorst of all, the
ground was covered with Aveeds. Our friend,
a young man, just in the prime of life, looked
like the fellow in the back of the ABC book,
who sits on a bee-hive, with a shingle say-
ing, " For Sale," sticking on a stake beside
him. All his enterprise and energy were
gone. Could it really be my friend of the
year before?
I got out of my buggy, and went over into
the field. Said I, " Boys, why do you not
gather these onions, and get them oft to the
marketV"
" They are so small it won't pay ; be-
sides, they won't bring over 25 cents a
bushel,"
" Why, my friend, 25 cents a bushel is bet-
ter than nothing. Fix them up nice and
send them off."
lie laughed a sort of sickly smile, crumbled
some dirt in his fingers, and sat there in
misery. Of course, he was in misery. Any-
body is who sits doAvn on the bottom of an
empty basket and says, " It won't pay."
I plucked a little one, and rubbed the skin
oft'. It was beautifully white and nice, and
all at once it came into my head that these
were exactly the thing for the little onion
pickles we buy so often at the groceries.
" Look here, my friend, you can save your-
self yet by making these small onions into
pickles. I have paid 40 cents for a quart
bottle of them, over and over again, and if
you Avill just work the thing up you can
make as good pickles as any of them."
" I haven't got any bottles."
" Jjut you can get bottles at a litt'e ex-
pense. There is plenty of time for you to
put up some samples. Take them or send
them around, and get orders." And as I
saw the acres of nice small onions scattered
about, it seemed to me just as if I would
like no better fun than to go into this pickle
business. But he didn't, and I have since
heard that he has become a bankrupt and
gone to Texas. The success of that one
season has very likely ruined him for life.
Well, now you know how Mr. Merrybanks
came to live in Onionville.
"Well, Mr. Merrybanks wintered his 25
colonies with the loss of only two. His
neighbor wintered his 20 colonies, and saved
only tAvo. More than that, he Avas out of
work, and had been for some months. While
brooding over his misfortune of being out
of AA^n-k, and almost out of bees too, he
smoked almost incessantly, and his tobacco
bill Avas getting to be quite a little item, es-
pecially Avhere there Avas no income. His
good AA'ife took in Avashing when she could
get it ; helped some of the near neighbors to
clean house during the pleasant spring
months; seAved carpet-rags, and did eA^ery
thing she could think of to keep up appear-
ances, and have John and Mary at least Jialf
AA'ay presentable Avhen they Aventto Sabbath-
school over to the little church, and hoped
and prayed for better things. Yes, prayed
for better things. She had never belonged
to any church, for in her childhood she had
hardly known AA^hat want was. Years had
made changes. She was far aAvay from her
former home and friends. None seemed to
care for her or their family particularly, un-
less it was kind-hearted Merrybanks, To
AA'hom should she go in her trouble? In one
of Mary's little Sunday-school books she had
read of answers to prayer ; and from that,
in her late trouble she had taken to reading
her Bible,
"Come over and see our pail bee-hive,"
This was the salutation that caused the fam-
ily to look around suddenly one May morn-
ing ; and as they did so, they saw friend ]SI,
at the open door, and John just behind him,
Avitli a smile on his face almost as broad as
the one Ave saw when he had climbed down
out of the tree Avith that SAvarm of bees.
John's father arose in a sort of listless, ab-
sent Avay, but Mary and her mother got their
things with a cheerful willingness that
shoAved they expected to see some thing
pleasant at least, and all followed John,
who could hardly restrain his impatience as
they crossed the road over to their neighbor's
a little beyond. Under the broad spreading
limbs of a large apple-tree w^as a rustic seat
where John's father and mother sat down.
At a little distance two stout stakes had
been driven, so that their tops were about
tAVO feet above the ground. On the top of
each Avas a common wooden pail, laid on its
side in a hollow cut in the top of the stake.
To keep it in place securely, a piece of hoop
iron Avas nailed to each side of the stake, so
as to pass over the pail. To keep the pail
from getting loose by any possibility, after
it Avas croAvded tightly into the hoop attached
to the stake, a cou])le of tinned tacks Avere
pushed into the Avood, back of the hoop. The
hollOAVs in the tops of the stakes were so
made that the bottom of the pail stood ex-
actly perpendicular.
One of the pails had an entrance made
through the bottom of it, like the pail hive
Ave saAV put inside of the barrel. The other
permitted the bees to pass out just under
246
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
May
the glass circle that closed the hive like the
one we saw clown by the fence, and oh I but
the bees were working on the apple-bloom,
and carrying in loads of honey and pollen.
MB. 3IERK\BANK!s TAIL-IIIVi. APIARY.
"Why, Mr. M,," said John's mother,"there
are more bees going out and in from these
pail hives than from your large chaff hives ;
why is this? Can it be they are stronger in
this small compassV"
" They are not as strong, ma'am, but you
see their hive is in a circu^lar form, and fewer
bees are needed to keep up the required tem-
perature to keep the brood from chilling,
and the hives are really tighter, so far as
cracks and crevices are concerned, this time
of the year, than even the chaff hives."
Just here John's father roused up a little
and interposed, " Why, neighbor j\I., if the
bees should all die, as mine have done, the
pails would be just as good as ever, with
this kind," pointing to the one where the
bees came out of the mouth of the pail;
" and if combs were melted up, one would
have nothing left on his hands but those
hoops with the rings on them, and the pail
covers, which certainly can not cost very
much."
"The hoops to hold the combs can be
made for about 3 cents eacli ; and as only
five are needed for a hive, the whole cost,
including the cloth-lined glass, will not ex-
ceed 25 cents, and such a hive is all we shall
ever need to raise queens and bees for the
market."
" Mr. M., Mr. M.," said John, as he shook
him by the arm," just show them how easy it
is to open the hives."
" All right," said our friend, and he sat
doAvn in front of one of the hives, on a low
seat made on jiurpose, and after blowing a
very small puff of smoke into the entrance,
he drew out the cover, then twisted or rolled
the glass a little, to sever all wax fastenings,
and then gently drew it out and laid it down.
You will observe, that the minute this door
was drawn back tJie least bit it was perfectly
loose, because of the flare of the pail. The
first comb presented a view of many cells
filled with various colored pollens, and new
honey. I'ou will observe, from the cut,
that friend M. has dispensed with the
arms to the frames, and nses, in their stead,
three wire rings, soldered to the metal hoops
which hold the combs.
THE PAIL BEE -HIVE, WITH THE COMBS
REMOVED.
These rings are placed at such distances
on the hoops that the two lower ones sup-
port the weight of the honey, while the up-
per one guards the top of the comb from
striking the pail and mashing bees, and the
three rings at the same time prevent any
comb from being pressed so elose to the one
back of it, as to injure the bees. Eriend M.
took hold of these rings, turned the combs
slightly, and it lifted out without even the
slightest jar. The comb was hung by one of
tlie rings on a bent nail placed in the stake,
and the whole five were quickly taken out in
the same manner. After they had been ex-
amined, and the queen duly admired, as she
kept on with her work of swinging around
in circles, the whole were quickly replaced,
and the door was gently pushed into its
place so as to push any bees clustered on the
inside of the pail, before it.
" You see," said Mr. M., " I have no mat,
enameled sheet, burlap, or any thing of the
kind to fuss with, before putting the cover
of the hive on, and yet not a bee is killed,
for I can see plainly through the glass what
it is doing, as I crowd it back into place."
"But," said John's mother, "will not the
rain beat in around the edges of the cover?
or, in other words, will this pail hive do to
stand outdoors like this, even in the summer
time?"
" Why, madam," said friend M., " if the
rain should beat in, do you not see it would
run right out againV fSee! the bottom of the
hive slants outward, and, so far as I have
noticed, no rain has ever gone beyond the
outer tin cover."
Here John's father knocked the ashes out
of his pipe and listlessly picked up the cover,
exclaiming, —
" Why, this is nothing but a common tin
pot-cover, painted green. Why do you use
tin in place of woodV"
"Because it will neither warp, twist, nor
shrink ; and, on account of its perfectly
round shape, will always close the mouth of
the pail against the weather and inquisitive
robber bees, who might be prying around
the cloth-lined edges of the glass circle."
" Mother! mother!" and John shook his
mother's arm to attract her attention, "don't
you believe Mr. M. has promised to make me
one to put right through my window upstairs,
where that glass is broketi out, so I can look
at the bees all the time while they are at
work. Jt is to be just like the one lie made
for Mr. Boot, that he has got in his green-
house. But won't it be fun?"
Well, I declare, my friends, I shall not be
able to get to the point in the story where
friend M. gave us his ideas about feeding;
and next month I hope to be able to tell you
how God answered John's mother's prayers.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
247
§Mr %€nm.
Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the
sin of the world.— John 1:29.
fpifpR. ROOT:— I do not wish to complain, but
PJtII simply to make a fair, unvarnished state-
' ment. My employer is perhaps paying- me
all he thinks I am worth to him; but I am not satis-
fled with what I am getting, simply because I am
not making a living for my family. I have a wife
and four children to support, and if I make ••JT.OO per
week I have only 81.00 left after paying my board
away from home; and if I go homo Saturday nights
on the cars, as I have had to lately, because of sick-
ness in my family and bad roads, that takes out $1.30
more, leaving for my week's support of a family of
five, less than §3.00 per week. This barely buys them
food, leaving nothing for fuel, clothing, or, in case
of sickness, medical attendance. Of course, I could
stand this for a limited time, but for a limited time
only. My clothing is about worn out. and unless lean
earn more I shall soon be obliged to stay home from
church and all public gatherings, simply for the
want of decent clothing to wear; and more, I shall
be obliged to keep my children from Sunday-school
for the same reason. It is hard, but I do not know how
to help it. You with a riper, richer experience, may
be able to point me out some plan for my improve-
ment. I should like to stay and work where I am,
could I live and support my family by the closest
economy; but my employer can not afford to pay
me more than I am worth to him, and I should not
wish him to. Could you not help me into something
better? I write this, hoping that you may advise me
in some way, point out a way, or suggest some thing
by which I shall better my condition. I am willing
to work any where, either go on the road, or any
place where I could make the most for him and my-
self. As I am proud as well as poor, and extremely
sensitive, you will do me a favor to keep this com-
munication strictly confidential; and if you can point
out a way for me, or assist me in any way, I shall be
very grateful. If I were alone in this matter I should
not think of bothering you with a statement of my
circumstances; but with loved ones and helpless up-
on my hands, I am compelled to look out for them.
How to do it, or which way to turn, are riddles to
me as dumb as the Sphynx in Egypt's land. I some-
times feel that God made a mistake in my creation,
and at such times long for death, could I be sure of
either utter obliteration or peace on the other shore.
Are these feelings foolish? I know they are wicked,
but hearts o'er tried know not reason, but only de-
sires. It is easy to wish to be, but hard to bo always
gooil. Oh this ceaseless fight with the " wolf at the
door"! will it never end? I sometimes feel like
Cain, that " every man's hand is against me."
X. Y. Z.
Although I may not be able to help you,
friend X., there is One who can, and with
pleasure I point out to our opening text. It
is lie who says, —
Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask,
and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.—
John- ltj:24.
I know how many there are who have
grievous burdens like your own to bear, and
I know how many there are, too, who feel
that thsir prayers have not been answered.
A few days ago, at our noon service, I asked
the boys and girls which is the most griev-
ous of the sins that mankind are addicted to.
The first answer was, a want of trust ; the
next, selfishness ; another said pride ; one
more, a lack of faith ; and in a few brief mo-
ments these young people told pretty cor-
rectly just what the trouble is with you and
myself, and all the rest of us. Our friends
and neighbors can tell us where we lack,
every time ; and one of the lessons we are to
learn is to be willing to be corrected by those
about us. I am glad you have come to me in
this friendly spirit, for it indicates a willing-
ness to be told of your faults, and a sincere
wish for improvement. One other point in
your letter I like. You say you do not want
your employer to pay you more than you
earn, and that you think very likely he is
paying you all he can afford to. This is
good too, for it drives you back on yourself,
and on your own resources. When you
kneel in prayer, you are not praying that
God may send you money without an equiv-
alent, but that he may open your under-
standing, and give you wisdom, that you
may make yourself worth more to your em-
ployer.
If I am correct, you would have the matter
stand some thing like this : You Mish, by
your own efforts and industry, to make your-
self so valuable to the one for whom you are
working, that it will be felt and realized to
such an extent that, in due time, instead of
being obliged to hunt for situations, people
will be coming after you, and trying to make
engagements for you, before your time has
expired. Then when somebody has made
you a better offer than the present one, and
you, of course in a manly way, inform your
present emploj'erof the fact, he replies some-
thing like this :—
" I declare, X.. it seems to me I am pay-
ing you about all I can afford ; but if you
have a chance of a better place, of coiu'se I
must either pay as much, or let you go;"
and he sits down meditatively, and sums up
your doUars-and-cents value. Yfe will, if
you please, make him think out loud : " Let
me see. X. is one of the best hands I have
got ; is always at his post promptly every
morning at 7 o'clock ; if he ever does'absent
himself, I always have notice of the fact that
he wishes to be away, so I am never kept
waiting and expecting him every moment
for a half-day or more. He does not di'ink,
nor use tobacco, nor am I ever uneasy as to
his whereabouts on Sunday, for he has a class
in the Sunday-school. I declare, these three
single items are worth more than I ever
thought of, until I am compelled to think of
losing him, as the matter stands just now.
He is a beautiful and rapid writer. Come to
think of it, whenever I want a nice letter
written to some large firm, "^ith whom I
am anxious to stand well, some way I al-
ways give it to X., without hardly thinking
why. I have other nice writers,' but some
way they are not accustomed to busuiess, or
do not think what they are doing, and make
some ridiculous mistake that upsets the
whole of it ; and, worst of all, is pretty sure
to upset me too. If any of the clerks are
sick, X. has the run of the business, enough
248
GLEi\:j^INGS IN BEE CULTURE.
May
so that he can take it up and carry it along,
or overloolv a new hand if I should be
obliged to set one at work. Another thing,
he seems to love his business. I often catcli
a smile on his face when we have made some
lucky hit in advertising, and orders begin to
l)our in like smoke. lie has a knack, too, of
getting low figures on goods. Just one more
thing occurs to me right here. It is only
once in a while we find a clerk, especially
among the younger ones, who keeps a con-
stant bird's-eye view, if I may express it in
that way, over what he is doing. ,Su])pose
interest is to be figured ; X. would at a glance
form an idea in Ins own mind about what
the result shovild be. before his computations
are completed, and thus throw out an error,
almost, as it were, Ijy intuition. One who
cultivates the faculty can learn, in time, to
guess almost to a dollar what a column of
figures will foot, before the addition is made.
Again, X. is extremely industrious. In
passing him a dozen times a day, I always
find him busy, and his hands moving rapid-
ly. He never stops any story or discussion
because I come along, and I never find him,
out of idle curiosity, looking at the work
which belongs to some one else, in working
hours. I know he is interested in new
books as they come out, and the new inven-
tions of the age ; but he never stops his
work to examiiie them, without asking me,
and I never find him discussing them or ar-
guing over them during working hours.
" Xow, while I think of it, X. has always
been a good friend of mine. Why, he has
more than once ]K)inted out " to me
the fact that I was selling certain
articles for less than it cost me to
make them, and did it, too, in a respect-
ful way, and not at all in a way that implied
he thought he knew better how to run my
business than I did. I declare, I did not know
before how much I have been depending on
liim. Still one more thing occurs to me just
now. He seldom arguet!* points with me.
^''ery few i)eoi)le like to admit they are
wrong, and it is not every one who will confess
himself at fault when the matter is pointed
out to him. I presume we are all too luuch
disposed to think the fault all on the other
side, rather than that Ave have done anything
amiss. X. has a fault in being forgetful,
sometimes. Once wlien he had forgotten
the same thing twice, may be three times, I
spoke a little impatiently perliaps ; he gave
me one of the best rebukes I ever had. Shall
I tell you how he did it? He said, —
'''Mr. Jirown, I have been careless, and
now if you will justgiv^e me a scolding every
time I make tliis mistake, I will pretty soon
learn not to do it any more.' I finally soft-
ened down my face, and laughingly prom-
ised to do just as he said, buc he has never
made the mistake since.
" I declare, it does not hardly seem as if
my business would stand it to pay — — a
week ; I am in debt thousand dollars
now. I can get plenty of men for what I am
already paying. Yes.T have had offers with-
out number almost, to hire ])retty fair writers
at a dollar a day, but for all this I am pretty
sure X. is the cheapest hand for me, e\en at
what he has been offered.-'
You see, my friends, I am only guessing
at the circumstances, and projecting you
forward, as it were, to indicate roughly the
way in Avhich you may really earn more, as
you say you wish to. Am I making a picture
too near perfection, and requiring more of
poor humanity than it is as an average cap-
able of? Very likely I am, as humanity
stands luiaided ; but with Jesus' help, with
the oi)ening text before you as your motto,
it is all easy. The first point I mentioned
was being early at yoiu" post promptly
every morning. A'ery likely this one point
will require much earnest prayer, simple as
it is.. If you are not accustomed to it, a
thousand apparently real obstacles will stand
in the way. tio to bed early, as I told you
last month, and push through them. Our
city and town people need to learn a lesson
of the farmers in this respect. Stop going
out evenings, imless it is to your weekly
prayer-meetings, and then be sure you are
at home and in l^ed by 1) o'clock. Satan may
tell you tliat, unless you attend the lectures
and read the papers you will grow up in ig-
norance of what is going on in the world ;
but just make up your mind that ignorance
is better than being behind hand and in debt,
lie as prompt in going to church and Sunday-
school as you are in getting to business
week-days. If you are going to ask God to
help you, you must be consistent, and show
him by your daily life that >'ou are really
striving to obey the command, —
Seek ye first the kiug-dom of Gud and his rifrht-
eousness, and all these things shall be added unto
you.— Matt. 6:33.
Remember,—
God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man sowoth,
that shall he also reap.— Gal. 6:7. %
In regard to the clothes, I would go to the
places of worshii> any Avay, with such as I
liad, and trust God to ('nableme to get Ijetter
when I could. At the noon meeting, one of
the hands saidpr/de is the most grievous sin
that afflicts humanity, and I am sometimes
tempted to think he was not very far out of
the way. It is a glorious thing Avhen yon
get where you can tell God you are willing
the world sliall know you exactly as you are,
and that you have fought down the last rem-
nant of a "disposition to have the world think
better of you than yo\i really are.
In regard to sickness and medicine : With-
out carrying things to too great an extreme,
I would recommend dispensing, in a great
measure, with the services of a physician.
Get up in the morning and go to work, even
if you do not feel well, and do not get into a
habit of " laying off: a half-day," even if you
do feel badly. Ask men and women who
have been really obliged to push through
work, sick or well, if they have not felt, hun-
dreds of times, as if they were about " too
sick to move," but that after they got right
into the midst of their daily tasks, they forgot
all about it, comparatively, and came out all
right without doctor or medicine. Old
Avatches are frequently j^oorer timepieces af-
ter having been at the watchmaker's than
they were before he touched them ; and I
have no doubt but that thousands, ay, mill-
ions of human beings are in poorer health , —
yes, in more Iwpelesslij poor health,— after
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
24'.)
having paid a large cIoctor"s-bill, than they
were oefore they ever went to the doctor.
Go to your Bible' instead of the doctor, and
see where you have been trespassing on God"s
laws. If you go about your work Avith a
bright faith in God, and a love for him and
humanity that will shine out on every feature
of your face, it will ward off fevers 'and ma-
laria better than any drug that was ever in-
vented.
Few people work over ten hours a day.
Well, there are of sunlight in the summer,
three or four hoiu's more. If your work is
indoors. I would spend as much of these ex-
tra hours as possible in the open air, with
your wife and children, making garden,
raising liees and chickens, or some siich pas-
time. Do not let these pursuits run away
with the money, but make them help sup-
port the family. Stop outgoes: have money
coming in, l)ut stop letting it go out unless
it has been decided, by family council, that
the expense is a necessary one. A great
many emi)loyees are in the habit of purchas-
ing things right along, that their employer
would not think of doing, because they are
too expensive. Pray over this matter, and
ask God to make you wise. If you have
tried to make garden, etc., and did not suc-
ceed, try again ; and while you try. pray for
God's blessing on the work. Make your
Savior your business partner, your elder
l)rothei , as it were ; and when you succeed,
be sure you do not forget to give him thanks.
~\^isit your neighbors who are successful in
gardening, and make up your mind you will
succeed as well as the best of them. When
you learn to be master of these little things,
when you get the knack of making things
grow and thrive, whether or no, so to speak,
you will find you are growing and thriving
too, and that your faith in God is growing
and thriving. There is a kind of feeling, as
it were, in feeling yourself master of these
things, as if God had taken you into his con-
fidence, and was showing you. step by step,
of his wondrous power tln-ough animal and
vegetable life.
God in his wisdom has not placed you
alone, friend X. It is far Ijetter tor you that
you have a wife and family; and, although
it is hard to see these loved'ones destitute of
what you feel they ought to liave, it is an in-
centive to you to action that you could not
have otherwise. Often in life we feel that
we would not mind it if no one else depended
on us ; but it is a mercy they do depend on
us. You do not need lo understand these
riddles. They are none of our business. To
think of death is cowardly.
There is an old Scottish song that speaks
of lying down to die because a loved one
had been taken away. You and I, my
friend, do not want any of that advice at all.
We are to get up and live; live for those
who are left, and not only to make them re-
joice, but to rejoice with them. It is Satan
himself who tells you every man"shandis
against you. You' have no business tolerat-
ing such tJioughts a minute ; it is one of the
blackest of lies, coming from him who is the
father of lies. I can prove it to you at once.
Are you against every man ? and yet you are
probably, like myself, about a fair average of
humanity. You are doubting God and
doubting your fellowmen. Stop it ; get out
and make garden, and keep both your hands
and brains so busy you will never have time
agam to think of such things.
Does Satan ever tell you that a man may
M'ork his life out for his employer and never
])e appreciated either? That is another
falsehood too. Do you not appreciate those
who work faithfully for you i God may try
you by letting you work a long while before
he rewards your diligence ; but the reward
will come sooner or later. Do you not re-
member how many years Joseph stayed
meekly and patiently in prison? Do you
suppose he had no task to keep out hard and
rebellious thoughts? and yet we find God
was all this time preparinghim and school-
ing him for his great life of usefulness. God
has a life of usefulness for you too, and a life
of joy and peace, if you will look up and ac-
cept "it in God"sownway. Only trust him.
1)0 you say that if all hands are as faithful
and efllcient as the one I have pictured,
there would not be room for them all? That
is a mistake equal to the one the English
operatives made when they arose in molis
and destroyed the power-looms. If all were
like him your employer could do Imsiness on
smaller margins, and could sell goods at
lower prices, so that thousands could use
them now. Avho find them beyond their reach ,
and a still greater demand for hands would
spring up. The same remarks I have made
will equally well apply to tillers of the soil,
and men and women "in all the avocations of
life. People Avho work for themselves, and
who have no employer, frequently waste
time fearfully. I presume, without doubt
this bright ^Vpril Monday morning thousands
are standing with their hands in their pock-
ets, wasting their time. Some will say,
doubtless, they have nothing to do ; nobod'y
has set them to work. ^1>' friend, it is your
ov:n business to set yourself to work. If
there is nothing else to" do, there is always a
chance open to us to cultivate the soil. If
you haven-t ground of your own, you can
get enough to keep you busy, almost for the
asking.
Now, a word about being satisfied with
moderate wages, and a little of the good
things of this world. "\\'hen we are doing
the best we can. we should be thankful.
Having very small wages is certainly better
than having no Avages at all. Of course, I
do not mean you should be satisfied Avith the
product of a lazy and slothful Avay of going
about your Avork, for in that case you ought
not to be satisfied Avith yourself. To avoid
the danger of repining against God and om-
fellow-men, we should strive to be satisfied
Avith Avhat (jod and our fellow-men see fit to
give us, and to constantly fall back on our-
selves for the things that are lacking. IIoav
can one have a happy, thankful spirit, if he
constantly dwells on wrongs he thinks he has
suffered. Let us school ourselves to expect
moderately of the world, and then, if Ave get
more than Ave expected, Ave shall of course
feel thankful. One Avho is working for a
dollar a day. and has laid out his life so as
to live within that income for the next year,
is very agreeably surprised to find that he is
250
GLEANIXGS IN BEE CULTURE.
May
to have $1.25. I know it is hard for very-
many of us to humble ourselves enough to
come clear down to the point where our ex-
penses are less than our income, especially
where that income is very small ; but, my
friends, it is the only way to secure real hap-
piness. There is really a rare kind of happi-
ness, to one who is strongly tempted to ex-
travagance, when he can so school himself
as to get down below that line of safety ; to
get where he can be willing to have folks
think he is poorer than he really is ; to be
willing to be called poor and stingy, for
Christ's sake ; to be willing to have folks
laugh and make unkind remarks about his
clothing, that he may have the satisfaction
of being able to meet all his promises
promptly and squarely. You have not only
paid your debts, but you have baffled Satan,
and you have come out victor, thank God!
Your clothes may be poor, your hands
rough, and your cheek browned ; but your
name is spotless, and you are not only not
afraid to meet anybody, but you are ready
for lots more work of the sauiie kind. Sup-
pose some of those dandily dressed fellows
do sit on the hitching-posts snickering to
themselves as you go along when you go to
town. What does it matter? Almost in-
voluntarily you quicken your steps as you
think fondly of the little home and the gar-
den, with the chickens and bees, and, more
than all, the happy prattle of the loved ones
as they welcome you home. They know
you, if the world does not. Your wife
knows your true w^orth, and God knows, as
you kneel at night with her hand in yours,
it is with no formal words, but it wells di-
rectly up from the heart, —
"O God, we thank thee. We thank thee
for this little home, so bright and joyous,
and for these loved ones thou hast given us
to care for, and bring up. AVe thank thee
that thou didst, in thine infinite mercy and
kindness, put into the hearts of thy servants
to point us to the Lamb of God, that taketh
away the sin of the world."
Friend Boot : —I like to read your ideas on men
and things that you come in contact with, although
i t causes a smile, sometimes, when you write that
God answers prayer. I do not care how much you
mix your business up with your religion ; it is none
of my business, any more than if you should mix
salt with your tea for breakfast. What concerns
me is, are you an honest man, and trying to do to
others as you would like to bo done by? Now, I wish
to give my testimony that you arc an honest man,
and you are doing a great amount of good for the
people, who read Gleanings, notwithstanding your
ideas of salvation and eternal life. Much in the
Bible is to be commended, much to be despised. I
once thought God wrote the Bible; I know better
now. Head the 109th Psalm, and ask yourself if God
had any thing to do with it. Again, read 38th chap-
ter of Genesis. A. I. Root, Esq., would not write
such infamous sentiments in Gleanings; for when
I wrote you a sarcastic letter, your answer was in
kindness, and taught me a lesson not to be forgotten.
You are doing good, and I want to help all men who
are trying to help others, but I don't think that God
has any thing to do with it, for I don't know as there
Is any such being, and I know as much as any other
man living does, as the finite mind can't compre
hend the infinite; hence, no one knows. One point
you and I can agree on, and that is temperance; and
I hate Christianity, because it will not attack this
curse of the world. It bows down to the lousy god
Mammon, and the wealthy liquor-dealer is called a
good brother in any Christian church, if he pays a
large sum of money for the support of the church
Now, don't misunderstand me; I do not hate the
men an women who believe in Christianity; what I
mean is, I hate the creed they profess to believe, as
(to my mind) it causes drunkenness and crime
throughout the land, as there are more Christian
thieves and drunkards in our prisons than there are
infidels. My idea is, that if I do you a wrong I must
pay the penalty; no Jesus to save me; and when
this idea prevails, no more prisons will be required,
no more drunkards in the land, no more preachers,
but teachers like yourself who are doing good by
deeds as well as words.
Now, I have written you some words, but thoy
would be of little use unless there were deeds with
them; hence find my subscription for one year, and
it is well worth the money. W. E. LeoNvVRD.
Port Huron, St. Clair Co., Mich.
I thank you for your good ophiion and
kind words, friend L. A few years ago a
man came to visit me who was an old bee-
keeper, and, after looking at the apiary and
asking a few questions, he declared, point
blank, that there was no such thing as a
queen in a hive, and that neither I nor any
one else had ever seen one. Do you think
my faith was weakened, and that I rushed
to a hive and opened it to see again if I had
always been mistaken V or do you think I
argued the point with him ? Well, what you
say about answers to prayer strikes me much
in the same way. I had been working with
the queens all day, and, althougli the mau
may have been 'ho'.iest, my acquaintance
with queens was such that his remark— why,
you know it is utter folly for me to say I
knew there were queens in the hives. Now,
please do not think me harsh Avhen I say the
evidence, to one, of a personal God, and one
who answers prayer, is just about the same.
Not that I see God with my eyes as I see a
queen, but that I feel his presence very much
as I feel this April morning sun when I close
my eyes. I wonder if a little experience of
the past few days may not make it plain to
you.
In my work of trying to save souls, I often
meet with sad discouragements. Just re-
cently, in a case where forbearance ceased
to be a virtue, as it seemed to me, I rejn-oved
and rebuked most severely. In fact, I over-
stepped the line, and, I fear, took upon my-
self the responsibility of judging, where God
had not constituted me a judge. I thought
it was needed, and that I had done my duty;
but as the hours wore on, there began to be
a dull pain, as a sort of under-current in my
spiritual life ; and as my mind ran back, it
seemed to stop at the incident I have men-
tioned. The individual was gone, and I
could see nothing to be done. If he suffered
and wanted help, it was his place to come
and accept of it, for my last words had
been proffered help. During the after-
noon, the feeling increased so that I went to
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
2.51
mj' room and asked G od to forgive me. This
brought some peace ; but for all that, the
burden kept increasing. It was Saturday
night. ;My evenings, especially Saturday
evenings, are usually my happiest moments.
To-niglit, nothing gave peace or rest. I
went down into the greenhouse and looked
at the bees in the pail bee-liivie. They were
doing finely, but this burden chilled and
deadened every thing. I went u]) into the
ofliee and read the Amrrrican Aqriculturist.
For a time, I forgot, and was as cheerful and
pleasant as usual ; but presently a great
load that began to seem almost mountain-
like, swept over me, coming from I hardly
knew where, enveloping and chilling me to
my heart's core. I told' Mr. Gray of the in-
cident, and he said I had done exactly right,
if I recollect correctly ; but against this rose
up the voice of God "in his displeasure, with
a condemnation that settled the matter de-
cisively. It was late, and surely nothing
could be done at this hour. Oh that I had
been more mild and gentle ! I was just
thinking I would give fifty dollars to have
been able to recall those few words. Then I
remembered the words in that little book,
the Christian's Secret of a Happy Life, that
God forgives instantly, and peace always
comes at once when we are truly penitent,
and ready to obey implkithi. I have had such
trials before, and I knew by experience, the
pain would, in time, wear off. I sat down
gloomily, thinking it was God's just punish-
ment, and there was no other way but to
live it through. A sleepless night and un-
fitness for my Sabbath-day's labors rose be-
fore me. but'there was no help for it. I must
bear it. and try again to learn better. It was,
I confess, with a lack of faith that I again
knelt alone and asked God's forgiveness.
Xow should I say that, while on my knees,
God told me what to do. you would call it
visionary, and therefore I 'will state it this
way : VViiile on my knees the thought came
to plunge out into the night and hunt up the
one who was, very likely, even now giving
himself wholly iiito the hands of Satan.
The feeling came stronger, and seemed to
say, " He whom you have helped and
cheered and encouraged with kindness and
long patience thus far, now in his hour of
greatest need and sorest trial you have de-
serted; an immortal soul is likely at this
very instant feably wavering on the verge
of ruin, and no hand near to stay his fall."
Some thing did suggest faintly that I knew
not where he was ; but strong and clear
came the voice, '• I will guide thee.'' Off I
sped, and before I knew it, the load had gone,
and I was happy— happy as a bird in the air.
It was among those who were almost strang-
ers that God led me, and it was with a little
trepidation that I intruded ; but very soon I
knew why God had sent me there. It was
not much that I said, and I fear little was
the good I did, more than to say a few kind,
hopeful words, and then I was directed to
visit two or three others, whom I knew
would sleep better after having heard the re-
sult of my mission. One of them was the
dear friend Avho was to i)reaeh to ns on the
morrow, and it was worth a great deal to see
his face. light up, -uid the load of care lifted
a little, and the thought occurred to me that
I he would not only rest better, but that his
sermon on the morrow would reach further
I in its mission of saving souls. Home at last,
and happy. JNIy wife does not wony when I
am late now, for she feels sure that some-
body will be made happier for my absence.
j And is this indeed myself, and my life':* The
I old life is not forgotten yet. even though a
half-dozen years have passed; and as 1 lie
! down to rest, almost too happj' to sleep, I
praise him again and again for his mercy
and kindness.
Behold the Lamb of God, which laketh away the
I sin of the world.
Yes, not only the .sin of the world, but the
! pain and sorrow of the world, to all who will
i ptit their trust in him. Now, I do not wish
; to say by the above that anybody was saved
I or converted l»y my visits that night, for the
[ events are in tiod's hands, and the responsi-
bility rested on him, and not my poor self,
after I had obeved the promptings of that
moving spirit ; "but the point I wish you to
! see is, that God answers prayer in the way
I I have indicated, and gives relief. I know
' yoii may explain it away by saying that it
was only a feeling of uneasiness, and that I
felt better as a matter of course, after having
done a humane act; but, my friend, who
and what prompts these feeUngs, and what
will be the result of following them V Sap-
pose we call it (rod, or the " God part " that
is in us all ; and, to go a little further, what
will be the result of cultivating this prompt-
ing spirit within us V Is it wild to think this
gentle influence might in time grow so as to
envelop you like a robe, and, while it guards
and holds you from evil, that it may also
give yoti a "feeling of happiness and safety
that can be, without exaggeration, compared
to the text,—
Eye hath not seen, nor car heard, neither have en-
tered into the heart of man the things that God hath
prepared for those that love him?— I. Cok. ~ : 9.
Now a little further : If one is going to
cultivate this influence, he must have (luiet
and meditation ; es]iecially is this the case
with a beginner. He must commune with
himself— with his inner nature. It is no
easy matter for untrained humanity to sub-
mit to be led by an influence so gentle as to
be compared to a summer breeze.
A bruised reed shaU he not break, and the smok-
ing tiax shall he not quench.— Isa. 4~ : 3.
Well. now. friend L., how better can we
place ourselves than in the attitude of pray-
er, when we wish to seek this straight and
narrow path V The bowed head indicates
humility and obedience ; the closed ey(^s, a
willingness to forget earthly objects ; and an
audible voice, even though you are alone in
the woods, that you are not afraid to ask the
God who made you to j?uide you in ways of
wisdom and in paths of peace. I have only
tried to tell you how I feel about answers to
prayer, friend L..so far, and at another time
I will try to answer some of your other difh-
culties. ^^
Envelopes directed to myself will be furnished
free to any of our patrons who may want them.
Postal cards, directed in same way, for one cent
each, postage paid on all. Just say how many you
Avaut, and they will be forwarded at once.
252
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
May
SMOKER COIiVmN.
fll AVE spent the evening in reading and review-
ing April Gleanings, and have found manj^ iu-
' teresting articles, and lastly ran upon "Smoker"
column, the most singular offer I ever heard of. As
to this, I will give expression to my views. Your
offer to give a smoker to all those who will abandon
the use of tobaeco, on simple statement, you taking
a person's word only, no oath required ! By the
way, I am inclined to think that a great many will
make use of your extreme liberality, and you will
suffer quite a loss that will amount to quite an item
at the end of the year by giving away your smokers.
It is likely that perhaps about one-half of these in-
dividuals are sucking away at their pipes as usual,
in spite of their promises. Auo. TiGGES.
Marathon City, Wis., Apr. 12, 1881.
Friend T., you are to me one of this vast
sea of humanity. I do not Ivuow you any
more tlian I know those wlio have publicly
made this promise, except from what I can
judge from the letters they have written.
Now, would you keep the promise, if you
had given it under the same circumstancesV
To be sure, you would ; and so will the oth-
ers. They are not under my eye, and the
promise is not, in one sense, given to me.
It is made before God, and it is God whom
they offend, if they break it, without com-
ing out honestly and acknowledging their
fault, and paying for the smokers like men.
Is there one among us who would break such
a promise for the paltry sum of one or two
dollars? God forbid! There is a great strong
arm back of me, in tliis, friend T., and He
will take care that I do not suffer very mucli.
Thanks for smoker, all O. IC. When promise is
broken, I will pay you for ten smokers.
Beverly, Mo., April, 1881. Ed. Ladd, Jr.
I will ask you to send me a smoker, for I shall
never use tobacco again, under a penalty of Ave dol-
lars the first time I smoke, chew, or use it in any
way as a stimulant. Send me a large Bingham
smoker on the above conditions.
N. B. H. Dean.
Brighton, Ont., Can., March 10, 1881.
Do not send me a smoker for leaving off using beer
and tobacco, but please help me to form other reso-
lutions, which I consider worth more than presents.
Chillicothc, la.. Mar. 15, 1881. Jo.sEni Ball.
I want to join your tobacco army; and if you will
send me a smoker I will pledge my word Hd'ev'touse
tobacco again. Please send me one of those Lu-gest-
sized ones— one that holds two quarts. If you do not
intend to give that size, I will pay the difference,
and if I use tobacco again, I will pay you $1.01 for it.
Los Angeles, Cal., Feb. 31, '81. W. W. Bliss.
About the smoker you sent me: it seems easy now
to keep from smoking. I have promised wife, God,
and you, to keep from it, so if I break one I b)-eak
nil. Thanks many times for it, and hoping God will
bless you and your " Home Papers," I remain,
E. Ladd, J«.
Beverly, Macon Co., Mo., April 5, 1881.
REPORT FROM NEIGHBOR SHOOK.
WINTERING 4.5 COLONIES AVITHOUT LOSS.
fjjHIS is my first attempt at letter-writing. I will
tell j'ou my experience in bee-keeping. 1 have
kept bees since lS6i. I kept blnck bees about
ten years in box hives, averaging from one to eight,
with no honey to eat, until 187.5; then I got up to
eight again. I then bought eight Italian queens of
Mr. Dean, about Sept. 1st, 1875. I Italiaiaized all, and
changed to movable-frame hives.
In 18761 increased to 15 colonies bj' artificial swarm-
ing, and procured 400 lbs. of honey. Since then I
have had all the honey to use 1 wanted, with bets
and honey to sell. In IS79 I incrensed to 41 colonies,
of which I lost 2; in the spring of 1883 I sold 19 col-
onies; started agiin wiih 2J colonics; increased to
45; procured about .500 lbs. of honey: lost none.
These colonies are very light, but I think tbey will
come ont all right. I winter in house. The outside
is sided up with Js drop siding, sealed inside with
inch lumber; have sccentcca inches of s.iwdust be-
tween walls. It is warm; the lowest that I saw the
mercury this winter was 8° below freezing. This is
rather warm — perhaps chaff would b3 better. I
have it ventilated at top and bottom; have wintered
in house three winters, with go id success.
Daniel Shook.
Seville, Medina Co., O., April 21, 1S8L
A FRESH ABC SCHOL.iR'S STORY.
MSI am one of the ABC class, a new and green
^\, scholar at that, I wili mnke my report. I am
"'^ an invalid, and have b(_cu for several years. I
had to quit business on accounl of my hc;iLh. I
bought Vi cclonies last October and November at
public sale. Thej' were in miserable old rotten
hives; about 4 had stores sulHcient to winter on;
remainder had plenty ( f bees, but had but little
stores. I bought pine luiibcr and had hives made,
20 inches in the clear; set the old hives in these, and
packed straw between them, and put gunny sacks
and baling stuff on the frames, and left them to care
for themselves until spring. We had an unusually
cold and long winter. They had one day in Febru-
ary and two in March they could fly; but a great
many died on the snow. I began to feed coffee A
sugar syrup the 20th of March, by putting the syrup
in plates and saucers placed on the frames and
under the gunny bags. I gave each colony two
saucers of syrup a week. They ate it readily. But
3 of my weakest colonies died, one in February and
two in March, leaving me 10— one with dysentery
bad, but cleaning up and working now. Gathered
first pollen from hazel April 13, mercury 43, and have
been busy every day but one since that. We had a
hard rain this morning; cliudy all day; bees boil-
ing out at the entrance, and packing pollen as if
their very existence depended on to-day's work.
They are hybrids and the common black. Api-il 16th
one hybrid colony sent out a fair swarm. They set-
tled and acted exactly as a swarm would in summer.
I went to the mother colony and found a hybrid
queen near the entrance in a small clump of bees.
I picked her up, put her in a cage, and opened the
hive to see what the trouble Avas; found plenty of
bees, some sealed honey, eggs, and unsealed larvae.
Well, you have left plenty to keep house, and now
what's the matter? I examined the cluster and
found another hybrid queen. I then put tbem in a
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUIIE.
hive that was full of combs; gave them one sash of
cg-gs and unsealed brood from the mother colony;
and one sash with some honey and a saucer of syrup
on top of frames; put in some oM rags and tucked
them up warm and nice; found my saucer empty
next morning. They are now gathering pollen, and
working finely. A swarm of bees day before Easter
in North-western Missouri: How is that? Have 1
overdone the business, or what is the matter? To-
day, April £0, is the first day the bees have worked
on the elm bloom. All vegetation is very late.
Fruit-buds just beginning to swell. Well, I must
quit— too iDUg now, etc. " There, John, hand round
the waste-basket." Alexander Floyd.
Guilford, Mo., April ;:0, 1881.
No Avaste- basket at all, friend F. I am
always glad to hear from the new scholars,
aud a letter like yours, full of hope and fresh
enthusiasm, is a "jewel after our long season
of blasted hopes. You have done just right,
and your new swarm is the reward of faith-
fulness and diligence, and nothing else.
Go on and prosper, and let us hear from you
often.
^VIIAT KILL.ED THE BEES?
HAS THE SHALLOW L. FRAME liEEN WORSE lOR
WINTERING ?
COMMENCED five years ago in the A B C class
with one swarm, and have now some few over
one hundred, all from that swarm, aud I have
never lost any of any account until this winter. The
advocates of a def p frame who have wintered their
bees, claim it was the frame that did it; but I think
that the facts will show that bees in hives with deep
frames crosswise of the entrance have died just as
badly, if not worse, than those in the usual hives.
Out of o~ hives of bees liought by a Medina man this
spring of the Nunn brothers of Norwalk, IT' were in
the Am. hive, aud 20 in Langsiroth. They all died
in the Am. hives but two, aud there were 10 in the L.
hives that lived.
POLLEN AND ITS INFLUENCE ON DYSENTERY.
I have a small apiary in Litchfield, located on a
branch of Black lliver, where the bees gathered so
much pollen that they tilled frames from top to bot-
tom aud from end to end. The bees were all in
chatr hives on 2-1 frames. In Sept. I packed the bees
on the ten lower frames, taking all the frames that
had pollen in to build up the Holy-Land apiary.
Wherever 1 put a frame of that pollen, the bees win-
tered badly, were sick, and a good many of them
died. The bees that I left without the pollen, though
I did not see them again till the 18th of April, were
everyone alive aud in splendid condition. 1 hear
from one of his neighbors that R. Crow's large apiary
in his square-frame hives, only one mile away, are
all dead. Jt was not the hives, but the pollen that
killed them. In our Cyprian apiarj-, in the old chaff
hives that the bees had well waxed up and were
packed earl J', though part of their stores were grape
sugar, all arc alive and strong, while those that I
packed late in ucav hlvos, though I united two or
three small colonies, to make one large one, almost
all are dead, and what are alive are very weak. I
never had good luck uniting bees in the fall; 1 would
rather feed the weak colonies, and build them up
strong. I don't think it is luck wintering bees, but
Jfnowlug all the conditions under which bees should
be put into winter-quarters. Dl (h^ fireplace, you
must have young bees; for if the bees arejill old in
the fall, they will all die of old age l)ef ore fpVing. I
think that is the thing that killed A. L Root^ls beo.S;\
he would fill every order for beee, an4 incputtidg;
them up, by shaking the combs they?ia b^es will fly^^
and the young bees only fall into th{>cage; and be-
sides, the old bees arc those that do ttie out-d6or.
work, aud the young stay at home and do fhe-bausS-
work and are, therefore, the ones that get sold. I
know this is the case, for I helped put up his bees,
and besides, I know how it worked in my apiary.
Another thing- that helped to kill them: There
was a large fruit-evaporator about sixty rods from
his apiary, and the bees worked on the decayed fruit.
I know some of our hives had the scent of bad peach-
es, and I tell you that is not good winter stores fur
bees. I will ti-y to give some more hints between
now and next fall. fl. B. Harrington.
Medina, O., April 26, 1881.
A VISIT TO NEIGHBOR H.'S APIARY,
¥0U see, he came along with that fast
horse of his, just about supper time,
— and asked me to step in. lie didn't
have the old rickety buggy, tut he has got a
new light one, just right to go around to his
apiaries with. I observed a hole in the bot-
tom, even if the buggy was new, and men-
tally resolved not to step through that hole.
8upper time is a very important hour with
me, and so I just stepped up to the door of
the lunch-room and asked *•' Lu " to give me
a paper bag of sandwiches. You know I
am always careful and prudent. Patsy
bounced us over rough roads, and fairly
made us skim the ground, when we came tb
a level piece, and finally landed us at the
apiary.
"Neighbor II.,'' said I, " do you know
when it was I first saw this garden V"
"No, "said he, "I don't."
" Well, it was about 20 years ago. I ad-
mired the garden very much then (more than
I do now, in fact), and I admired a straw-
berry bed that stood over in that corner; but
if I recollect aright, I admired the farmer's
daughter who lived here a great deal more
than either, as she helped me pick straw-
berries that June evening."
II. said he didn't remember the strawber-
ries, that he knew of, but he did remember
admiring that farmer's daughter's younger
sister a few years later, and, come to think
of it, I do not believe we either of us ever
got really over it, and that is how we came
to be brothers-in-law.
I lifted the cover to a chaff hive, and took
out the cushion. Under a sheet of duck Avas
a tin-pan cake of maple sugar, tunneled and
honey-combed all through, and a rousing
colony of bees it was. I opened another and
another, and every hive had the same cake
of sugar, or the remnants of one. and about
the same amount of bees. We took a queen
and 1 lb. of bees (worth now $6.00) from one
moderately sti'ong colony, but did not seem
to hurt them materially in numbers. I pre-
sume the apiary would furnish SoOO.OO worth
of bees and queens to-day, and then build
up, without trouble. Said I, —
"Look here, H. Y"ou Avould kill a weak
254
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
]\LVY
colony by giving it a whole cake of sugar
like that, in cool weather."
" "Well, don't T know that? I h<(ve killed
four or five in learning it by experience."
In putting the frames back into one of the
hives, it struck some thing on the bottom of
the hive. It was fine dry sugar that had rat-
tled down, after they had sucked out all the
moisture. IL replied that he knew that was
one nuisance in feeding sugar cakes or can-
dy. I told him I would lix it if he would
show me a dipper of water. "With this we
dampened the sugar on the bottom-boards,
and the bees soon did the rest. The large
cakes, that had been eaten out to a dry shell,
were dampened and used up in the same
way. II. will, without trouble, make his
hundred hives bring him a tliousand dollars
in selling queens, and bees by the pound.
As the sun was going down, we got into the
buggy to go home, and I began looking
around anxiously for my bag of sandwiches.
Sad, sad to tell, they must have slipped out
of the hole in the bottom of the buggy ;
and the more I thought of it, the more I
meditated on the excellencies of sandwiches.
" There they are," said II., and Fatsy was
on the spot in a twinkling, and we both de-
clared it had not hurt them one bit by lying
in the middle of the road on the top of the
hill an hour or two. Do you know how they
are made? Get some nice biscuit and butter,
boiled ham, and a pot of mustard. Put the
mustard on the slices of ham, then the but-
tered biscuit each side of the slice ; put 'em
in a paper bag, and when you are out riding,
after supper time, just — taste yourself, and
see.
CLEANmCSlOEE COUmE.
-A- I- K<OOT,
EDITOR AND FUBLISKEB,
MEDINA, O.
TERmS: $1.C0 PER YEAR, POST-PAID.
FOR CLUBBING RATES, SEE FIRST PAGE
OF READING MATTER.
lMOElJZ>T.TSr.A., IVLjATST 1, X08X.
15y their fruits j^e shall know them.— Matt. 7:20.
Don't quarrel. _
Save your money.
Raise your own queens, and then you will be sure
nobody has cheated you.
Please "go slow" in finding fault with each oth-
er. It is the easiest thing in the world to be mis-
taken.
We shall now have all kinds of que ens on hand,
ready to ship by return mail, at our table prices just
as we have for years past.
April 20th.— We have 4205 subscribers, aud the
catnip and nuAluricort plants are up in the optn
ground, as well as the others.
AxD would you believe it? The Spider plant has
self-sown its seed also, aud under the influence of
this fine weather the young plants are coming up as
thick as " spatter."
Do not be in too much haste to divide. Yovi con
raise more bees by making each colony a strong one
before dividing it, than by crippling the queens by
giving them only a small cluster of bees.
The amount of matter on hanil is far beyond what
we can find room for, and the letters in regard to
losses are so many that we shall hardly find room
for one in ten. It is time now, friends, to take some
other topic, until another winter.
I DO not want to buy empty combs, nor do I know
who does. All our comb.-< are now built on wired
frames, for convenience in shipping Ijoes. Those
who have them may advertise them, if they wish, at
20c each insertion, as in the bees, queen, and hive
columns.
Let it be distinctly underctood, that those who
send out queens are to be in no way responsible un-
less a full and complete sjujIj address is given. An
order is now puzzling the clerks, where the letter is
headed one P. O., and another given after the sig-
nature.
Do not let your empty combs go to waste. If they
are nice ones, do not try them up for wax either.
Look at them often, fumigate them if the worms
get started on them, and save them for another
year, if you do not need them all this. I have often
saved them over, without a particle of injury.
The price of our one-piece sections will l)e, for tlio
present, $4 50 per thousand; but at this price there
can be no wholesale, and I can make no rebate to
those who have already purchased. Demand and
supply fixes the prices of rntiy such g.iods, and I
can neither well forsee nor be responsible for fluc-
tuations in prices.
Neighbok Dean has wintered 00 cclonies, and
lost only 8. Do you not see that the veterans are
surely gaining ground? With the exception of my-
self, I really believe our Medina Co. bcc-mcn have
wintered better than the. do on an average. Friend
D. wintei-ed part in his cellar, and part in his saw-
dust-packed house, but says he found little differ-
ence.
When you get something from the Counter Store
that is not as it is described there, please bear in
mind that it is probably because we could not get
the article we are accustomed to have, and so did
the best we could by sending the nearest thing to it.
I am sure I am more sorry than j-ou can be, when I
am obliged to do this.
RouiNSON Crusoe has finally come out in cheap
book form too. It is published complete, with quite
a lot of pictures, in a book of 240 large pages, for on-
ly 25c. The frontispiece is a picture of Friday's as-
tonishment at the power of the gun. No boy's or
girl's education can be said to be complete tmtll
they have read Robinson Crusoe. Wc can .nail it
postpaid for 23c.
Neighbok Shake, with an apiary of about 190 col-
onies, has not lost to exceed 10 per cent, and wintered
outdoors at that. The hives were ordinary L. hives,
with chaff cushion over the frames. He borrowed
one chaff hive from us, which wintered without a
loss of over two dozen bees, and consumed much
less stores than those in his other hives. Although
he always wintered in cellars until of late, he now
thinks he shall winter out of doors next winter. I
confess I am a great deal puzzled.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
255
Right before us is a letter with money in for a
queen, and the writer says he is going to " hold " a
colony queenless until he gets her, and yet he hasn't
signed his name. I opine both he and the col my
will get tired before he gets her.
Do not depend too much on buying queens from
other parties. Both "Will and neighbor H. say they
would almost as soon raise a queen in a nucleus as
to take the chances of introducing one. A queen-
cell ready to hatch will often get a laying queen in a
hive as quick (or (juicker) as to buy one and try to
introduce her.
The dictionaries came at last, a whole thousand,
and regular little beauties they are. I have had a
big scolding all round for selling them so cheap. Mr.
Gray commenced it, my wife then took it up, and
finally my 18-year old bjy took me to task, and
talked to me like a father. Seud 15c for the diction-
ary (and 5 more for postage, etc.), and then you can
scold too if you like.
THE RUnUER PLATES FOR MAlvING FOUNDATION.
We have n* length, after much and expensive ex-
perimenting, got rubber plates for a f uU-sizod sheet
for L. frame. The imprint is for Dunham fdn., fur-
nished by Dadant, and is perhaps the best, all things
considered, that can be used. It makes about 5 feet
to the pound. There are some things about the
machine that we wish to improve before filling or-
ders for machines. I know it is bad to keep you
waiting this time of the year, but I really see no help
for it. We hope to be sending out machines in a
week.
PRICES OF BEES AND QUEENS FOR MAY.
Queens will be as per table in price list, but owing
to enormous demand for bees by the pound, and the
scant supply, the prices for May will this year be
the same as April, or $3.00 per lb. Of course, those
who have sent money before this reaches them will
be served at the usual May prices, $1.50 per lb. If
others can do better, I shall be very glad of it, for 1
know that it will be better and clioa per for you all
to deal directly with each other, instead of passing
so much through my hands. I have already pur-
chased 90 fine colonics, but I rather prefer not to
cripple them all at once by selling off all the young
bees by the pound.
A FEW days ago we lost our half-gallon measure
for kerosene oil, and the tinsmith made another.
As I had often talked to him about having measures
absolutely exact, he made it so, but when the old
one turned up, it was found the new one held half a
pint the most. This measure was one bought at our
tin-shops, and was perhaps about as nearly right as
the average. I have for j-ears cheated every cus-
tomer who has purchased oil of me, to the above ex-
tent. Do you not see the need of some thing better
than the usual slipshod way of doing business? Our
glass graduates on the 2.5c counter are intended to
correct all the measures about the house, and I can
but regard them as a boon to humanity.
MAPLE SUGAR.
I HAVE bought, of the Medina Couuty farmers,
somewhere from three to four tons of maple sugar
this spring, and our girls are busy making it into 1-
Ib. bricks. Fifty bricks will be packed in a box,
each wrapped in a nice clean paper. The price will
be lOe. per brick, or $1.75 for a case of 50 bricks.
The sugar, as we buy it of the farmers, in tin-pan
cakes, will be $9.00 per hundred lbs. It is pure ma-
ple sugar. In making into bricks we only boil it so
it will not drip or drain in ship])ing, stirring it well
to give it a fine graiu. I do not know of anything
better for bee candy, and it is also a fine thing to
have when you want to coax the children to be
"good." Wouldn't you be good if you were in their
place.*?
SIMPSON PLANTS.
AVE did not get all our Simpson-plant seed gather-
ed last fall, but after shaking out some, and trying
it, we found it to grow splendidly. Now, what do
you think I found last evening? Wh3% while 1 was
admiring the great green shoot from the old roots,
a.s they raised the soil, trying to push their broad
heads into the sunlight, it occurred to me I should
have to cultivate them at once, as there was such a
great quaiitity of weeds .starting. In fact, these
weeds fairly made a carpet of green that covered
the ground. I stooped down. Simpson plants, as
sure as you are alive, in countless millions. Why, I
can furnish you all you will want at 10c. a hundr(;d
if I can only get them mailed to you safely. Will
some of our nursery friends kindly instruct me in
the best way of packing, and tell me where I can get
the proper material, etc.? Postage will probably be
another 10c. ^^
Neighbor Sh.\w, who uses the dead air-space in-
stead of ohafl: packeng, i-eports as follows:—
I havi- lost two swarms by starving;, out of 17; all the rest
ranie tlnoiif-'h in g'ood shape O-vcept tlie loss of two queens; all
winteretl on siiiumer stands without any protection whatever
exeeiit tin- hives. F. R. SHAW.
Chatham Center, O., April 20, 1881.
A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED.
Just as we go to press comes the following:—
Your postal of 'JOtli .\pril is at hand. AVe can funiish bees in
May at Sl.iin per lb. ineludint,' shippinj?-easo and insure safe de-
livery by express (you iJ.aviii^' e.xiiress c'liarfres. i I can also fur-
nish'whole swarms duriu';;- s.ime montli at $•:.''!> in 1-frame nu-
clei to tlie amt. of 00 lbs, of l)eis and 'M swarms, if ordered im-
niediatelv. If we eau ftniush more will let roll know. We
think, by u'eltin^' early swarms you could g'et tliem in time for
vour houev en 'p. our blacks are almost ready to swanu. Ital-
ians behind, and wc:ik. W. K. WuiTM.\.v & Co.
New .Market, Ala., April 25, 1881.
Here is another: —
I have received your postal of the 20th. I will furnish bees
by the lb. to your e iistomers from now until tile last of Ma.v for
S'^.CMI per lb. .and jiuarainee safe delivery by express only.buyer
paying' transportation cliarn'cs. I will guarantee safe delivei-y
byexpri'ss iinly, and only when the purchaser gives his ftill
plain address; and if his P. (>. and express office address ai'e
not the same, he must Rive both. You ought to stipulate tllis
eonspciously in eveiy i.ssue of Gleanings, because we can not
pay for other people's carelessness. J. G. Tavlor.
iJox 131, Atistin, Travis Co., Tex., April 2i, 1881.
I agree, friend T. Will customers please take no-
tic c ?
SUGAR-CANE TH.4.T BEARS THE SUGAR IN THE BLOS-
SOMS.
It's coming, boys, as sure as can be. Just listen ;—
I will send you some seed of oranpre cane. If yon .are going to
plant any eane, it's far ahead of Amber, as it is so much larger,
and nep^rly as early; makes twice as much syrup or sugar. I
have sugar 1 made from Louisiana ribbon cane, and thai from
' ' orange "is nicest. I notice the bees work on the blooui also .
My Simpson plants are now neaily 2 ft. high.
I. O. FiTZGEK.M.D.
BrookstonTex., April 20, 1881.
To be sure, I want some seed, friend F., and I pre-
sume several others will too. Sugar-cane that the
bees will work on is .lust what we have been looking
for.
FAIR PL.VY.
The following was carelessly omitted in the proper
place: —
LET VS ILIVE FAin VLXY .
Several friends of ours having informed us that Mr. Jones, at
the national convention held at Cincinnati, had said tliat we
were selling spurious Cy|)i'ian i|Ueens. wo wrote to him, and in
reply, he said that we had sold, as Cyprian, queens that had
not 'a drop of Cvpri:tn blood in ihem. Mr. Benton, besides,
wrote to the ' •'l!ee-kct.)iers' Magazine" that but few i|Ueens
liad been sent from Cyprus to Kuropean breeders, and that jiart
of them had died on the way. Wi' have notilied Mr. Fiorini of
these allegations, and received, in I'cply, among several other
proofs, a certilicate from the railroad agent, stating that Mr.
Fiorini had i-eeeived, in 1880, seven shipments of living beei
from I.aniaca. Cyi>rus. CiLis. Dap ANT .* Son.
Hamilton, Hancock Co , 111 , March 19, ISSl.
2.50
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
May
THE TUKN O' THE TUNE.
BY A BEE-KEEPER'S DAUGIITEK.
Once I wandered in the garden,
In the happy days of June,
When the roses were in blossom,
And the birds were all in tunc;
And I sang in purest pleasure,
" What a happy world is this;
June has sweetness without measure,
And to live Is almost bliss !"
So I stooped and pulled the roses,
Till a sudden bliuding pain
Shot like lightning thro' my body,
Numbing hands and dulling brain.
There, within those dewy roses.
Fresh with fragrance, wet with dew,
Lay a honey-bee reposing.
Filled with sweets and -venom too !
While the honey-bee reposes
Undisturbed, untouched by me.
Even mid my choicest roses,
I severely let him be;
For I've wiser grown, and sadder,
And my life is not all bliss;
So I chant in minor cadence,
" What a bitter world is this !"
Eliza M. Shekman.
f on^K ^elumn.
Under tbis head will be insei-ted, free of charge, the names of
*11 those having honey to sell, as well as those wanting to buy.
Please mention how nmch, what kind, and prices, as far as pos-
sible. As a general thing, I would not advise you to send your
honey away to be sold on commission. If near home, where
you can looK after it, it is often a very good way. By all means,
develop your home market. For 25 cents we can furnish little
boards to hang up in your dooryard, with the words, ' ' Honey
for Sale, ' ' neatly painted. It wanted by mail, 10 cents extra for
postage. Boards saying "Bees and Queens for Sale," same
p'ice.
CITY MARKETS.
New York, Aprils;'.— Honry.— We quote you comb
honey, put up in neat packages, as follows: Best
white, in 2-lb. boxes, l.")(?7il7c; fair white, in 2-lb.
boxes, 13(q}.Uc; buckwheat, in '.J-lb. boxes, 10® l;Jc;
large boxes, 2c per pound less than above prices;
best clover, extracted, 9@l0c; buckwheat, extract-
ed, 7@7W c. Honey market is very quiet this spring,
with no demand for comb honey.
J3eesu'a.i;. — Market is qviiet and very firm; but
very little in the market, and Is selling at 24@38c.
H. K. & F. B. TlIURBER & Co.
Cleveland, April 20, 1881.— JJojicy.— Market is not
very lively; in the absence of stock, I have no posi-
tive reports, but choice white l-lli. sections would
bring 19(5 '^Oc; dark,lC@18; 2-lb., 18@19, and dark 15
@L7. Extracted, 13@14. A. C. Kbndel.
Cincinnati, April 20.— No change in the honey
market. Demand still pretty fair for extracted, and
almost uo trade in comb honey. No change in
pi-ices. CnAS. F. Muth.
CHICAGO, April 21.— ITofKiA— There has been no
change in the market in this city since my last quo-
tations, except a slight decline in white comb honey
—some having been sold as low as 10c. The supply
is still abundant.
Bcc«iifa.r.— Kemalns the same.
Alfred H. Newman.
St. Louis.— ^larch 23.— Present market quotations
ase as follows: Jfojici/.— Ready sale. Comb IfiClS;
top rate for fancy bright; strained and extracted,
IKffiiac ip lb. Becswar.—Firm, Prime yellow 21, dark
Rt 20c, R. C. Greer & Co.
]m%^n%mi§.
CONVENTIOar DIKECTORY.
time and place of meeting.
1881.
May 5.— Central Mich. Bee-keepers' Association, in
Pioneer rooms of the State Capitol, at
Lansing, Mich.
May 10.— Cortland Union Bee-keepers' Association
Cortland, N. Y.
May 11.— South-western Wisconsin Bee-keepers' As-
sociation, at Darlington, LaFayette Co.
Wisconsin.
May 10, 11.— The Eastern New York Bee-keepers'
Association, in Court House, at Schohar-
ie, N.Y.
May 12.— The South-eastern Michigan Bee-keepers'
Association, in Court House, at Ann Ar-
bor, Mich.
May 17.— The North-western Bee Union, at Hastings,
Minn.
May 19. — Champion-Vallev Bee-keepers' Association
will be held at Bristol, Addison Co., Vt.
Recent Additions to the
COUNTER STORE.
FIVE-CENT COUNTER.
Postage. ] I Pr. of 10, of 100
3 I Copper Wire, on spools, suitable for
mending things when thev get bro-
ken. Two sizes. No. 30 and 2.5 | 45 | 3 50
4 I Envelopes; fair quality, bunch of 25,
three bunches for 10 cents | 30 | 3 .50
4- 1 Soap, containing pumico stone | 38 | 3 50
Called "Pumicine." An excellent thing for re-
moving propolis, A'arnish, or stains of any kind from
the hands.
2 I Spectacle cases: leather; excellent ..I 40 | 3 75
4 I Slate Pencils, best soapstonc, 6 in a
neat tin box | 40 | 3 53
2 I Ferules for tool handles, dozen pnck-
ases, brass, handsomely tiiiishcd, 3
sizes, =i and 1 110 | 35 | 3 25
1 1 Pens, Steel, IDoz. Gillott's 404 | 40 | 3 75
7 I Sandpaper, best, assorted piickets of
5 sheets, 3 different grades. No.
u,l,i;^ I 40 3 50
TEN-CENT COUNTER.
I Honey Jars, ornamented with glass
cover, a beautiful dish for only lOc. 1 95 | 9 00
5 I Hats, straw, tor summer, (good for
those who have lost their bees —
only 10 cents) | 85 | 8 00
1 Maple Sugar in 1 lb. bricks, good for
bees and children | OS | 9 .50
1 I Pens steel, ldoz.Gillott'sCclebr,i'd303 | 85 | 8 00
FIFTEEN-CENT COUNTER.
28 I Wooden Bowls, 14 in. in diameter... 1 1 35 1 13 00
OLASSAVARE.
I Spoon Holder, London pattern, looks
like a picket fence 1 1 35 1 12 00
Twenty-Five Cent Counter.
18 I Bags for grain, 2 bushels, seamless | 2 25 | 21 00
2 I Knife, Ladies, Ivory handle. 2-bladc,
a beautiful knife for the money. . | 1 75 1 10 00
3 I Butter Knife, silver-plated on steel,
finely finished I 3 00 1 18 00
14 I Steel Trap, a gond one with a stout 3
foot chain attached | 2 00 | 18 00
GLASSWARE.
I Honey or Batter Dish, Albion pat-
tern; new pattern, something like
a butterfly and wonderfully pretty | 1 75 I 15 00
1 Graduated Measure, glass | 3 30 | 22 .50
A most valuable article in the householJ, as it
measures absolutely correct, from Vi gill to 1 quart,
and is a very strong and handsome utensil.
ONE DOLLAR COUNTER.
I Caster, Brittannin, 5 bottles, a splen-
did caster for a dollar 1 9 00 j 85 00
.\. I. ROOT, I?I«ain», Olilo.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUHE.
257
1001 CHOICE ITALIAN AND ALSO IQOI
1001 CYPRIAN QUEENS FOR SALE. 1001
Parties ordering' of me will get just what they
bargain ten-. Circular free.
Address J. C. POMMERT, Box 134,
4-5 Greenfield, Highland Co., Ohio.
IssFqUEENS! QUEENSr~i88l
We are prepared to furnish Queens in April, May,
and June. For tested Queens, $3.50; afterward,
$3.00; untested, f 1.00. Queens reared in full colo-
nies from imported mother. In addition to our im-
ported Queens, we have some fine Queens in our
apiary from simo of the leading breeders of the
U.S. We not only select our imported Queens to
rear Queens from, but we select the best imported
and the best home-bred Queens wo have to rear
drones from. We allow no colonies to have drones,
except such as are from the choicest of our Queens.
Satisfaction and safe arrival of all Queens guaran-
teed. No circular. HALL & JOHNSON,
o-6inqd Kirby's Creek, Jackson Co., Ala.
SECTXOlXrS AKD HIVES!
James Forncrook has just received a patent on his
machine for fecciiug Honej--Box Sections, dated
March 29,1881; No. of patent, 239,47(5. He has not
sold any shop rights on the machine, nor does he in-
tend to; therefore any one using a machine to make
the One-Piece Sections arc infringing.
We will make the "Boss" Section, any size up to
5x6, for $5.00 per 1000; Material for L. hive. 50c.
JAMES FORNCROOK & CO.
Watertown, Jeff. Co., Wis., May 1, 1881. 5d
CVFRIArr, KOLV-
LAND, HUNGARIAN,
AND ITALIAN'
■ I have made queen-brccding a specialty for 20
years, all our queens are reared in full colonies, and
we send out no inand-in or nuclei-bred queens. Our
queens are reared on a now and scieutihc principle,
combining beauty, purity, industry, and docility.
All queens ^varrauteil pure, and safe arrival guaran-
teed by mall. Warranted queens, $1.00 each; choice
selected, $1.25 each; tested, $2.00 each. Send for my
20th annual circular. Try the new races and their
crosses. HENRY ALLEY,
5d Weiiham, Essex Co., Mass.
HEADQUARTERS IN THE SOUTH
For the Manufacture and Sale of
BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES!
SIMPLICITY AND LANGSTROTH HIVES AND
FRAMES. THE NEW ALL- IN -ONE-
PIECE SECTIONS !
Having piu-chased from A. I. Root a machine for
making the sections, I am ready to supply them in
any (juantity.
Comb Foundation, made of pure yellow wax, and
worked on shares, etc. Honey and Wax-Extractors;
Knives, Bee-Smokers, etc., etc.
ITALIAN QUEENS AND BEES !
All bred from imported mothers of my own im-
portation. Dollar queens, ready April 1st, $1.10 un-
til June 1st; after, $1.00.
Tested queens, from March 1st to November 1st.
Safe arrival guaranteed, and all queens sent by mail.
I send no queens that I would not have for myself.
Pull Colonies of Italian Bees from $5.00 to $8.50, ac-
cording to quantity, etc. Early 4-framo nucleus,
with Tested Queens, $5.00— No black bees in the
neighborhood. Send for my Illustrated Catalogue
of prices, etc. Address
PAUIi li. VIALIiON,
5d Bayou Goula, Iberville Par., La.
Save Yoixr Fo^vlsl
and get Price List of High-Class Poultry,
Eggs for hatching, Italian Bees, etc., by
addressing J. R. LANDES,
iJ-tJd Albion, Ashland Co., Ohio. .
Colerain, Mass., April 11, 1881.
Men&rs. Bingham A Hctlieriniiton,—
Deau Sir:— I concluded to use the Large Smoker
instead of sending it awa.y. It is the smoker, 1 don't
wan't any better; shall throw all others away.
Respectfully, E. A. Thomas.
The Original Direct Draft !
Patented Jan. 9. 1878; Mav,
1879; Re-issued July 9, 1878.
If you buy a Bingham
Smoker, or a Bingham &
Hetherington Honey-Knife,
you are sure of the best and
cheapest. The largest bee-
keejiers use them exclusive-
ly. Twenty thousand in use;
not one ever returned, or
letter of complaint receiv-
ed. Our original patent
Smokers and Honey-Knives
were the only ones on exhi-
bition at the last National
Bee -Keepers' Convention.
Bingham Smokers, all but
the Small, have fire and cin-
der proof bellows. The large
and extra Standard Smo-
kers have extra wide shields
to prevent burnt fingers.
These are the only real im-
provements made in bee-
smokers since the Direct-
Draft invention. Bingham is the inventor and only
Ic(ial maker of them.
Bingham & Hetherington Honey-Knife, 3 in., - $1 00
Large Bingham Smoker, 2i4 in., - - - 150
Extra Standard Bingham Smoker, 3 inches, - 1 25
Plain Standard Bingham Smoker, 2 " - 1 00
Little Wonder Bingham Smoker, l^i, " - - 75
If to be sent by mail, or singly by express, add 25
cents each, to prepay postage or express charges.
Send card for tcstimoiiiiils. To sell again, apply for
dozen or half-dozen rates. Address
BINGHAM & HETHERINGTON,
5tfd Al)ronia, Allegan Co., Mich.
ESSEX PIGS A SPECIALTY!
75 to 100 Pedigree Pias for delivery in June,
six weeks to two months old. Write for prices.
Also Brown Leghorn (prize winners) EGGS, (<1*- $1.
per ddz., and B. B. R. G. Bantam Eggs for Hatching
(imported), (gi $1..50 per doz., in new l)askets. Safe
arrival guaranteed. C. AV. CANFIELD,
5tld Atlieu)^, Bradl'ord ('o.. Pa.
Single Queen, Tested, $1 50
Untested, Laying, 80
Warranted, 100
Three-Frame Nuclei, 2 50
All Queens from imported mothers. Safe arrival
guaranteed. All that favor me with orders shall be
well used. DAN WHITE,
5d New London, Huron Co., Ohio.
QEND FOR MY' LARGE ILLUSTRATED CIRCU-
O' LAR ! It will tell you what 1 have for sale. If
you keep Bees, don't fail to do it.
Address B. S. UNDERHILL,
4Cd Williamson, Wayne Co., N. Y.
K /\/^ worker combs in L. frames for bees by
t# vrVr the pound. Address, J. A. Bucha.van,
5d HoUiday's Cove, Hancock Co., W. Va.
J. M. BROOKS & BROS\
AMERICAN ITALIANS.
PURITY OF STOCK A SPECIALTY.
4-9 CIRCULARS FREE.
COLUMBUS, - BARTH. CO., - INDIANA,
258
GLEAKIKGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
May
"There's nothing- so successful as success." For
many years past, wc have labored to Improve the
Italian bee, aiming to obtain a strain of bees that
would safely survive our coldest winters. That we
can write success upon our (apiarian) banner Is in-
dicated by the fact that even in this most disastrous
winter, every colony of our large apiary is in fine
condition. Others report tine success with our Ital-
ians. On March l-lth, M. E. Loehr, of Palestine, lod.,
wrote us that, last fall he had !)S colonies, and now
all are dead but three — two of these being very
weak. The other colony contained one of our
queens, concerning which he says: — "I was sur-
prised to find this colony strong and healthy, and
am sorry I did not purchase all my queens of you,
they being stronger in bees now than in the fall.
Could say much more in praise of your bees." To
the
READERS OF CLEANINGS
we would say: If you want bees that are peaceable,
industrioJS, aad hardy— in short, want to possess
the best bees, Try our Italian!!!.
OUR 40-PAGE CATALOGUE, FREE TO ALL.
5d II. A. UUKCH & CO.,
SOUTH HAVEN, VAN BUREN CO., MICH.
One-Cento
s
WILL PAY FOR OUR EXHAUSTIVE PAMPHLET
ON RAISING, HANDLING, AND MARKET-
ING EXTRACTED HONEY.
COLONIES WITH
Imported Cyprian
AND
ITALIAN QUEENS
or oui; m mfomiis,
Guaranteed Pure and Genuine.
Our Comb Foundation was awarded the diploma ai
the N. E. Bee-Keepers' Convention held in February.
The following letter will show its superiority:
Medina, Ohio, April 4, 1881.
To Citas. Dadant & Son, HamiUon, III.:
Please send me 10 or 15 sheets of your very nicest
Dunham Foundation, 8J4xl7?3. As I want them to
get rubber casts from, I want them nice and true,
and nicely packed; don't care what the expense is.
I send to you because you have sent me the best
specimens. A. I. Root.
SMOKERS, KNIVES, EXTRACTORS, ETC.
Price List with 3 samples of foundation, free.
CHAS. DADANT & SON,
otfd Hamilton, Hanooclc Co., 111.
QueenS! |tau4[) QueenS!
Bred from selected queens of ray own importing.
Sent by mail; safe arrival guaranteed.
Warranted! If any queen ordered of me proves
hybrid, I will, when notified, send another, free (but
in such cases unwarranted, just begun to lay).
Queens in June, f ll'j; after July 1st, Sl.OO each.
Discounts— on an order for 10 queens, one extra will
be given; for 35, three extra. Write for discounts
on larger orders. Tested queens, double abosc
prices. CHAS. R. BINGHAM,
Edinburar, Portage Co., O.
Money Order Office, Ravenna, 0. 5-7d
GHOIGEQUEENS
FOE, 1881!
Dollar Queens f 1 GO
Tested " 3 00
I guarantee satisfaction every
lime, or money refunded. No
blacks in my neighborhood. All
queens raised from A. I. Root's
imported stock. Send for cir-
cular. HOWARD NICHOLAS,
4-Sd Etters, York Co., Pa.
ALBINO, ITALIAN,
AND HOLY- LAND
QUEENS, FULL COL-
ONIES, ETC., FOR
1881! :.
I am prepared to fur-
nish early queens, pure
Albinos, Italians, and
Holy-Land Queens, bred
from select stocks. War-
ranted to be pure; safe
arrival guaranteed. Also
Hives, Novice's Extract-
or, and Apiarian supplies
generally. Send for price
list. Address
S. VALENTINE,
Double Pipe Creek,
M Carroll Co., Md.
Bee-Keepers' Supplies
It will pay you to get our prices before purchasing
your Supplies. Good Langstroth Hives with 8-inch
cap, frames, quilt, etc., in the Hat, CO cents each.
Manufactured from good pine lumber. Workman-
ship unexcelled. Crates, Sections, Extractors, and
Dunham Foundation, a specialty.
HIRAM ROOP.
3-ed Carson City, Montcalm Co., Mich.
BEES FOR SALE !
PKd Colonies good healthy
0\J Bees at "
swarms of Italian
$10 eacl»,"in nearly new, 8-frame,
well-painted hives, delivered on board ears in good
shipping order. E. H. SHERWOOD,
4-5 Fishkill, Dutchess Co., N. Y.
1881.
Send for our new Circular and Price List of Full
Colonies, Nuclei, and Queens. Wc guarantee satis-
faction, s. D. McLean & son,
3-"d CuUeoka, Maury Co., Tenn.
GRAPE SUGAR
For Feeding Bees !
Send for our Price List before you buy.
3-.-d I. 1j. SCOFIEliD,
CHENANGO BRIDGE, BROOME CO., NEW YORK,
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
263
Contents of this Number.
Can receive a few more orders ■
INDEX OF DEPARTMENTS.
CnFfil/ for ItHliiin Queens. Prices. 80c, AIIIOV
wr kHIV $).< 0, and #1.511. E. A. Thom -s, UUIuIV
Coleraine, Franklin Co., Mass. —
Black List —
Bee Botany S7:i
Bee Entomology 2&!>
Blasted Hopes 300
Cartoon —
Editorials 307
Heads of Grain 290
Honey Column 256
Humbugs and Swindles —
Juvenile Dep.artment 282
KinilWords from Customer.s2G6
Ladies ' Department 300
Lunch -Room —
Notes and Queries 296
Reports Encouraging '497
Smilery 273
The Growlerv —
Tobacco Column 304
INDEX OF HEADS OF GRAIN, NOTES AND QUERIES,
AND OTHER SHORT ARTICLES.
About Queens 267
Aspens 27'1
Banner Apiary 267
Bees, How to Winter 271
Borax for Dysentery 290
Bleaching Honey in Sun 29i
Box-Elder 294
Bees by the Pound 29.3
Burying Bees 296
Box Hives for Winter 297
Care of surplus Combs 268
Chaff Hive for Amateurs. . . .307
Chaff Pack. Contrasted. etc.,
.289, 29.5
Cook's Talk 279
Cellars, etc 294
Dragonfly 285
Doolittle's Letter 267
Fate of Bees when Robbed.. 268
Flanagan's E.xperience 269
Foul Brood in Utah 296
Fastening Fdn 295
Ferry ' s Seed garden 289
Given Fdn . Press 270
Gallup on Q. Rearing 277
Gr. Sugar for Wintering 277
(jood Crops in poor Seasons. 294
Hives on Benches 296
Hill's Apiary 292
Heddon's Report 272
Honey Plants from Denmark273
Hints about Reports 280
How to Get Subs 280
Hopes not Blasted 291
Italians in Australia 286
Italians turning Black 291
.luvenile Class. . . ; 295
Killing bees a Wrong 268
Large Increase 290
L Harri.on's Talk 270
Machine for punching frames,
271
Mcllwain's Comb-Holder.. .'278
Merrybanks 305
Miller's letter about Sec'ns.281
New Honey 290
New Industi-y 274
Onions vs. Bees 296
Our own Apiary 298
Packing in Chaff or Cotton
Seed 271
Preparing for Winter 295
Raising Bees 297
Red-Clover Honey 291
Remedy for too many Bees. 273
Swarming without Queen. . .290
Sections on in Wint..287,291,295
Stingle.ss Bees 286
Sending Plants by Mail 277
Swarmmg-Box, device for.. 276
Toughness, etc., for Winter 279
Ups and Downs 288
Ventilation 285
Viallon's Candy 275
Willow, Ornamental 273
Winding the W. Wat<-h 274
Wintered Successfully 291
Worthless Queens 291
Watermelons for Bees 293
Wonders never Cease 294
FOR SALE CHEAP!
A new Kverttt Extractor, and a lot of hives and
honey sections. E. A. GASTMAN,
6 Decatur, Macon Co., 111.
ITALIAN QUEENS!
From Sh'lect imported or home-bred queen.
Tested, in June, - - - $3 50; after, - - $2 00
Untested, in June, - - - 1 ^5; " - - - 1 00
Bees, with tested queens only, price same as un-
tested queens. All queens warranted to be purely
mated. Safe arrival and satisfaction s:uarantei d.
6 S. A. SHUCK, Bryant, Fulton Co., III.
LIVE BEESlN MICHIGAN I
Italian Queens, Bees, and Supplies; also Dollar
Queens the rest of the season. Descriptive price
list free. Address O. H. TOWNSEND,
6tfd Hubbardston, Ionia Co., Mich.
ITALIAIV ANI» CYPRIAN QUEENS, bred
from imported mothers. Write for prices to
H. T. BISHOP,
6-7d Chenango Bridiare, Broome Co., N. Y.
The Latest Offer!
We will furnish Comb Foundation, made on the
Dunham latest improved machine, and warranted
to be as grood as any in the market, for 3.5 cts. per lb.
I have a large amount just made up, on hand ready
for orders. Will worii up wax for 10c per lb. Send
for circular. F. W. HOLMES,
6 Coopersville, Ottawa Co., Mich.
Italian (tested) Queens from Root's very best.
Imported or home-bred Queens, $'2.00; Italian (un-
tested) Queens, Laying, $1.00; Bees, $1.00 per lb.; 3
(L.) frame Nucleus (no queen) $1..50; 3 (L.) frame
Nucleus (no queen), $3.00; 1 colony of Italian Bees
(no queen) in 10 (L.) frame hives, $7.00. Add price of
queen to priae of bees, colony, and nucleus. Di.*-
count on larger orders. OTTO KLEINOW,
6tEd Opposite Fort Wayne, Detroit, Mich.
ID. S. CSr I ■\7' E 3>a- ,
Inventor and Sole IWanufacturcr of tlie
FOUNDATION PRESS.
All Presses warranted to give satisfaction. The |
only Invention to make fdn. in wired frames. Our
thin and common fdn. for '81 Is not surpassed. Send
for Catalogue and samples.
4-6d D. S. GIVEN, Hoopeston, Illinois.
ONE-PIECE SECTIONS A SPECIALTY.
Pound and Prize size, $4.50 per 1000. Sample sec-
tion free. BYRON WALKER,
6d Capac, St. Clair Co., Mich.
ITAIiTAN QUEENS, untested, $1.00; tested, $3.00.
•jd Kev. W. H. Steele, Kossuth, Alcorn Co., Miss.
1881
N THE MARKET!
1881
Owing to the great demand for bees, I have con-
cluded to furnish them at the following prices: Four-
comb Nucleus, with Italian queen, in the Roop
frame, $4.00; for each comb less, deduct 50 cts.. and
for larger Nuclei, add 7.5 cts. per comb, up to full col-
onies (13 cc mbs) $10.(10. F. E. TOWNSEND,
6tld Hubbardston, Ionia Co., Mich.
lOR SALE CHEAP !
A few fine Colonies of Italian Bees in Langstroth
hives. Hives well made, and painted. Address at
once, W. G. SMITH, 313 N. Second St., St. Louis, Mo.
C. OLM'S COMB FOUNDATION MACHINE.
SEND FOR SAMPLE AND CIRCULAR.
5tfd C. Oliin, Fond du Lac, Wis.
HIVE ]MIArrUFACTUB.Z:RS.
Also imported and home-bred Queens, Full Colo-
nies, and nucleus colonies. Bee-Keeper's Supplies
of all kinds. Market price for beeswax. 4-7d
NICHOLS & ELKINS, Kennedy, Chaut. Co., N. Y.
EANSWEHM STEEL mF£ M SO m
MAKER & GB.OSH, 34 N. MONROE ST.,
TOLEDO, OHIO.
Hand-Forged Razor Steel Knife
for 60 cents. Maher & Grosh, 34
N.Monroe St., Toledo, O., will mall
Knife like cut, post-paid, for 50c.
Extra heavy 3- blade for rough
usage, 75c. Oiir Best 3 -blade, oil
temper and tested, $1. Pruner, oil
temper, $1. Pruning Shears, $1.
All goods exchanged free if soft
or tlawy.
264
GLEANINGS IN UEE CULTURE.
June
Names of responsible parties will be inserted In
any of the following departments, at a uniform
price of 20 cents each insertion, or $2,00 per year.
$1.00 Queens.
Names inserted in this depai-tment the fimt time withr
out charge. After, 20c each visertion, or $2,00 per year.
Those whose names appear below agree to furnish
Italian queens for $1,00 each, under the following
conditions : No guarantee is to be assumed of purity,
or anj-tbingof the kind, only that the queen be reared
from "a choice, pure mother, and had commenced to
lay when thej' were shipped. They also agree to re-
turn the money at anj' time when customers become
impatient of such delay as may be unavoidable.
Bear in mind that he who sends the best queens,
put up most neatly and most securely, will probably
receive the most orders. Special rates for warranted
and tested queens, fumisned on application to any
of the parties. Names with *, use an imported queen
mother. If the queen arrives dead, notify us and
we will send you anotlicr. Probably none will be
sent for $1.00 before July 1st, or after Nov. If want-
ed sooner, or later, see rates in price list.
*E. W. Hale, Newark, Wirt Co., W. Va. 2-1
*A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
*H. H. Brown, Light Street, Columbia Co., Pa. Itf
*E. M. Hayhurst, Kansas City, Mo. 1-13
*Paul L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La. Ittd
*D. A. McCord, Oxford, Butler Co., O. M2
*S. F. Newman. Norwalk, Huron Co., O. Itfd
*J. T. "Wilson, ]Nrortons\-ille. Woodford Co., Kv. 6-6
*Chas. G. Dickinson, Sou' Oxford, Chen. Co. N. V. 1-10
*Wm. Ballantine, Sago, Musk. Co., O. 2tfd
.7. S. Tadlock, Kingsburv, Guad. Co., Texas. 3-7
*W. H. Nesbit, Alpharetta, Milton Co.. Ga. 3tfd
*J. O. Facey, New Hamburg, Ont., Can. 4-9
*H. Nicholas, Etters, York Co., Penn. 4-8
W. S. Canthon, Pleasant Hill, Lan. Co.. S. C. 4-6
*John Conser, Glenn, Johnson Co., Kans. 4-9
*Fischer & Stehle. Marietta, Wash. Co., O. 4-9
*Jas. P. Sterritt, Sheaklcy ville, Mercer Co., Pa. .5-10
H. Barber, Adrian, Len. Co., Mich. .5tfd
*01iver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa. 5tfd
*V. W. Keenev, Shirland, Win. Co., 111. 6-9
*0. B. Curtis, Selma. Dallas Co., Ala. 6-11
*T. W. Dougherty. Mt. Vernon, Posey Co., Ind. 6
*L. E. Welch, Linden, Gen. Co., Mich. 6tfd
Geo. W. Baker, LewisviUe, Henry Co., Ind.
Hive Manufacturers.
Who agree to make such hives, and at the prices
named, as those described on our circular.
A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
Sid. D. Buell, Union City, Branch Co.. Mich. 2-7
P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, Iberville Par., La. Itfd
S. F. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. Itfd
J. F. Hart, Union Point, Greene Co., Ga. 4-3
M. S. West, Flint, Genesee Co., Mich. 3-7
Foundation Manufacturers.
Who agree to make such foundation, and at the
prices given, as described in our circular.
A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
Jas. A. Nelson, Wyandott, Wyandott Co., Kans. 4-9
E. S. Hildemann, Ashippan, Dodge Co., Wis. 4-6
Bees by the Pound.
Those whose names appear below agree to furnish
bees by the lb., and at the prices given in our circu-
lar.
I. L. Scofield, Chenango Bridge, Broome Co., N. Y.
S. C. Perry, Portland, Tonia Co., Mich.
J. P. Moore, Morgan, Pendleton Co., Ky.
W. R. Whitman. New Market, Madison Co., Ala.
Chjis. Kingsley, Greenevil'e, Greene Co., Tenn.
C. D. Wright, Baxter Springs, Cherokee Co., Kans.
H. B. Harrington, Medina, Medina Co., O.
W. St. Martz, Moonshine. Clark Co.. Ills.
O. H. Townsend, Hubbardston. Ionia Co., Mich.
G. W. Gates, Bartlett, Shelby Co.. Tenn.
—Fischer & Stehle, Marietta, Washington Co., O.
W. S. Canthen, Pleasant Hill. Lancaster Co., S. C.
J. G. Taylor, Austin, Travis Co., Texas.
T. P. Andrews, Farina, Fay. Co., 111.
Allan I). Laughlin, Courtland, Law. Co.. Ala.
E. J. Atchlcy, Lancaster, Dallas Co., Texas.
D. McKcnzie, Carrollton P. O., N. ()., La.
H. L. Griffith, Sumner, Law. Co., 111.
J. H. Jlartin, Hartford, Wash. Co., N, Y.
W. A. Pirtle, Cabot, Lonoke Co., Ark.
E. T. Flanagan, Belleville, St. Clair Co., 111.
J. K. Mayo, Stafford. Fort Bend Co., Texas.
J. F. Hart, Cnion Point, Greene Co., Ga.
25
6d
Black Queens for sale, .30 cents each, free by
mail. ■ T. F. WITTMAN & CO.,
4109 Hutton St., Philadelphia, Pa.
HEADQUARTERS IN THE SOUTH
For the Manufacture and Sale of
BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES!
Italian Queens and Bees, all bred from mothers of
my own importation. Dollar queens, $1.00. Tested
queens, $2.50; 4-trame Nucleus, $6.00. Safe arrival
and satisfaction guaranteed. Send for my illustra-
ted catalogue.
PAUL. I^. VIAM.ON,
6tfd Bayou Goula, lber\ille Par., La.
FOU SALE CHEAP
A few fine Colonies of Italian Bees in Langstroth
hives. Hives well made, and painted. Address at
once, W. G. SMITH, 213 N. Second St., St. Louis, Mo.
SEND for my circular and price list of Italian
Colonies, Queens, and Apiarian Supplies.
5tfd H. H. BROWN, Light Street, Columbia Co., Pa.
ITAI^IAN QUEENS ! I am prepared to furnish
pure queens at a low price. Untested, in May,
$l00; June, 90c; after, 8Jc. Send for circular.
CHARLES D. DUVALL,
4-3d Spencerville, Mont. Co., Md.
Ai\ Italian Queei\
FOR
15
CENTS.
We guarantee to every one who sends a dollar for
the American Bee-Keeper, to send a pure untested
Italian queen for 1.5 cents more.
4-7d E. M. HARRISON, Lebanon, Laclede Co., Mo.
VANDEVOOB.T FOUNDATION.
Ten square feet per pound. This foundation took
the prize over all others for use in surplus boxes at
the N. E. B. K. Convention. Send for samples.
5-6d G. W. Stanley, Wyoming, Wyoming Co., N.Y.
W. Z. HUTCHINSON,
Rogersville, Genesee Co., ITIielilgan,
Makes a spccinJty of rearing fine Italian queens. A 11
queens bred from imported queens, and from the
purest and best home-bred queens; and the cells
built in full colonies. No black bees in the vicinity.
During June, queens will be $1.00 each. Testcl
queens, $3.50 each. After July 1st, single queens,
$1.00; six queens for $5'00; twelve or more, 75 cts.
each. Tested queens, $3.00 each. Safe arrival by
mail guaranteed. Send money by draft, registered
letter, or by money order drawn on Flint, Mich., as
Rogersville is not a money-order office. 6tfd
ESSEX PIGS A SPEGIALH!
75 to 100 Pedigree Pigs for delivery in June,
six weeks to two months old. Write for prices.
Also Brown Leghorn (prize winners) EGGS, @ $1.
per doz., and B. B. R. G. Bantam Eggs for Hatching
(imported), @ $1.50 per doz., in new baskets. Safe
arrival guaranteed. C. W. CANFIEL.D,
5tfd Alliens, Bradford Co., Pa.
1881
GLE^VNINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
265
IjlVES, SECTIONS, AND B0Xe3
Material for Langstroth Hives, including Brood-
Frame. iO cts. each; Lewis V-shaped groove One-
Plece Section, any size to 6x0, $5.00 per 1000. Lewis
One-Piece Honey-Boxes, all sizes, $-ZM to ^4.00 per
100, including glass; Dovetailed Sections, any size to
fix6. $4.00 per 1000. Manufacturing experience of 20
years. Send for Price List.
G. B. LEWIS (Successor to Lewis & Parks),
Watertown, Wis., April 1, 1881.
• X B.— There is no patent on the Lewis One-Piece
Section. 4tf
GUARANTEED
Italian Queens!
I guarantee all my queens to be purely mated
from imported mother. Safe arrival and satisfac-
tion guaranteed. Send lor circular. I^ntestpd
Queens in Mav and June, $1.50. July and after,
$1.00. Tested Queens, May and June, $2.50. July
and after, $2.00. Select tested, $3.50.
Address— L. C. M'FATRIDGE, M. D..
2-7d Carroll, Carroll Co., Ind.
Before Purchasing
any Italian or Cvprian bees, send for our 20th annu-
al price list. Full colonies, Nuclei and Queens, at
greatly reduced prices. Also headquarters for Api-
arinn supplies in New England.
WM. W. CAR if & SON (formerly Wra. W. Cary),
3tlinq Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass.
Our new circular and price list for 1881. We have
something new for every bee-keeper. Remember,
we are largely engaged in practical bee-keeping, and
know what supplies of are most value in the apiarj'.
You should see a description of onr feeder. You
will want one. Our new Double-Draft Smoker
is perfection. See what one of the most practical
and best-informed bte-keepers of the country
thinks of it:—
"Since your gieat improvement in smokers, as re-
gards to the double blast, you undoubtedly have the
inside track of all the others in the market. This,
wiih the superior workmanship and materials used,
should place your smoker at the head of the list, and
secure for it a favorable patronage for 1881."
G. M. DOOLITTLE.
Price of smokers: By mail, I1..50 and $1.75.
Our book,
QUINBY'S NEW BEE-KEEPING,
is pronounced the most practical work published.
Price, by mail, $1.50. We furnish every thing used
in advanced Bee-culture. Send for illustrated cir-
cular. L. C. ROOT & BRO.
Mohawk, Herkimer Co., N. Y. 4tfd
J. M. BROOKS & BROS'.
AMEHICAN ITALIANS.
PURITY OF STOCK A SPECIALTY.
4-9 CIRCULARS FREE.
COLUMBUS, - BARTH. CO., - INDIANA.
FURZ: BRED FOULTRV.
I am now prepared to fill orders for eggs from the
following: P. Rocks (Corbin strain), L. Brahmas,
S. S. Haraburgs, S. S. Polish (Bearded), Brown Leg-
horns, W. C. B. Polands, Rouen and Pekin Ducks.
Toulouse Geese and Bronze Turkeys. Eggs packed
in the most approved manner. Poultry for sale in
the fall. Send for Price List. Address
4-6 H. S. ROSS, Box 128, Seville, Medina Co., Ohio'.
CVFRIArr, HOLV-
LAND, HUNGARIAN,
AVTD ITALIAN
I have had 20 years' experience in the queen-rear-
ing business. All my queens are raised in full colo-
nies, on a new princii)l(', and we send out no in-and-
in-bred queens. We combine beauty, purity, indus-
try, and docility. I consider the Hungarian bees,
crossed by the Cyprian or Italian, the best race in
the world. They are very hardy, gentle, and indus-
trious. Qupcns very i)r'olitic and large; they arc
sure to winter on summer stands. I did not 1 ise one
of these stocks last winter — all came out strong.
Try them. All queens warranted pure. Safe arri-
val by mail guaranteed. AVarranted queens, fl.t'O;
choice selected, $1.50; tested, $2.00. Send for 20th
annual circular. Remit by registered letter, check,
or money orders on Salem, Mass.
6tfd HENRY" ALLEY, Wenham, Essex Co., Mass.
HEADQUARTERS FOR
Imported and home-bred; nuclei and ftill colo-
nies. For quality and purity, my stock of bees can
not be excelled in the United States. I make a
specialty of manufacturing the Dunham foundation.
Try it. If yon wish to purchase Bees or Supplies,
send for my new circular. Address
Itfd DR. J. P. H. BROWN, Augusta, Ga.
1881 ITALIAN QUEENS! 1881
Tested Queens $1 50
"Warrant«-d. Queens . 1 00
Cyprian Queens, untested 1 00
As most all the D' liar queens
I soil Inst j-ear were pure, I
will warrant them this year.
J. T. Wilson, Mortonsville,
2-7d Woodford Co., Ky.
1 Coi Foiiiatii
took the premium over Flat Bottom, Dunham, and
all other makes at th« N. E. Bee- Keepers' Associa-
tion at Utica, Feb.. 18SI.
Price of foundation made on same machine,
1 to 25 lbs., for Section Boxes .^oc
25 10 100 " '• " " 5'ic
1 to 25 " " brood chamber, 45c
25 to 100 * " 40c
I. L. SCOFIELD, Chenango Bridge,
4-6d Broome Co , N. Y.
At Kansas City, Mo.,
I breed pure IfaZ/an and Cyprian bees for sale. I
warrant my "Dollar" queens to be mated by pure
yellow drones, and guarantee safe arrival and per-
fect satisfaction.
Tested Queens, in June -
" after " - - - -
"Dollar" " in June
" " after "...
Bees, per lb., same prices as Dollar queens.
Please address all letters plainly to
6tfd E. M. HAYHURST, P. O. Bo.r 1131.
$2 50
2 00
1 25
1 00
FOU SALE CHEAP
A few fine Colonies of Italian Bees in Langstroth
hives. Hives well made, and painted. Address at
once, W. G. SMITH, 213 N. Second St., St. Louis. Mo.
"S Save Your Fowls ! "ti
35 and get Price List of High-Class Pouliry, ^h
Eggs for hatching, Italian Bees, etc., by ^^
O addressing J. R. LANDES,
^ 3-«d Albion, Ashland Co., Ohio. r~
266
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
June
KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS.
I received the g'oods on the 20th that yoii shipped
to me on the Vith, all in first-class order.
Adamstown, Md., May 21, ISil. J. C. Michael.
The smoker came to hand yesterday in good order,
and is '* all my fancy painted." Many thanks.
M. C. Swan.
Mason, Mason Co., Texas, April 11, 1881.
I think you are doing a good work. Yonr counter
goods are a marvel for cheapness. I could not buy
the same articles in this country for at least }i more
than I pay you, postageincluded. AVaruen FoOTE.
Glendale, Kane Co., Utah, Apr. 15, 1881.
I received the bees all right — not half a dozen
dead ones in the lot. Thanks for promptness in
sending, and good way of putting them up. I hope
we may have better success in wintering in future
than we had this winter. John Myeks.
Stratford, Can., May 17, 1881.
You will be glad to know the tested qvieen and
pound of bees came all right. I let them go upon 4
frames (and division-board) in a Lansrstroth hive.
Each frame had good comb and honey two inches
deep at top. Next day 1 looked and found the queen
"at home." It. G. Warner.
Columbus, Ohio, May 3, 1881.
The A B Cls a larger book then I expected. It's a
nice clean print, and easy to understand. I have
received a good deal of good already, and have not
read it all, yet I would not part with it for double
what it cost If I could not get another.
Saukville, Ozaukee Co., Wis., Apr. 13, 1881.
OUR 244-LB. scales FOR ONLY Sl.oO.
The goods and scales were all received in good or-
der; the scales, we think, are very nice for the mon-
ey. The rest of the articles are a wonder for the
mone.v. Highly pleased with the smoker. A neigh-
bor wints a scale of the same capacity, 214 lbs.
JsA.\c Ely.
New German town. Perry Co., Pa., Apill 13, 1881.
The ABC book ia well arranged, and pleasant to
read, and free from affectation. Novice and Blue
Eyes look to be of the salt of the earth, and as such
will be welcome in Carmel Valley, if ever they hap-
pen this wa.v. Edw. Berwick.
Monterey, Cal., April 4, 1881.
[Many thanks, friend B., for kind words and invi-
tation; but if you lived next-door neighbor to Nov-
ice and Blue Eyes, you might think them both quite
commonplace people.]
Please accept thanks from two m >re of vour many
customers for your prompt manner of shipping
goods. Our box of supplies for the apiary arrived
In good condition, and gave entire satisfaction, both
for (juality and price; freight charges were also
reasonable. Perhaps we shall be able to send you a
much larger order next time.
^ V. H. & L. D. Ormsby.
Pierpont, Ohio, May 23, 1881.
It pa.ys to take Gleanings. I bought a swarm of
bees of E. A. Gastman, Decatur. HI., and nuclei of
S. D. McLean & Son, Culleoka, Tenn. They are both
men to the mark. They were all that they were ad-
vertised to be. This i,^ our first year for Glean-
ings, and we could not do well without it. I'm
sorry I'm not a smoker, that I might reform and get
a smoker by your liberal offer. Success to Glean-
ings. B. F. Snyder.
Liberty, Ind., May 33, 1881.
"THINKETH NO EA'IL."
[One of the kindest words I ever had, and if I felt
sure I deserved it, I would consider one of the great-
est compliments I ever received, is the following.
It was at the close of a letter explaining why a
promise had been neglected.]
As I know you are governed by that spirit of char-
ity which "thinketh no evil," 1 am sure you will ac-
cept this explanation. Isabella Harhison.
Walnut Creek, Cal., March 15, 1881.
[May God help me to make these words true, my
good friend I]
gleanings as an advertising medium.
If there is any one who is a little skeptical about
Gleanings being a good advertising medium, let
him insert a small advertisement in some out-of-the-
way corner of it, and note the result. I was very
agreeably surprised, myself, for no sooner had I
commenced advertising in Gleanings than orders
for colonies, nuclei, and queens, began pouring in,
and they continue to come thicker and faster. May
will be a busy month at Orchard Apiary if orders
continue to come with such a rush as they have.
E. A. Thomas.
Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass., April, 1881.
[The above was crowded out of the May No.]
Seeing that you are trying to Induce your fellow-
men to quit their bad habits, I would like to do
something to help stop the use of profane language.
Looking through an old work recently, 1 fovind the
following, which may be of some use to ynu:—
"Two gentlemen having called at a coffee-house,
and drank a bottle together, both insisted on paying
for it. One put a piece of money on the table, and
swore dreadfully that his friend should be at no ex-
pense; the other said, 'That piece is a bad one,' on
which the other swore still faster.
" The master ' of the house, hearing what passed,
said, if they would let him examine the money he
would tell them whether or not it was good. Re-
turning soon, he, in the most polite manner, laid it
before them on a card, printed as follows: —
U L'hills my blood to hear the blest Supreme
Rudely appealed to on each trilling theme.
Maintain your rank; vulgarity despise;
To sw ear is neither brave, polite, nor wise.
You would not swear upon a bed of death :
Retleit; your Maker now could stop your breath.
"The gentleman read it, owned he was justly re-
proved, and would in future be more guarded in his
language."
What will you charge for printing some cards
with the above-quoted verse? Who knows, t)ut the
giving of a card to a friend when he is swearing, and
at the same time ask God to bless the means wc use,
will stop some one from using profane language,
and perhaps to lead a better life? A. T. M.
Abbeville. S. C, April 19, 1881.
[Many thanks, friend M. I will at once print a
quantitj' of the cards, and thej^ will be furnished
tree to anybody who will make use of them. Please
say how many you want, and see that none are lost
or wasted.]
I clipped a queen's wing5 for the first time a few
days ago. I cut about half of each wing, and it took
about an hour to do i^ 1 think it was about the
hardest hour's work I ever did. Chas. O. Meloon.
Portsmouth, N. H., May 16, 1881.
[There is an excellent moral to your little story,
friend M. I have often wished I could explain to
the brothers and sisters why it is I am often appar-
ently unaccommodating. One of you wrote a few
days ago, and wanted us to make him a tent for
handling bees, only about a foot longer than our reg-
ular size. To furnish it would cost him double the
usual price, for we have them all made up in quan-
tities, tied up, ready toship. Several different hands
have a part In the making of the pieces, and to get
out a single one, with even a trifling difference in
the size, would cost about as it cost you to clip your
queen's wing. Our boys and girls will go right
along rapidly at their regular work; but start them
on some thing they are not used to, and don't under-
stand, and, ten chances to one, they will be stopped
an hour. Those who have plenty of leisure don't
mind this; but with me, every minute and every
hour has to be aggregated into a lump of cash out,
every Saturda.y night. To ask a clerk to explain it
would be an expense over again, and. to save my-
self, I am obliged to say, briefly, " Our regular tents
are $1.00; one a foot longer will cost you $2.00." The
difference Is still more marked in other goods. A
regular L. frame, filled with sections and starters,
we can sell for 30c. ; but Mr. Gray could hardly make
a single one, of an odd size, for less than three times
the amount; and to do this would necessitate chang-
ing the adjustment of our tools in a wa.v that would
cost us perhaps-a still larger amount. This is why I
have so strongly urged the importance of uniform
hives, implements, etc. Now is an excellent time to
get your hives uniform, when your bees are all out
of them.]
I>EVOTEI> TO UEEf^i A.iVD HONEY, A.:XD ilOMI-:: HVJTJElHiST'W.
Vol. IX.
JUNE 1, 1881.
No. 6.
A. I. ROOT,
Publisher and Froprielor^
nicdina, O.
Piiblislied Moutlily.
\EstaUis\ed in 187 3.
fTERMSn $1.00 Pek Axnim, in Advance;
I 2 Copies for $1.90; % for $2.75; 5 for $4.00; 10
I or more, 75 cts. each. Single Number, 10 ots.
Additions to clubs may be made at club
rates. Above are all to be sent to one Post-
office. Clubs to different pottolllces, not
LESS than 90 cts. each.
NOTES FROITI THE BANNER APIARY.
NO. 19.
fJlO-DAY is May 11th, and I am so busy buying
bees, getting them home, and transferring
— ' them, that I hardly have time to think cf any
thing to write, much less to put in shape for publi-
cation; like friend Heddon, I have been foolish
enough to promise six regular contributions each
month, and, having made the promises, they must
be fulfilled.
ABOUT QUEENS.
A friend writes as follows: —
Friend HrTcniNsoN: — We organized an association here last
week, and at the meeting we had quite .a discussion about im-
ported queens. Mr. Weed claimed that we did not need an im-
ported i^iieen to breed from, but I told him that we must chang-e
our Italian bees by imported stock, or very soon we will have
nothing but black bees. Please give your views in next (iLE.\N-
iNGs. Otto Kleixow.
Detroit. Mich., May 9, 1881.
If we are always careful to rear our queens from
pure queens, I do not see why we can not keep our
stock pure without an imported queen; but there
seems to be a "vim" about imported stock that is
obtainable in no other way, unless it is by crossing
with the blacks. I think a (yaot? imported queen is
very desirable property; but friend Rdot has hit
the nail on the head (I had my hammer all ready to
strike, but he was a little ahead of mc) in his re-
mnrks on page 237. You know that I told you, last
month, that i brought through only one colony, and
that was a swarm of blacks that I bought last fall, of
a man who had 38 swarms. All of his bees, except
one swarm, died last winter. Now, if I were not
rearing queens for sale, I should keep this black
queen, and breed from her; but as it is, her head
has been off some time. I tell you, my friends, I be-
lieve some of us are paying too much attention to
the looks of a queen; we should pay more attention
to the bees that she produces, and to what these bees
rio. 1 have seen some extra good swarms of bees
that had verj' commonplace-looking queens; just
the same as some of us smart men have very ordi-
nary-looking mothers. (No olTense intended.)
Neighbor Long has a queen three years old, the
daughter of an imported queen, that has always out-
stripped every queen in his apiarj% and her swarm
has always stored the most honey, and has always
come through the winter in good condition. Out of
28 queens, neighbor L. brought through only 5 this
spring. This queen was one of them. Now (as
friend Doolittle says), I should prefer queens reared
from this queen to those reared from en imported
queen that had not been thoroughly tested.
W. Z. Hutchinson.
Rogcrsville, Genesee Co., Mich.
I agree with you, friend II.; and the mat-
ter of choosing a queen to get cells from is
one that has just come up in our apiary. I
have had nearly a hundred nice queens,
reared from imported mothers last season
by neighbors Rice and Dean, to choose from.
I should have used the red-clover queen
largely, but she, too, is dead. All of my own
imported queens were lost. After consider-
ing the matter from all points, I felt that I
would prefer to have queens reared to send
out to you, from one of our finest imported
queens, and so we are using her. We should
use, also, an imported Cyprian or Holy-Land
queen, but I believe none have wintered
over in Medina Co., and friend Jones does
not seem to have any just at present, either.
DOOIilTTIiE ANSWERS QUESTIONS.
IMPROVEMENT OF BEES.
fj? SEE in May Gleanings that Doolittle is called
Ji|[ upon to answer a few questions, first of which
" — ' is by J. F. Floury, in regard to breeding bees for
honey, or breeding from imported stock. I wish to
say about this, as I should on all other matters of
improvement, that if we settle down on the idea that
we have the best stock in the world, and that we
will try no further, but breed our own to perfection,
we may soon find ourselves behind others. Well,
what shall we do? buy an Imported queen and breed
wholly from her? No: do as those who are success-
ful in improvement do; i. e., if you have a good
thing, which you believe to be such, use that as a
means of success mainly; and in addition, try, on a
small scale, any thing that looks like being an im-
provement on what you already have; and after
you have proved such to be the case, adopt it, to the
exclusion of the other. For instance: as we are talk-
ing of improvement of bees, you will see on page 21,
Gleanings for Jan., 1881, 1 say, "Five hundred dol-
lars would not hire me to breed all my queens from
an imported mother, and let my present stock go
20S
GLEANl^'GS IN BEE CULTUliE.
Junk
down." Now, while this is the truth, still it docs
not debar mo from trying different queens, both
imported and otherwise, to see If by some of them I
can not improve tlio stock I now have. liast season
I bought a queen from A. I. Uoot's rcd-cloverqueen,
and one from another party, both looking toward
improvement. Now, while the latter proves to be
of no value, 1 think the former promises success,
for both her colony and those of the live young
queens I reared froni her wintered far better than
the average of my old stock of bees. While I can
not say posiiively what they will be as honey-gath-
erers, yet, should they prove 'equal in that respect
to my old stock, it will be seen I shall have made an
improvement bv getting this stock in ray yard. To
sum up, " prove all things, and hold fast that which
is good."
CARE OF SURPLUS C05IBS.
Ne.'ct: E.D. Howell wishes to know how Doolittle
cares for empty combs to keep moth worm from
destroying them; and friend Root thinks Doolittle
has bees enough to cover them by the time warm
weather comes. This is a mistake, for I have sum-
mered over from two to five hundred for the past
two seasons, and it looks at present as if I should
carry over 1000 the present season. To preserve
them, T had a cupboard or small closet built, in
which I could bang on racks 350 combs, which filled
the room to within two feet of the bottom. Fill the
room with combs, or put in what you have; get a
kettle and place some ashes in it; put in a shovel of
coals, and on this pour 1 lb. of sulphur for every 100
cubic feet contained in your room. Shut the door,
and, if necessary, cork all tight with strips of cloth;
then leave it for 48 hours, at which time you can
take them out and put more in if you have them. If
j'ou wait till the eggs which are in the combs are
pretty generally hatched, once sulphuring seems to
suflice unless the combs are where the moth miller
can get at them. From experiment, we have found
the above amounts of sulphur to bo none too much,
for in case of matted webs or cocoons, if less is used
they will not be killed.
WHAT HECOME.S of CEES when KOBBEDy
Ncit we come to "comments on Doolittle's com.
ments," by A. A. Bradford, of New Hampshire,
where he asks, " If the bees that are robbed do not
go with the robbers, where do thej' go?' ' It is a well-
known law which governs the economy of the hive,
that all bees which die leave the hive to die, if the
weather will permit them so to do; hence at all
times, except during freezing weather, we find no
dead bees in or about the hives after the first clear-
ing-out In the spring. If a colony becomes queen-
less so as to die, the bees one by one depart from the
hive as death approaches, till all are gone. Now, as
far as my experience goes, this is what becomes of
the bees when robbed; and if, as alleged, the robbed
bees go home with the robbers, and even help, after
being conquered, in carrying the honey away from
their once happy home to that of a stranger, it is
some thing that has never come under my notice.
But I have frequently seen the bees, when robbed
during early spring, perish in the hive by starva-
tion, and also when warm enough to leave the hive
one by one till all were gone. Friend Root says, on
page 182 of Gleanings, that he has had cases where
the bees from a robbed hive went home withthe rob-
bers. Will he please tell us how they acted when
going home with the robbers, and how he knew that
it was the robbed bees that were going to the hive of
the victors?
Borodino, N. Y., May 20, 1881. G. M. Doolittlk.
[Tu be contimicd.]
I know the vcrbbed bees went along with
the robbers, friend U., because none were
left in the hive after all the honey was out,
and the robbers were greatly increased in
numbers. The robbers had a cjueen, and
the robbed, none. I watched the whole pro-
ceeding, but I do not now remember any
other instance where I saw it all so plainly.
SENDING GOODS BACK.
It seem? pretty hard for some of the brethren to
get over the idea of sending things back, if they are
not just as they should be, or even if they Imagine
such to be the case. Last season a customer mailed
a queen back, a long trip, because she did not seem
very lively, and some have talked of sending bees
back, because a part of them were dead. Please,
friends, do not think of doing such a thing; but, out
of kindness to the poor little sufferers, if nothing
else, take care of them the best you can, as if it were
your own mishap, and I think you will always find
the shipper disposed to be neighborly. Any one who
has bad lu^k in shipping bees needs all the help and
assistance we can give him. Do not, I pray you,
think of being so unkind as to send any thing back
until you have first notified the shipper, and then he
cangivesuch directions as to the disposal of the
goods as he thinks best. If you get a queen that is
feeble after a long trip, put her on a comb of fresh
honey, in the Feet cage, the very hour you get her,
and then report.
THE RUBBER-PLATE FOUNDATION MACHINE.
The rubber plates for making fdn. are a success,
except in two points. The first is, that we have not
yet succeeded in making fdn. with them as thin as
that made by the rolls, or even on the plaster casts;
but as it is soft dipped wax, with excellent side
walls, it will all be used by the bees, and is probably
economy in the end. About .5 square feet per lb. is
what the machines will probably average. The sec-
ond trouble is the trimming. Unless we make larger
sheets than we need, pile them up and trim with
a knife, as we do with the rolled fdn., it takes more
time to do the trimming than to make the sheets. It
will work on wire without trouble; but if made in a
wired frame, the surplus wax around the edges will
stick to the wood of the frame. Who will solve this
problem? We have sent out about half a dozen ma-
chines, and will doubtless soon have reports from
them. The prices are as gi\en in April No. We
have at present rubber sheets for the L. frame only,
about 8's by IV'a; but of course we can- easily cut
them down to any thing smaller. The price of the
above is $5.00, and they can be sent by mail for 80c.
ANOTHER I.MPLEMENT FOR WIRING FDN. IN FRAMES.
Some time last winter, W. W. Bliss, Los Angeles,
Cal., sent us a little wire, to be used instead of the
Blood roller, for fastening fdn. against the wire, in
wired frames. We have had no occasion to use it
until recently. We find now, that our girls work "it
more rapidly, and it does better work, than the I'ol-
ler. After using it a while, I picked up an ordinary
button-hook, such as ladies use for buttoning their
shoes, and after filing a little groove in the back of
the hook, so it would not slip off the wire, I found it
1881
GLEAXIXGS IX BEE CULTURE.
269
was even better than the wire friend Bliss sent.
You want your frame all wired as usual, and your
sheets of fdn. cut so as to just fill the frames. Have
a board also, eut so as to just slip inside the frame.
Lay the wired frame over the hoard, and put the
sheet of fdn. between the diagonal and upright wires.
Now run your button-horik along on each wire, with
force enough to imbed the wire slightly. Turn the
frame over, and do the same with the diagonal wires,
and it is ready to hang in the hives. We can mail
you a hook, already grooved, for 10c. , if you can not
make one cheaper. Of course, the Given machine
does all this cheaper, but it costs $40. CO, and every-
body can not afford one.
FRIEND ALLEY ON QUEEN-CAGES.
.VL,SO SOME RE.MAFKS IN JiEGARU TO SENDING
QUEENS BY .MAIL.
S SHALL use a sponge tilled wilh honey instead of
sugar candy. Experimenting with candy last
year cost me the loss of many queens. I do not
lose one queen in fifty with sponge and honey. Now
I will explain about the cage. ]t is made ?3 inch
wide, so as to give more space of sponge tothebees.
thus making the food hold out longer. In shipping,
the tin might press in: but as I make them the tin is
on solid against the wood on all sides, and can not
press in.
In shipping 2, 4, 6, or more queens at one time, I
will place '.the wire face to face, but reversing the
sponges, so that the bees in one cage can feed from
the sponge in the other. In shipping 3 queens, I will
make the tin one inch shorter, and cover the sponge
with wire cloth, and then the bees in all three cages
can draw food from their neighbors. Bees in such
cages will live from 2 to 3 weeks. I think the press-
ure of the wire cloth will hold thesponge in place;
if not, drive a sharp nail through the side into it.
Half a dozen bees to a cage will be all the company a
queen will want.
To put the bees in the cage, keep up the corner of
wire not nailed down, and raise it with the index
finger. The spring of the wire will keep it down. I
have done this all my days.
alley's improvement on the peet cage.
I can bore the holes in them with power, and can
do it much quicker than I can nail them up. Then
again, the cages used to-day are much stronger and
neater. I have put a few bees in them, and covered
the tin with paper, to keep the bees away from the
cold tin. I have no idea that the bees will be alive
when they get to Medina, as they have not had a
chance to fly for a few days, and the weather is too
cold to ship them. Cloth would be much better
than paper to protect the bees against the cold tin.
My object in sending these cages is to have you
make some improvement, if any can be made. My
experience in the queen-shipping line is as exten-
sive as almost any one's; but it takes everybody to
know everything. I have bothered over cages more
or less for a month past, and have finally settled on
the style sent you to-day. H. Alley.
Wenham, Mass., April 16, 1881.
The principal feature of the above oa^e is
the manner of holding the tin slide. This
slide has each side folded up partially, say
at about an angle of 4) degrees. Well,
grooves are cut for this slide to slide in, on
the same angle, near the edge of the cage, as
you see in the cut. These grooves need to
be far enough from the edge so there will be
no danger of splitting out. We will place
.•<o.00 to the credit of friend A. for this sim-
ple device, and I expect to get my money
back by making you such cages for 6 cts.
each, or 50 cts. per doz.; you may have a
sponge or candy in them, as you choose.
^ly experience with the sponge of honey has
resulted in so much daubing of all parties
interested, as well as the bees, that I have
given it up in favor of the candy. Friend
JNIoore and others use candy and a sponge
too. In making them by the quantity, we
shall use thick basswood plank, and "after
boring the holes into the edge of the plank
by machinery, the cages will be sliced off
with a saw, planed on both sides, groove cut
for the slides and wire cloth, in long pieces,
and then the cages will be cut up. By sli-
ding the wire cloth into a groove just like
the one that holds the thi, the rough edges
are covered, so if you put a cage into your
pocket, it is not going to catch on your hand-
kerchief, etc. The idea of putting two to-
gether, so the bees can get candy or honey
through the wire cloth of the next one, is
also a brilliant conception, if I may be ex-
cused. By leaving off one tin and'one wire
cloth from two of them, they can be tied to-
gether, so as to send a single queen long dis-
tances. I very much dislike so many
changes, but I think this cage offers suffi-
cient advantages in the two features men-
tioned, as well as cheapness. I should put
the bees in by drawing back the tin slide.
The bees mentioned came all alive.
FRIEND FLANAGAN'S FIRST EXPERI-
ENCE IN SELLING BEES BY
THE POIND.
ALSO SOME HINTS ABOUT GETTING THEM TO SELL.
-^y^OU see, we sent friend Y. some orders
2| to hll, and here is what he says about
—' it : —
Friend Root .-—Don't scold. On coming back from
the express office this evening I went to introduce a
young queen (virgin) to the nucleus from which I
had taken one of those I sent out. I thought I would
see how many bees they had, and if they would need
more in the place of those removed; and behold, on
the second comb, the queen as large as life. I felt
bad, I tell you. No chance of getting her with her
bees, as the express had left an hour before. I went
and got a Peet cage, caught her and about 15 bees,
and will send her by mail in the morning when I
post this letter, and will write to Loveland and ex-
plain how it came that there was no queen with one
of his packages. In the other I caught her majesty
after I had caged and weighed the bees, so I am sure
one is all right. I saw her (the one that was left) on
the comb when I shook it into the tunnel, but she
must have taken wing instead of going down with
the other bees. It has taught me a lesson that I will
try to profit by. And now for a question or two, and
then a little chat, and I will bid you good-night.
In selling bees by the pound, is it safe to shake in,
270
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
Junk
or, rather, take other bees, than the ones in her
nucleus? How do you manage to get enough hees
for 1 lb. when the queen is in a nucleus that has but
barely that amount? I had to give young bees to
both of the nuclei I took those out of this evening,
to protect the unhatched brood.
Now, do you want to know how I have my colonies
so strong? I will tell you. Candy did it. I made up
a liberal supply along in Feb., and put it on every
colony right on top of the frames; and as fast as
they used it up I put on another, even when they
were bringing in pollen from the elm and maple,
and later from the fruit-bloom. Lift a cover when
you would, j'ou would find the young bees at the
candy, and at it at night as well as day, and especial-
ly the stormy, rainy, cold days; then the whole force
would be at it. Some one said, when he saw me lift
off the slab of partly used candy, when I went to
show him my bees, that it was too expensive; that I
would never get my money and labor back; but I
believe that 2, or at least 3 lbs. of candy will make at
least 1 lb. of bees; and as long as I can sell at pres-
ent prices, it will all come back, with compound in-
terest too; and then the satisfaction of having
booming colonies, ready to do all they can for you
wden they get the chance, is a satisfaction too great
to be resisted. I must close. Send in the orders,
and remember that I will be sure next time that the
queen is there. E. T. Fl,anagan.
Belleville, 111., May 20, 1881.
Well, now, friend F., isn't it a little singu-
lar that I have exactly answered yon, on p.
U76, even before your letter was written? I
would not attempt to mix bees to send with
a queen, for the strange one would be very
likely to sting her, and that would leave
your customer in a very bad predicament.
We get 1 lb. from a hive, without trouble ;
frequently 2 lbs., and have, in a few cases,
taken 3 lbs., even in the month of May. If
too few are left, take some of the combs
away, or bring some bees from another hive.
I should very much like to know how many
pounds of candy it will take to make 1 lb. of
bees.
THE GIVEN FDN. PRESS, THIS PRES-
ENT SEASON.
^ AST year, after carefully reading all the testi-
Jj[|_,^| menials in favor of the different fdn. ma-
chines, I concluded to get a "Dunham." It
was, after some delay, received, and I did my best,
for a novice, to make it work; but it was " no go,"
and I was very much discouraged with my want of
success,but attributed it to my lack of skill. This
spring I thought I would try the "Foster mold," be-
lieving any thing that he would send out would be
worth the money. My experience with it you have
already given to the public, and CA-ery word I said
was true; and I still say that, for persons who need
but a small quantity for their own use, it is the ma-
chine yet; but the plaster plates, and the shallow
impressions, or, rather, the low side walls and rather
thick base, or septum, was a drawback. Thinking
over what Heddon had written in regard to the
" Given machine," and having considerable confi-
dence in his judgment, I wrote for one, and have
given it a fair trial, and I am compelled, in justice,
to say that, for ease of manipulation, correctness of
work, and perfection of all that one desires in comb
fdn. {thick or thin), height of side walls and thianess
of septum, it is ahead of all. I don't want a better
machine or better fdn.; and then you can put the
wires in in such a manner that they are completely
covered, and no brood injured. I have written this
without the knowledge or consent of the inventors.
And I can indorse every word that Heddon said of it
last year. E. T. Flanagan.
Belleville, 111., May 6, 1881.
We have, within a few days, received of
friend Given some wired frames, tilled with
fdn., that are certainly handsome, and he
without (luestion deserves great credit for
so pertinaciously pushing his invention along
to its present state of perfection. The fdn.
is not as soft, and I should say not as easily
worked out by the bees as that made on the
rubber or plaster plates : but as it is done
rapidly, and with a great degree of econo-
my of wax, it must certainly come greatly
into use. Who will take the next step, and
make the rubber plates put the sheet into
the wired frames?
MRS. liUCINDA HARRISON'S T.VLK TO
THE CHILDREN.
MY DEAR YOUNG FRIENDS :- I've just fin-
ished reading your letters in May No. of
Gleanings, and I asked myself how many
of these boys and girls are trying to do some thing
useful. We are delighted that Mollie E. Canoles
mnkes surplus boxes; this is hitting the nail right
on the head, isn't it? It does not require much
strength to make them, but skill and tact. All little
boys love to drive nails, and why should not the girls
too? Not only know how to drive them, but do it
properly, so that they will not split, or the nails
bend.
We do not like names that end in le,— Johnnie,
Mollie, etc. The police reports are full of such
names. Mary is a beautiful name, and it seems like
bad taste to change it to Mollie, which is a more
suitable name for a horse than a girl or woman.
You have all heard of Simpson's honey-plant, have
you not? It is called by this name, because Mr.
Simpson found out that it is a good honey-plant, and
told Mr. Boot and other bee-keepers about it. We
saw Mr. Simpson at a bee-meeting, and he looks as
if he would enjoy doing a kind act. He said that he
had a little boy, seven years old, who, when the bees
swarmed, ran up to the hive, and caught and caged
the queen as she came out. I've tried to catch the
queens in this way, but my fingers are not nimble
enough, and I have a kind of ague, like the hunters
have when they aim at a deer. They tremble, and
call it " buck's ague." I'm glad that they do have
it, for 1 do not like to have the pretty deers killed;
do you? Mrs. L. Harrison.
Peoria, 111., May 33, 1881.
CIRCUIiARS AND PRICE LISTS RE-
CEIVED.
W. G. Russell, Millbrook, Ont., Can., sends xis a one-page
circular of apiarian supplies.
A. W. Cheney, Kanawha Falls, W. Va., sends us a well exe-
cuted cheirograph circular of one page, giving prices of Italian
bees and queens.
O. H. To-\™send, Hubbardston, Ionia Co., Mich., sends us a
very full 8-page catalogue of apiarian implements.
U. W. Baker, Lewi.sv!IIe,Jnd.. issues a postal price list of Ital-
ian queens only.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
271
]?IACHi:VE FOR PUNCHING FRAMES.
WE have had a hard winter on bees in this part
of the country. I think nearly one-half of
— the bees in this county have died, and in
most cases they have died for want of proper pack-
ing.
I have made a cheap machine for punching frames
for wire, which does the work so nicely that I
thought I would send you a pencil
sketch of it. The diagram and de-
scription will make it all plain.
Make one, and see if the boys don't
think it is fun to punch frames
with it.
A is the punch-bar, made of ^3
steel rod, 13 in. long, with head and
washer on upper end, and lower
end drawn out to a fine chisel-
pointed punch. B and C are lilocks
to hold the frame while being
punched. D is a wire coll spring
which withdraws the punch every
time. E is a lever. F is the tread-
le. G is a wooden post 2x4 which
you can make any height you want,
and fasten to the wall where it will
be most convenient. Lower half of
jpunch-bar is made square to keep
from turning. J. A. Osborne.
Rantoul, III., March 23, 1881.
Thanks, friend O. Yonr plan is quite in-
genious ; but we use, for the purpose, a gang
of drills that bore a bundle of top and bot-
tom bars at once. For drills, we use wire
nails filed at the end. some thing like a brad
awl. If one breaks, it takes but a moment to
replace it. Wired frames are getting to be a
standard article. Our trade in them this
season is much greater than it was last, and
any device to help make them accurately
and rapidly is of course a boon to the "boys."
DOES IT PAY TO PACK BEES IN CHAFF
OR COTTON SEED IN TEXAS?
FROM AN ABC SCHOLAR.
I HE winter of 188)-'81 has been the severest
we have had In Texas for many years. We
have bad two snowstorms, the snow lying on
the ground for four days, and the ice was thick
enough to bear up a horse.
And now I want to prove that, in the severest win-
ters in Texas, only the weakest colonies need to be
packed with chaff or cotton seed. If yoii must pack
them, use cotton seed, as you can get it for 4 cts. pt-r
bushel.
Mr. Carroll, of Navarro Co., Texas, says, on p. 2:38
of Gleanings, that it does pay to pack bees; so f
suppose he i>acked all of his, not leaving one colony
unpacked for experiment, and therefore he really
iloes not know whether it pays or not.
I was sick about the time the bees ought to have
been packed, and after I got well I had only time
enough to pack the weakest colonies before it was
too cold to handle them. I had no chaff cushions,
and did not think of cotton seed, so I did it in this
way: I cut oat straw the exact length of the frames,
and after removing one of the empty combs on each
side of the hive, packed the straw on end in its
place. In this way I could contract the inside as
much as I wanted by removing more frames. I
packed only five of the swarms in this way, but I'll
never do it again.
My first swarm came out only two days after Mr.
Carroll's, and was from a hive that had not been
packed, and another bee-keeper of Austin had a
swarm a few days before mine.
I had 13 colonies in the fall; brought them all
through safely until April, then the robbers began;
they robbed one strong colony of their stores, and in
the late freeze, April 14, they were killed; this is the
only swarm I have lost. 1 now have 15, including
new swarms.
All of my bees wintered on honey from the bitter-
weed, and are now bringing in hon^y from the mes-
quite and hoarhound. The horsemint is commenc-
ing to bloom, and I will get my main crop from it. I
think I will send you a section of horsemint honey in
the summer, and you will think it is at least next
best to clover honey.
We have had nearly a whole week of steady, soak-
ing rains, and I think there will not only be a large
honey crop, but a great increase of bees.
Can not some other Texas bee-keepers let us know
their opinion on chaff packing in Texas? I am will-
ing to " give in " if I am wrong.
Mr. Root, can j"ou not give U3 a column of " i<ca-
sonable Hints " everj' month? W. L. Stiles.
Austin, Travis Co., Texas, May 7, 1881.
Why, friend S., you conclude your letter
sayifig one of yoiir strongest colonies was
frozen out April 14th, and yet you don't be-
lieve chaff packing would pay ! It is true,
they were robbed ; but if they were strong
and well protected, I do not quite see how
they could have been robbed. Again, I do
not quite agree that your method of using
long straw is equal to close chaff packing.
May be I am too strong on chaff, but I think
it pretty safe, even yet. I have often
thought of "seasonable hints;" but it al-
ways rises np before me that your honey
harvest will be over before some other bro-
ther up North has commenced ; and how
could I manage to strike you ally It is true,
I might tell you what to do during corn-
planting time and fruit-blossoming time,
and so on, but you can already find that in
the AI3"C.
HOW TO AVINTER BEES.
THE HONEY OUTLOOK.
ST is a source of great satisfaction to us who
have been mourning over dead bees — yes,
whole colonies of them, — from the late cold
winter, to read May Gleanixcjs, where we find that
those whom we regarded as the most careful bee-
keepers have lost yet more heavily than ourselves,
and therefore we get courage to stand right up in
the class and tell you ■J^e know how to winter bees.
The most careless observer in this section can not
fail to note that, where bees have perished in the
hive, they have been found invariably clustered on
empty comhs, and of course the inference is fair,
that they died from starvation. I went into winter-
quarters with 43 colonies; only about 12 of them,
however, were of full strength, and 6 of them at
least were but nucleus colonies. To preserve these
small colonies with their queens I bought two hat-
boxes of our hattei-s, and set in the bottom of it a 3-
272
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
June
frame nucleus hive, which left a space around it
and under it of about 4 inches, which I packed with
chafif, and made an entrance at one end, sloping
down well to prevent the entrance of storm; into
this I phiced three full frames of honey, taking care
to punch several holes through each comb near the
top, to allow for the passage of bees. Into this I
placed one nucleus colony, and tacked a sheet of oil-
cloth over them. I then tacked in two boards across
the box above them, which made a hive just the size
of the Simplicity; but I prepared this to receive two
colonies by making two entrances, and packing the
space between these boards and the ends of the box
with chaff; a division was then made lengthwise of
very light stuff (I made one of oil-cloth), and a chalf
cushion was tacked on the Inside of the box; three
very heavy frames of honey were placed in each of
these spaces, and a small colony was also put in
each. They were covered over with oil-cloth, chaff,
and a water-proof lid; another box was prepared
likewise, and three more small colonics packed in
it; the result of this is, that when our maples
began to bloom this spring, no dead bees were in
either of these hives, while my loss from other hives
were fully one-half.
The lesson that is to be learned from this is just
what you have so often insisted on, a contracted hive
for wintering, and the accompanying heavy combs
of honey, which is a necessary result of contracted
hive to prevent the exhaustion of stores. My heav-
iest losses the past winter were in my strongest
swarms, where I thought contraction by division-
boards unnecessary.
The loss in Chester and Lancaster counties. Pa.,
the past winter, has been fully one-half the number
of swarms, and about two-thirds of all the bees.
Judging from these ff^vires, we should not predict
more than one-fourth the ordinary crop of honey
this summer; but looking at the splendid weather
we have had the past two weeks, with the bees
working uninterruptedly on maple, cherry, plum,
dandelion, pear, and now on apple l)lossoms, I look
for an unprecedented increase of bees: and, in fact,
this is now verified, so that I look for about a half
of the ordinary crop.
SHINGLE CHAFF TENEMENT.
I can say a word in favor of the shingle chaff ten-
ement hive. Four strong colonies wintered in one
with no dead bees; no division-board was used, but
the fullest combs were placed together in each hive
near the center division. S. "W. Mohrison.
Oxford, Pa., May 7, 1881.
HEDDON'S REPORT.
WINTERING.
!iOW the cherries are in full bloom, the apples
are coming forth, the weather is fine, and all
nature is gushing. Here is my report, after
doubling up our light stocks.
"We began the winter with 196 colonies (and not 213
as I reported; my man who ran the out apiary mis-
counted), and we have sold the Glenwood apiary,
with 50 colonies. Sold 10 more to parties here and
there, and have left 17. This makes 77 surviving out
of 196. As it is very plain that the cause or prevent-
ive does not rest with any particular style of hive or
mode of wintering, we must be looking toward some
other cause. "We plainly see that all methods of pro-
tection that tend to lessen the consumption of
honey tend proportionately to alleviate the trouble.
Now, as regards the best methods for the above pur-
poses: In some localities, and in some seasons, each
of the three, viz., cellars, houses, and chaff packing,
seems to be the best. I believe that the house above
ground is good when we do not have protracted
open spells during the winter. In such cases, we
can not keep down the temperature to a degree that
will keep the bees quiet and easy. Then chaff pack-
ing is best, and cellar wintering next best. "When
the winter is extremely cold clear through (as the
one just past), then cellar wintering and houses
prove best. A large cellar with few bees within will,
with proper care and arrangements, carry them
through the warm periods of such winters as 1879
and '80. But this is expensive. "Whenever the
food has beea sufficiently pure to be non-irritant,
the bees have come through safely in all shapes;
when it has been somewhat unwholesome, colonies
packed outside have eaten enough of it to cause dis-
ease, while those in good cellars did not need to con-
sume enough to engender the sickness. Thenagain,
the food seemed to be so near rank poison, that cel-
lars and packing both failed totally. If the above is
correct, you will plainly see that, in a winter when
the food is extremely impure and the weather mild,
and opportunities for flight frequent, that colonies
would die fearfully in^cellars and houses, while they
would do well on the summer stands, especially if
protected. Now comes the question, "What is this
trouble in the food? I have said that, to account for
all the cases that have come under my observation,
it must be an animal secretion in the nectar (bacte-
ria), or an excessive amount of vegetable matter in
the same. I would be inclined to favor the vegeta-
ble theory, were it not for the fact that such secre-
tion would be caused by climatic influences (that is,
its yearly variations), which much more uniformly
cover an extended area, than docs its supposed
effect, bee dysentery. The facts in the case better
fit the bacteria theory. I this morning received a
letter from friend Shuck, and he suggests the idea
that vegetable matter is the cause of the trouble,
but that it is not in the honey, but the next thing to
it, the honey cells, called by bee-keepers pollen or
bee bread. I am not sure but that the variation in
the proportions of honey, water, and pollen, of
which the bread is composed; the pollen proliflcness
of different seasons, and parts thereof; the tenden-
cies of different stocks to store pollen; also the posi-
tion in the hive that they happen to put it in, and
then happen to occupy during winter; various
causes inducing the bees to cat it, such as more at-
tractive bread, less attractive honey, cold prevent-
ing their moving to select a choice; scarcity of hon-
ey in the proper place, etc., may account for all our
experiences with the intestinal disease. " Let us
reason together," and see if it will. If we conclude
that such is the cause, then let us devise the cheap-
est and best methods of removing the said cause.
Mr. Bingham and others have noticed, that pollen in
excess is almost always present where dysentery
rages. Undoubtedly, spring dwindling is the effect
of milder forms or degrees of dysentery. My expe-
rience is, that colonies that winter perfectly, never
spring dwindle; that those who think they do, did
not examine closely enough to detect the milder
forms of the disease.
I feel very confident that ail the past talk about
division-boards, ventilation, damp cellars, etc., etc.,
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
273
have at best only an indirect influence on the great
and general cause. At least, I am willing to stake
any little reputation I may have as a guesser, upon
it. It may be natural, but not wise, to suppose that
Ihe method that proves successful one time surely
will the rest. Not till we know the cause can wo ex-
pect to prevent the effect with any certainty.
Dowagiac. Mich., May II, 1881. James Heddon.
'l-d
I
Uevi
99
This department w.as sugpestecl by one of the clerks, as an op-
position to the Growlery. 1 think 1 shall venture to give nauiet
too much honey and too many bees, and the
remedy!
f' HAVE a rather queer complaint to make, in
view of the great loss of bees reported in last
' Gleanings. Three years ago, I was taken very
badly with the "bee fever;" had it vcru bad; bought
some bees, went through all the glory of transfer-
ring, artiflcial swarming, etc.; wound up with 25
swarms. The second j'ear they increased to 50, and
last year to 100. If this keeps on, it will take a first-
class saw-mill to furnish lumber, and the whole
plantation will eventually be one vast bee-yard.
Last year I put on sections and L. frames late, as a
single box is too small for them in this hot section,
and thought if I did not get any honey they might
draw some of the fdn. out. They were left on all
winter, and the result now is, that at swarming time,
present date, I am taking off the sections full of
sealed honey. I thought that I would be extracting
L. frames; but with the exception of two or three
outside, all are full of honey, and the rest are filled
with brood, there seeming to be more in top frames
than in those in lower box. Imagine the swarms
they are turning out. I have taken them until I am
sick of the sight of a swarm coming out; but it
seems a pity to let them go off. There is no demand
for them down here, and I presume it is most too
far off to send them north, even if any one wanted
to buy them. They are blacks and hybrids. I do
not care to have over 100, as that is as many as my
father can attend to, with what time I can spare.
Mr. Viallon advised me to clip the wing of the queen;
but would they not continue to swarm, and Anally
become disgusted and kill her? Mr. Bledsoe, of
Natchez, recommended teariugdown the queen-cells,
except one, after the fiist swarm was out; but this
would double the number every j-ear. If I could sell
the swarms I would not mind it. Can you give me
any relief, or must I just let them go off?
Gleanings is very interesting, and I think im-
proves every number. Hope you will succeed with
the rubber plates for fdn., though I don't think any
dipping plates will ever be better than the rolls, es-
pecially in a large apiary. H. B. Shaw.
Gum Ridge, Jefferson Co., Miss., May 4, 1881.
Why, friend S., just sell those bees by the
pound. If our boys could just get into your
apiary, they would soon stop swarming, by
taking off the surplus young bees, and re-
ducing things down to a point where I am
sure you would be satisfied. Then just let
the queens lay ; as fast as more young bees
hatch, shake them off the combs, and sell
them again. It is ever so much more fun
than ttiking oft honey. If we can just get
low rates on bees by express, we can take
them from the South after the honey season
is over, and bring them north and have them
gather another crop. I verily believe it can
be done.
Hurrah! hurrah! and once more, hurrah for A. I.
Root's chaff hives and the Holy-Land queen from
you! To-day, May ti, 1881, drones are flying (none of
your drone-layers;) they are drones for swarming.
The colony has brood in nearly all the 10 frames;
drones hatching on the outside of the 9th and 10th
frames. I have about 6 colonies that have some
capped drone-brood. I expect some new swarms
before May 15. My bees are working like beavers.
Otto Kleinow.
Detroit, Mich., May 6, 18SL
AVhy, friend K., whatever ails youV Don't
you know that '' one swallow does not make
a summer," nor that one or two winters do
not decide the merits of a hive? Why, I ac-
tually supposed you had got a swarm as big
as a haystack, in the month of April, by the
way you shouted when you started out. By
the way, can you not turn in and help sup-
ply the brethren with pounds of bees? That
is the way to show that you are thankful for
your good fortune, is it notV
OR HOIEY PLAKTS TO BE NAMED.
fpIE plants mentioned below were sent
us about a year ago, as you will see by
the date of the letter.
HONEY-PLANTS FROM DENMARK.
As I see you speak so highly of the Spider plant as
such a famous honey-producing plant, I am very de-
sirous of trying it. American stamps I can not
send, and cents are not to be had here, therefore I
go on the principle that " fair exchange is no rob-
bery," and herewith inclose 3 sorts of seeds of flrst-
class honey-producers here, and will no doubt prove
the same with you. Scroi^hularia Crysanthus is a
species of the Simpson honey-plant, but flowers ear-
lier, longer, and better, if sown early; flowers the
first year.
Stachys lanata is a capital flowering plant, with
white downy leaves, flowers the second year. Ara-
his alpina, a spreading plant of great beauty and
worth to every bee-keeper; flowers with the crocus.
In exchange for these I shall feel obliged if you will
send me a few seeds of the Spider plant.
J. S. Wood.
Nyborg, Fyen, Denmark, May 1, 1880.
The first of the three is noAV in bloom.
The stalk and leaf bear quite a resemblance
to the Simpson plant, and the flower also,
only that it is in little groups or bunches,
and is yellow. The honey glistens already
in its little honey-cup. Many thanks for the
kindness, friend W. We shall endeavor to
save seed of the one mentioned, and will try
to report in regard to the rest in due time.
WILLOW, ORNAMENTAL.
Prof. Beal answers in regard to the willow
mentioned last month, as follows:—
This is some species of willow not certainly iden-
tified without leaves. It is now in flower. All bee-
274
GLEANINGS m BEE CULTURE.
June
men must know that willows furnish both pollen
and honey. I return sample, which 1 presume will
still grow. W. J. Beal.
ASPEN-TREE AS A HONEY-PLANT.
I this day took the privilege to send you by mail a
bloom from a tree that grows in our village, which
is a stranger to us in this part of the country. It
blooms a week ahead of the maple or alder, and the
bees are A'ery fond of it. When in full bloom it
looks at a distance as if it were in full leaf ; and on
a fair day the l>ees are there by the thousands, and
when there comes a puff of wind enough to blow the
bees out, it looks as if a swarm were settling there,
and there are hundreds on the ground gathering
up their loads. It lasts for two or three weeks.
There is no one around here who knows the name
of the tree, or where it came from. We have sever-
al other yoimg trees which have some bloom on
them this year. They are a very quick growth, and
make a nice shade tree. If 3 ou are acquainted with
the tree, I should like very much to know the name
of it. I have never seen it mentioned by any writer
on the bee or bee pasture. I think it is a tree that
ought to receive attention by all whr» take an inter-
est in bees, for it certainly is a great yielder of pol-
len. We have no basswood in this part of the
country. If you have none of the kind, let me
know, and I will send you a few cions next fall.
W.M. T. HlI.TON.
B.irnesvillc, Md., April 18, 1881.
Thanks, friend II. We have a tree here
that I think is at least pretty near the same.
It does not, however, bear lioney more than
about a week, as it is so early the weather is
often unfavorable for the bees to work on it.
"We call it aspen, sometimes " <iuaking asp,"
from the peculiarity the leaves have of being
always in motion. "To be more sure, Ave sent
the specimens to Prof. Beal, and here is his
reply : —
This is Popiilun grandid<.ntata, large-toothed aspen,
a tree conunon in the Northern States. In size and
vigor it is midway lietween the common small aspen
and the Cottonwood. W. J. Beal.
Agricultural College, Lansing, Mich.
WINDING THE WATERBURYT ItVATCH.
W NOTICE you advertise the Waterbury watch
ji||_ for sale. 1 have one, and I can indorse every
word you state in its praise, as to cheapness and
accuracy. I have carried mine 15 months nearly.
As for its durability, time alone can tell. In regard
to winding It up: The long spring so annoyed me for
a few days, I decided that I would not submit to
such tedious work twice a day. as the little book re-
(^ommends for giving the best results. T soon hit on
awoodenkey to fit the winding-stem, audit works to
a charm. I can wind up now in 10 seconds, and I
wind only once in 24 hours at that ! If the spring ev-
er weakens enough to interfere with correct time-
keeping, I shall then wind the watch twice a day.
The key looks like this
sketch. Any one handy
with a penknife can make
one in a few minutes
The length of the crank, or " half-stroke, " is about
?8 of an inch; for careless people it should be less
(as that length gives abundant power), to prevent
danger from breaking the stop-work. The thickness
of the wood should be about 'j of an inch. I prefer
hickory, but any hard wood will do. For the handle,
I use a % in. wire nail, driving in till the length suits
my thumb and fore-linger; then I cut off the sur-
plus end of the nail, and file smooth. The length I
prefer is M inch above the wood. I suggest that
you try one of these " keys " for your personal use,
and let me know how you like them. They can be
carried in the vest pocket safely. There is no
patent on them that I am aware of. The idea is orig-
inal with me. After a little practice you can tell to
a grain's weight when your watch is nearly wound
up without letting the stop-work " fetch upallstand-
ing." Previous to this practice, you can count the
revolutions (about 110 to 135 after the watch has run
24 hours.) The keyhole should be make tapering, so
that the key fits snugly and no more. If made too
tight, it may strain tlie spindle on which the cap
rests. If you consider it a good thing, let the people
know it. I ha\e had my watch vary as little as 2
minutes a week for several weeks in succession.
New York City, May 4, 1881. Zophar Mills, Jr.
Thanks, friend M. I do not think the
springs will ever weaken, for they are made
of the best tempered steel, and are, for aught
I know, equal to the springs put in the most
expensive watches. 1 hartlly think I should
care for your crank for my own personal use,
as I always wind my watch when taking it
from my pocket, to look at the time. I have
learned to do this " automatically," and
therefore I have a watch that is always
wound. In fact, it is the lirst watch I ever
carried that did not annoy me by running
down. Our girls who make a business of
winding the watches daily to regulate them,
use a pine stick, about a foot long or more,
and by laying the winding pendant on the
edge of the table, and moving the stick
lengthwise over it, as the watch is also
moved along, they are "spun up," as it
were in a twinkling. As the Waterbury
Company are proverbial for making wonder-
fully ingenious devices for a very small
amount of money, perhaps they will get out
some little "cranks" for about a nickel
apiece. I will send them this. These
watches are coming into general us(? at a
wonderful rate.
THE NEW INOrSTRV ; AVORK FOR BEE-
KEEPERS.
THE GREAT CALL FOR BEES BY THE BOUND.
i|pi|,WING to the great demand for bees to
IJ) till the empty hives consequent upon
^"^ the great losses all over our land dur-
ing the past winter, I am reluctantly obliged
to say that our prices for bees by the pound,
during the months of May and June for
this year will still be the same as April
piices; viz., $^2.00 per lb. I shall be very glad
indeed to have others take tliis trade, and re-
lieve me sufficiently so that I may commence
at once to ])repare my bees for the coming
winter. Of course, you know it looks bad
for an editor of a bee journal, and a teacher
of bee culture, to fail in wintering as I did
last winter. Were it not for this latter
point, I might sell off all my bees by the
pound, and buy more in the spring, and thus
avoid wintering; but how then should I
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
275
teach my great ABC class? To induce
others to come to the rescue of the many
wantmg hees, I will give the names, free, of
responsible parties wIjo will furnish bees at
these, or less prices. There is little or no
trouble with queens, as these can be procured
cheaply in any quantities, while bees can be
shipped long "distances only at a considerable
expense. It will pay exceedingly well to
raise bees by the pound, even when we de-
pend on feeding during the seasons they get
little or no honey.
CAGES FOIl SIIIPriNG BEES.
Bees must of a necessity be sent by ex])ress;
none are allowed by mail except the dozen
or two that accompany the queen, and
freight is altogether too slow.
CAGE FOR 1 LB. OF BEES.
PRICE LIST.
3 I J^ lb , single section, no candy 05
6 I }^ lb, 2 sections, no candy 10
9 I 1 lb , 3 sections, no candy 15
If tilled with Vlallon'.s candy, add .3o to each section, and if
wanted by mail, 3c more to each section.
2 1 Tin water-bottles, for long shipments 03
AVe put in from one to three of these bot-
tles, according to distance and quantity of
bees. When distance is such that they will
likely be received in 3 or 4 days, no water is
needed ; and it may be we shall succeed in
getting them to stand a week without water.
The smallest cage is an excellent one for
sending a valuable queen in by express.
JUTERIALS IN THE FI..\T, PER IirNDRED.
$1 .")0 I Sections, in-inted as per cut, in price li.st $ 75
iiO I Wire-cloth caps forends 2 0(1
100 1 " " bands to match them 3 00
20 I Strips to hold candy, per 100 25
10 I Handles of fancy-colored book-binder's cloth for
3-lb. package SO
2 00 I Water bottles 2.50
45 I Tin ttiiinel, for shaking the bees into the above cages 50
2 I Yucca brushes 05
With the above tunnel, an expert will put
up a pound of bees ready for shipment, in
ive minutes, after finding the queen. After
using the tunnel a dozen times or so, the
honey that shakes against the inside should
be washed off, and also the yucca brush that
is used to brush them down. "When the tun-
nel is dropped, it should be set with its
mouth on the ground, ai^d the small end
covered with the small cap, to keep robber
bees from sucking up the new honey. The
cages may hold more bees than the weight
named, especially in cool weather ; in fact,
we often put li lbs. in a 1-lb. cage ; but if
the weather is hot, it is not safe to put in
more than 1 lb.
VlAIiliON'S CANDY.
AND SOME OTHER MATTERS PERTAINING TO
SELLING BEES BY THE POUND.
ITIIIN the past few days we have
fJl^j been sending to every one South
-'-' whom we thought might have
queens, to see if they could not help us sup-
ply the enormous demand. Here is a letter
from friend Viallon, in regard to this and
kindred matters.
Yours at hand, and in reply would state that I have
too many orders to spare you any dollar queens at
once. I may in a few days if orders slack a little. I
am making some experiments on shipping bees by
the pound, and so far I think I shall succeed in send-
ing them to any part of the country without loss. I
had never given this matter any attention since 18T9,
when I sent you some; but as the demand is so
large, and as it is of mutual interest, I have under-
taken the experiments. So far as I have gone, I
would state to you that it requires a box or cage not
smaller than 6 inches square for 1 lb. of bees, and
that 1 lb of candy will hardly do for more than 5
days. Those I have in cages have consumed, on an
average, 4 ounces in 2t hours. These were taken
and put in the cages without all )wing them to fill
themselves with honey. Now, here is another ques-
tion: In sending bees by the pound, must we allow
them to fill up with honey before putting them in
the CHge, or must we put them in on an empt)/ stom-
ach? Do you know that it makes a big difftrence in
276
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
Junk
favor of the one selling bees, etc.? This is a ques-
tion to be decided, as it may end in serious difficul-
ties. Suppose I send you 10 lbs. of bees, and when
you receive them they weigh only 8 lbs., though
none died in the boxes, and they were weighed here
correctly? Now, I went to-day, since the idea struck
me, and gave a smoking to a colony, and after I
thought they had filled themselves, I introduced 1
lb. into a box, similar in size to another filled with
bees taken without being filled up, and really there
is a marked difference in the size of the bunches. It
looks to me as if it were more than one-fourth. I
wish you would answer the above.
Do you know that I am proud of my candy? I
have not only mailed all my queens without loss,
but also the bees accompanying Ihem — over 300
mailed to date. There will be more dollars saved in
mailing queens with my candy than with the Peet
cages, as nearly any cage will do to mail queens, but
not any candy. Yourself will save more dollars in
using the candy than you will probably make in sell-
ing Carlin's fdn. cutter. Feet's cages, etc., to whom
you have paid to use their inventions. I inclose
some of the last postals received ; they all are near-
ly the same. P. L. Viallon.
Buyou Goula, La., May 13, 1881.
Below, Ave give the cards to whicli he re-
fers : -=-
Queen received all right— not a bee dead. Please
accept thanks. P. Elbert Nostkand.
650 Bushwick Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y., Aprils, 1881.
The bees arrived in very good condition- not a
dead bee in the cage. P. Stephens Stenger.
St. Meinrad, Spencer Co., Ind., April 26, 1881.
Queen received on the 30th, tiptop order, without
a dead bee. Please let mo know at what price you
can furnish me VA or 3 lbs. of bees, with dollar
queen, and how soon could you furnish them?
Decatur, 111. J. C. Hendricks.
The queens arrived at 7 p. m. last evening, in splen-
did condition, not a single dead bee in the whole.
Lyons Farms, N. J., May 6, 1881. Wm. Gcnnman.
You touch on an important matter, friend
v., when you speak of the extra weight of
bees when filled with honey ; and as we are
selling bees at S2.0(), instead of $1.25, the list
price this month, I presume onr customers
Will have a right to complain if they get a
cage of bees weighing less than 1 lb. ^Ve
have never taken any pains to make them
till themselves, but I have noticed that bees
put up during a heavy honey yield are al-
ways full any way, and that tliey always
ship better at such times. If we send them
with candy and no water, I should think it
much safer to make them till themselves
with thin honey before starting. As you
state it, we should therefore put up U "lbs.
to be sure and have tliem hold out. I
have before mentioned that bees will rapid-
ly shrink in weight, in any case, and those
who buy bees by the pound, to sell again in
the same Avay, will have to allow a pretty
wide margin for profits. Much will de])end
upon the honesty of the one avIio sends them
out; and as with the dollar (jueens, he who
sends the most satisfactory ecpiivalent for
money received, will probably build up the
greatest business. No one of our customers
has ever complained of short weight that I
know of.
Now about the invention of the honey
candy. If you will turn to page 215, July
Gleanings for 1878, you will And there that
I had been for some time experimenting on
a honey candy almost exactly like yours, on-
ly I used btit one grade of sugar in its com-
position. The soft sticky candy that our
friend j\I. T. Kowe there complained of, car-
ried queens in beautiful order; and so much
pleased was I with it, that I gave directions
in the A B C for using honey with the can-
dy for queen-cages. Our friends who have
the early copies of the ABC will find it
there given. After a few months, our queens
began to die again, and I tried pure coffee
sugar, Avith vials of Avater, Avith Avhat seemed
such a marked improvement, that I discard-
ed the honey. Water Avorked beautifully
aAvhile, and then again it didn't work, and
Avith much foreboding I Avent back to your
honey candy again, friend Y. As we have
lost several valuable queens Avith it this
summer already, I do not knoAV but that I
shall have to get you to make the candy for
us, and if you will guarantee all our queens
to go through alive, I will willingly pay you
3100.00 for the invention. It just now oc-
curs to me, that friend Y. did not write his
letter for publication, but it is a matter of
such general interest, I think he Avill excuse
it. In regard to the bees consuming a pound
of candy in 5 days, are you sure they did not
crumble down a great portion of it, and al-
loAV it to sift out of the cage? This has been
one great trouble we have had Avith all our
candy, but I think the honey candy is less
liable to this objection.
•^•••^ —
A DEVICE TO GO AVITH THE SWARITI-
ING-BOX.
MAKING BEES GO INTO THE SWARMING-BOX WITH
SMOKE.
M S swarming time has begun, I will try to tell
J^^_ you how I got swarms into the box last year.-
' Get a pole 15 or 20 ft. long, and put screw
eyes in it at intervals of about 4 ft., and at the top
end a bit of iron, or fold tin thus:
Now put two tin staples on the un-
der board of the smoker bellows thus,
to slip the bent iron on the end of
the pole into, thus: also put an eye
in the end of the upper board of the
smoker-hook, a cord in this eye, and pass it through
the eyes on. the pole, and by pulling the end of the
cord you caa stand on the ground and smoke a
swarm into the box without any difficulty.
A. T. McIlwain.
Abbeville C. H., S. C April 19, 1881.
Quite an idea, friend M., for, if I get it
correctly, Avith this arrangement you com-
pel the bees to " get out" of whatever cavi-
ty or inaccessible place they may try to clus-
ter in, aiul go into the swarming-box, and
that, too, Avithout AA'aiting for any slow
movements they may think proper to make.
1881
GLEAKINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
277
I presume a smoker that would light quick-
ly, and not go out when it was away up on
the top of that pole, would be a desidera-
tum. Eh?
SENDING SEEDIiING HONEY-FIiANTS BY
ITIAlIi.
SEE in May Gleanings, p. 355, you speak of
the immense quantity of Simpson seedlings,
and want to know how to ship them. I have
sent plants to acquaintances nearly to California,
and can do it again. For long distances you need
swamp or bog moss to pack in; but for short dis-
tances, soft wet paper will do; if not more than two
or three days' transit, I prefer paper.
Preparation : Select plants large enough to handle
carefully and handily. Soak the soil well, then lift
them with a trowel in clumps, and throw them down
hard enough to break up the soil; pick out your
plants and wash them clean from dirt on the roots,
being sure to wet them all over. They are now ready
to lay in rows, the roots all one way, and are all ready
to pack. Lay down a row 4 or 5 plants thick; now
lay another one, the roots overlapping the roots of
the first one (this makes one length of roots for two
of tops;) cut a strip of paper about an inch wider
than the two lengths of plants; soak it with water;
lay your plants on and roll them up tightly, and tie
three strings around them to keep them together.
The paper should go about three times around the
bunch. Now with ^a turpentine and "j linseed oil,
smear over some soft paper, then do up the bundle;
put on an outside wrapper to address; tie up, and
shove it on the road. They will keep fresh three or
four days if done up rightly. The oiled paper must
coverall over tight. To use swamp moss, put a thin
layer on the wet paper, and do up the same. When
unpacked, simply dip the plants in water all over,
and let lie an hour or two, if they are wilted any. If
this is not quite plain, I will try shipping you some
thing; or, if you are afraid, try sending me a pack-
age of the Simpson plants, and I will tell you where
you are wrong in putting them up. I have tried
these plans for over ten years, and I will risk either
of them. You may try sending me ItO or 50 if you
want to risk ever getting your pay.
H. C. Jeffrey,
Woodbury, Conn., May 13, 1881.
Many thanks, friend J.; and as to pay, I
think it will be due the other way, even aft-
er we send you all the plants you want. It
seems a little queei- to me, that you advise
shaking all the dirt off; we have always been
very careful to leave some of it adhering to
the roots; but as nurserymen usually adopt
ycur plan, I presume it must be the best one.
One point in its favor is, that you have to
pay postage only on what it actually valua-
ble.
GALI.UP ON QUEEN-REARING.
8'-' AM going to give my ideas on queen-raising for
_ what they are worth. In the first place, I think
that no one will deny that some queens are far
ahead of others in prolificness, and that some swarms
are far ahead of others in productiveness. Now, I
know that we can bring an entire apiary up to a
good standard of productiveness by careful and ju-
dicious selections and proper breeding; and further-
more, any bee-keeper who breeds in and in for a ser-
ies of seasons will find his bees running out. Many
beginners think that if they get queen-cells built (no
matter under what circumstances or conditions),
that one is just as good as another. This is an er-
roneous notion. The late Adam Grimm became
fully satisfied that his stock of bees at one time were
running out and growing weaker, simply from breed-
ing in and in too long without a change; and while I
am about it, I will quote Mr. Grimm still further.
He says, "Queen-breeders, as well as other bee-keep-
ers, should save all the cells that are built in stocks,
that voluntarily swarm. In this way they will get
queens that are reared as such from the egg. It is
my experience, that queens of that kind are more
durable and more prolific than queens reared from
larvfe a number of days old. If queens have to be
reared under compulsion, the cells for them should
be built in strong colonies, and not be removed un-
til they have been about 6 days sealed. Such queens
are, with few exceptions, as good as the best." So
much for Mr. Grimm, and you will find that he Is
correct.
Now, to raise good queens, we must have all the
necessary conditions; and what are those conditions?
A full stock of bees. They must be gathering for-
age abundantly, or they must be supplied daily with
diluted honey or sugar syrup, and they must have
eggs and larviB just hatched; for if they have larvae
several days old they will be apt. In their hurry, to
start queen-cells over larvte too far advanced. It is
an ascertained fact, that bees can change a larva to
a queen after it has been fed as a worker, up to the
fifth day; and it is another fact, that such queens
are short-lived, and, in one sense, worthless. A full
stock of bees consists of all the classes. As to age,
we must have young bees for the nurses, and old
bees for the water-carriers, honey-gatherers, and
pollen-gatherers. If we make up a stock and place
it on a new stand, all the old bees will go back to the
old stands, and then we must see that they have pol-
len and honey, and we must supply them with water
until they can gather for themselves. Three cards
of comb, bees, pollen, and honey, with a close-fitting
division-board, is a good stock to all Intents and pur-
poses; but they must be crowded with bees. Now,
if queens are raised under the proper conditions and
from good prolific stock, they are just as good if we
charge only one dollar for them as they would be if
we charged ten; and if they were not raised from
good stock, and under the proper conditions, our
charging ten dollars would not make them good
ones. Every bee-keeper should keep introducing
new stock into his apiary from year to year, so as to
avoid in-and-in breeding, or he can not expect to
keep his stock up to the standard. E. Gallup.
Santa Paula, Cal., May 4, 1881.
GRAPE SUGAR FOR AVINTERING.
Tignir'AD you not too much grape sugar in your
J'tii'K combs for winter feed? I had one colony
which seemed to have died on it. I have heard
of disastrous results elsewhere in consequence.
Please examine fairly, and report without prejudice.
The worst aspect of the manufacture of grape sugar
Is, that it is not openly advertised and sold for any
legitimate useful purpose, unless it is for feeding
bees, thus making a prima-facie case of fraudulent
intent. My use of it has not resulted unfortunately,
278
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
June
except in the above case; but I am not certain there
is any economy in its use. J. H. Peirce.
Dayton, O., May 3, 1881.
It has been reported to me by several bee-keepers
of reputation that the immediate cause of your win-
ter losses was feeding glucose or grape sugar.
Please give us the facts in the case; to what extent
you have fed glucose, if at all. H. R. Boardman.
East Townsend, Huron Co., O., May 14, 1881.
Many thanks, friends, for your kind in-
quiries. You are botli, perhaps, well aware
that I have never advised the use of grape
sugar for wintering, and that I have, in all
my circulars and price lists, cautioned you
all against its use, on account of its harden-
ing in the cells. The first experiment I ever
made with it, for wintering, caused the death
of two colonies, whicli I duly reported in
these pages. They did not have dysentery,
but simply starved on heavy combs of solid
grape sugar. After our experiments with
candy made of grape sugar, coffee sugar, and
flour, I used it experimentally on several
colonies to start brood-rearing, at different
times during the winter of 1879- '80. It start-
ed brood ])romptly, and did no harm, as I
then reported. During this past winter, the
weather was so cold that no such experi-
ments were made at all ; all feeding w^as
done u]) before cold w^eather. I reported
last fall just how we fed those colonies
needing stores. It was candy put into
frames, made of 8 parts best granulated
sugar, to one part of grape sugar. A great
part of this remains in the frames yet, not
being used nor needed by the bees. It may
be urged, that the bees got grape sugar from
all the hives, from open-air feeding. This is
a mistake, for we did no open-air feeding
last season at all, on account of an apiary re-
cently started right across the street from us.
An examination of the combs sliows that the
bees did just the same on stores of honey as
they did where they had the frames of candy.
One colony that "had dysentery especially
bad was fed up on maple sugar. As an ex-
periment, I fed one up exclusively, early in
the fall, on pure grape sugar of the improved
Buffalo make, called the crystal sugar. The
bees ate this with greater avidity than the
old kind, and I thought it might be less apt
to harden in the cells. This colony was con-
sidered among our best early in April. Had
our usual April weather come on, we should
probably have saved about 50 colonies that
were lost.
A few winters ago, neighbor Blakeslee had
his first spring dwindling, and lost the great-
er part of his apiary. As he had used some
grape sugar during the fall before, he de-
clared it was the cause of his losses, and de-
nounced it most strongly. A few days after,
he visited Mr. Pierson, of Ghent, an old vet-
eran who had wintered successfully for years
without loss. Mr. P. had had a terrible time
with the dwindling, and had lost almost his
entire apiaries, but had never fed a pound of
grape sugar in his life. Neighbor P>. told
us this with a smile, and confessed he had
been hasty. If the losses of the past winter
were only among those who used grape sugar,
it would very likely never be used any more.
The case Mr. Langstroth mentions in the
A. B. J. of May 11th, seems to show very
conclusively that grape sugar should not be
used for winter stores, and I can not see why
our friend McCord should have done so fool-
ish a thing as to have given the greater part
of the stores of 86 colonies a feed mostly
grape sugar. Although I have never known
a good article to produce dysentery, I should
have certainly supposed it would have
hardened in the cells so as to starve them.
Perhaps friend M. can tell us some thing
more about it. I am verry sorry that grape
sugar is used for bad or dishonest purposes ;
but even if it is, i can not see why this
should be a reason why we should not use it
to feed bees winle rearing queens, and bees
by the pound. The concluding remark of
friend Peirce, that it may be no economy, is
the great point at issue, and friend P. should
know some thing about it, for we have sold
him at least one barrel of the best Buffalo.
Our business is principally raising' bees by
the pound, and now bids fair to be for years
to come, unless somebody turns in to help ;
and for this purpose I think grape sugar a
great boon.
I would suggest to friend Boardman, that
glucose don't mean grape sugar, as he ■will
discover by ordering a sample of both of the
articles from the factory.
MclIiW.ilN'S COITIB-HOLDER.
E have had almost as many comb-
holders as queen-cages ; but the one
below is so easily made, it may prove
a useful suggestion to some of the friends.
COMB -HOLDER.
Here is a picture of my comb-holder, which de-
scribes itself. I have put a box with sloping cover,
as shown by the dotted lines, on the other side of
holder, to keep smoker and fuel in.
Abbeville, S. C. A. T. McIlwain.
]3ut, friend M., I am afraid if your bees
robbed as badly as ours do this 24th day of
May, you would want some kind of a cover
over it, or some thing like our comb-bucket.
The boys do not even dare to carry a lot of
frames of candy around to colonies needing
supplies now, unless they use a comb-basket.
Friend Heddon, in his report on page 2T3, don't
toll us how the 50 colonies he sold turned out.
Neighbor Dean has just been in with a load of bees,
and he says he lost 6 colonics in May, by the "dwind-
ling," and that, too, after he had counted them as all
right. I want to see these old veterans all own up
fairly and squarely just how helpless they are in the
matter.
1881
GLEANIKGS IK BEE CULTURE.
279
FRIEND COOK'S TALK TO THE BLAST-
ED HOPERS.
IS IT TRUE, THAT "IN GOD WE TRUST"?
S the mortality among bees seems to be of huge
proportions in a vast number of localities,
and as the wails of mourning arise from those
who have lost, by disease or otherwise, a large por-
tion of their bees, I am constrained to give a few
very consoling thoughts upon our apparently very
great loss as follows:—
Job said, when hiscattle, children, etc., wore taken
from him, " The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken
away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Let us
ever be thankful in adversity as well as in prosperi-
ty. But there is a class of individuals who are nev-
er thankful, either in prosperity or adversity; in
the former, they are negligent and wantonly care-
less; in the latter, they of course sec nothing to be
thankful for. I have given my rcpoi-t for 1880; now
I will give my report for the winter.
I put 11 stocks of bees (all I had) into winter-quar-
ters on summer stands; packed in fine hay, or what
we call " nimberwill," a fine grass that grows on
shady ground; but, alas! they have gone to the
next world, whore sickness and death never come.
There is, to my knowledge, only 3 living stands in
this township, out of about 100, and all round, as far
as I have heard, it is the same. From reports in
Gleanings, can there be any thing found to be truly
thankful for? Can we find thankfulness in our
hearts wherewith to be thankful for the circum-
stances we are now found in? Our bees are gone,
never to return, and some of us may be left without
the wherewith to replenish our empty hives. Is
there any thing here to be thankful for? It does
seem as though things look very dark and discour-
aging, and as though the bright side had become
dark also; but there seems to be nothing that has
only one side to it. There surely are two sides to
every thing, and almost invariably one side is much
darker than the other. There are two sides to the
subject of our losses, and I have briefly penned the
dark side, and now let us look at the bright side.
There is much for us to be truly thankful for. We
can thank God that circumstances are as well with
us as they are. for they might have been a great deal
worse. The question might arise, "What could b^
worse?" My friends, God could h:ivc taken its away
.iust as easily as he did the hces; and if he had done
so, without our being in a saved condition, it would
have been utter and everlasting ruin. This would
have been worse, Avould it not? We may well thank
our Creator for life, health, and strength, by which
we can build up our seemingly ruined fortiinHs; and
with the supplj' of hives and broad sheets of honey-
comb left us by our all-wise and divine Protector, fnr
which we should be very thankful, we can S'lon
buildup our npiaries as go^.d »s they were; yen. I
believe better, if we. as atrenis, d'> our wh.de diitv.
We should not e-rumblc at all it the hives nv dirty,
and the once b»-autiful fram^-sand regular cnibs ."II
covered with dead b'-es, and dri ping tr m the ef-
fects i^f a terrible (or, rathe .fl't'iy) ili*c:iio; hut we
should rejoice and be glud. and nivc thnnkstoO'd
that we have them fvcn as they are. We should bo
thankful for the knowlcdse we hrtve gtiined and
skill acquired b> our past experience with be^s. and
for the many very happy hours we hHve p.s^ed in
our bee-yards. These things wo c <n not very well
lose unless we go insane; which would be a teriitile
experience, worse than the loss of our pets (another
point in favor of thankfulness.)
I will give an illustration showing what we should
do. We will suppose the father of a family of chil-
dren purposes building a dwelling-house for himself
and family; will suppose this to be a frame house,
and for the inside work he purchases a few hundred
lath. Now, these lath will be found to suit the chil-
dren's fancy for nice playthings; and, in great glee,
having the house-building fever, will proceed to
form all kinds of houses, porches, piazzas, cupolas,
towers, etc., and enjoy life splendidlj'. Now, when
the father informs the children that he is ready to
use the lath, and proceeds to gather up the scattered
ones, the children will, in all probability, unless ex-
ceptionally good children, set up a protesting cry
against such proceedings on the part of the father,
and will continue, until convinced that the lath
must go to be a part of a structure built for their
comfort and convenience; but when they put their
trust in their father, believing him to know what is
best for them, the cry will cease, and a general
round of satisfaction will be experienced. Now, in
comparing the lath to the bees, the children to the
bee-keepers, and the father to our heavenly Father,
wo have it. Whether the bees go toward building us
a heavenly habitation is not a matter of dispute;
they are gone, and our heavenly Parent took them,
and let us abide by his decision, firmly believing that
he knows best. He built this world and all there is
in it, and it belongs to him, and let us say amen to
all his works. Let us profit by past experience, and
if we see in it any part of our duty undone, let us in
future do that part, and do it well, not only in bee-
keeping, but in our every-day labor. I am not in
Blasted Hopes yet. I still hope on and trust.
Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou
dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.— Pa.
37:3. T.J. Cook.
Newpoint, Ind., March U, 1881.
May the Lord bless you for your kind
words, friend Cook ! Tliey have done me
good already, and I am sure many a heart
will thank you for your excellent illustra-
tion of thehith houses.
TOUGHNESS AND ENDURANCE FOR
ST.\NDING THE WUMTER.
ANOTHER REASON FOR OUR LOP.SES IN WINTERING.
•v|j5Sf5^HY all this talk about wintering, when It
W/M simply resiilves itself down to these facts?
^ 1. We must have bees with vitality enough
to withstand the 1 >ng cold winters, which we can
get by procuring our b' es from any source where
thev have swarmed nature lly tor a fe^v years, and
in rai-ing our qu'-ens and drones we must lei them
«warm themselves, or raise (jii'^'ens Hr'iflciMl'y as
g led, which can only he •lone !iv ii'ieee-breeders of
I >ng exp rience
2. We 'iiU"" see that the\ hi't- a 'od s'ores, not
gra^p. appl •. penoh. ••an-, or anv other jnic* U' r
b 'ney-d- w that h s so m ch -u()>taii(v in i that, in
gp'iing the neecs iry honey t<> ke4 p them wHr'"^
thev g .' fiiiorl up "iih feces, which 'hf^ r tain un-
til the> get a ehinc t • fly. thus ahing them "hat is
ciillerl d sentery Xtiw I modestlx cliiin that I cmu
priivr- to your and fViPiid D lolittle s mind-; -vhv they
"int-'-r so poi.rlv, ilter y -ii hofi 'V it up ( e •
Gr.KAMNGS, Fell. 18H1, p. HS.i he ni !1 CHii-e t
bees wintering .so poiil- i" I 'h^- c .Id ^iu'eife is^
280
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUUfi.
JulsTE
that they arc not tou^h. They have not the neces-
sary strength to carry them throvigh, but they
would have had if they had been allowed to swarm
naturally. But the stock must be of the right stripe
to commence with, not queens that have been
raised by dividing, neither from queens that have
been raised from queens that were raised in super-
seding old worn-out ones. In fact, from queens
found in this country, Italy, Cyprus, and Palestine,
where they swarm naturally, and are far enough
from bee-keepers that are dividing and raising by
the quantity and not for quality. We can also get
good stock from a few queen-raisers. The proof of
good stock is in their wintering. If you look around
the country, you will find men with bees in common
hives, kept in the same place for 40 or 50 years, that
have wintered them without any great loss, for that
length of time. (See H. Alley, A. B. J., Feb. 9, 1881,
p. 42; see Gleanings for Feb., 1881, p. 84, J. C. Phil-
lips.) After awhile some neighbor gets an idea of
keeping bees according to the latest scientific ideas.
The ideas are nearly all of them right, but he does
not know how to apply them properly; gets a few
swarms, transfers to a convenient hive, so he can
divide them and build up a large apiary very quick-
ly. So ho divides every year until he gets a large
quantity of them; but what is the matter? His bees
at first wintered as well as his neighbors' in cnmmon
hives, without any extra care; but in three or four
years he begins to lose a good raaoy, and he anx-
iously studies up the wintering question, tries chaff,
cellar, etc., and gets along moderately well until, in
eight or ten years, more or less, after commencing,
there comes an exceptionally cold long winter, and
away go his and his neighbors' bees — his neighbors'
bees spoiled by drones from his poor, divided queens.
Then they report to all the journals that common
gums are no better than a frame hive. Why should
they be? it is not the hive that makes the bees
tough; any one can find (whore far enough away
from any of these dividing men) bees that have win-
tered well this season in common hives without ex-
tra care. We can find plenty of such reports in the
back numbers of the journals, where beginners have
lost all their bees after a few years of dividing.
The surest way for any one to get good queens is
to raise them from his best stock, naturally, being
sure to mark all cells that are started before they
swarm, for they are always started from the egg,
and when they are matured, make nuclei, giving
each a cell. In that way he can raise bees that will
winter well in common hives, but better in chaff
ones. Need not be carried in and out of cellars, but
you must see that they have good stores. My bee-
keeping friends, it Is not the cold, for they live as
far north as civilized man. It is not the time they
are kept from having a fiy, for they are kept con-
. fined 5 or 6 months in different places, but because
they have lost that toughness which they had when
they came from their Creator. If you will take this
view of it you will sec that it is not strange that, of
two hives side by side, one should winter well and
the other should die out. One had a good queen,
and the other a poor one. S. S. Butler, M. D.
Los Gatos, Cal., April 35, 1881.
There may be truth in what you urge,
friend B.; but, if you are entirely right, wliy
do not common bees, witli the old style of
management, winter better? Our country
is almost rid of common bees this spring.
Again, why does L. C. Root always succeed
M'ith liis cellar, and always get a good crop
of honey? Why did my "neighbors succeed
during the past winter? Neighbor II. got
all his bees from queens that I imported,
and the stock was precisely the same as
mine. I am inclined to go back to proper
care, rather than to natural swarming, etc.
SOME HINTS IIV KKGARR TO MAKING
REPOKTS, ETC.
|[^RlENDHOOT:-you will not fail to get all the
Jirl reports for Blasted Hopes you need to pub-
lish for a year to come, and as many Reports
Discouraging that, if all were published, your A B
C class would conclude that money invested in api-
culture is very liable to " take to itself wings and
fl3' away;" but after all said that can be said, perhaps
there areas many who succeed in honey-raising as
there are in any other business made a specialty.
Heddon has set an example in his report published
in Bce-Kecpcr's Guide for April, that I would like to
see followed; that is, stating the proportion of capi-
tal invested in bees. Now, can not you persuade all
who report for 1881 to report the proportion of capi-
tal invested in bees, or the occupation in connection
with which bee-keeping is carried on?
For myself, the report for 1S80 runs thus: Mayl,
38 colonies; increase by artificial swarming, 3; nat-
uralswarms, 15; surplus, 900 lbs.; 600inl-lb. sections;
remainder extracted. Capital all in the business;
had the rheumatism so that the fore part of the sea-
son they were half cared for; the latter part of the
season hardly cared for at all. One was robbed in
the fall; 23 died up to date; hope to have 30 left the
first of May. To-day, Apr. 20, the first pollen is be-
ing carried in; Apr. 14, snow was four inches deep.
The following I copy from my memorandum: —
OCCUPATION.
Blacksmith
Blacksmith.
I<"armer and Bl'smith.
Blacksmith.
Cai.)italist
Hotel and Farnu-r.
Physician.
Farmer.
Faimer.
Farmer.
Apiarian.
APltlL.
John Fleming,
JI. Fleming,
(). Miller.
Jlr. Hollenbcry,
J. Cheever,
"\V. Tiflanv,
Dr. Jleacl.'
K. Eeynolds,
1*. Bi'ewer,
F. Vanpelt,
H. Kcranton,
Most of the above use American hives. Vanpelt
has a Root chaff hive fille<l in with sawdust. His
one hive gave 100 lbs. surplus, no increase. Scran-
ton had 50 chaff hives; there are no other chaff hives
in town. There are six more I would like to hear
from who had quite a lot last fall. One is a box-
hive man who will not sell a swarm of bees for fear
of " selling his luck." If he hasn't lost any I will re-
port as soon as I hear. H. Scranton.
Dundee, Micb., Apr. 20, 1881.
^ ■a« <t»
IIO^V TO GET SUBSCRIBERS FOR A BEE
JOURNAL,.
A BOYS ONE-DAY'S EXPERIENCE.
wp WILL have to write you my experience in try-
Ji([ ing to secure subscriptions for Gleanings.
— ' Being induced by your advertisement in price
list to obtain the Waterbury watch by procuring the
requisite number of subscribers, I started out on
Monday last to visit neighbor bee-keepers. The first
place I stopped at was friend Snodgrass'. Having
lent him a book some time ago I felt quite sure of
obtaining his name to my list; but after talking
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTL'KE.
281
with him in regard to the book and bees for an hour,
he positively refused me his signature. In con-
versing with him I found he entertained the idea
that the quvcn leaves the hive every afternoon for
a lly, and also that she meets the di'one at very short
Intervals. He also stated he had 10 or 13 colonies
last fall in American hives; had succeeded in win-
tering but two. In reply to my question what he
would do if he had a queenless colony, be said, " Let
them slide." In short, ho knew nothing about bee
culture. His reason for not subscribing, " too o-x-
pensive."
The next place I tied my hor^^e was at J. Winkle-
man's, an old bee-keeper, but I had no better suc-
cess than before. He said he had but .5 stands left
out of 15 in American hives; was going to make his
own hives hereafter out of straw: "that's the way
they do in the Old Country."
The next man I tried to persuade to subscribe was
Mr. Adams. He had no time to read bee books;
was keeping bees to get a little honey to eat; had
wintered through 7 out of 19 in American hives; so,
bidding him good-day, 1 again started on; but here
my intended route was changed, on account of high
water. So, turning my horse from the river, I soon
reined up at Mr. Thorp's. His son was out of doors
making soap, so I told him my business. He in-
formed me his father was the bee-man, and went in-
to the house to inform him of my presence and bus-
iness. He came out, telling me that his father did
not want any bee journals. He also stated that their
hive for the future would be hollow log^; had win-
tered 4 out of .5 in boxes and logs, and, as I was not
invited into the house, I again started on, this time
to rein up at Mr. Reus. Allen's. From the tidy ap-
pearance of things I was quite sure of success; but,
alas: I was disappointed, his garden and poultry
business taking all his time. He had lost 2 stands
out of 7 in Langstroth hives, and so, bidding him
good-daj' in the best of humor, I started for home.
Reached there at 5 o'clock, tired and hungry. I ad-
vised them all to meditate the same as the man did
in Gleanings; thought that was the best advice I
could give. Wilkins C. Perkins.
Jefferson, Greene Co., Iowa, May 2, 1881.
I am very glad, friend P.. to get just such
a letter from practical experience. In fact,
it is just about what I expected it would be,
especially after such a year as the past one.
Now, the point is, were these friends you
called upon far inthe wrong? While I think
they may make a mistake in not taking a
bee journal at all, or taking any pains to
keep posted, I think they have a perfect
right to decline, if they choose; and, to go a
little further, I do not know but that I should
say they were wise in deciding not to sub-
scribe under the circumstances. If you will
excuse me, my young friend, may I "suggest
that the hopes of getting a watch was j)er-
haps your principal inspiring motive when
you started out. This is right enough; and,
in fact, the circulation of many of our papers
comes from clubs secured in just this way.
but for all that I do not like it. I would far
ratlier have a small subscription list that
came from those who take Gleanings just
because of the intrinsic value of the paper
itself, rather than because of the things giv-
en along with it, or for inducing people to
work for subscribers. Sliall I tell you what
I think the best way to get up a cliib in your
neighborhood? Just this: Stick to your
work of caring for your bees, and quietly
build up an apiary, aiid in a very little time
people will begin to run after you instead of
jour running after them and urging tlieui to
subscribe. If you. my fiiend, will build up
a nice, neat apiary, and secure, say one ton
of nice honey in attractive shape. I would
not be suri'iised if every one of tliose you
have calledon woidd pay you a visit in less
than a year, and ask of you, as a favor, that
you take their money and send for a bee
journal. It is deeds', not words, the people
want, to convince them of the truth of any
theory, and the people are right. If you
make a failure of bee culture, and land in
Jjlasted Hopes, and they should be induced
to follow suit: by sul)scribing, it is better for
them not to subscribe. Gleanings has a
better subscription list than I expected it
would have, and I fear better than it de-
serves. The way I have pointed out to get
names requires earnest, faithful, hard work,
not with your neighbors, but with yourself;
but the victory, when it comes, is worth all
the work, and" it comes riglit in the line with
the text, —
He that overcometh, and keepcth my works unto
the end, to him will I give power over the nations.
—Rev. 2 : 26.
When you become a successful bee-keep-
er i/rnirse'lf. you will have power and iutluence
among your neighbors that can never be at-
tained in any other way. The quiet, steady
worker, is also the happy man. Am I not
riglit, boys?
^ »•» m
ABOUT SECTIONS, PIJTTINO IN START-
ERS, ETC., FROM I>R. C. C. MJI.LER.
PARKER'S FOUNDATION FASTESER.
fN using this fastener, my greatest trouble was in
the wax sticking to it. After daubing some
— ' honey on the fastener, it would do nicely for a
very few times, and then I had to stop and take a
good deal of time daubing on more honey. After
some experimenting I settled on this plan: After se-
curing the fastener on the table or bench, take a
strip of cotton flannel a couple of inches wide and 8
or 10 inches long, and fold it in two or three thick-
nesses so it shall be an inch wide or less. A little
strip of wood is on each fastener to serve as a stop
to make the section stop at the right place when put
on the fastener. Let the strip of cotton flannel be
stretched across the fastener, right back of this lit-
tle stop, and tack each end down to the bench or ta-
ble. Have some honey in a smallest-sized sauce-dish
or butter-dish, and in it a little swab, made by tying
some cotton flannel on the end of a stick. Swab the
^annel on the fastener till it is well saturated Each
time, immediately after fastening in a piece of fdn.,
draw back the lever and let the end be pressed down
into the honeyed flannel; then it is always lubricat-
ed just in nice shape for the next operation. If the
foundation is too cold it will not work, and a good
plan is to let a pile of the pieces of fdn. lie where the
heat from a stove will make one edge quite soft,
taking care not to melt It. Do not try to flatten
down too large a surface of fdn. on the section ; the
smaller bite you can get with the lever the firmer it
will hold. Press down the lever on the edge of the
fdn. ; push up the fdn. so it will hang horizontally
282
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
June
when the section is on the hive, then with a hard
pressure slide bacli the lever off the fdn. Those who
use only starters in sections may not care for these
instructions; but beginners who fill the sections with
fdn., and are annoyed by its falling out, will be glad
of any suggestions. Indeed, I am writing particu-
larly for beginners; so I will tell them
HOW TO PUT TOGETHER ALIj-IN-ONK-PIECE SECTIONS.
Lay the sections ia Hat before you on the table,
with the grooved side uppermost and the narrow or
top end at your left. For convenience, we will num-
ber the four parts of the section beginning at the
left, 1, 3, 3, and 4.
Pick up the section with the right hand; with the
thumb of the left hand upon 3, press the left fore-
finger across the under side of 1, close up to the
joint, and Itreak the joint by pressing the finger
evenly the whole width of the joint, at the same
time pushing the finger slightly toward the left;
this will break the joint at ' the right place, so that
the top piece, or 1, will go between the side-pieces 3
and +. Then with the thumb of the left hand on 3,
the thumb of the right hand on 4, and the ends of
the lingers of each hand under 3, by pressing the
thumbs and ends of the fingers, start these two
joints to breaking, then grasp firmly 3 in the left
hand and 4 in the right, and with 3 on the table raise
2 and 4 to an upright position, pressing them hard on
the table at the same time with a wiggling motion to
and from you. This wiggling motion will make the
joints much less liable to break entirely apart.
Then bring down 1, and crowd the dovetailed ends
together, and the section is complete, unless you
may think best to hammer together lightly. Talk-
ing of these all-in-one-piece sections reminds me
how much
BEE-KEEPERS NEED CHARITY FOR E.4CH OTHEK.
These all-in-one-piece sec^tions are so generally
liked, that it seems a foregone conclusion that they
are tlic sections, and yet I must confess I don't like
them so well as the dovetailed. Now, it will not do
for rao to call every one a fool who likes the new
sections best, for that would be Aery much like say-
ing all bee-keepers but myself are fools; neither
would I like to have the entire fraternity brand me
as a fool because I prefer the dovetailed. And yet,
in our talk and in our writings, many of us are apt
to insist, in sometimes a rather unpleasant way,
that whoever differs with us is wrong. To begin
with, bee-keepers, as well as other people, are pret-
ty strong in their prejudices, and each one is apt to
believe that his way is liest. Twenty years ago I
used hives with movable bottoms, and I doubt whe-
ther any amount of argument would have made me
willing to dispense with what I considered the con-
venience of movable bottoms. Changing to the reg-
ular Langstroth hive, and buying some ready made
with fixed bottoms, I have for years used no other,
and it would take an immense amount of eloiiuence
to make me submit to what I now consider the in-
convenience of movable bottoms. Again, observa-
tions in different localities, and under different cir-
cumstances, may lead to very diverse conclusions.
It is common to see the advice given, to beware of
leaving any piece of comb lying about the apiary,
for fear of its proving a nursery for moths; whilst
If I wanted to keep a piece of comb secure from the
moth, I scarcely know of any surer way than to
throw it on the ground anywhere about the apiary.
Doolittle says," In uniting bees, alternate the frames,
and thus mix the bees thoroughly, and they will
never fight at any time of the year;" Novice says
they (?() sometimes fight; and I have no doubt each
one is telling the truth from actual experience. Let
us, then, have faith in each other, and charity
enough to believe that others may be honest, even if
their observations do differ from ours, and that pos-
sibly what may be the verj' best practice for jw may
not be best for everybody else.
THE PRESENT OUTLOOK.
I think I shall be able to start the season with T5
colonies and a few queens, with a handful or less of
bees to each. They seem to be doing well now; have
an average of about three frames filled or partly
filled with brood, and I think I never worked with
bees more joyfully or hopefully. Isn't God good to
give us such a nice world, anyhow? Tell the noon
prayer-meeting I think of them often, and often
pray God to bless the services. C. C. Miller.
Marengo, McHenry Co., 111., May 3, 1881.
Many thanks, friend Miller, for your very
seasonable hints. In regard to the one-
piece sections compared with the dovetailed,
—it would be impossible to make the latter
for any thing like the price we now do the
all-in-one-piece. The appearance of them
when on the market, filled with honey, is, I
believe, admitted by all to be greatly in fa-
vor of the one-piece. The labor of putting
up, and putting in the starters, is also an im-
mense saving. That the old style may have
greater strength, is doubtless true ; but
nailed sections have greater solidity still.
Now, why not nail the one-piece, after they
are folded ? We have never found it neces-
sary, although some perhaps do. As only
about one customer in a hundred, even last
season, preferred the dovetailed, we have
now stopped advertising them. We pay our
boys 30c per thousand for putting up sec-
tions.— By all means, let us try to have more
charity, not only in matters of opinion, like
and dislike, but also in business and inoney
matters too.
Suhnlk §^uaflimnl
fAM 11 years old, and I thought as all of the rest
of ihe little girls were writing I would write you
— ' a few lines too. Our summer school begins
next Monday. I am going to start. I did not go last
winter. We had a five-months' school last winter.
My pa keeps bees, and I plant flowers and every
thing I can that is good for them. I like honey too.
It does not hurt pa much when they sting him. It
swells some when they sting ma round the mouth
and eyes. It was a severe winter on bees. Pa was
afraid ours would die. He is going to plant some
buckwheat pretty soon.
Elizaueth M. Edcmand.
Very good, Lizzie. We send you a book,
and I "trust you will keep on planting honey-
plants, and get to know all about plants and
bees both, when you get grown up.
Whew! After I had written the above,
Stella tells me she can't send you any book,
because you have not told us where you live.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
283
I sometimes scold tlie big bee-folks when
they are so careless ; but as you are only an
eleven-year-old-little girl, I guess I won't
this time.
I am ten years old, and I go to school. 1 have not
got any bees myself, but pa keeps some. He lost
one stand, and had about eight left. I like bees bet-
ter than I do honey, and I like to watch them when
they swarm. We built a kind of a house over them.
The roof was just tall enough to go over the top of
the hives when they were in a row. We are going
to raise all the bees we can this summer. We are
going to build a bee house too this summer. Pa is
a carpenter, and he expects to commence on a barn
ia a few days. I think the cartoons and pictures of
Mr. Merrybanks and his neighbor are very funny.
Birdie M. Harden.
Good Hope, McDonough Co., 111., May 3, 18M.
Very good. Birdie. My pa used to be a
carpenter too, so you see you and I are al-
most related to each other. I suppose you
will tell us how much honey your pa gets
from those eight stands.
ters from the little folks. Ma says you must be one
of the best men in the world, and she likes to read
the Home Papers. Emma Williams.
Vanceburg, Ky., April '„'8, 1881.
Many thanks, friend Emma. I am much
obliged to your ma fov her good opinion ;
but this morning I have been feeling very
sad, because some of tliose near and dear
to me scold real hard beciiuse I will not do
things tliat I think would be wrong for both
of us. That is a tip-top idea, your pounding
up cobs for your pa's smoker, and I hope
other little girls will take the hint.
I am a boy 13 years of age. Pa takes Gleanings.
We keep bees. Ours are alive, and dning Avell. AVe
wintered them in the American hives with chaft
cushings over the frames. We feed them candy'
made of coffee A sugar. I believe I can And a
swarm of bees. The Juvenile Department is getting
very interesting. I think Freddie L. Craycraft Is
quite right by not wanting to be put with Blasted
Hopers. I think those whose hopes are so easily
blasted do not have much faith; and the Bible says,
have faith, hope, and charity. I have a brother 10
j-ears old. We go to Sunday-school.
Bela M. Armstrong.
Hancock, Harrison Co., Ind., April 2.5, 1881.
Tip-top, friend Bela, and most especially
do I admire your concluding remarks. If
they have faith in God and the Biljle, they
certainly won't have blasted hopes very long.
I only wish the "chaft cushings" had
worked as well with everybody else as they
did at yotu' house.
I am a boy 14 years old. My father, Mr. L. C. Sea-
ton, keeps bees; he has 30 swarms, almost all Italian;
they are coming out all right this spring. My
father bought an A B C book, and he takes Glean-
ings. I read them all. I like the " cartoons," and,
in fact, all the rest. My brother, James Dightou, re-
ceived a book from you, entitled " My Brother and
I, and the Little Captain," which I think is very
nice; it seems it was pretty hard for that man to
break the chain, but he finally succeeded. I have
signed a temperance pledge, and promised that I
will never touch any more tobacco, neither to smoke
nor chew, and I intend to keep my resolutions. I
have not touched anj' tobacco for over a month.
Frederick O. Seaton.
Banks, Faribault Co., Minn., April U, 1881.
Very good, friend Frederick. I hope you
Will always keep that pledge. I am glad
that you and your brother liked the books.
I am a little girl twelve years old. Pa has a good
many bees. I am afraid of bees, but I pound cobs
for the smoker, and carry boxes up and down stairs.
My younger sister has a swing out on one of the ap-
ple-trees, and watches the bees, and runs and tells
pa when they are swarming. I like to read the let-
I am a boy 11 years old. I have one swarm of bees,
and pa has about 65. He commenced the winter
with 94 colonies, but 39 died, and more are likely to
die, for it is never safe to count chickens before
they are hatched. The reason pa lost so many
swarms was, some were queenless, and he was sick
and not able to give them brood to raise themselves
a queen. My swarm is Italian, and I expect to rear
queens from it. Pa says it is worth $25.00 for that.
The past winter has been very hard on the bees.
Our bees are set in rows, and dirt banked up
against them with chaff next to the hives to prevent
their rotting. Pa has been feeding them water to in-
duce them to rear brood. I nail up some of the
honey-boxes; they are made of 4 pieces. Ma makes
the most of them. She is getting to be quite expert
in the business. She has made 400 honey-boxes in a
day. Who can beat that? I think those cartoons
are splendid. Charlie A. Balch.
Oran, Onondaga Co., N. Y., April 11, 1881.
Very good, Charlie. I am real glad you
told how many honey-boxes your mother
could nail up in a day, for I suppose that
some of the other women wiiose husbands
are bee-keei)ers will, after reading your let-
ter, get hold of the idea, and try to see how
many they can put up in a day too. Has
any other little boy got a mother who can
do any Ijetter than Charlie's mother?
Seeing so many nice letters written by little girls
and boys, I thought I would write and tell about my
papa's bees. Last fall papa made the nicest little
houses for them, and mamma and I made the little
cushions to put above, below, and around them.
The houses were as large as a good-sized dog kennel,
and lie put them upstairs before he used them, and
one day two little girls came over to play with me,
and we got in them (the little shingled top came off),
and played we were bees. t)ne time our kitty thought
the alighting-boards made a splendid place for him
to sit on and sun himself ; so one morning he went
out and sat down on one of them. Pretty soon he
began to look around, and by and by he gave a hop,
and ti'p all knew what the matter was. We used to
have some chickens, and whenever a bee got on one
hen another would pick it oft" in such a way as to kill
the bee and not let him sting her. But our old roos-
ter thought he would have a feast, so he went along,
picked up a bee, and of all the noises that rooster
did make! And he went around crying for a long
time. Papa takes Gleanings, and I like to read it.
Detroit, Mich., May 4, 1881. Lizzie.
That is a very good letter, Lizzie, and the
writing is beautiful; but as you did not tell
us the rest of your name, I don't see how we
can send you a book very well. Do youV
284
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
June
I am a l,oy 10 years old. I have a brother who is
going into the bee business; he has 4 hives of bees;
they came through the winter in good condition; he
winters in dry-goods boxes packed with chaff. He
is going to get some more this spring, and so ara I.
I have a sheep and three dollars. I am' going to sell
my sheep and get a hive of bees with the money. A
great many of the bees around here have died.
Some men who have kept bees for years have lost
all they had. I like to read Gleanings and the A
B C. - Robert W. Murkar.
Aberdour, Ont., Can., April 30, 1881.
Very good, Kobert, and I wish also to
commend you for such good handwriting,
for a boy only 10 years old. If all the big
folks would write as plain and neatly as you
do, it would save us a " heap of trouble."
A year ago last summer a swarm of bees came to
papa up in one of our bird-houses, and Mr. Quinby
came and put them in a hive. Last summer they
swarmed, and then wo had 3 colonies. Last fall pa-
pa bought 30 Cvilonies, and sold 3 to one of our
neighbors. They put them in a cupboard that was
damp, and they wore dead this spring. Papa put
his bees in chaff hives. He put one of his best colo-
nies in his cellar, and this spring it is dead, and 7 of
those on the summer stands, it has been such a hard
winter. Papa loves honey, and so do my 3 brothers;
but mother and I do not care for it. It is so sweet
it makes our teeth ache. We go out to see the bees;
they are bringing in pollen very fast. Our dog
Major was very much interested in bees early in the
season, but one day they gave him too warm a wel-
come, so he lost his interest in bees. Pa likes
Gleanings very much. I am 11 years old. I attend
the Methodist Sunday-school. We have 150 mem-
bers, and my brothers and I go nearlj' every Sunday.
We all like music, and we all can sing, and play the
organ. Cora M. Russell.
White Plains, Westchester Co., N. Y., May 3, 1881.
A ^'ery good report, friend Cora, and we
are all the more interested in it, because it
gives us a glimpse of our friend I). M. Quin-
by, of whom we have not heard in quite a
spell. I have known other folks, with more
sense than poor old Major, who lost their in-
terest in bees "all of a sudden." If I liave
figured right, your pa has now 11 colonies.
I received your card, book, and sugar. Thank you
ever so much. It was 57 quarts of strawberries 1
picked in a day. We had a good many little girls
picking too, and some picked more than that; but 1
had to quit and help to wait on customers at the
house. Anna A. White.
Wolf Creek, Pa., April 14, 188L
My pa takes Gleanings, and likes it real well.
He reads it all through from beginning to end. I
read it some too, especially Mr. Merrybanks and the
Juvenile Department. I am older than some whose
names I see in the Juvenile Department. I am
about 13 years old, and this is the first letter of this
kind that I ever attempted to write. My pa keeps
bees, and has ever since I can remember, and he
says he has ever since he was 10 years old; he is
now 53. I like honey, and would like bees if they
would not sting. I got stung when I was a baby,
and it came very near killing me. I had one swarm
last season, but they are dead now. Pa has lost a
good many; he had 123 swarms last fall, but he says
he will send a report, and you will know more about
it than I can tell you. I like to read Sunday-school
books, and I like to attend Sunday-school, and I do
when there is any. Lydia A. Newton.
AVhitney's Crossing, AUe. Co., N. Y., April 12, 1831.
Why, friend J.ydia, your pa is quite a "big
bee-man," if he has got so many colonies as
you mention, especielly if he has got them
all alive this spring. 1 suppose you help
him " a big lot," do you not V
Papa went to the P. O. yesterday and brought
home four copies of Gleanings. We sat up until
ten o'clock reading them. We like Gleanings. I
am a little girl ten years old, and have one colony of
Italians in the cellar, when they ought to be at work;
but our bee-yard is under the snow about three feet.
My papa put his bees in the cellar last Nov., but
some have died, and the rest are getting uneasy.
We have a nice strawberry bed close to the bee-yard,
and if you will come and see us and bring Blue Eyes
we will have fun picking berries, and swinging in
the hammock, while you and papa are looking at the
bees. Papa calls me curly head. Jennie Webster.
Parks Corners, 111., Apr. 18, 1881.
Well done, my curly-headed little friend
Jemiie. I shoiild like to come and bring
JJlue Eyes, above all things, for yovi know by
what I said in the last Gleanings that I
like strawberries; if you don't my wife does.
But what do you suppose all these boys and
girls would do liere if I should go away?
Tell your papa I should dearly love to look
over his bees with him.
We have received Gleanings, and are having nice
weather. You did not come out much better than
we did, with your bees. We have just one colony
left. It is strong, and carrying in pollen every day.
We have not got our bees from the South yet, but
we are looking for them about the middle of this
month. This is going to be a good honey year. The
peaches and apples are in bloom ; the woods are get-
tin;^- green fast. I never saw a better prospect for
white-clover honey than this year; the prospect for
fruit is good. We will have a railroad coming here
soon— the Evansville & Eastern Railroad. We are
making preparation for a fair next fall.
Salem, Ind., May 5, 1881. Freddie Craycraft.
Why, Freddie, you are quite progressive,
I should judge, from your letter. Going to
have bees from the Soutli, a railroad, a fair,
and lots of white clover. Our apiary is now
booming under the influence of 40 fine colo-
nies that came from the south too— about
ten miles south, and we are sending out bees
by the pound at a lively rate. Twenty pack-
ages, with queens, go off to-day. Bee-keep-
ers must "never say die." Isn't that so,
Freddie?
How (loth the little busy bee
Delight to bark and bite;
He gathers honey all day long,
^Vnd eats it up at night.
I found the above in the Apostolic Times^
under the signature of our friend L. C. Root,
and thought it would do very well for the
Juvenile Class at this season of the year.
Within a few days, I have found colonies in
just this "predicament." At night, they
would have honey scattered through the
hive pretty fairly, but next morning not a
drop nor cell full eoiUd be found. The se-
1881
GLP^ANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
285
cret of it was, so many young mouths to
feed, and but few old ones to do the gather-
ing. If a cold rainy day should happen,
these little fellows would suffer. Who knows
how much they often suffer in that way'r*
■ !>■ i^
VENTIIiATION, ANI> ITS RELATION TO
OUR AVINTERING TROUBLES.
fKIEND ROOT:— The speculation as to the cause
of the terrible fatality to bees through the
West, and its remedies, have been the theme
for some time. Permit me to add, from my experi-
ence and observation, that bad or no ventilation I
believe to be the most proliflc source of dysentery.
One year ago this past winter I had some 33 colo-
nies in a new hive. 1 was apprehensive that the
kind of hive had some thing to do with success in
wintering. I took special pains to give them up-
ward ventilation. The lid of the hive is in two
parts; the front end of the lid is 6 inches wide, the
back end 16, dividing the bees nearly ^^ of the way.
I opened it about one inch, coming nearly over the
center of the cluster. My hive is so arranged that I
can give them one inch by ten at the entrance; this
I did. I had no dysentery; lost none out of 53 col-
onies. This past winter I was careless, and opened
in front, but not on top. Some of them were badly
diseased with dysentery; lost 10 out of 86, not all
from dysentery, however; made some other mis-
takes, from which I lost.
One of my neighbors who was wintering five col-
onies under my instructions called my attention to
his bees in March; said they were laying out on the
hive in the cellar. I told him I thought they needed
more air; went to look at them; 2 colonics were in
8-frame Sayles hive (L. frame), the other 3 in box
hives were tiered up, the two Sayles hives imder-
neath, with no upward ventilation. The two lower
hives showed considerable dysenters'; they were in
two tiers, three and two; the two top hives with good
ventilation had no dysentery; the one between two
showed some; the dysentery showed itself in pro-
portion as they had ventilation. Tt is the opinion of
some, that the same opening that a colony needs or
has in mid-summer is sulHcient for winter; but this
is a mistake; they need more. A cellar under an
out-house, or under a room where there is no Are, is
objectionable, and four out of five times will prove
disastrous.
MOVING BEES FROM CELLAR IN THE DAYTIME.
In an essay read before an Eastern convention by
one of the Dadants, in referring to taking bees out
of the cellar, he said they should be set out before
noon, meaning that they should be set out in the
daytime. This is a serious mistake. It is impossi-
ble to prevent them from crowding out; they don't
take their location, but crowd into other hiv'es than
their own; disorder prevails, resulting in demoraliza-
tion and a free fight generally. Set them out in the
night, quietly and carefully. By next morning they
are quiet — no rushing out, and every bee knows its
location. My estimation is, that one hundred colo-
onies set out in the night are worth at least fifty
dollars more than if set out in the daytime.
Brush Creek, Iowa, May 9, 1881. B. F. Little.
Very likely there is something in your po-
sition, friend L., for the reports we have re-
cently had in regard to leaving sections on
all winter seem to imply as much. On the
other hand, I have repeatedly killed moder-
ate-sized colonies outright, Ijy leaving a full
draft of air right through the hive, after they
had commenced breeding rapidly in the
spring. One case was where I replaced a
hybrid queen, in a colony that was doing
nicely. The cage containing the new queen
was a large one, that kept the mat up so the
air passed freely through. They had con-
siderable brood for the luimber of bees, aad,
a cold spell occurring, they were killed out-
right. Other colonies of equal strength,
well and closely covered, came through
without injury. What is it, then, that is
wanted? 1 am much inclined to let the bees
answer. In the house apiary, with a two-
inch auger-hole entrance, they narrowed it
down with walls of propolis, before winter,
to about a f-incli hole. Colonies with sec-
tion boxes left over them will close most of
tlie apertures over them, leaving several
where one or two bees can just pass, and
bees will be seen down through these holes,
nearly all winter. Of course, this is the case
only where the colony is strong, and they
are undisturbed .for several weeks before
winter sets in. The combs from which our
bees died were wet and damp this spring,
and many of them are wet, damp, and sticky
yet.— One of the great objections I have to
cellar wintering is the troubles you mention,
after setting them out in the spring. .Set-
ting them out very carefully in the night
would, I think, help matters at least. Mr.
Quinby, in his book, advised setting them
out the evening before a fine day is expect-
ed, and Doolittle, in his comments, gives
substantially the same directions.
Or Enemies'oflBees Among Insect Tribes.
MOSQUITO HAWK, OR DRAGON-FLY.
S' SEND you by this mail a gentleman who had
cheek enough to catch one of my bees and light
on ray shoulder to eat him. I brought him up-
stairs and fastened him to my table with a needle
through his body, but he just went on with bis din-
ner as unconcerned as if he were not in the condi-
tion of a man with a crowbar through his chest. In
fifteen minutes he was done, and for the first time
seemed to notice that "something ailed him." I
send him, thinking some of your friends might like
to add him to their collection. I can count a dozen
more sailing around my hives as I write.
Geo. L. Shaw.
ThomasvlUe, Thomas Co., Ga., May 1, 1881.
The " gentleman '' alluded to is a very fine
specimen of the bee-hawk, or mosquito-
hawk, spoken of in Cook's Manual, and de-
scribed in Gleanings in back volumes.
Send the boys after them with sticks and
whips. I think they are seldom plenty
enough to do any considerable harm, and
they are naturally so shy as to be pretty eas-
ily frightened awav. The one you mention
must have been slightly idiotic, I should
think, to liehave in the way he did. "We
have them here, of a smaller species, which
we call dragon-flies, but I never saw them
eating bees.
(tLKaxings in mee culture.
June
•< M LI<.SS itl<l<:S«»t- SOCJ'I'H AITII^KIC'A.
A KKi'Ol.T FI{03I iHKIK NATIVE SHORES,
Ar LAM\
■j'TAvill be remeiiibeied that friend Noel-
\ tiiiK K^'ve us a promise (see pajie iy3,
Apri! No ), to write us full particulars
in regard to the stingless bees in their na-
tive clime. Here is his letter in regard to
the matter:—
A. I. Root:— In regard to your wishes expressed by
your letter dated Dec. 8, 1880, I send you inclosed my
correspondence about "stingless bees" I had with
Prof. Dr. Burincister. This gentleman traveled as
naturalist, by order of the German government,
through Brazil and the Argentine Republic, and his
voyages, described in some large volumes, are high-
ly esteemed in scientific circles. You receive the
letters in their original language; 1 am very willing
to serve you as much as I can, but should not like
to make myself ridiculous in your language. Ger-
mans are so abundant in the U. S. that you will eas-
ily find a man who will translate for you the letters.
I have also inquired about stingless bees of Para-
guay and Tucuman, but have not received any an-
swer yet. My orders I send you next.
J. NOELTING.
Buenos Aires, S. A., March 7, 1881.
And here is the translation of the papers
sent us:—
To Prof . Dr. BurmeUter:—! have received an ar-
ticle and prospectus from the U. S., addressed to
Mr. Noeltse, but intended for me, where I am asked
for information about stingless bees; but as I have
never heard but very little about these insects (al-
though I am much interested about them), and as I
would like to give a satisfactory answer, I take the
liberty to ask you for information, as far as you
have had the opportunity to get acquainted with
them. You know the North Americans have an eye
for the practical side of every thing, therefore I will
ask you to answer the following questions:—
a. Are the so-called " stingless bees " real bees,
wasps, or mclipimes'/
h. Are they confined only to the tropical zones,
or do they live in both the tropical and temperate
zones, or can they be acclimatized to colder coun-
tries? Are they found in Paraguay or Chaea Tucu-
man?
c. Do they live in swarms like our bcffs, multiply
the same way, and gather quantities of honey?
d. Is their honey as good as the honey of our
bees, and can it be used for as many purposes? can
it be crystallized?
e. Do these stingless bees build a solid comb of
wax or other stuff, perpendicular with six-cornered
cells, or is the web arched with cells on one side?
do they store their honey in little pot-shaped cavi-
ties, as it is said to be the way with meliponesf
f. Do you think they could be crossed with our
honey-bee?
g. Do these stingless bees have perhaps another
weapon for defense, that might be worse or more
unpleasant than the sting of our bees?
li. Would the keeping of stingless bees be prac-
tical? J. NOELTING.
Buenos Aires, S. A., Feb. 23, 1881.
Mr. J. Noelting:— Your correspondence of Feb. 23
has been received, and I can answer most of these
questions with No,
I will answer them in succession as you gave
I htm
a. Stingless honey-bees are without exception
meliponcs
b. They live in hot and woody countries, and are
not found near Buenos Aires. Near Mendoza I
found a plentiful kind of Meliponcs anthidiaidcs ;
another smaller and more unknown kind 1 caught
near Tucuman. Both of these kinds produce no
honey. The honey of the insects of this hot cli-
mate is produced by a bind of wasp, such as Lechi-
guana or Polyhia sceeteliaries and Camuati, known
as Ncctariida IccJiiguana; both of these kinds are
plentiful, but not as far south as Buenos Aires.
f. The honey-gathering meliponc» live in large
companies, as do our honey-bees; but it is not yet
known whether they send out swarms, or how they
multiply. In Brazil it is the custom to take a few
egg-contsining combs (of several kinds) and put
them in boxes near by, to induce them to be domes-
ticated, and sometimes with success; but not al-
ways, and their new home must always be near their
old one in the forest.
d. The honey of these mclipones is more flowing
than the honey of our house bees. If it can be crys-
tallized, it is not known.
c. The webs are upright, and the cells horizontal,
like those of our bees, but are generally much small-
er; the wax is dark — almost black. I got some in
Tucuman to look at.
/. It is impossible to cross them with our honey-
bees, as both live in great hostility to each other.
g. The meliponcs have the power, like ants, to
eject a biting fluid, which produces a burning sensa-
tion; there are about 40 different kinds known; they
attack persons in the face who disturb their home,
and are very troublesome.
h. It is not probable that they can be kept in ar-
tificial hives, as some kinds live in the ground, oth-
ers in hollow trees, and never in a free and swing-
ing situation, like the before-mentioned wasps.
This is about all that I am able to tell, and wish
that it may be of benefit to you.
H. BURMEISTEH.
Buenos Aires, S. A., March 5, 1881.
Friend N., when you will tell us how we
sliall repay this kindness by serving you as
much, we will most gladly hasten to do it.
THE ADVENT OF ITAI.1ANS INTO
QUEENSLAND, AUS TKAIilA.
^njS|^EAK NOVICE:- Will you excuse this liberty?
MM —well, I won't apologize, for I know you de-
— light to hear and publish in your invaluable
periodical all the news about apiculture. I ob-
served, in Jan. Gleanings, "Italian bees have been
successfully introduced into New ZeaJaml. You
may now add, such has been effected for Queens-
land, after a great many failures ! You are not
unacquainted with these failures; the names of
J. G. Cribb and J. Carroll are familiar to you.
It is a long job getting bees to this country direct ;
but had I to do it again, I am confident I could do so
without difliculty (that is, great dilBculty.) Careful
attention would be requisite, of course. You would
like to know? Well, I determined to visit England
after an absence of nearly 20 years. I told friend
Cribb I had a mind to try to get some of the yellow
bands over to fight our terrific bee moth. He of
course encouraged the idea, aiid rather flattered me
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
287
with assurance of success. Carroll, too, said he had
no doubt if I got genuine Italians I could get them
here. Well, to England I went in June, 1880. I im-
mediately wrote Mr. Hunter, telling him what I re-
quired. His son informed me that Mr. H., his fa-
ther, was ill, and referred me to Neighbour & Sons.
(Mr. Hunter died next day.)
I saw Mr. A. Neighbour, and arranged for 5 Ital-
ian queenv, to bo put up in one V)ox with .5 divisions
containing 4 frames of comb each, full of hunrij, no
brood; each division to be well ventilated, having a
drawer at bottom to remove dead; means of feed-
ing through perforated boxes (moistened candy and
best sugar was used), and water supply with sponges.
It was a rather ingenious affair, but might be im-
proved upon with advantage. The bees were too
much conlined; on such voyages they need more
room, where they can get away from their combs to
discharge, for they consume their food ravenously,
and distend amazingly, and as soon as the least
chance is given, they discharge freely.
Well, thousands of the little creatures died. I was
almost sickened at the sight, and was really sorry
for them. I cleaned them out and gave them water,
etc., 3 or •4 times each week. I had them on the deck
house all the voyage, never below at all. Although
there were 500 persons on board, not more than a
dozen, except sailors, knew that the bees were there.
Well, after about 43 days I arrived at Melbourne,
Victoria. Having to stay a few days I took them
ashore, let them fly excepting one box which had
had dysentery. They came out in good numbers,
took a fly and returned to the box, then set to work.
The next day, eggs were laid. Unfortunately it was
bad weather, and I was so circumstanced I could not
help them by overhauling or giving brood. I couldn't
get any, so I let them fly, gave them feed, and in five
days fastened them up again for another 1000 miles'
journeying, occupying about 5 days on two different
steamers, along our Australian coast.
We arrived at Brisbane, thank God, on the 29th of
October, 55 days after leaving Plymouth, England;
50 days' actual traveling and confinement for the
bees. How were they? All tJir queens were alive, all
the stocks weak— one that had suffered dysentery
was very weak. 1 let them fly as soon as I got them
home, and they did Hy. I could not attend to them on
that day. Next morning I found one (ineen outside,
nearly dead. On examination, very few bees were
left with her. 1 had four queens left. I was not in a
position to manipulate them right away, and, wish-
ing to be careful, waited till Mr. Carroll could help.
In a few days he took two queens to work up. I
kept two; he, Mr. C, introduced one into a strong
stock of blacks, and commenced queen-rearing right
away. The other, he tried to build up; but, IxAh liis
queens died unaeeininteihly. I went on, cautiously
building up until I worked up 3 good strong stocks.
The young Italians came out with their yellow
bands, and vigorously pushed foward honey-gather-
ing and brood-rearing, far outrunning the ordinary
black bees. I have just been dividing, and have now
3 young Italian queens starting laying; expect 3 or
4 more in a week, and should any of them form a
misalliance, which I quite expect, if I can only keep
the imported queens till next spring I can soonrem-
edy the hybridizing, as I shall have only Italian
drones. By the way, my Italian drones are as much
like black di ones as two eggs. Should this be so? We
are dubious about imported articles, as we have
been " taken in " so frequently.
I wish it were less ditHcult getting things from
you. There are a good many things 1 want, but see
the bother and time it takes.
I will let you know next spring how we get on.
I saw in Gleanings awhile since, that somebody as-
serts, or wants to know, " you know," if bees in
Australia are less industrious than elsewhere. No,
sir ! they are equally industrious, but not so the
keeper. We have not the flows of honey jou have
from your various growths, and sometimes honey is
scarce. Bees can not And it where none exists.
Other causes than lack of industry on the part of
bees cause the difference.
Now, friend Root, I would like to try those Holy-
Land and Cyprian queens, just the best. Can we
not manage to get some through? Have you any
one at 'Frisco you can trust to receive from you—
see that they are all right? if not, make them so,
then put them on one of the mail boats leaving
'Frisco for Honolulu, New Zealand, and Sidney; give
them in charge of the chief steward, with instruc-
tions how to manage them, and not to get quit of
them but to a person appointed at Sydney to take
charge of them who would forward them to me; or
have you any one at New Zealand who would see
them when they arrive there, and see if they require
help? The journey would occupy 28 days from
'Frisco to Sydney; 3 days from Sydney to Brisbane.
Now, I think you could put up 4 or 6 queens in a box
in such a way that they would come through, after I
have brought 5 stocks through from England. I will
pay all expenses, and give you highest price on safe
arrival. C. Fullwuou.
Brisbane, Queensland, Aus., March 1, 1881.
P. S.— Mr. Jones and I must have been in England
at the same time. I am sorry I was so much en-
gaged in business I did not hear of or see him. I
would have tried him for queens, as I am so anxious
to beat our abominable moth by the introduction of
the best bees if we can do it. Friend Carroll has so
often failed he is disheartened. C. F.
Your drones are all right, I think, friend
F. \ great many of the Italian drones look
so near like our native drones, that there is,
as you say, but little dift'erence in appear-
ance. ()ther Italian drones, however, show
a great deal of yellow. It seems to me that
our friend Frank Benton is the one to send
you Holy-Land and Cyprian queens direct,
and he is perhaps as much of an expert in
the business as any man we have in the
world. Our friend 1). A. Jones, of Beeton,
Canada, would be perhaps the man to con-
fer with. K. ^Vilkin, of San Buenaventura,
Cal., is as careful a man as I know of on the
Pacific coast. AV'e see by the American Bee
Journal of March 30, that Mr. Alfred New-
man, son of the editor of the above journal,
sent a whole colony to New Zealand, which
arrived safely. As he has had experience
in the matter of such long shipments, would
it not be Avell to put ttie matter into his
liandsV
^ !■■ ^
liEAVlNG SECTIONS ON AIiL WINTEK,
ETC.
A " VISITING " LETTEU FROM FRIEND WILLIAMS.
HAVE always left section boxes (or, rather, sur-
plus boxes) on some hives, and they seem to
winter best if protected. This leads me to be-
288
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
June
lieve that we ought to prepare our bees for winter
in September, which gives them a chance to close
up every crack, and the boxes on top allow the per-
spiration to rise in the boxes. We can see the sweat
on the glass in them. They are not as apt to have
dysentery. Most of my surplus boxes are made so
that six cover the whole top of an L. hive, and take
an 8x10 glass cut in two pieces Icnglhwise.
I have lost 10 out of 80 this winter. To feed, I fill
one side of a comb with honey or syrup in the shop;
take out one and put it in so they can get it; if it is
cold your candy bricks would be better; have had a
cake of grape sugar on the frames of one since
March 1. They have eaten nearly all of it, and are
in good condition.
When a bee won't get out of the way I catch it by
the shoulders and put it where I want it. Just try
it, A B C class; you will soon learn it. 1 learned it
in Gleanings. You can all laugh if you feel like
It. I use small rocks on top of hives instead of
slates. One rock indicates one thing, two some thing
else, and so on. Dates I keep in a book in a pocket
back of the comb-carrier; long knife and feathers
in front; pockets at the ends for cages; it is made
of thin basswood lumber, with leather handles like
your tin ones; that is, the box is like j'our tin ones
carrying three and four combs. The wire-cloth
queen nursery in second story will do when honey
is plentiful, but not if the season is over. The
queens I raised last year cost mo more in honey
than I sold them for. I will raise for myself and a
few friends only this season.
The springs in my Simplicitj' smoker kept break-
ing until all wei-e broken. I then took the coiled
bell-wire of an old clock, pulled it out and set it in
with screws, and it works first rate (no patent.)
M. L. Williams.
Vanceburg, Ky., April 10, 1881.
Your idea of using clock-bells for smoker-
springs is novel, friend W., and I have sent
to the factory to see what they cost per
thousand. — I often move bees in the way
you mention ; but if they are hybrids, I am
pretty sure to get stung. We like slates on
the hives better than any book, and we find
it takes less time to read or write on them.
My experience with queen nurseries over
hives is about like your own.
I have just been reading what you say about bees
that have been wintering well with the section box-
es on top, and you say, "Now has anybody else been
guilty of leaving the sections on top all winter?"
Well, I did not leave any sections on during the win-
ter, but I will tell you what I did do. My neighbor,
friend, and brother bee-keeper, Mr. John V. Clark,
came to see me some time in February. He often
comes to see me, and we always have a good bee
talk, "you bet." Now, just listen to what he said:
" We bee-keepers, with all our nice bce-flxtures,
have not yet learned how to winter bees successful-
ly." (He lost about half of his bees this winter; he
has a patent moth-proof hive, and also other kinds.)
Then he told me to take that nice cushion out of one
of the chaff hives, just to see if the bees would not
winter without so much stuff on top of them. He
says we keep our bees too warm. Well, I took the
cushion out of two of the chaff hives, and just put a
few pieces of old cloths on top of the mats, and
after that we had some of our coldest weather here
(about 18° below zero.) I did think that the bees
without the cushion would all be frozen up to a sol-
id mass; but they are to-day just as lively as bees
can be, and so I think that friend Clark might bo
partly right, that we have too much on top. I will
try some next winter with a very little on top.
Otto Kleinow.
Detroit, Micb., April 20, 1881.
It may be that very strong colonies some-
times have insufficient ventilation, witli so
much chalf packing ; but I am sure, friend
K., that using a single cloth over the clus-
ters will not, as a general thing, work well.
In the A B C I told you how I tried it in
the house apiary, and of other experiments
I made with thin-walled and unprotected
hives. At the same time, these reports
seem to indicate that there are some queer
things about wintering bees that yet remain
unexplained.
A neighbor of mine always neglects taking sec-
tions off some of his hives. He has lost none of his
bees, and a year ago the wind whistled unhindered
all winter right through the sections; but I would
not advise this method. I believe this neighbor has
the strongest colonics in this section now, but he
takes onl.v about 30 lbs. of honey per colony, while 1
average 60. He leaves the brood-combs crammed
full of houey, while many of mine are light, and too
quickly exhausted for protracted cold weather.
Oxford, Pa., May 7, 1881. S. W. Morrison.
UPS ANI> I)O^V\S.
WHAT SHALL WE DO WHEN WINTER COMES AGAIN ?
m NEIGHBOR of mine ; ell a colony of bees to
J^\ another neighbor— a tjwede — and in a day
' or two after they were delivered, the Swede
wanted the seller to take them back, saying that he
had been cheated in the purchase, as there were
"live dead bees in the hive." Most of the beo men
inthls locality would have felt eucourtiged if they
had found five live- ones in each CJlony this spring.
When inquiry was first made as to losses (about
April 1), I thought 80 per ct^nt of all colonies in this
vicinity had perished. I now think 90. per cent loss
would not be too large an estimate. Seven of my
neighbors lost all. 1 have lost to date, 33 per cent.
The remaining ones are apparently in good condi-
tion. I do not expect to lose more. No one around
here has wintered with so little loss, so far as I
know. Nearly everybody winters in cellars, but not
under proper conditions. I have before observed
that, if a cellar is too cold to ke?p potatoes, it is too
cold to keep bees. Every winter confirms the theo-
ry that a damp cold is fatal. I think that in this
latitude, 43° north, and aUiludc some ICJU feet above
the Gulf, cellar wintering is the only safe plan.
That so many have failed the past winter does not
prove the contiaryto be true, when we learn just
what kind of a depository they were in, and in just
what condition they were when put away. I have
taken some pains to get at the facts, and I am dis-
posed to lay the blame, not to indoor wintering, but
to ignorance and carelessness. Some people have
to " tail up "their cows in the spring, although sta-
bled all winter. Is that an argument against barns?
It is a plea for better barns and hctlcr care.
Bees began to bring in pollen April 20. The
weather has been pleasant most of the time since,
and the "music of the hive" has been delightful.
18S1
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
289
Silver-maple, poplar, willow, etc , ia bloom for some
days back. Breeding is well under way.
Please don't write to me for bees or queens this
j'ear. I keep bees for the fun of it, and not to sell.
Edgene Secor.
Forest City, Iowa, May 5. 18S1.
CHAFF PACKING CONTRASTED WITH
OTHEK MODES OF AVINTEKI.NG.
A FEW FACTS FROM "REAL, LIFE."
SWILL send you my report how I wintered my
bees. We have had a very cold and severe win-
~~" ter. It was 35 to 30° below zero when it was the
coldest, and the bees had no fly from the middle of
Nov. to the middle of Feb., and then only a few
days that they could lly till the middle of April. I
use the Langstroth frame. In the fall I had 50 col-
onies; 33 were full colonies, and 17 were nuclei;
these I built up through August and September
to about half-full colonics. The full colonies I put
on 6 frames for winter, and the nuclei on 4 frames.
I then put a box o\er the hive that gave 4 in. space
around the hive, which I tilled with wheat chaff, and
packed it right well down. I then made holes
through the combs, and put a sheet of duck on the
frames, and then a chaff cushion 0 in thick, and
then a good roof on the box. This I did in October;
then I did not disturb them till spring. Now for the
result: All are alive, and are breeding fast; they
are as good as can be expected for such a backward
season. I think packing in chaff the best method of
wintering bees for this latitude.
On the inclosed sheet you can see how the bees
wintered in this locality, in what kind of hive, and
how prepared.
. HOW THE BEES WINTERED IN OUR VICINITY.
£1
?-
NAMES.
r/^
a; ^ 1 KI>-D OF HIVE USED, AND HOW
'
io
0-
WINTERED.
o
S
J. Buckwalter,
10
10
L. hive, packed in chatf .
Am. andbox hives, no protect" n.
J. B. Sensenig,
15
i
C. Sensenig,
12
2i
Am. hive, packed in chatE.
R. Sen!-enig,
2
0
Am. hive, no protection.
E. W. Martin,
2
0
Am. hive, packed in chaff.
I. Weaver,
5
0 JAin. and bo.'c hives, in cellar.
D Nolt,
i
2 1 Box hives, no protection.
E. Sensenig,
15
0 lAui. hives, no protection. '
J. Reiff,
3
1 [L. hive, no protection.
S. Taylor,
3
1 |L. hive, no protection.
I. Mai-tin.
i
1 L. hive, no protection.
S S. Hem->-.
6
1 1l. hive, no protection.
Geo. E. AVright,
9
2 L. hive, no protection.
Daniel Nolt,
9
3 !Am. and box, no protection.
39 IMitchell hive, packed in sawdust.
J. Davis,
JO
D. Stolzfus,
26
13 Buckeye hive, with straw or hay .
S. Dillman,
20
22 1 Buckeye, with straw or hay.
J. High,
1
0 Buckeye and box, no protection.
'i Dillman,
13
2
Tall frame hive, no protection.
M. Wcnu'er,
3
3
L. hive, with chatf.
V. W. Zimnitr.nan,
3
2
L. hive, no protection.
L. hive, packed in chaff.
I. G. Martin,
50
50
Total,
293
180
No. of colonies packed for winter, 198, of which 37
died, or 19 per cent. No. of colonies without protec-
tion, 90, of which 71 died, or 79 per cent, and 5 were
put in a cellar, fell of which died. I. G. Martin.
Reidenbach's Store, Lan. Co., Pa., May 9, 1881.
I must confess that the above, and similar
reports, goes a great way toward making me
hesitate in deciding that even cellar winter-
ing is a safer plan to advise than outdoor
wintering, with good chaff packing. One
point should be borne in mind, and that is,
that those who are so thorough as to give
their bees good packing, would be likely to
give thorough care in other respects, that
those who entirely neglect their bees would
not. It is not altogether whether old hands,
with their hundreds of colonies, winter in
cellars or otherwise, that we wish to get at;
but how will the great masses of A 13 C
scholars, — those who can ill afford these
wintering losses, do the best? Our neigh-
bors Harrington and Shane have wintered
fully as well as those of our neighbors who
used cellars. Many thanks, friend Martin,
for your full report. Such a summing-up as
your report gives, can not be accidental.
FEKRY'S SEED-GARDEN AS A HONEV-
FAKITI.
HOW THE BEES WINTERED.
* PROMISED you last fall to report how my bees
wintered at Ferry's seed-garden. You will no-
tice in my letter last fall (see p. 879) I mentioned
one of my swarms they had the dysentery very bad-
ly. That one died, and another this spring; the rest
have wintered finely. I packed the upper story with
planer shavings. No more chaff cushions forme;
they don't fill the corners right. My bees at home
are three-fourths gone. One of my neighbors had
100 colonies last fall, mostly in box hives; only live
survived the winter, and three of them were in chaff
hives I let him have. In your remarks on my letter
last fall you expressed a desire to see an apiary
near a seed-garden, and I am going to tell you how
you can do it. This will probably be a dull season
for the supply business, so just start some morning
in June and I will meet you in Detroit with a good
carriage and fnst horse, drive to the garden and
apiary (the latter is situated just over the fence
from the garden, on a beautiful lawn.) Then we
will drive to Bell Branch to tea, and, if you will
come so as to stay over Sunday, I will go to church
and Sunday-school with you, which, by the way,
would be quite an undertaking for me, as I have not
been for five years, excepting once. There are two
churches within forty rods of our home. I don't
speak of this to boast of my heathenism; will ex-
plain it to you, should you come. As another in-
ducement, I will show you the best and handiest
chaff hive in existence (no patent.) I expected to
give you an order this spring for 10,000 sections,
honey-extractor, 15 smokers, etc. ; but, alas for hu-
man calculation! man proposes, but, but, but, the
hard winter disposed of all the bees nearly.
M. H. Hunt.
Bell Branch, Wayne Co., Mich., May 5, 1881.
Friend II., 1 rather think I will accept
that invitation ; but as June is a very crowd-
ing month with us, suppose we say July or
August. Neighbor II. ttdnks he would like
to see the seed-gardens too, and perhaps if
we fix a day, some of the bee friends near
you might like to meet' us there. Please
bear in mind, we are all to go to church and
Sundaj-scliool, and leave the bee-talk, all of
it, for week days. This may be rather hard
on neighbor II., for if he couldn't talk bees
on every day in the week, Sunday along
with the rest, I do not know but that he
would almost suffocate. During what month
will we tind the most plants in bloom that
bears honeyV I have been looking over
Ferry's catalogue, and I am considerably
impressed with the magnitude of his grounds
and business.
290
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
June
From Different Fields.
NEW HONEY.
fjjHURSDAY, April 31, I extracted from 5 colo-
onies, getting 10 gallons of tine honey; to-day,
— ' 23, the same frames are refilled and partly
capped; but on account of rain, almost incessant
during: the da.v, I have not extracted. Monday will
And me at it if the weather is favorable. I think I
shall be able to send sample of holly honey to you
again. I do hope the true position or classification
of our Southern honey will yet be attained. I am
sure our holly honey, when first extracted, and un-
mixed with other honies, will compare favorably
with the far-famed white-clover honey of the North
and West. I sent you a sample a little mixed one
year ago, and you pronounced it good, I am sure,
if I could procure a sample as I did 3 years ago, un-
mixed, you would exclaim, " Hurrah for the holly!"
Why this has been overlooked by bee-men of the
t^outh I am not able to say.
Up to date, from 8 colonies I have taken 43 gallons,
and, oh ! it would do your soul good to sec the bees
at Avork to-day. Yes, right now, 5'/^ o'clock, and
still it comes. We must thank God, and say, we'll
never murmur again. W. F. Kouekts.
Clinton. La., April 28, 1881.
LARGE INCREASE.
I received a copy of Gleanings from you last
fall, and I thank you very much for the favor. One
man said that he started with 15 colonies in the
spring, and in the fall he had 80. How di<l he man-
age it? Please answer, as it is of importance to me,
for I am just starting in bees.
BORAX EOK DYSENTERY (?).
I fed my bees borax the past winter to prevent
dysentery. It proved a success; did you ever hear
of it before? However, th® medicine that proves a
success one time may prove fatal the next.
L. B. Stanger.
Hopkinton, Iowa, April 15, 1881.
It is not a Aery difficult matter, friend S.,
to increase 15 colonies of l)ees to so hives
having bees in them, in one season; but if
the man has got the full 80 now, it would be
some tiling a little wonderful.- Suppose you
write him and ask how many wintered. No
doubt your bees were a success after giving
them borax, but I am by no means sure the
borax was a success. AVhat reason have we
for thinking borax has any effect on dysen-
tery? And, if you will excuse me, how did
anyl)ody ever think of giving the little fel-
lows boraxV I confess 1 am incredulous on
the whole subject of medicines, especially
when given without a reason, as most of it
is. (Perhaps I should add, out of the line of
the regular practice.) I once heard of a
man who had a fall, and was seriously in-
jured internally. Before a physician could
be obtained, an old "darky" doctor came in
and administered a potion to the poor suffer-
ing sick man. When asked by the doctor
what he gave, he replied, " Rosin and shot."
When pressed for a reason for such a singu-
lar combination, he replied that nature
would probably need some materials for
mending the breaks, and the shot and rosin
was the best of any thing he could think of.
Now, there is a sort of sense in this poor
fellow's reasoning, ])ut I can't see any rea-
son why borax should cure dysentery. Of
course, there may be a reason, but I should
want to see it proved by a great many exper-
iments. 1 feel in much the same way about
remedies for bee-stings. You know I never
publish any; and, for that matter, I believe
we have never had any medicine advertise-
ments in Gleanings at all.
QUESTIONS.
AVhat will, or what is, the quickest, cheapest, and
best way to build up an apiary from 15 swarms of
bees, mostly blacks, and still get the most jirofit this
season? What kind of honey-plant, tree, or shrub,
will come the neai-est to filling the place of bass-
wood, as to the quantity of honey produced at that
season of the year, and also quality of honey? There
was once plenty of basswood near here. It has nearly
all been taken olf. We have several acres of side-
hill land, very steep. Answers solicited from ex-
perienced bee-men. H. F. Newton.
Whitney's Crossing, Alleg'y Co., N. Y., Apr. 13, '81.
Why, friend N., your first question has so
nearly taken away my breath (in its magni-
tude) that 1 can hardly get a square view of
the second. It is my impression, however,
that notwithstanding all the ])resent light
we have on the subject of honey-plants, it
might cost a thousand dollars to get any
plant that would till the place of basswood,
even for a single locality. The Simpson and
Spider plants will come the nearest to it of
any plants I know of. 1 have written a book
of over 800 pages almost solely to answer
your question as to the best way of building
up an apiary of ].5 colonies (or of any other
number forthat matter), and I am makii.g
additions to the book every few months,
even yet. __________
ADVICE TO THOSE BUYING BEES.
The following, which we clip from the
India iKi Farmer, has much good sense in it:
To those who contemplate buying bees, we would
say, do so at once. Buy now so as to take advantage
of the season's work, if you can not afford to buy
full colonies, get gond, strong nuclei; buy them
early, and they will grow into good colonies during
the season. It is best to buy as near home as possi-
ble, as express charges are very high. Send to re-
spiiTisible dealers, and stipulate that the bees must
come early, so as to have advantage of nil the in-
crease of the season. If they can not do this, ask
them to return your money, and try some one else.
Kemember that a good colony now is worth a third
more than later in the season.
swarming without a queen.
S. P. Yoder's account of his bees, mentioned on p.
133, March No., and again on p. 191, April No., by E.
Sanford, is rather singular, as I always thought my-
self sure of the swarm when 1 had the queen in my
hand, until two years ago, while attending bees for
Mr. T. on shares. T., taking care of swarms issuing
in my absence, the bees took to swarming, and soon
he had a swarm in each hive I left there; and still
they swarmed, and Mr. T. had to make use of his
old box hives until he had three swarms in. As I
had cropped the queen's wings and T. failed in find-
ing them, all three swarms stayed and went to work,
and not one had a queen, but plenty of fertile-work-
er business was f!:oing on when I got there. The two
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
291
first swarms had each g-athei'ed about 10 lbs. of hon-
ey, which I cut out, put the bees in frame hives,
g-iving each some comb and brood and a queen, and
they got along all right. The third swarm I left in
his box, just to convince him how long a swarm will
live without a queen or any thing to raise one. In
just one month the lieos had fizzled out, and the
moth had possession nf the old box. Since that I
look a little out for the swarm as well as the queen.
G. J. Voder.
Middlebury, Elkhart Co., Ind.
HOPES NOT AIjL blasted, EMPTY COMBS, HIVES, &C.
I have nijarly every No. of Gleanings, f have not
subscribed till now this j'car, as my bees are about
all dead. Out of 2.5 hives I had last fall there are
two of them with living bees in them (both weak.)
I never had my bees in as good order for standing
the winter as I had them last fall; but long-contin-
ued cold killed them. They ate tremendously.
Plenty of them left hone3- and any quantity of bee
bread. I have melted down a good many combs,
but have a great number left which I don't like to
melt. I have smoked combs with brimstone, but
even then it Is hard to keep the moth worm from
destroying them. "What would ynu do with them if
you were so situated? There is, in a great many of
the combs, honey undergoing granulation ; alSD bee
l>read. There is no use in thinking of buying bees
here to take up the combs, for there are none to
buy — mostly all dead, and it seems little use to try
to increase them just to die in the winter. I have a
great many empty hives which I expected to fill, be-
sides a great deal of bee fixings of no manner of use
but to burn; if you can help any in this scrape by
your advice, please do so.
I have read Gleanings till now, so send it along,
beginning with the April No.
I am not sending for Gleanings because my bees
are dead; but your answer, if it helps nie, may help
others also who are in the same fix I am.
I guess I thought too much of my bees; but my
wife died about a month ago, and the last tmuble
killed the first; we had lived more than .'»5 years to-
gether; but, thank God, I do not sorrow as those
that have no hope, for my wife was a Christian, and
I am living in trust to meet her again. Ynu are not
to put me in Blasted Hopes, for I have a hope that I
would not sell for all the bees on earth.
Do you think, if I were to steep the combs with no
honey in them in cnld water, and then throw out the
water with an extractoi", then drj- them, that that
would kill the moth eggs that might be in them?
Do not put my name to this; call me "Old Fogy,"
or any thing you please. J. D.
Pontiac, Oakland Co., Mich., April ::0, ISSl.
Friend D.. do not think of melting up your
combs, or throwing them away in any other
\Vay. Brimstone is a certain and sure reme-
dy for moth or motli eggs, if used as direct-
ed in the A B C By no means put the
combs in water, or any thing of the kind.
Keep tliem dry : and if you do not use them
all this seasonlyou certainly will next.— Y on,
like many others, will do well to go slowly
in deciding to abandon bee culture. If you
should decide to do so. retreat in good order,
and by no means think of sacrificing valua-
ble property. If there is no demand for the
combs now, there certainly will be in due
time.— Hold on to that faith you allude to in
you last, friend D., and bear constantly in
mind that, though heaven and earth shall
pass away, Gods words shall never pass
away, and those who put their trust in him
shall in no ioif<c be cast out.
WINTEHED SUCCESSiULLV !
I never wintered with better success in my life
than the past long cold winter that has been report-
ed so imiversally disastrous to bees. I can not see
what the long cold winter has to do with success so
long as the bees are in proper condition, and kept
so inside a warm house. I set out 140 colonies the
15th day of April that had not seen the light of the
sun since Nov. 15th. They seemed quite astonished
at the warm sunshine of an April day. Their Rip
Vanwinkle sleep had carried them over a long ex-
perience of 5 months of cold and storm in the out-
side world. Four little weak colonies only had per-
ished by getting away from their stores, and starv-
ing. I am satisfied I could have kept them in a
month longer in good condition, but did not deem it
wisdom to do so, as brood-rearing ha<l nearly ceased
for lack of pollen and water.
I fed flour liberally for a few days when natural
pollen appeared. They ai-e doing nicely now, filling
up with food and young bees. I wintered 70 colonies
at another place in another house, but could not ob-
tain the conditions I considered necessary for cer-
tain success. These did not winter quite so well,
the loss being 6, light colonies mostly, although from
the cause before mentioned. The bees, too, were
not all in that fine bright condition the others were.
These were set out at i'z months, and they are also
doing well. No cushions, no chaff packing, no fuss-
ing, housed in a bee-house constructed for the pur-
pose, in view of success; temperature averaged
about 40°; artificial heat at times. The bees gorged
themselves on apples, peaches, and grapes all the
fall. About half the swarms were quite light In
stores when put up. Wintered in the same place and
manner during the warm winter of one year ago,
with equal success. I am entirely unshaken by the
numerous reports of the fearful disasters in winter-
ing, lam quite certain that, with proper manage-
ment, bees may be wintered with as much certainty
as any other stock at all times. H. R. Boardman.
East Townsend, Huron Co., O., Apr. 39, 1881.
RED-CLOVER HONET, ETC.
Did you ever see the drones block the entrance of
the hive when they are expelling them in the fall?
We had one do it last fall efl'ectually. We had a poor
season last year. I began the season with 3*3; in-
creased to 31; got over .500 lbs. box honey, 100 extract-
ed, 200 in cards that I neglected t(j extract. If I had
not let any of them swarm 1 would have got 400 lbs.
box honey more. It was those that I put boxes right
on before they swarmed that gave me most of the
honey. Year before last we had one swarm that
stored over 40 lbs. red-clover honey in boxes. My
"best half " said that was just splendid; so say I,
and the little ones too. We have a great variety
of flowers. I do not think that basswood yields very
much nor very long at a time. We always get some
surplus; have kept bees five years.
John Crowfoot.
Bloomingdale, V*an Buren Co., Mich., Apr. 30, 1881.
WORTHLESS QUEENS ; BE CAREFUL HOTT TOU THROW
THEM AROUND CARELESSLY.
A young queen, raised last summer after the old
queen and swarm came out, was discovered in March
292
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
June
to be without brood. I tried stimulating by feed-
ing and increase and brood for 4 or 5 weeks without
success; removed her, and found she could not fly.
Row was this? how was this colony kept up from
July till March, if she never laid? Perhaps I had
better state, that last fall I Inst a worthless queen I
intended to destroy, near this hive. Could this
queen have got in and superseded the natural
queen in the fall? W. R. Whitman.
New Market, Ala., April 5, ]83J.
Very likely your colony was ruined m just
the way you mention. A poor or worthless
queen is almost as likely to sting a good one,
when allowed to crawl into the hive by ac-
cident, as to have it the other way. It mav
be, friend W., that the young queen laid
worker eggs all right for a few montlis, and
ttien failed, and her wing may have been in-
jured on her return from her bridal flight ;
but the former explanation is far the more
probable. When you know a queen is worth-
less, be sure to make sure work of her ; do
not leave any chance for her to get into some
other hive and kill its queen.
LOOK OUT FOR ROBBING.
My bees are not more than half as good as they
were a week ago. I was busy plowing for corn, and
did not notice them for two or three days, when my
wife called my attention, saying, "The bees are rob-
bing." I wcat to their assistance, and found that
my father's bees had almost all the honey that my
bees (9 colonics in all) had. I am feeding my bees
now, for I don't want to go into Blasted Hopes yet.
Columbus, Kan., May 3, 1881. Wji. Kirk.
While robbing is not very apt to get start-
ed where all are fair strong colonies with
queens and brood, it is sometimes the case,
especially early in the spring, and on this
account it is always well to take a little look
at the bees, once or twice a day, no matter
how busy you may be. A stitch in time,
certainly saves nine at such a time.
FRIEND HILL'S APIARY, AND THE SECRET OF SUCCESS.
I see a little note in May Gleanings In reference
to Mr. Hill, of Mt. Healthy, Ohio, not having lost a
stock of bees in the winter for years, and suggesting
that bee-keepers hold a convention at his house
next fall and learn his secret. As I was a member
of an impromptu convention at his place last fall, I
will tell you what I think is his secret. It is simply,
the doing of every thing needed to be done, thoroughly
and iveU, having no poorly made hives and implem ents
about him, and aJioicing no slipsht>d management. I
think this is without doubt the secret of his success;
and if you visit him at any time, I don't think you
will find any of his hives so poorly made that you
can stick a finger through joints that ought to be
tight, nor will you find the chaff he uses in packing
them to be only straw. I think all of us can learn
some valuable lessons in Mr. Hill's apiary; at least,
I know my visit there was one of the most profita-
ble as well as pleasant ones I ever made anywhere.
O. O. POPPLETON.
Williamstown, Iowa, May 5, 1881.
UNTHANKFULNESS.
On looking over Gleanings I noticed that some
people murmur because they lost 5 or 6 colonies. I
have often thought, if it would rain mush and milk
some people would run around and murmur be-
cause it did not rain spoons to eat it with. Two men
here had 500, and lost all. I don't think we have
over 24 in the township. We had 26, and lost all;
but "don't you forget it," we have lots of honey. I
guess Mother Shipton's prophecy came true after
all, for some people made or thought the world of
their bees, and it has come to an end. With a swing
of my hat I'll go to Blasted Hopes.
Locust Point, O., May 5, 1881. F. G. Windisch.
Why, friend W., I do not believe you be-
long in Blasted Ilopes at all. That is ex-
pressly for unthankful folks who listen to
such foolishness as Mother Shipton's proph-
ecy and the like, and sit down with folded
hands and give up. I do not know how I
am going to winter our bees next winter;
but for all that, I am going to have an apia-
ry in full blast again this season as usual,
and if I can not do any better, I am going to
buy more every spring'of neighbors Rice and
Dean. Losing bees makes us neighborly ;
did you never think of it ? I do not believe
the world will end with me, if I lose all the
bees 1 ever try to winter. The bees may pass
away, but our trust in God, never.
swarming in MICHIGAN MAY 12TH, ETC.
Well, I must say, "Hurrah for chaff packing! " I
hived my first swarm to-day— a rouser. How does
that compare with Mrs. L. Harrison's "bully" col-
onies? I have 7 more clustering outside, and cherry
fairly in blossom. I have put hives on top of 2 to
keep them back from swarming, and filled the top
hive with my nice comb of last fall. I saved 18 out of
my 20; one had a drone-laying queen. I divided
that colony to find the queen on "Good Friday,"
and one part has a young queen, and the other has
queen-cells. I have only 2 that are weak, as I call
them; others call them fair swarms. Now I am go-
ing to sec what I can make out of my Good-Friday
nuclei.
Just tell the bee-keepers not to be discouraged,
but be a little more careful not to disturb bees in
winter. I gave this that swarmed to-day, 2 frames
of coffee Aon the 2d of Feb.; one on the 2.")th ult. ;
one March 10th, and some of the rest near the same,
and disturbing did not hurt any of mine.
I want to tell you that my bees made comb in the
feed-boxes on top, that had nice sealed soft-maple
and elm honey in it, and I got a good taste of it. It
is very good, but as dark as maple syrup.
St. John's, Mich., May 12, 1881. H. L. Warstler.
Why, friend W., has not that swarm got
you excited a little'? You say, do not dis-
turb the bees in winter, yet go right on to
tell how you disturbed them with frames of
candy in February ! I am very glad to hear
you report so well in regard to the chaff
hives.
SWARMING IN ILLINOIS, BEFORE THE IOtH OF MAY.
Hoping to eucoiu-age others, and glad to report
encouragingly, we ask, "Who is ahead of us, in this
latitude?" This morning at 10 o'clock, "Bees are
swarming!" came from the little wife, who keeps
an eye on things about our place. A fine swarm it
is too. The queen is two years old. Last season we
had but two natural swarms. This queen was first,
and from red clover at that, as we had no white-
clover honey last season. It was the 14th of June,
and they filled their hive, and gave us 50 lbs. of bass-
wood honey, in sectiona. They were wintered out-
ISSl
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
293
doors in sing-le-wall hive, with chaflf in top box, and
sawdust banked up on back and sides of brood-box.
Fruit-trees have been in bloom three dnys, and
you may tell friend Doolittle that I think I will have
the first queen from natural cells, as several colls
are sealed, and more coming" on. As they are pure
and well marked, I shall save 'em all, "you bet."
S A Shttck
Bryant, Fulton Co., 111., May 9, 1881.
A ORE.iT SINNER, AND — WATERMELON - .JUICE FOR
BEES.
You say, on p. 225 of Gleanings, "The above re-
port is from myself, A. I. Root, editor of G leanings."
Now, this makes me think of an incident that hap-
pened aboutthirly years ag-o. My father and I got
lost In the then will woods. After my father had
tried every direction in vain to find home, he said,
"Washie, tie old Snip's reins up, and let her go.
Look out for limbs." And she did go straight home,
and, strange to say, we were within one-fourth mile
of home! Are you lost or not? is there no society
in Medina for the prevention of cruelty to animals?
were you not Indirectly the cause of the death of
three billion bees? Just think of it! I think surely
there would be less sin in the old flre-and-brimstone
mode. What would you think of me if I were to tell
you I lost one hundred tine calves by selling the milk
that belongs to them, and foran excuse I should say,
" I could make more out of the milk"? You would
say, " Shame on such a way ! " and so do I. I do not
say this to find fault, but I do think there is a better
way of treating our little pets; and, brother Eoot, I
do think you need a little reproving right here.
What say you?
My bees wintered better than ever before. I found
the hive that packed the most watermelon-juice
wintered the best. I fed several hundred water-
melons to m3- bees, and they were all packed in saw-
dust. They are now working in the caps. I have
several queens laying that [ raised this spring. The
first one began to lay April 19. Geo. W. Stites.
Spring Station, Spencer Co., Ind., May 9, 1881.
AVhy, friend S.. I am a great deal n-orse
sinner tlian you represent me. I have not
only let all my bees die, but I have been in-
striunental in bringing into existence bees
all over our land, and other lands too, that
have died as mine did, and not only this past
winter, but other winters as well. I would
mostgladly tie up the lines and letold '' Snip ''
guide us safe home, if that would do it. If
you mean they would have wintered better
in the old brimstone way, and box hives, I
will tell you that a neighbor across the street
had a lot of box hives last season, and talked
almost all se-i son long of the advantages of
box hives and black bees to stand the win-
ter, etc.; but his box hives are all dead long
ago, and the only four he saved out of an
apiary of 2-5 or HO were Italians in chaff hives,
j)repared just as mine were. In fact, the
past winter has almost '•extinguished"'
black bees and box hives the country over,
and we are now ready for Italianizing, in a
way we never were before. If you mean
that we let our bees starve. I can tell you
that we have combs filled with good sealed
honey, in such quantity that I hardly know
what to do with them. You have wintered
all right, but hundreds have wintered all
wrong, where (to be frank) it is pretty hard
to tell why. The only swe way that I now
see is protection by good cellars, such as
George Grimm and others use; but some of
the reports would seem to indicate that even
cellars are not •■ .*ffn'^?,(/ sure." Your water-
melon report begins to shake my faith again,
for I Avould have said, surely, that colony will
die. Right on this point, the Prairie Farm-
er gives a report of excellent wintering of an
apiary right close to a cider-mill, where the
owner expected they would all die, from in-
cessant Avorking on the cider. So well con-
vinced was he of this, that he moved a great
part of his bees away to save them; but those
he moved away died, while the cider-fed
ones lived. How much do we know about it,
after allV
a disappointed ABC SCHOLAR, ETC.
I suppose you want all of your ABC scholars to
speak their little piece, so I will make my bow.
Last June I bought an A B C book of you, and two
colonies of bees of Wm. Gary, Jr., of Colerain, Mass.,
and took my place at the foot of the class. I began
dividing and building up colonics, and by fall had
seven strong clonics and two weak ones. The two I
united with two others, and prepared them for win-
ter by putting three in chatf hives according to your
direction?, and four in a good dry cellar prepared
as friend Gary does his. I determined to try both
plans, and satisfj' myself as to the better way to
winter; but to my disappointment all of them came
out strong and in good condition, so I am as much
in the dark as ever. Almost every one who has
bees lost part or all In this section this winter.
WHY THEY ACT SO.
And now please tell me what one swarm of my
bees are trying to act out; they are the only ones
that came out naturally last summer. I hived them
the 7th of July, and they have done as well as any of
the lot; but from that day to this, when it is warm
enough for them to be out, they are continually
pulling and hauling each other around on the alight-
ing-board; sometimes one and sometimes four or
five will get hold of one, and they will go over him
as though they would tear him all to pieces. I
thought at first there was robbing going on. Some-
times the victim takes it quietly until they get done
with him, and then walks quietly away; at others,
he tries hard to get away ; but I don't know that they
ever kill one. It can not be they arc daubed, and
these are cleaning them off, for none of the other
swarms have any such trouble. If you can, please
tell me what it means, and if I can put a stop to it, as
it annoys me very much. I shall hope to see it in
GLE.A.N1NGS for June. J. W. Merrill.
Norway, Maine, May 9, 1881.
The bees that they pull about so are, if I
am con-ect, young bees from some other
hive, that have got in there by mistake.
They do not want to kill them, as "they would
robbers, yet they wish to give theni to un-
derstand clearly that they do not belong
there, and are not wanted. The reason why
you see it in this particular hive and no oth-
er is, I think, that some other hive stands
too close to this one, or at least has such a
resemblance to it that the young bees are
continually getting confused. It is a rather
common phenomenon, and has several times
l)een commented on. If any one has a dif-
ferent explanation, we should be very glad
to hear it.
294
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
June
A GOOD CROP IN A POOR SEASON, AND THE SECRET
OF SUCCESS.
My report for 1880 is this:— No. of colonies May 1,
65; net pi-occeds for honey sold, $500.00. Secret of
success, 3 pecks of Italians to the hive. Bees win-
tered in cellar as directed in A B C. No. lost, 5 colo-
nies; cause, too much cider. The rest, 60, are in
good shape, with brood in .l to .5 combs, and plenty
of honey. I have been watching your ehalT hive
Avith interest, and like it very much, but object to
cost in large apiaries. It may be I will like them
better when tested for summer use (by myself.)
J. E. Wai^cher.
Mlllersville, 111., April 7, 1881.
Well, I declare, friend W., I believe your
secret is a grand one. AVliy don't you have
it patented, and charge $5.00 for a "family
right''?
report from the tenement hive.
You ask for reports from old bee-keepers in re-
gard to the wintering of our bees the past winter.
Here is mine. Of 6 swarms in Simplicity hives with
shavings banked around them, and chaff-cushion di-
visions, .5 are dead. Of 35 swarms in single chaff
hives, I have lost one. Of 104 swarms in tenement
hives, [ have lost 3. The chaff and tenement hives
have consumed less stores than did those in the Sim-
plicity, although they have wintered through, and
only one of the Simplicities died.
D. C. Underhill.
Seneca, Lasalle Co., 111., April 30, 1881.
Although we lost all four in our single ten-
ement hive, 1 have no doubt but that they
will answer as well, or even better, than the
chaif hives, if the bees are well prepared in
ample time to get well waxed up before win-
ter comes on.
wonders will never cea.se.
I have a queen 3 years old that produced pm-e
Italian workers imtil she began breeding this spring,
and, to my surprise, she now produces the worst-
looking hybrids I ever saw. You may suggest that
this is a stray queen. I thought so till I examined
her, and knew her both by her looks and strange
habit of trying to hide from me when the bees are
being examined. A. S. Smith.
Atlanta, Ga., April l.'j, 1881.
Now, friend 8., as it would be the most
natural thing in the world for a, daughter to
not only look like her mother, but also to
have tlie very same habit you speak of, I
would suggest that you niay be mistaken
still.
making dark comb honey light bv bleaching
in the sun.
I have been experimenting some in regard to
those nice sections of honey, the cappings of which
have become soiled by the bees running over them
with their "dirty boots" during pumijkin bloom,
chestnut bloom, etc., and have succeeded in making
them as nice and white as any. I tried sulphur, hut
it would not bleach it, although smoked for days;
but by putting a section in the window in the sun a
few days it will be as nice as though it had never
been soiled; but be Careful, and ilo not let it get too
warm, for the sUn shining through gla^s is apt to
cause them to " wilt," as I have found out.
This year I propose to make a rack in the window
of my honey-room, with shelves from bottom to top,
on which to pUt all soiled combs, shading from the
hot sun; bleach one side, then turn the other. This
plan, if practiced, will make a difference of hundreds
of dollars in our honey crop, tor we expect to get a
crop this year. W. Kugeb.
Conklin, Broome Co., N. Y., Apr. 24, 1881.
Friend K., you have struck on a most im-
portant matter; and if this succeeds, as I
am rather inclined to think it will, at least
in a measure, it is going to be of great mon-
ey value to us. Will those who have comb
honey on hand please test and report as soon
as they can conveniently V We have a little
left, and will try to get at it as soon as the
sun shines.
ITALIAN QUEENS TURNING BLACK.
The dollar queen bought of you last fall either
died after keeping her two or three months, and her
colony raised another, which was nearly black, and
this spring lay nothing but drone eggs, or the one I
got of you turned black and laid drone eggs. One
of the two things happened. I am at a loss to know
which. B. F. Payne.
Bridgeport, Harrison Co., W. Va., Apr. 30, 1881.
I can not quite agree Avith you, friend P.
I think a black queen from some stray swarm
got into the hive and killed your Italian
queen. The reports we have had in the
matter seem to indicate that this happens
much oftener than Ave are aware of.
My bees all wintered well, and are doing flnely this
spring. Fruit-trees are in bloom now.
BOX-ELDER
I see advertised as a great honey-tree. I have one
growing in my yard, which blooms every year; is in
full bloom at this time, but I have not seen a bee on
the tree yet. It may be good in some localities, but
1 think not here.
WINTERING BEES WITH SECTIONS, ETC.
I Wintered the stands of bees on their summer
stands, with the caps on, and they are as strong
stands as I have had. \''ery little spring dwindling.
Phillipstown, Ills., Apr. 37, 18S1. D. Newell.
CELLARS, CHAFF HIVES, ETC.
I had 30 last fall, which all came through safe. I
had 10 in the cellar, 10 in chaff hives on their sum-
mer stands. Those 10 stands were in a very bleak
situation, on ground sloping north-west. I had my
boys, as thej^ cleaned out the horse-stable, draw the
manure and bank the chaff hives on three sides up
to the lids. I think the chaff hives have come
through the best, although all the perceptible differ-
ence is, their combs and hives are dry. Some of
those that were in the cellar were quite damp, and
some of their combs were quite moldy, particularly
the back end of the frames, lower corner. I put
them in the cellar the first week in December; put
them out for a purifying lly March nth, for 24 hours;
put them out April 15. At this date they are gather-
ing both honey and pollen, and as many hives as I
have looked into have lots ot eggs and young brood.
J. T. Beech.
Burnt River, Out.. Can., April 31, 1881.
No combs should ever become moldy >
either by chaff hives or cellar wintering ; in
the lattc-r case, it indicates imperfect venti-
lation of the cellar, and with chaff hives, im-
perfect ventilation above tlie chaff. ''J'he re-
ports of the past vv inter seem to be rather*
in favor of cellar wintering, es])ecially where
a great number of colonies are kept.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
295
THE .lUVENILE CLASS, AND OTHER ITEMS.
My report to May, 1881, is as follows: Prepared
for winter Oct. 23, 1880, 49 colonies apparently in
g'ood condition on summer stands, with 10 frames
below and quilt and chaff cushion top of all except
one two-story hive with 10 Gallup frames below and
10 above; the other 48 are L. hives. May 1, 1881, had
47 colonies alive and in good condition. The Gallup-
hive colony was rather weak; g'ood queens in all the
hives, and building up nicely on fruit-bloom. I am
glad to see you put yourself in Blasted Hopes, al-
though I am sorry that you last so many bees. I
would like to see a report from friend Hogarty, of
Quindaro, Kansas. One year ago ho had 130 colo-
nies; this spring he said he had 5 colonies left, and
he has not sold any. He wants to sell out and quit
the business. I think the bees in this neighborhood
are about two thirds dead this spring. We have had
a very hard winter, but my bees were not over 18
days without flying, at any time from Dec, 1880, to
March 1, 1881, and they came out this spring in bet-
ter condition, and stronger, than they did one year
ago. I hardly know if it was the fault of the bees,
the weather, the mode fd' preparation, or all com-
bined ; but, as Mark Twain or some other philoso-
pher saj's, "1 think it was." May be it was luck;
who knows? One question: How do you know that
honey will keep good in tin cans scaled tight "one
hundred j'ears"? Won't you come down a year or
two? Allow me to thank Mrs. Harrison and your-
self for so much kindness to the Juvenile Class.
Jas. a. Nelson.
AVyandott, Kansas, May 13, 1881.
You are right about the lioney, friend N.,
for I have never tried it a full hundred years,
and it might not kee]) over 99; but Uien,
again, it might keep a thousand. Suppose
we label a can or two, and set it away for
posterity, and have them report. You must
not give me too much credit, friend X., for
I expect the Juvenile Department to furnish
us very important facts, and some that, per-
haps, 1 could not get the old ones to give.
]iy the bye, young bees a day or two old
are of no use as honey -gatherers; but every
bee-keeper knows that, with his hives full
of such, he will in due time reap a bountiful
harvest. When we move off the stage 1 ex-
pect iJlue Eyes and the rest to take our
places, and the thought of it makes me long
to get better acquainted with them all. More
than all, friend N., I have a great longing to
know that their little feet are already start-
ed in wisdom's ways, and, to sum it all up
briefly, that they are all Sunday-school
scholars.
LEAVING SECTION BOXES ON ALL WINTER.
I have to report bees mostly dead all through this
section. I think fully 75 pf>r cent or more have per-
ished during the winter and spring. You made the
inquiry if any had left section boxes on, and the re-
sult. I use a IVo-story chaff hive, and .5x6 section
box. The supers set on the top of the hive; the
boxes on top of the frames; chaff all round, about 3
inches on top. When I took off the boxes, I lefts to
experiment— one old, the other a young swarm, both
Italians, and both are living, and among my best
now. I have 16 living; lost 50 per cent. N. Case.
Orangeville, N. Y., May 14, 1881.
I confess there is something very perplex-
ing to me in these reports. Is it really a fact,
that there is some very important point in
regard to wintering, of which we are in igno-
rance?
bees by the PODNn.
If you will furnish the cages all provisioned, 1
will send you bees at 75 cts. per lb., you paying ex-
press charges. If you do not want bees, I will fur-
nih your customers at same rates. You must send
cages prepaid. A. T. McIlwatn.
Abbeville C. H., S. C, May 7, 1881.
I fear it is too far for us, friend JSL, but
there are doubtless many of our customers
who will be very glad indeed to accept your
offer. We will mail you a cage all prepared
to-day, and you can try 1 lb., and we can
then tell soiiie thing about what the express
will be.
fastening fdn. in frames.
I have just invented a new plan for fastening fdn.
in sections and frames. Take a tin tube about the
size and shape of the one in the cold-blast smoker,
with a very small hole in the little end. Put the
tube, little end down, into a cup of melted wax;
then put your thumb over the large end, and take
the tube out. Your thumb will keep the wax from
running out. Take your thumb off whilst you draw
the tube along, letting it touch the wood and wax
where they are to be joined, and the small stream
will stick it nicelj'. This may be old to you, but I
think it is a good plan, at any rate.
Greeneville,Tenn.,May 16, '81. Chas. Kingslev.
Your idea is quite ingenious indeed, friend
K.; but since the Parker fastener, and the
advent of rubbing the wax sheets fast where
we want them, the melted-wax plan has
been mostly discarded. Thanks for it never-
theless. ] t strikes me, on the impulse of the
moment, that you have given us an idea for
our wax-fountain, in getting the right
amount for a sheet on the rubber plates.
CHAFF packing.
I think it is my turn to recite next. I put into
winter-quarters seven good swarms and one weak
one. This spring I have eight what I would call ex-
tra good ones. I lost none. They kept up brood-
rearing more or less all winter. They increase in
numbers instead of decreasing. I will give my mode
of wintering and springing. I use the shallow-frame
Langstroth hive. 1 make a rough box, about 4-icches
larger all around than my hive, and about 8 inches
higher, and a good' cover to keep the water out.
From one side of the box I saw a hole about as large
as the front of the hive; put a few inches of chaff
in the box; set in the hive, the front thereof to cor-
respond with the hole in the box. Pack chaff on
three sides and on top. I leave the quilt on all to
cover the frames. My hives face the south in win-
ter.
PREPARING FOR WINTER.
I like to have plenty of young bees to go into win-
ter-quarters with, and so as soon as the honey sea-
son is over, and brood-rearing ceases, I stimulate
the queen by feeding syrup and flour made into a
batter, and spread on a comb and hung in the hive.
I repeat about every week until cold weather comes,
and before packing in the fall I see that all have
plenty of good sealed honey to winter on. When
spring opens I stimulate the queen the same as in
the fall, for I want my hives crowded with bees and
296
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
June
honey by the 15th of May at least, so they will be
ready to work In boxes as soon as white clover makes
its appearence. The man who gets the honey is the
man who is ready with his bees when the honey is
ready for him. If the weather is favorable, I think I
shall g'Ct a little surplus from apple-blossoms this
season. I have not lost a swarm for two winters;
but my good luck does not depend on my own skill
alone. Last fall I dreaded the approach of winter,
and prayed that my pets might winter safely. My
prayers were answered. I always bear in mind the
following passages: " Aslx, and it shall be given un-
to you. " "God will help those who help them-
selves." H. AIjFHED.
Lordstown, Trumbull Co., O., May 7, 1881.
,$cf4§ and §ti^m§.
j^O-DAY I have CT hives with bees, 58 averaging
some brood in 4 frames, and 9 having a little
patch of brood, in one or two frames.
Marengo, 111., May li, 1881. C. C. Miller.
NEW HONEY AND A GOOD PRICE.
I hope the honey tumblers will be in soon, for I
have honey to fill them aready, and engaged at I6-3
cts. per lb. E. J. Atchlev.
Lancaster, Tex., Apr. 22, 1881.
At a meeting of the Southern Mich. Bee-keepers'
Association, held in this city the 11th inst., 39 report-
ed on hand last fall, 771 colonies; on hand May 11,
335. B. Salisbury, Sec.
Battle Creek, Mich., May 13, 1881.
BURYING BEES.
I bury my beos as we do potatoes, and have for 3
years past, anijl lost 25 per cent. Also H. D. Mason
lost 15 per cent of those buried. S. H. Corbin.
Fabius, N. Y., May 1, 1881.
APRIL SWARMING IN OREGON.
I had one flue swarm of bees come out April 21.
They are doing finely. Expect more in a day or two.
A. J. Brumbaugh.
Cottage Grove, Lane Co., Oregon, April 23, 1881.
I have to-day finished taking my bees out of the
cellar. They have been in 1.58 days without a fly;
put in 137 swarms, and set out 130 in good condition.
There has been great loss of bees in this section the
past winter. N. F. Case.
Glensdale, N. Y., Apr. 27, 1881.'
FLORIDA.
Our bees are gathering honey in large quantities
from the lime, bananas, and oranges, and we think
It beats the white clover in flavor. It does not look
so white. It is not only ourselves who think so, but
strangers who visit our tropical island.
C. A. DE Louo.
Key West, Monroe Co., Fla., Apr. 12, 1881.
I have lost 80 swarms out of .55. I am the only one
around who has any left; one of my neighbors has
lost 58, all he had. I want to find, through Glean-
ings, where I can procure a dozen nuclei Italians.
Levi H. Baldwin.
Hingham, Sheb. Co., Wis., Apr. 18, 1881.
OPEN-AIR EEEblNG.
I am feeding sugar syrup in the open air; feed as
much as 12 or 15 gallons at a feeding. It is a suc-
cess. I have now no bees in the neighborhood to in-
terfere. I can furnish you a few million Simpson
plants at 10c per hundred if you fall short. Spider
plants and catnip same price. H. K. Boardman.
East Townsend, O., May 4, 1881.
NEW HONEY BY THE TON.
I commenced this spring with 132 colonies; have
increased to 1-16, and have taken to date .5760 lbs. ex.
honey, with about 600 lbs. more to come out next
week. I have had between 40 and 50 natural swarms,
all of which I returned except 14 that would not re-
main in parent hive after cutting out queen-cells.
If I get as much honey per hive as I got in 1879, I
will close the season with 14,430 lbs. J. D. Bedell.
Franklin, St Mary Par., La., Apr. 24, 1881.
CELLAR WINTERING.
Mr. C. R. Miles, of Pawnee City, Neb., says, " I tell
you, the cellar Is the place to winter bees, and no
more words about it." I indorse every word of that:
it is a whole sermon in a nut-shell.
Erie City, Pa., May 8, 1881. C. H. Fronce.
DRONE COMB ON FLAT-BOTTOMED WORKER FDN.
I find that the bees disregard the cell foundations
in the flat bottomed wired fdn., for in some sheets I
find that they built up the greater part with drone
cells, though the fdn. was for woihcr cells.
Louis Knorr, M. D.
Savannah, Ga., April 30, 1881.
HIVES UP ON BENCHES.
Two-thirds of the bees in this section are non est.
I have lost but 3 colonies out of 8; wintered on sum-
mer stands. My neighbor's bees sat on high benches,
while mine are placed close to the ground, and were
buried in snow, to which I attribute my better suc-
cess. J. P. SWAUTHOUT.
Crystal Springs, Yates Co., N. Y., Apr.2i), 1881.
In regard to bee-keeping, I would report that I
purchased two Italian colonics from L. C. Root in
May, 1880; increased them to 8, and have wintered
them without loss; also 4 black swarms bought last
fall. Wintered in cellar, with occasional fires in
coldest weather. At least 50 per cent of the bees in
this county are dead. S. Markwick
Ox Bow, Jefferson Co., N. Y., May 13, 1881.
FOUL BROOD IN UTAH, ETC.
Our bees have wintered well on summer stands in
Salt Lake Co., Utah. We did well with beos last
summer. They stored much honey, and have con-
siderable bees and brood now. Some are swarming
naturally at this date. We expect to have a good
season for bees, from the present appearance of the
times. I am the County Bee Inspector of foul brood ,
and there is considerable less of it now. I did not
meet with any person last season, 1880, but was will-
ing to destroy all the bees and hives that I found in-
fected, by burning them up. Geo. B. Bailey.
Mill Creek, Utah, May 10, 1881.
ONIONS VERSUS BEES.
My bees are all dead, but don't you say a word, and
I will make it all O. K. I am going to raise onions
this year, or at least make a trial.
J. Patterson Watt.
Duck Creek, Mercer Co., 111., Apr. 12,1881.
[Well, if you really insist on it, friend P., of
course I won't say a word about it; but I can not
help thinking (all to myself, you know) that may be
you will have as much trouble with onions as the
18S1
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
297
young man did who lived near Mr. Merrybanks.
Don't you think you had better have a few bees just
for old associations' sake?]
RAISING BEES.
What is the best way to raise /j^cs —by dividing
them and giving them good queens, or by leaving
them In strong colonies? J. H. Bdrrage.
Concord, N. C, May 4, 18S1.
[[ think, if not carried to too great an extreme,
you can raise more bees by having ail strong colo-
nies; that is, one good prolific queen, with a good
hive full of bees, will raise more brood than the
same quantity of bees woull with two good queens.
During very warm weather, of course not as many
bees are needed to care for the same quantity of
brood.]
Bees are doing well, and there is a good prospect
for a flrst-rate season. First swarm of bees March
22d. I have had a tussel with foul brood. I think
that it is tirst started by chilled brood.
Los Angeles, Cal., April 9, 1881. W. W. BLI^s.
BOX hives versus simplicity for wintering.
I went into winter-quarters with 16 bo.v hives and
14 Simplicity. I have now 8 box hives left and one
Simplicity. A. L. Clark.
Buffalo Plains, N. Y., April 11, 1881.
[This report might at first seem to indicate the
box hives the better for wintering, and I should not
be much surprised if such were the case; but if I
am not mistaken, the former were old and well
gummed up, and the bees on old tough combi*, while
the Simplicities had new swarms, or artificial colo-
nies, mostly, if not all, on new combs. This alone
makes a vastdifiference. I do not think I would risk
either kind of hive outdoors without protection.]
Please send me a five-cent paper of Vilmorin's im-
proved dandelion ssed. I want them for greens, and
to remind "me of the " long ago.' ' I have not seen a
dandelion since I left my native State, New York.
None grow in this part of California.
Mrs. May C. Stowell.
San Rafael, Marin Co., Cal„ May 9, 1881.
[Our VilmoriDS, at this date, May 17, are a s-ght, I
tell you, but the bees are so busily at work on apple-
bloom they do not notice them much now. If a
dandelion blossom were not such a very common
sight, these great vellow blossoms might rank fairlj'
with our dahlias and yellotv roses. We hope the
greens and blossoms may flourish abundantly in
your land of gold, my friend.]
imcuragmQi
^ IKE friend Martin, I have been visiting some of
J»(|j|| my brother bee-keepers. The first call that I
made was on W. 11. Bohannon. I found his
bees all alive (19 cols.), and in good trim, and himself
a good subject for the Spiilery. He says, " Tell R. H.
Mellen, of page 24, Jan. No., that I am a near rela-
tive of Merrybanks', but I am not so robust as
friend M., because I have not been a bee-keeper so
long," but, like friend M., he uses very large boxes
and abundance of chaff in packing his bees, and that
he has never lost a colony, and thinks that he will
not so long as he follows that plan of paciiing. I
think myself that friend Mellen was a little hard on
Mr. Merrybanks and his connection in his article on
wintering bees, and that he gave only one side of the
subject, and not a very good display at that. I will
admit, that bees would winter in a dark cellar (if at
all) on less honey than they would above ground;
but how is it about depriving them of the benefit of
God's glorious light for four long months ? Don't
you think that it would be an act of mercy to winter
them where they could have the benefit of a prome-
nade on those mild sunny days that we sometimes
have in winter, and that it would pay well for the
extra honey that they would consume? In regard
to the beauty of the bee-yard, it does not look so nice
when prepared for winter as it does in June, when
he has it all spruced up; but it has at least a look of
comfort in place of the desolation when bees have
all been removed to the cellar. S. H. Lane.
Whitestown, Boone Co., Ind., Apr. 2J, 1881.
The L'Hommedicu Bros, have had their usual suc-
cess in wintering their bees. Cellared Nov. 9; set
them out April 13 and 16; 4 dead, 1 queenless; sold 2,
which loaves us 71 colonies to date.
D. E. & F. J. L'Hommedieu.
Colo, Story Co., Iowa, May 4, 1881.
I wintered 16 colonies in chaff hives of my own get
up, without any loss; I now have from 5 to 8 cards
of brood in my hives. I never saw bees build up so
fast. I should like to exchange some bees by the
pound for good queens. A part of my bees are
Italians and part hybrids. A. H. Squire.
Nicholville, N. Y., May 12, 1881.
I went into winter-quarters with four strong colo-
nies, and they are all — no, not dead, but just the
livest colonies in all the country round; and I think
it is all owing to watchful care last fall, all through
winter, this spring, and all of the time. You see, I
am a new hand, and have not got careless yet.
M. M. Fay.
Council BUiETs, Potta. Co., Iowa, April 16, 1881.
The average loss among the bees, I should judge,
in Southern Minnesota is 50 per cent. I am one of
the lucky ones; wintered 23 hives of Italians in cel-
lar under my living-room, without a single loss.
Confined 5 months lacking 2 days; add to this time
10 days without a fly before placing in cellar, and
you have 5 months and 8 days without a fly. All
came through finely, and are now breeding well.
F. A. TiCKNOR.
Austin, Minn., April 29, 1881.
REPORT FOR 1881.
Went into winter with 84 colonies; come out with
82; some of them were weak in the fall. Prepared,
or, rather, unprepared, as follows; I took the sec-
tion boxes off in October; left the honey-boards on;
they are }s of an inch thick, with 18 l^i-inch holes in
them. I spread a clnth over the honey-board, and
set a box of chaff on top. The brood-chamber was
left just as I ran them for honey. I would have con-
tracted the brood-chamber, but the cold crossed me
out. I had 4 colonies queenless. I wintered 88
queens; that gave me 4 quesns to supply the 4 colo-
nies with. The 4 hives that Ihadthequeensinlgave
in this as 4 hives. They contained 8 queens. I took
out 4 queens and united them. They were wintered
on summer stands, with no protection but chaff on
top. I will start this spring, if I lose no more, with
79 colonies. My report is 82, but I have sold three
colonies. RuFus Robinson.
lola. Clay Co., 111., May 7, 1881.
298
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
June
OUR OAVN APIARY.
■'AY 10//i,.— Although fruit-trees are not
yet in bloom, we have, for nearly two
weeks past, had quite a flow of light-
colored honey. I have been a good deal
puzzled to tell where it came from. Very
likely it is from dandelions, early cherries,
and soft and hard maple— principally from
the latter, I am inclined to think. We have
been tiansferring right along, and the bees
build combs and fasten them into frames
just about as well as dwring fruit-bloom. We
have about 40 colonies now, and more are
coming every few days. Yesterday we sold
about $35. 00 worth of bees and queens from
the 40 colonies, and they were still working
very fairly before G o'clock this morning.
Selling bees by the pomid is proving to be a
great success, and a great blessing— this
spring especially. A great many are now
keeping bees who are professional men, or
men in business. Well, these men have nice
hives, nicely arranged on their grounds, and
they are just as nicely arranged now as they
were last fall, except that the hives have no
bees in them. They do not want any more
hives nor any more combs ; neither do they
want to buy bees in box hives, and under-
take the troublesome job of transferring, as
professional bee-men do. What shall they
do to get going again, without any trouble
or bother except to hand over the money?
Simply buy one, two, or three lbs. of bees
witli a queen, turn them loose at the en-
trance of their hives in May, and the work
is done. In fact, the bees can be put in the
hive within five minutes after getting them
from the express office, and in an hour you
will have a nice w'orking colony. With the
tunnel described in the August number last
year, the task of putting up a pound of bees
and queen is but a little more than letting
them out. Go to any good stock, and raise
the combs until you find the queen. Place
the frame she is on otf a little to one side,
and then proceed to shake the bees from the
remaining combs. You will get a pound
without trouble, by shaking a few from each
comb ; but if you wish to get 2 lbs. or more,
or many bees are in the fields, you may need
to brush all the bees oif ; and the very best
implement for this purpose we have ever
found is the California yucca brush on our
5c counter. A bunch of grass is always let-
ting blades slip out, which drop into the
hives aiid bother the bees to get them out.
Asparagus tops are but little better, and al-
most any kind of a brush broom will hurt
the soft young bees. If you have no assist-
ant to liold the tunnel, lean it against the
hive, holding it with your knee. This idea
I got from neighbor II. While Favorite
scales are by far the handiest, almost any
scale will do to weigh the bees. The 10-cent
scale will do very well if used with a little
care. Weigh your cage first, and then make
a mark Avith your pencil where tlie index
should stand. Set the cage near tlie en-
trance, with the tunnel in the top of it, as
explained. You will soon be able to tell
when you have about enough, and you can
then shake it while on the scale until enough
fly out to have the index just right. Now
put on the cap ; but before fastening it with
tacks, put the queen carefully under one
corner. You can then tell your customer
you know she was in, for you put her in the
very last thing yourself.
We often hear of a single colony of bees
furnishing $25. (JO worth of honey, "and it is
my opinion that a good colony and queen,
worked for bees, would give full as much, if
not more, and the demand now for bees by
the pound is far in excess of any demand I
ever knew for honey. \Ve have already sold
bees and queens from single hives to the
amount of over $10. 00, and they are fair
colonies yet, and the season is before them.
Wake up, boys, and do good and get paid
for it.
M(uj 24//i.— Well, I tell you, my friends, we
have had a busy time during the past two
weeks. IJees have come in by the wagon-
load, besides what the friends have sent in
by express, and they have gone out, too, by
the wagon-load. All orders have been filled
pretty well, except for dollar queens and
pounds of bees, and for black queens and
pounds of their bees. This latter feature a
little surprises me. In putting black and
hybrid queens into our price list, I did it, re-
marking we could supply the demand only
when we happened to have them ; but this
spring, it w^ould have required an apiary run
for each to supply the call. I presume it
has been owing to the anxiety to get bees on
the empty combs, and because these are so
much cheaper. Well, to fill this demand I
purchased 34 box hives of blacks. Ernest,
John, neighbor IL, and myself, all went in-
to the task of transferiing. They are all
done but 10. Said I to my wife at supper, —
" I do not believe I will ever buy any more
box hives of bees at any price."
'' 'iVliy, my dear husband, how can we be-
lieve you? You have said tlie same thing
almost every year ever since you have had
bees, and yet you always keep buying them
whenever anybody offers you any."
" I tell you what, pa," said Ernest, " I
would not take any more of the pesky mean
things as a gift. The combs are all twisted
and crooked, and full of holes, and the great-
er part of them nasty and black, and good
for nothing. Then the bees tumble right off
their combs, scatter around and get stepped
on. They won't defend themselves from
either robbers or moth worms, nor do any
thing else but crawl up a body's trousers
legs and sting. One of the Italian stocks
tliat you get of Rice or Dean is worth a
whole half-dozen box hives, and I am sure
yon lost money on them, even if you did get
them for $4.00 apiece."
" Gently, my boy ; you know we filled
orders by buying them."
" VV^ell, I wouldn't have any such orders.
I wouldn't advertise them "
I think Ernest is about right, my friends ;
but for all that, I like to furnish what the
people ask for. Perhaps I might remark,
these black stocks were all wintered in a
cellar. The owner is to have the old hives
back again, and he says he is going to put
more bees in them. If I were going to buy
them, I would furnish him frames of fdn.
almost free of charge, to save another such
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
299
an awful muss and waste, as the one we have
had. In fact, we are not throvigh with it
yet, for the bees rob so awfully, in spite of
tents, comb-baskets, and every thing else,
we shall have to give it vip until the locusts
bloom. We can get a hive transferred, it is
true, but the jobbers will pile on to it at
such a rate (black robbers too, mind yf u),
that we have to leave a tent on it all day, or
until ihey lick up the honey. Pounds of
bees lie dead in front of the hives ; three
colonies have been robbed so badly that they
swarmed out, and two queens "have been
found dead in front of the hives, on account
of robbers. II. found one runaway swarm
on top of a grapevine stake, and shook them
into a cage after tinding the queen, and thus
filled one order without shaking these off the
combs at all.
Now for the Italians : We have transfer-
red nearly a hundred, from combs of differ-
ent sizes, but have never had a bit of trouble.
The bees stay on their combs, and when
there is loose honey around, they lose no
time in licking it up, and putting in tlie
proper cells in a neat and tidy way. No
holes are found in their combs, made by dig-
ging out moth worms all the time, for they
do not allow any such work to commence
with. My friends, what would you take to
go back to box hives and black bees?
SOME HINTS ABOUT (^UKKXKEARING, AND
SELLING IJEES BY THE POUND.
When you shake nearly all of the bees
from a hive or nucleus, you often leave too
few to care for the brood, and it may starve,
if not provided for. Well, in such a case,
think if you have not some colony raising
queen-cells or the like, that could take care
of the comb, and be greatly benefited by it.
We can almost always dispose of a dozen
combs of brood to excellent advantage in
this way, for one good queen can almost al-
ways lay eggs for two or three ordinary col-
onies. The" way neighbor II. manages to
raise so many queens, and keep his Avhole
apiary strong all the time, is by making one
queen lay eggs for several hives. Enid a
queen that will bear it, and then give her an
empty coiub just long enough to have it filled
fairly with eggs, and then put it in your col-
ony that is raising cells, waiting for a (^ueen
to be fertilized, or that, from any other
reason, has not eggs and unsealed larvae.
You will often see the bees raise a hum of
rejoicing, just at the sight of some thing to
work at. Do not let a colony be idle, even
one day. I know it takes brains to do this,
and careful thoughtfulness ; but if you can
not command this, you must be content to
be a— small bee-keeper. Another thing : We
are introducin.^ queens daily that Ave have
purchased. ^V ell, sometimes when we have
not places for them all, we introduce a queen
to a colony having one or more queen-cells.
Now, strange to tell, a laying queen will
often go to work and lay the combs full of
eggs witlKuit even stopping to tear down the
cells at all. Well, we take her out with a
pound of bees, and the cells then hatch out
just as well as if she had not been there.
You see, we got the hive replenished with
eggs, without losing a bit of time, and the
queen could just as well be doing this as
waiting caged up in the office for a cus-
tomer.
INTRODUCING WITH THE PEET CAGE.
At my first attempt, the bees dug a hole
in the combs under one side of the cage, and
killed her. Ernest was going to denounce
the cage pretty vehemently at this, but I
told him this was a very fair illustration of
how we often judge uncharitably. Had I
lost a half-dozen right along, with the mass
of evidence in favor of the plan, I should
have said I was wrong, and the rest Avere
right. Since then, I believe we have lost
none. When queens are received that are
feeble, the idea of caging them right on a
brood coml) of new honey is a grand advance.
If any thing will bring a queen up, this will.
Another point : We can put the queen right
into the hive, at the same operation of tak-
ing another out. Now, there is one point I
wish to impress upon you. Neither this cage
nor any other has any particular virtues in
making the bees good-natured (unless it is
that we don't have to open the hive so much,
let in robbers, etc.), but the real facts of the
case seem to be. that, the greater part of the
time, the queens would be received if let
rignt out, without any cage. I took seven
queens into the apiary, and turned six of
them loose, one after the other, and not one
was molested. They Avere all given to hives
that had built queen-cells, and had no un-
sealed brood. The seventh AA^ould not take
theirs at all, nor Avould they after I had tried
her daily for nearly a week. They were
cross hybrids, and killed her at last. If you
are going into the queen business, you Avill
save a greatdeal by having no hybrids at all.
Neighbor Rice says he has no cross bees in
his yard, and, what is more, he iDon't have
any.
THE (iUINBV SMOKER, AVITH BOTH DIUECT
AND COLD BLAST.
One of these has been in use in our apiary
for some time, and at first the boys were sure
the direct-draft arrangement Avas a great ad-
vantage over the usual cold-blast Simplicity.
With stubborn fuel, a direct draft is Avithout
question an advantage ; but Avith a Avagon-
load of fine rotten wood, such as we keep
constantly in stock, I find our own smoker
much the handiest for me, for I can light it
with a match, and have my hybrids all driv-
en down out of the way, long before the
boys have got any smoke at all from the
Qiiinby or IJinghahi. Of course, you are not
all like myself. The Quinby smoker has a
most excellent bellows, and is an excellent
smoker in CA^ery respect.
ROBBING, IIOAV TO CIRCUMA'ENT.
After transferring, the bees Avould often
pile on to the entrance so there was no such
thing as defending it. and closing the hive
during a hot day Avould be fatal to the in-
mates. One of our raosqnito-bar tents, set
over the hives, fixes it in a minute, and the
transferred ones have all the air they need,
and they can cluster outside, or go in and re-
pair the broken combs, in perfect peace, as
they choose, while the robbers buzz about
inside the tent, and are prevented from do-
ing harm elsewhere.
300
GLEANINGS IN BEE Cl^TURE.
June
Or Iietters from Those "Who liave Made
Bee Culture a Failure.
AM very sorry to be obliged to i-equest to be put
at the foot of the list of Blasted Hopes, and to
ask thee to draw a new cut especially for me.
I have been in the business 8 years; packed last fall
8! stands for winter; thought all right; 45 were
Italians, rest hybrids, 2 blacks only. I saved 2 Ital-
ians, 2 blacks, 11 hybrids; 15 out of 83, and 3 of them
only a handful. The queen I got of thee last spring
Is all right, and one of the 3 pound boxes I got is
alive yet, but very weak. I had a debt of $600.00
hanging over me; I thought perhaps I could get rid
of it if I had good luck with bees, and invested ev-
ery dollar I could spare in fixing up to handle bees;
liut, oh dear! But I don't iutend giving up yet. I
will try a few more as soon as they can be had by
the pound, so I think I can stand it. I have about
25 lbs. of fdn. that 1 got last spring of A. I. Hoot,
and plenty of comb; so I will send my wax and get
some bees and queens. Where can I do the best?
How is it with thee, brother Root? Can I get a few
of thee to start again? Old Curley.
New Sharon, Iowa, April 9, 1881.
Now, friend "• Curly," I want to protest
a little. Yon invested a sood deal ot" mon-
ey, you say, with the idea of getting that
$600.00 paid up. You bought bees by the
pound of me, as I understand it. Now, why
did you not raise your bees instead of buy-
ing them V Neighbor II. has raised his
whole apiary from a single stock, and never
bought a pound of bees in his life. He has
sold a good many, though. You speak of
buying bees now. What for, I want to
know y Build up those 15, and raise bees to
sell rather. If you don't want hybrids, buy
one pure queen, if you have none, and theii
raise the rest yourself. Your hybrids, it
would seem from your re])ort, wintered far
better than the others. ''.Vliy not keep hy-
brids ? It begins to almost seem to me,
boys, that God is punishing us for our ex-
travagance, and I do not know but I need
the lesson as much as any of you. Folks
who have plenty of money "in the bank, and
keep bees only for fun, can afford to buy
quantities of bees and high-priced queens,
even when they have very good ones al-
ready, but, friend C, I do"not believe you
and I can afford to do so ; we are both of us
in debt.
Bees aro nearly all dead in this part of Wisconsin.
1 have lost from 56 last fall, to 9 at the present time ;
and I do not know of any more than one man here
who is coming out any better. If not, blasted, I am
certainly busted. A. A. Winslow.
New Holstein, Calumet Co., Wis , May 3, 1881.
Whenever ray time for Gleanings expires, please
stop the paper. I must catch my breath lirst after
such a disxstrous winter on bees. Rout. M. Weir.
Bloomiugton, Ind., May 17, 1881.
I have the. promise of 2 or 3 weak stocks of bees to
start up business. D. P. Lane.
Koshkonong, Wis., April 13, 1881.
Pretty cool, for one of our old veterans, is
it not, friend Lane?
I have spent $55 00 for bees, and have lost all.
Now I want a pnper of Spider-plant seed, as the hon-
ey can be dipped from the flowers with a spoon.
You see, I will just gather my honey independently
of bees. Mrs. M. J. Macquitiiy.
Louisville, Ky., Apr. 2), 1881.
THE DWINDLING.
I have lost 43 swarms out of C3, which loaves me
only 21. I never had bees " melt" away before; for
it seemed as though they melted. Swarms that
seemed strong six weeks ago are all gone. Spring
dwindling is the cause, I suppose.
R. Rathbun.
Millington, Tuscola Co., Mich., Apr. 35, 1881.
]adi^§' §^p,adw^^^"
SWARMING OUT IN SPRING.
^Tj^BES have had a hard time this winter.
f^m persons have lost all they had. ~
Many
Father had 19
swarms last fall. Only 7 are alive now. The
imported queen he got of you last fall is all right.
We had a hard winter — 100 days of good sleighing.
Yesterday, as father was walking through his apiary,
he discovered a cluster of bees on the top of the
hive. On examination he found a queen there. He
caged her and opened the hive, and put her back.
He wants to know why she came out, having plenty
of honey and some brood. Alice Humphrey.
Redfield, Dallas Co., Iowa., Apr. 18, 1881.
I think it was a case of absconding, friend
Alice. The bees got dissatisfied with some
thing, perhaps because tltey were weak in
numbers, and, as poor h II man beings some-
times do, tried to better their condition by
" jumping out of the frying-pan into the
fire." After flying around awhile, and find-
ing no comfort out of doors, they likely went
back and clustered on their old home, as you
found them. When we find such a cluster,
it is always well to ho sure where they be-
long. If it did not happen that they cluster-
ed on their own hive, and such is often the
case, your father may have made mischief
by putting them in wliere he did.
A FURTnER REPORT FROM THE WILKINS SISTERS.
On the ninth of March last, we had lost but 2 out
of 55. We then expected to lose no more, having
given our bees a thorough examination and putting
to rights, and found them in much better shape than
wo had anticipated. Our answers to inquiries at
this time, and for two weeks later, were to this effect,
so that I suppose wg are responsible, though inno-
cently so, for the erroneous statement in circula-
tion. [See page 226 of last month's journal. — .Bd.]
We have now lost 7U?ie colonies, and have united
others imtil we have reduced our number from 55
to 40. T/icsc we expect to keep We have had no
acquaintance whatever with spring dwindling in
previous years, nor had we ever bef')re lost a colony
in wintering. I trust this may reach you in time to
pi-event any undeserved credit being given us in
Gleanings for May. Lucy A. Wilkins.
Farwell, Mich., Apr. 22, 1881.
Many tlianks, my friends, for correcting
the mistake the newspapers were innocently
making; I heartily wish our own sex were
all as ready to correct any undeserved credit
the world might happen to give them.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
301
$ur gfiimi'
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way
which ihou shalt go : 1 will guide thee with mine
eye.— Psalm ',ii : 8.
C^^\Ull I'riends will remember that we were
Jlj considering?, last month, a letter from
~^ friend Leonard. Toward the opening
of the letter he makes this remark: —
" I do not care how much you mix your business
up with your religion; it is none of my business,
any more than if you should mix salt with your tea
for breakfast. What conceras me is, are you an
honest man, and trying to do to others as you would
like to be done by?"
If I am correct, this is the ^reat question
that most of us care about. Is he who pre-
sumes or undertakes to teach, thoroughly
honest? In fact, this question comes up to
me again and again; and as I weigh opin-
ions of one great mind after another, I fall
to wondering how many of them are thor-
oughly honest. Yes, even in talking with
and listening to ministers, T ask this same
question. IIow much of what we hear or
read is there that has not imderneath it all
some thing that we do not know all about?
I don't mean to allude to those who have a
deliberate purpose of cheating, but only to
the involuntary (as it were) deception that
seems to well up from the heart, almost with-
out poor humanity being for the time aware
or it.
The heart is desperately wicked, and deceitful
above all things : who can know it?— Jek. 17 : 19.
After all that has been said about honesty
of purpose, it seems to me now there is no
commodity in the world so eagerly sought
for and so highly prized, as a wide-awake
honest boy or girl, woman or man. TCvery-
body rushes for him, and everybody wants
him. It was his simple honesty that gave
Abraham Lincoln the large place in the
hearts of the people that almost no other
man has had since the days of AVashington.
One particular ])oint strikes me strangely
and almost painfully, illustrating strongly
the great need of a purer honesty of purpose
than the world often finds. It is words just
like yours, friend L., commending me for
my honesty. I do not deserve it, and if the
world at large make such bungling work of
trying to be honest as I do, I tell you the
state of affairs is bad indeed. At the time
of my conversion, I promised God on my
knees I would try to be honest and true to
him and my fellow-men, no matter what
consequences came from so doing, and I
have been trying to remember this ever
since; but it is with sadness I reflect that
much of the time it has been too much by
fits and starts, instead of a constant, steady
purpose. Before this change of heart, or
change of purpose, if you choose to call it so,
I had been so much in the habit of making
excuses and giving reasons that were not
strictly facts, that it required a most power-
ful effort to break away from the habit.
AVhile the words were on my lips, I would
sometimes remember, "thou, God, seest
me," and stop abruptly, or change the con-
versation in a way that might have puzzled
my hearer, and often sadly embarrassed my-
self; but God heard and approved. To my
astonishment, it seemed as if men, too,
heard and approved. I have been wonder-
ing whether there were not intimate friends
of mine who knew this weakness, and saw
the strtiggles I was making to overcome it.
My friends, all the arguments that were
ever written in defense of the truths of the
Bible are not as powerful to the eyes and
ears of the world as the sight of a weak sin-
ner fighting his way up to God in the way I
have mentioned. 'The world pays a high
premium for such work. It gives every such
soul more credit than it deserves. Now,
mind you right here that you will get no
such credit if your inspiring motive is to
earn the applause of men : it must be to win
the approval of the God who made you.
Tour prayer must be like that of David, —
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a
right spirit within me.— Psalm 51 : 10.
Many of you know with what pleasure we
receive some new discovery, or some new
unlooked-for feature or help in bee culture.
AVell, my friends, there are new truths that
open ui^ and develop, just in the same way,
to one who is striving to be freed from sin.
I want to tell you of an experience of the
past year. Almost every one knows what it
is to have wrong thoughts and feelings in-
trude tliemselves, and at times, too, when
you are almost sure they came entirely un-
invited. You can see no reason why they
should intrude their hideous forms at all.
Old temptations of years gone by suddenly
force themselves into your mind, and you
regard them more with surprise and curiosi-
ty, at first, than any thing else. Could it
really be that you ever in life harbored any
thing so vile? I knew these thoughts were
wrong and dangerous, and I first knelt in
prayer, to have God keep me from tempta-
tion. By and by they trooped back again.
I took to praying wherever I was, and in a
few months I was so used to saying to my-
self, or aloud if no one was near, "Lord,
help," that it began to come involinitarily.
While in the street, if any thing happened
to even remotely suggest the dangerous
ground, " Lord, help," rang out sharp and
clear, before I had even time to see why the
signal of danger was sounded. After a little
thought, I saw clearly what it was — well,
let us say suggested the thought, that danger
was coming. Is this not wonderful? and is
it not glorious to think that God will, in
time, as a reward for faitlifulness, send
along, as it were, an ever-present monitor?
I do not know but you, friend L., and some
of the rest, may say I am going crazy ; but I
think I can dispel that idea by what follows.
A few weeks ago, I think it was not more
than that, there came a temptation to make
an excuse that was not quite an honest one,
and, to my surprise, sharp and clear came
the little warning, " Lord, help," to Avarn
me of dangerous ground in that direction, as
well as improper thoughts. The warning
lias come here once this morning since I sat
down to write. Now mind you, it is like the
alarm clock I talked to you about a few
weeks ago. It will be of no avail, and in
302
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
June
fact it will never be heard, unless I jump to
action in a moment, and heed its prompt
warning. Should I once ignore its call, and
go right on in what I ■was tempted to do, its
voice would, in all probability, be fainter,
and finally stilled. If, on the other hand, I
look and listen for it, and recogniz3 it truly
as being the voice of Him whose hands and
feet were cruelly lacerated by the nails of
the cross, my life will be nearer to him day
by day, and new and brighter will be the ex-
periences, until death opens the golden
gates, and —
" I shall be with him there."
Does not the Bible promise some thing
like I have mentionedV See:—
He shall g-ive his angels charge over thee, to keep
thee in all ihy waj's.— Psalm 91 : II.
There is something about this little warn-
ing voice, commencing to take up the otfice
of warning against any kind of sin, that re-
minds me of a little incident of our home
life. "Caddy," our youngest, is very much
inclined to be boisterous during the minute
devoted to asking a blessing at the table, and
so we have been accustomed to ask her to
fold her hands during the simple service.
You see, if her hands were folded, and kept
so, she could not very well get up a "clat-
ter-' with her little knife, fork, and spoon.
Well, for the first time in her life she went
with her mother and sisters to some sort of
an ice-cream festival in the public square.
They sat at a little table by themselves, and
after the dishes were set before them, dur-
ing a momentary pause there wvs a move-
ment of the little hands to clasp them in the
accustomed way, while she glanced about to
see who was going to ask the blessing in
papa's absence. It was the force of habit
and education, in her case, as well as with
the warning voice of conscience I have been
telling you about. She had been obedient,
just as I had, and when the circumstances
were changed, the force of former training
would carry us both safely still.
Now a word in regard to business matters.
The greater part of you know me so well
that you will not take my words amiss.
Will such extreme honesty starve a man?
Of course, you all know it won't, lie who
strives to be honest before God, will surely
be honest before men ; and if 1 heed this
little warning voice, my business will con-
tinue to build up until it reaches the utter-
most corners of the earth, fen' it will be in
God's hands, and he will be responsible for it.
I used to have trouble in borrowing money
when I needed it, or thought I needed it ;
now I am asked to take people's money, as a
favor to them ; this, too, when I have only
half fought these battles as I might have
done. Instead of giving me credit for what
you have seen of me that you approve, give
the credit to the book that teaches,—
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see
God.— Matt. 5:8.
WiU out- friends please turn to (he letter on
page 250 of our May No., to which this is the
answerf
I have just read both chapters you refer
to, friend L.; in fact, I used to wonder, as
you do, why such chapters were put into the
Bible. When I first noticed them, as they
troubled me some, I concluded I would drop
them until I got a little older in Bible lore,
or until God saw fit to make it plainer to me.
May I take the liberty to suggest right here,
that it is hardly wise to speak as you do, in
saying you know a thing is or is not soV The
best-educated men 1 have ever met were
very slow to make positive statements in re-
gard to what they A?)c?«. If we wish to have
our opinions considered of importance,
should we not all be very careful in saying
we knoa\ especially in regard to matters on
which even wise and good men differ? The
chapter in Genesis is one that would espe-
cially stamp the Bible as a truthful narration,
because it tells the bad as faithfully as the
good. Had all these characters been pic-
tured as pure and upright, we should have
been discouraged in attempting to follow
them. If you will look closely, you will see
that the Bible nowhere indorses such sins,
but only gives a history of them as they oc-
curred. Every page so plainly exhoi'ts to
purity and uprightness, that no one can pos-
sibly mistake the tenor of the book as a
whole. You would say, living in this en-
lightened age, that such portions should
have been omitted from the book. Those
who have labored hardest for the suppres-
sion of crime, and who have, as it were, had
the greatest hand-to-hand conflicts with sin,
decide, I think, with one voice, that the
Bible, as it is, is the beat book to give one who
wishes to reform. Again, how could we
have ever admired the character of Joseph
as we do, and how could wh have given him
proper credit for his crowning act in life, did
we not know how common was the sin of li-
centiousness all around and about him?
The psalm you refer to (109fh), is called, I
believe, one of the " impiecatory '' psalms.
At first glance, Uavid would seem to be
praying that God would send curses on his
enemies ; but if you read it through care-
fully you will find, I think, that he alludes
to the enemies of God, justice, and right.
The keepers of saloons and gambling-
houses are, in one sense, your enemies and
mine. Would you want "to pray that they
might prosper in their work of ruin? A few
days ago, one of our boys was enticed to
drink; and as often as we would get him
back, some of the saloon-keepers' allies
would Avaylay him and get hun intoxicated
again. I asked the question of a friend,
how it was possible that any one knowing
him could have the heart to "hold the bottle
to his lips, and why they should work so
hard to accomplish his ruin. The reply was,
that thej^ had no particular spite against
him, but it was their hatred of our institu-
tion, and the Sunday-school and reform
work connected with it. They have not only
an enmity against my poor self, but against
God. Please, noAv, read the chapter, keep-
ing this class in view, and I tliink you will
find it not far from the sentiment you would
indorse toward them. See—
They cnmpassod me about also with words of ha-
tred; and fought agaiast me without a cause.
And again,—
Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise,
let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
303
Let mine adversaries bo clothed with shame; and
let them cover themselves with their own confusion
as with a mantle.
If a man steadily devote himself to the
task of getting boys to drink, and procuring
it for them, and as years pass on there seems
to be no hope of his doing any better, would
it not be a real mercy to the world if he were
under the sod in the churchyardV and if his
children are to be brought "up in the same
way, which they will in all probability, will
it not be better that they should be cut olf
in infancy, and thus spare tlie world their
sad history of crimeV This you see would
give US-
Let his posterity be cut off: and in iho generation
followinj? let their name be blotted out.
I am very glad indeed, friend J^., that you
were pleased with my mild answer, although
I have no recollection of it at all now. I
presume I did it in response to the spirit
that Christ lias so plainly taught, and be-
cause I was trying to follow in his footsteps,
and not because of any virtue in myself. I
have fought many hard battles before I could
give such answers as you mention. May I
not ask you to give him, my teacher, the
praise and glory V
Friend L., if you know any church that
calls a liquor-dealer a good brother on ac-
count of his paying a large sum of money,
you have seen some thing I have not. Are
you not taking this from hearsay? I am sure
that Christian people all over the land will
smile at the position you take in this. In
regard to mercy, may I suggest that Jesus
showed mercy only to those who were peni-
tent. You surely would not cut oil: all
chance to retrieve to those who wish sincere-
ly to turn over a new leaf and do better?
There is a truth in the position you take,
and Jesus himself said, on this point,—
I came not to sendpeacF,but a sword.— Matt. 10:o4.
You are also right in your concluding
words, and I really believe the way in which
the world is to be converted hi by actions,
and by showing the spirit of Christ in our
business with each other. I presume, of
course, you \vill turn in and help on that
line, will you not?
Give us this daj- our daily bread.— Matt. 6 : 11.
Oleanings :— We admire your manner of dealing
with your customers, your home writing, and your
advice to X.Y.Z.; but it does not fully cover the case
in point. What is the man to do while he is mukiug
a reputation, if wages are too low to support him-
self and family? It is like raising an orange grove
in Florida, it one could only live while trees are
growing. Many of us here are in the condition of X.,
only from 100 to 150 per cent worse. Our laborers
can get only from 40 to 50 cts. per day, and then pay
only for suitable weather when work can be done.
If they turn their efforts to cultivating the soil, it is
still worse. We, as merchants, lately sold what rep-
resents a >i entire year's labor of one man for less
than 100 dollars. One half of this amount went for
use of land and horse, and vipon the remainder the
laborer was expected to live honestly, and support
himself and family, attend church, and send his
children to school. The proceeds of labor on lands
pay so little for rents of land, that the land-owners
are in many cases advancing yearly rents to one-
half of proceeds. Then the laborer will, on his 53
dollars a year, have to (in addition to the above) sup-
port his horse, or reduce his wages. Is it not time
that civilization and Christianity were tryingto solve
this problem, before being forced to accept the
Beecher prescription of " love and water" for sub-
istence? W. H. W.
New Market, Ala.
JSIany thanks, friend \V. As you present
the case, it does indeed seem sad ; and I
grant that, from one standpoint, it seems a
little discouraging. Without the help of
God, Christianity, and civilization, it would
be hopeless. You have spoken of civiliza-
tion yourself, and so I presume those who
get only SIOO.OO a year, as you say, are with-
out education. Don't they smoke a pipe
too, friend W.? They would probablv com-
plain that their parents were unable to give
them an education, for want of means, and
that it Avas therefore a misfortune rather
than a fault. Now, this is where the troub-
le lies. These people can, every one of
them, get an education now. if they will try.
It amounts to just about the same thing as
leaving off the use of the tobacco. It is
really a matter of choice, and sums up the
old story that Joshua told the people,
" choose you this day whom ye will serve."
Friend W., if you have a queen that is so
poor she Avill not lay enough to keep the col-
ony alive, you can never make a permanent,
good stock of it by giving brood from other
swarms. Now, if you will forgive me I
would suggest that the men you name can
not be made self-sustaining by giving them
money, or by giving them larger pay than
they ordinarily command in the neighbor-
hood where they are known. Instead of the
prices coming up, the men niu.st come up.
More pay than they earn will do them harm
rather than good. A queen can not well be
changed; but a slow, dull, indifferent man
may be taught to be quick, bright, and in-
terested. I know, for it has been done, right
under my eye. The sufferer, for sufferer he
is, must tirst humble himself enough to ad-
mit his failing. He must be led to recog-
nize that the reason why he gets less pay
than other ]ieople is not because he is un-
fortunate, but that it is his own fault.
They that be whole, need not a physician.-
Matt. 9 : 13.
The greatest trouble in such cases is, that
the individual will have it that he is all right,
and the world all wrong. He must be led to
take an attitude some thing like this : " If
•50 cts. a day is my market value, I do not
want any more, and 50 cts. a day must sup-
port me'." When you can get a man right
there, he is generally all right. The hrst
part of Our Homes tells you how a man can
live on 50 cts. a day. and fare well too. How
about a family? "Well, my idea is that no
good man would willingly take a family on
his hands until he could do a little better
than this ; but I have no idea but that many
a wife and mother could tell me how a family
has lived on a smaller income than that. •'Do
justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before
God," and I tell you he icill get along. Fol-
low the teachings and spirit of the Bible, and
there is no such thing as fail. I have had
304
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
June
abundant experience iu tliis matter, for I
employ a great many bands, and I taketbcm
from all classes tliat come along. Wbere
one bas had small wages all bis life, and is
often out of work, there is a reason as plain
as day. Set him to Avork a week, and it will
be siire to show itself. Lack of physical
strength may be a hindrance; but cue who
is thoroughly posted in regard to his work,
and has his whole mind and soul in it, is
wortb his weight in gold, even if he isn't
stout. Give me a boy in his teens, who de-
lights to do his whole duty before God, and
he is worth more to me than a man of age
and experience, wlio is a hardenyd sinner. I
do not mean those who say it in words, but
those who say it by the actions of their daily
lives.
Lord,lielp a poor sinful world. It is not
money nor physical strength, nor even wis-
dom, that we plead for, so much as for that
honesty and sincerity of purpose that only
thy lioly Spirit can give.
I will instruct thcc and teach thee in the w:iy
which thou shalt go : 1 will guide thee with mine
eye.— Psalm 'i'Z: 8.
TOBACCO COIjUMN.
fi HA\'E made up my mind to try to sec if 1 can
give up tobacco, for I know what I do use in-
— ' jures me, and I will take the smoker pledge, if
you will receive my application. I want it as a
pledge; if I can't hold out, I won't say that I will pay
for two smokers, but will pay full price for any one
that I should receive; but 1 am going to keep the
pledge, if possible, and earn the smoker accordingly.
I would like you to send me one as soon as conve-
nient, as I Lave some transferring to do, and need
the use of one. K. F. Brooks.
Thoniedale, Chester Co., Pa., May 13, 1881.
I put 18 stands of bees in cellar last f'.ll; have got
10 good left, carrying in lots of pollen. Put me down
for a smoker, as I have quit using tobacco. I will
pay the price of two when I use again. Send Sim-
plicity cold-blast smoker. J. E. Jewell.
Shell Kock, Butler Co., Towa, May 4, 1881.
I have used the " weed" thirty-one years; if you
send me a smoker 7 tri7; quit. Bees lost in this part
of Iowa about 85 per cent. M. L. Thomson.
Earlham, Iowa, Apr. 26, 1881.
All right, friend T.; the smoker is sent.
May God help you to be strong 1
I have been a user of tobacco for fifteen years. I
am going to quit the vile practice, with Cod's help.
I want you to send one of your large size cold-blast
Simplicity smokers, and away goes the vile weed.
G. M. Theat.
Sandwicli, Tie Kalb Co., 111., Apr. 19, 1881.
You are one more, friend T., to the army
of those who are " on the Lord's side."
I saw your otfer to tobacco-chewers, that if they
would stop chewing you would present them with a
smoker free. You will please send me one, and I
will quit immediately. I have but a few bees, or
else I would have had one before. J. H. Cutciiawl.
Greeneville, Tenn., May 5, 1881.
And here is the smoker, friend C, and may
God help you to be strong!
I see in Gleanings that you give all a smoker who
will quit smoking. I promise to quit, for one. If I
fail I will be sure to send you the one dollar.
I. R. Sneed.
Henderson. Rusk Co., Texas, March 31, 1881.
All right, friend S. We send you the
smoker.
I will take a smoker under your offer to tobacce-
users. Please send one of Bingham's large sizr>. I
would not ask this if I were able to buy one, but 1
am poor, with a large family. A. A. Annis.
All right, friend A., and may God help
you too. If you are poor and have a large
family, you certainly can not afford to use
tobacco, and have all your boys learning to
use it after you, tan you?
Smoker came all right. I like it best of any I have
seen. You think my " nice eell.u-" saved my bees.
If you could see them to-day carrying in flour I be-
lieve you would conclude that a " nice cellar" is a
very nice thing for a bee-keeper to have such win-
ters as the past. Some of my neighbors can hardly
believe that my bees are all alive and strong, when
theirs are all dead. G. A. Wright.
Orchard, Towa, April 16, 1881.
If I am not mistaken, you offer a smoker to any
of yoursubscribers who will quit smoking. I have
been using the weed for about 20 years; started by
its being recommended by the doctor. My wife has
been trying to persuade me to quit ever since we
saw your first notice in Gleamngp. Please send
me a Simplicity cold-blast large size, and I will quit,
God being my helper. M. G. Condon.
Clinton, Mo., Apr. 21, 1881.
That is the talk, friend H. God being my
helper, you can give up tobacco, and all else
that is hurtful to you, spiritually or morally.
Well, brother Root, I have read Prof. Thwiug's
"Facts about Tobacco." Result: Quit chewing a
week ago. I never thought of y(,ur offer until this
morning. Now, you may send me one of j'our larg-
est cold-'olast smokers, and I will pay you for it with-
in 90 days. My old smoker is about aui^gespicU. My
bees got their first pcllen last Sunday, the 17th inst.
Weather splendid now, and the bees are carrjiug
honey from the elm. G. B. Replug lk.
Union\ ille, Iowa, Apr. 33, 1881.
We send you a smoker without charge,
friend II.; and if you will be so kind, you
may send me the work you mention.
A B C and smoker received; have quit the use of
lobacco; hope to be able to conquer; at present, a
hard struggle. M. L. Thomson.
Earlham, Madison Co , Iowa., May 5, 1881.
Friend T., the Bible says:—
He that overcometh, the same shall be cl >thed in
white raiment: and I will not blot out his name out
of the book of life, but 1 will confess his name be-
fore my Father and before bis angels.— Rev. 3 : 15.
Do not even think about the forbidden ar-
ticle, but keep mind and hands busy about
some thing else. You will soon lind that
when your mind is off from the subject, you
care comparatively little about it. Keep
away from those who use it, but strive as
far as possible to be iu the company only of
those who will encourage you by precept and
example in your new resolution ; and in a
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
305
little time both the victory and the " white
raiment" of purity and a clean heart shall
be yours.
I saw 1q :i number of Gleanings that you would
send a smoker to aiij' one who was a tobacco-smok-
er, providing- he would give it up. Send on your
smoker, and here goes pipe, tobacco, and cigars, in
the fire. My wife saw it and showed it to me, and
she says if I begin again she will write to you and
let you know. 1 have been on a balance whether to
quit or not; but that announcement of yours puts
the balance in the right direction. D. W. Mooke.
Tintern, Lincoln Co., Out., Can., Apr. 18, 1881.
Let US thank God, friend ^NI., if so slight a
thing as a bee-smoker turned the balance in
the right direction, in a matter that at least
closely pertains to the welfare of a human
soul. Tell your good wife that I shall not
only depend on her, but on the good women
all over our land, to see that their husbands
are faithful in these promises. Remember,
it is Satan we are to battle with, and we
must not expect him to give up without a
'' tussle."
Thanks, kind friend, for the smoker, but more for
the faithful prayers in my behalf, that I might over-
come tolnieco. By the united stix-ngth of you and
kind friends at hume, to say nothing of my poor
weak self, strength has been given me to overcome
tobacco, and I feel that, in the spirit of the Master,
I shall never be forced to take up the abominable
weed again. I have lost one tooth since I gave up
the habit, and began to think 1 would be forced to
commence its use again, to save all my teeth, but,
thanks to an all-wise Preserver, four months have
almost wound up my taste for it, and I now sing,—
As thy days may (k'liiand. sliall thy stvtngth evtr be.
Please remember me in your devotions to our Fa-
ther in heaven, and present my name at the noon-
day prayer-meetings as a subject for prayer, that I
maybe faithful to the end; and when the bell is
heard that calls me to the noonday prayer-meeting
on high, that then my chair may not l)f' vacant, nor
my voice silent. W. F. K.
Clinton, La., April 23, 1881.
I am very glad, friend K., that you did not
listen to the suggestion from Satan, that you
would lose your teeth, etc. It is wonderful,
the number of lies he puts into people's
heads when they try to break off a bad lialj-
it. To one he says, " You will have the
toothache, you know, if you don"t chew ; "
and. to another, '' You will get too fat, you
know," and so on without end. Just tell
him to get behind you, and then reach up
and implore God for help. We will remem-
ber you, friend K.
inERKYBANKS AND HIS NEIGHBOR.
HE THAT OVERC03IET1I AXD KEEPETlI 31Y
WORKS UNTO THE END, TO UIM WILL
I GIVE POWER OVER THE
NATIONS.— REV. 2 : 20.
eF course, there was no peace for any-
body until John's pail bee-hive was
'"' properly lixed in the window u^) stairs,
near the bed where he slept. As the lights
in the window were rather small, it was
thought best to remo\'e the lower sash en-
tirely, substituting a sash of John's own con-
struction, covered with thin boards, through
which a hole was cut, to let the pail go in
about half way. The bottom of the pail pro-
jected outward, and in this was the entrance.
As John was supposed to be joint inventor
in the pail hive, Mr. Merrybanks gave him a
good strong working colony ; and as they
were started just during locust bloom, they
very soon had their hve combs pretty nearly
hlled. Pretty soon "pollen-laden btes" be-
gan to come round on the side of the comb
next the glass, and the children thought
there never was any thing, in the way of
pets, so handsome. Every bee that came in
with a nice load of bright yellow or orange-
colored pollen, would shake himself, and
wiggle in such a way that Mary and Freddie
would have it he was doing it for pure joy,
just in the way John jumped up and down
when he made the barrel hive roll off the
table. After they had got through the wig-
gling, and had sobered down a little, they
would thrust their little legs, with the
"loaves" on them, into a cell, and kick
them off very much in the way the baby
sometimes kicks off his shoes and stockings,
and then off they went for another load.
After Mr. Bee had gone, the children could
plainly see the two little loaves lying in the
cell right where he left them, until some
other bee would poke his head in and stay
for some time, deeply intent on some im-
portant operation, as they thought, by the
way in which the only visible tip of his body
wiggled, and after he came out, the pollen
loaves were nicely patted down, and made
smooth. Mr. Merrybanks told them that the
bee patted and smoothed it down by rubbing
his head against it ; or, at least, he had read
so in the British Bee Journal. Mr. Merry-
banks often quotes that journal, you know.
Well, John was so taken up with his bee-
hive that he hardly slept or ate, and, al-
though it was the last thing he looked at at
night before he went to bed, it was the tirst
thing- he hastened to when he opened his
eyes' in the morning. To tell the truth, his
mother, on going into his room one night,
after he had long been asleep, found he had
moved his bed up near the window, and was
sleeping, with a smile on his face, close up
by that simple little pane of glass. The bees
had just been building some new white
comb, to fill a vacant place left accidentally,
and as they did the greater part of the comb-
building in the night, John had folded his
pillows so as to raise his head close up to
them. There they were, scampering about,
and, as it seemed, fairly trembling in their
eagerness as the snowy-white combs grew
into those wondrous forms. Tn the stillness
of the night, interrupted only by the breath-
ing of her boy, she thought she heard a faint
clicking noise, like the tramp in miniature,
of a thousand horsemen. She turned her
ear nearer to the bees ; it was indeed their
busy work, and the sound of their tiny man-
dibles against the glass ; for they were now
fastening bits of new comb to it, in many
places, as they wished to have their habitat-
lion substantial and secure. How innocent
and pure her boy looked as he lay there, un-
conscious that any one was near, sleeping as
506
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
JrxE
onlj^ those can sleep who are tired out with
honest, healthful labor ! She reflected how
faithful and industrious John had been of
late. So absorbed was he with his bees, he
had hardly had time to think of going off
with any of the wicked boys as he had a few-
months previous been somewhat inclined to
do. What had made such a difference in her
family? She almost started, as it flashed
upon her mind that there before her she saw
the answer to her prayer of but a few weeks
ago. Down she fell on her knees, at the
thought, and silently thanked, again and
again, that Savior who had indeed been an
ever-present help in trouble. Then as she
remembered her husband, who was still out
of work, she prayed for him too. It was
Saturday night ; but as she at length lay
down to* rest, it was with a greater feeling of
nearness to God than she had ever known
before, and with a happy, trustful, restful
feeling, that seemed to her almost too much
happiness for one who had. almost all her
life before this, known so much trouble and
trial.
The next thing she remembered was hear-
ing John's voice, calling, " O motherl fath-
er! come quick! The queen is laying right
next to the glass. Come quick, or she may
go round the other side again! "' and off he
scampered up stairs. At flrst, the feeling
was somewhat of vexation at being awak-
ened at such an early hour on Sunday morn-
ing ; but as she thought of the events of the
evening before, and reflected further that
the sun was already up and shining, she
hastened to get up, as did her husband also,
after he nibbed his eyes until he was quite
awake. ^lary was on hand too ; and al-
though all of the family looked a little as if
they had been scared out by an alarm of fire,
they soon began to share John's enthusiasm,
at least to some extent. There the queen
was with her long tapering body, busily en-
gaged at her appointed task, as unconcerned
as if she was not the center of an admiring
audience. Iler mock gravity as she settled
herself in a cell, and remained the center of
a caressing circle of bees, was such that John
laughed until the tears stood in his eyes.
"O mother! mother! mayn't I go over
and ask Freddie ^Slerrybanks to come over
and see her too? Please, mother, it won't be
wicked to just come over a minute. You
know she will get this side all filled to-day,
and won't ever come out this way again.
Please, mother, may I goV"
Silence gave consent, so John thought,
and off' he was, like an arrow. Fearing his
mother might repent, as it seemed, he
jumped almost the whole way from the
top of the stairs to the bottom. and was soon
out of hearing, if not out of sight. In a very
short time, not only Freddie was seen com-
ing, but friend ^NleiTybanks too. Johns
father Avas a little surprised at this, knowing
his strict ideas in regard to the Sabbath;
but after all had looked at the queen, and
friend M. had given them a little talk in re-
gard to the greatness and goodness of God
in endowing these little creatures with such
a wonderful instinct, Mary apparently, by
accident, turned the whole state of affairs in
the right direction after all, by coming up
to her father, and saying, as she took his
hand in both of hers,—
" Now, pa, we have all had such a real
good time in looking at the queen, you want
to come with iis to Sunday-school, won't
youV You just see if we do not have just as
good a time there."
Friend M. joined in with the request too ;
and, almost before he had time jto consider,
he gave a promise, and then reflected that
he had no suitable clothes to go to such a
place. In fact, he had not been inside of a
meeting-house in so long a time, he hardly
knew how folks did dress or act there.
John's mother listened, while her heart al-
most stood still. Was the time of miracles
still hereV Was it really ]iossible that God
had heard that prayer of only last night?
and was her husband really going with the
rest to chiirch or Sabbath-school? He was a
man of his word, despite his other failings,
and he did go to that very little church, wh.ose
stee])le you have so often noticed over among
the trees. He did not seem to get interest-
ed in the sermon, and finally went to sleep,
much to his wife's mortification and sur-
prise. After service, during the few mo-
ments that intervened before the Sunday-
school, the superintendent took him by the
band and spoke pleasantly to him, though
still in not such a way as to" remind him that
it was singular to see him there ; and in the
Bible-class, where he sat with his wife, there
seemed such a pleasant and friendly feeling,
he really, somewhat to his surprise, enjoyed
it so that he was actually sorry when it was
over. On the way liome" he asked so many
questions of his wife in regard to the lesson
and people present, that she forgot his sleep-
ing during the morning, and was again
inwardly thanking God for his great mercies.
After sui)per he lighted his pipe, and. in
spite of his wife's pleading, sauntered off up
to the ■' Corners " as usual. Who shall fath-
om the mystery of the human heart?
Next evening friend JMerrybanks came
over, with a number of the British Bee Joiir-
nol. All hands gathered eagerly around
while he spread it oat upon the table. Mary,
too, was interested, for that pail bee-hive
seemed especially the property of the chil-
dren since the stampede down by the hog-
pen ; and as friend M. announced that they
had started a round cheap hive in England
too, all were eager to see what it Avas like.
We will just take a peep over their shoulders
at the picture thej^ saw on the bread clean
pages of the journal.
THE CHEESE-BOX BEE-HIVE,
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
307
After all had taken a good look at the pic-
ture, Mr. ;M. read from the description as
follows:—
CHEAP HIVE FOR AMA.TEUHS.
I send you a sketch and description of a very cheap
hive, which some of your readers who make their
own may try their hands upon. It is made out of
two and a half American cheese-boxes, which cost
rae four pence each; one loin, in diameter serves
for the inner skin, and one of 16 in. diameter for the
outer skin of the hive. (The usual depth of these
boxes is from 9 to 10 inches.) The Inner skin should
be three-eifjhths of an inch higher than the outer to
form the feather edge on which the frames are to
rest. The two skins are kept apart by a double
hoop ^4, of an inch wide, placed at the top and bot-
tom. These may be made by cutting in half the
hoops of the box, and as they are usually }i of an
Inch thick, they will keep the two skins Yi inch
apart, and thus form a sufflcient air space between
them. As strong a hoop as can bf got from the box-
es and lids must be put round the hive, standing 1
Inch above the outer skin, and another at live-
eighths of an inch below the outer skin. Room will
thus be given for the thickness of the framps and
quilt above, and the floor-board will be overlapped
below, and wet or rain excluded. The Hoor-board is
made from the box-lid and bottom. Thfse are usu-
ally in three pieces, and when nailed together
should be crossed under side pieces. Of these the
middle one should pro.ject, to form the alighting-
board; and the deflcieney suf>plied from any piece
of wood at hand. The floor-board will thus be
double. The upper thickness is cut away sloping
upward to form a siuik entrance into the hive. The
floor-board is represented in its place in Fig. 1,
which represents a section from side to side with
one of the middle frames in position. The hive has
a cover made of half a box, 5 inches in height, and
over this is a conical top made of pRper-felt, painted
and fastened with thin copper wire to the wooden
part; the flight-hole, porch, and slot for slides or
doors, which are made of strong tin or zinc bent to
shape. Fig. 2 shows the arrangement of the frames,
ten in number. Half of them have distance-blocks
toward the front, and half toward the back, both
blocks being on the same side of each frame. In 'he
center are two movable blocks attached to the side
of hive by a thin but strong piece of string. When
manipulating they are lifted out. and thus room Is
given to move all the frames. The whole cost of
the materials, including paint, panel-nails (screws,
if any), and putty, is about 'Z.*., and certainly does
not exceed 28. Cri.; but I must add, that there is a
good deal of work in ihe hive, and it requires much
nicety in fitting, though not more than most ama-
teur carpenters are equal to.
The result is a round hive, which in shape corre-
sponds with that of a cluster of bees, and I think is
dryer than the square hives. In the corners of which
moisture is apt to be ci ndensed; and, secondly, is
much more shapely and ornamental in a garden, and
equally adapted lor carrying' supers of any kind
desired.
" There,'' said Mr. M., " they have not got
so near a sphere as we have, after all, and
the hive is a deal more expensive every way.
The combs wnnld handle nicely after one is
out, for by moving them toward the center,
every one" would be free, while, when in place
and the loose block put in, all are tight and
strong."
"But,'" said John, "they have 8 frames,
while we have in our hive but o, and such
frames as those must be a great deal of
trouble to make." You know .John was
some thing of a genius, and knew the ex-
pense of whittling out things.
" Nevertheless," remarked Mr. M., " I am
very glad to see this description, for it indi-
cates a wish, on the psirt of the people, to
make common implements and utensils serve
a part in providing habitations and inijile-
meiits for the care and comfort of our queer
little domestic friends. Many thanks to the
editor of the J5. B. /." And "he gathered up
the journal, and put it in one of his many
pockets, grabbed up Mary, and, placing her
on one of his broad shoulders, started out in
the darkness of the night, amid her protests
and the laughter of tlie whole family. Be-
fore he had gone many steps, however —
come to think of it, I guess I will tell what
an awful muss they got into by some more
of that boy John's ■' everlasting careless-
ness," next month.
GIEAWIMGS IN BEE CULTURE^
-A.. I. I^OOT,
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER,
MEDINA, O.
TERmS: $1.C0 PER YEAR, POST-PAID.
FOR CLUBBING RATEff, SEE FIRST PAGE
OF READING MATTER.
TsacESTDu^.A^, jxjoxn: x, leoi.
The wages of sin is death.— Rom.vx.s 6:23.
We have to-day 4329 subscribers, orders are
filled pretty nearly up to date, and I am in a thank-
ful frame of mind.
We can furnish Spider and Simpson plants for 25c.
per hundred by mail, postpaid, done up in the man-
ner indicated on page 27". Daniel Speer, of Card-
ington, Morrow Co., O., writes that he has thousands
of Spider plants, and he will doubtless furnish them
at the same price.
One good thing has grown out of the loss of our
bees, at any rate. It has obliged others to take up the
trade of selling bees by the pound, and rapidly de-
veloped the new industry that seems to me is going
to teach us a lesson of helping each other, in a way
we were never taught it before.
A few of the supply dealers still show a little too
much of the spirit, "you know you can't please
everybody." If I should hear you say, "The world
in general are not very hard to please," I should feel
much more certain you were trying to be honest and
just toward all.
May 26th. — We have to-day 145 colonies, and the
last box hive was transferred this morning by get-
ting up before 5 o'clock, to avoid robbers. AUorders
are filled, except for pounds of bees with dollar
queens. We have the bees, but can't get the queens,
although a great number are ready to laj'.
We have finally got a very good pair of steel specs
on our 10c. counter. The glasses are good, and the
frames nice and well made. In ordering, you had
better have them sent, for safety, in a 5c. case. Pos-
tage on the whole will be 5c, making 20 for the whole
complete by mail. Tell the number of the glasses
you wear, if you can; if not. tell me your age, and I
can guess pretty well what you will be likely to need.
The revised edition of the New Testament is out,
and the Gospel of St. John is now before me. The
price of the latter is 2c ; postage Ic more. The whole
Testament 10c, postage probably 3c more. I have
not got any yet, but I have been having a real fight
to get some to supply you, and will doubtless have
308
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
JUNJE
them as soon as any one. If you care to intrust me
with your orders, 1 will mail them promptly the min-
ute they reach me.
OiTR friends will please notice that up shall charge
$2.00 per lb. for bees during this month. The prices
for queens, frames of brood, etc., will be as other
years. The reason of the great call for bees espec-
ially, is that 1 lb. of bees will " fit " any hive, while a
frame of brood won't.
WIRE NAILS K EDUCED.
Quite a reduction in the price of wire nails, as you
will see by the last edition of our price list. As those
we sell are made purposely for us, and of slimmer
wire than any of those in the market, there are
more of them in a pound. Please compare our nails
and prices, with those found elsewhere.
SOMETHING NEW IN SMOKERS.
An original Clark eold-blast smoker, that blows
so easy, and makes such a cloud of smoke I am real-
ly afraid it will make trouble- among hybrids and
smoker manufacturers. It lights with a match, and
the price is 50c., or $i.03 for 10; if wanted by mail,
25c. extra. A circular with an engraving, sent on
application.
THE NEAV QUINBY SMOKER.
In my mention of the new Quinby smoker, I should
have stated, that, after we have blowed the fire with
the direct blast until it is burning vigorously, throw-
ing out sparks perhaps, by moving the slide and
making it a cold blast, the sparks stop instantly,
and we have only a blast of cold air, charged with
smoke. We can furnish them in any quantity at
friend Root's prices. See our price list.
Our friend L. C. Root has wintered ngain in his
cellars, with a loss not to exceed 10 per cent, and of
these, many died of starvation. He preferred to let
them starve rather than to risk the damage which
he thinks would result from disturbing them by
feeding in the cellar,orattemptingto takethem out
before the usual time, when the soft-maples arc in
bloom.
BEES BY THE POUND WITHOUT WATER.
We have tried a few cages provisioned with Vial-
Ion's candy, without water, for sending pounds ot
bees short distances, say in an adjoining State; and
up to date of going to press, no complaint hcs been
received. Our friend Gates, of Bartlett, Tenn., has
sent us perhaps 2) packages in the same way; but
while some of them came with scarcely a dead
bee, others came with all the bees dead, and candy
remaining. In very hot dry weather, the bottles of
water seem much more necessary.
W.4.TERBURY WATCHES CHEAPER.
NOTWITHSTANDING the rcocnt improvements in
Waterbury watches, we have been enabled to make
the following reductions in prices, and every watch
we sell is tested by ourselves before we send it out.
One watch, $3.50; two, $6.75; three, $9.75: six, $18.00;
twelve, $34.50. If wanted by mail, send 15c. ad-
ditional for each watch. If you should order one,
and it does not please, you may return it inside of 30
days, in asgoodorder as you received it, and get your
money, you paying all postage.
CYPRIAN AND HOLY-I.AND QUEENS AND BEES.
Neighbor H. rushes into the office, just as the last
form is being made up for the press, and says we
must say this for him, to save him from answering
so many postals:—
The Cypiinns wintered the best of any bees I had. The Holy-
Lands did not winter quite as well, but were not in as g'ood con-
ditirin in the fall. They will net up earlier in the morning:, rty
faster and lurtlior than any either bee 1 ever saw. The <jlieens
are very iirolilie, and they built up strung' very quickly in the
sprint;. 1 have them in sep.arate apiaries, and will .send yon
laying- ([ueens of either race for .50c. extra over the price of our
usualdiillar qiu-^ns. H. 15. H.vrrinTtTOS.
May a7th. IKSl. ^
"John" reports Ihat there isn't a black nor hybrid
queen among the whole 145 colonies. 1 am glad on
some uceounts, and yet I am sorry; we have had so
many orders for such, during the past month, I fear
we shall have to disappoint many. We have plenty
of nice tested queens, and about all orders for dol-
lar queens singly are filled, but lor cioUar queens
with lbs. of bees, we are behind 60 or 70. We have
got the bees, and the queens are coming from the
South daily, but still they don't come quite fast
enough. In a week, we may have them stacked up
so we shall not know where to put them.
MAY 27, .lUST four MINUTES OF 2 O'CLOCK P.M.
We hold the press, to announce that Mr. Gray has
succeeded in making a very fair sheet of fdn, by
means of the rubber plates, in a wired frame. The
sheet is perhaps a little heavy, but as the bees will
woik it all into thin comb it is no loss at all, and we
shall of course get it thinner as we proceed. The
metal corners are put on the frame after the sheet is
made in it. The price of the pair of rubber sheets
alone is $5.00; mounted and hinged, $8.00; and $15.00
for the whole apparatus for melting and distributing
the wax. This is for the L. frame, or any size that
can be cut out of the L. frame. Small plates for
starters, etc., 5 cts. per sq. inch ; the same mounted,
a half more.
Quite a brisk trade has sprung up in fhe 14.50
scales, and as there has been so much inquiry as to
how a scale of this cnpacity could be made for such
a small sum of money, wo submit the engraving and
description of it below.
THE iil-LB. SCALE, FOR ONLY $4.50.
It is of the well-known Chatillon make, has both
platform and scoop, as you see, full steel bearingiS,
and the whole is neatly striped and ornamented.
Capacity from Vi oz. up to 244 lt>s. We have never
had a complaint from anj^ we have sold.
EXTR.\CTING WAX BY STEAM.
From the 34 box-hive colonies, we of coin-se had ii
considerable amount of old combs to render into
wax. Well, a few da.vs ago friend D. A. Jones wrote
about extracting by steam. Perhaps it was more
than a month ago, but he writes so "awful bad,"
that I have been almost that time in trying to read
his letter at odd spells, begging friend J.'s pardon.
Well, after I got it read, and got the idea, I took a
very Lirge honey-barrel and suspended in it, from a
hoop at the top, a basket, made from queen-cigo
wire cloth. This was set right under a steam pipe,
and after the steam was let on. all vou had to do was
to shovel in the combs. The business was done as
fast as you poured them in, and when the contents
of the basket was poured out, there seemed to be
scnrcelv a trace of wax left in it. while that in the
barrel was about the prettiest yellow wax you ever
saw— so clean that it was poured directly into our
dipping-cans.and made into fdn. at once. With any of
our(jther arramrements it would have been about a
day's work. Friend Jones, here Is our thanks, even
1881
GLEANIKGS IN BEE CULTURE.
309
if yoy do write badly. Now, at the end of the sub-
ject of "Propolis," In the A B C, you will see that
friend Pritchard almost touches on this very idea,
and yet nobody ever thought of it before. At least,
it didn't get into the book, any way.
CITY MARKETS.
Cleveland, May 23, 1881.— Ho7iciy.— As usual, at
the beginning of the berry season, honey is entirely
neglected. The little stock in market is nominally
held at lG@18c per lb. for I and ;J lb sections of
white; dark not wanted. E.ictracted held at ISfTf Uc,
but very slow sale. A. C. Kendel.
St. Louis.— May 23.— Season about over; small
sales of strained at 8@a'ic. K. C. Greer & Co.
Recent Additions to the
COUNTER STORE.
FIVE-CENT COUNTER.
Postage. ] rPr. of 10, ot 100
2 I Mustard Spoons, best boxwood I 2.5 I 2 00
2 I Plates. A BC, 6 in., tin | 2.11 2 00
2 I Pie Crimpers, for making and cutting
pie crusts | 2.5 | 2 00
'> I Candy, a whole bag full of all kinds
for only 5c I 4.5 | 4 25
4 I White Envelopes, 1 30 | 2 ,50
For ladies, tine [laper, medium sizes.
TEN-CENT COUNTER.
2 I Balances, pocket letter balance I 75 I 7 00
Weiprlis from 1-2 oz., to 1 lb. Nickel pl.ited, and accurate,
and rerv pretty
3 I Butter Kni%'es, real plate, pretty pat. I 80 | 7 .50
13 I Dippers, stamped, 3 qt., (really SVi).. I 80 i 7 .50
4 I Knives, Kitchen, tine steel I 80 j 7 50
With beautifiillv finished handle.
5 1 Knives arid Forks 1 80 17.50
An excellent article in either cocoa wood handles, or white
bone. A knife and fork count two.
5 I Teaspoons, tinned, a set of 6 for lOc. ! 85 18 00
2 1 Wallets ' I 85 1 8 00
Imitation calf, old Vermont bill holder.
2 I Wallets, ladies 1 85 | 8 00
Fine s<dt leather, nickel ornamented.
FIFTEEN-CENT COUNTER.
4 I Carpenter's Compasses, 4 in 1 1 23 | 12 00
Fine polished steel.
1 I Lamp Shades 1 1 20 | 10 00
Porcelain, or opaque t^lass. 6in. These are the only really
durable, and always neat and clean sbades. The brass'ring to
support them on the lamii cost , the same as the shade.
10 I Sieves, all metal 1 1 20 | U 00
A new, and very valuable utensil, nearly a foot in diameter,
and without seam or joint.
Twenty-Five Cent Counter.
10 1 Coflfee Boilers, 4 qt I 2 00 1 18 01
I Lampshades, Porcelain ; 1 80 1 ItJ 00
Same as on L'ie counter only 7 in. Jirass ring' to .support them
same iirice.
18 I Parafflne, 1 2 25 | 21 00
For waxingr honey b.arrelss. putting in starch, etc. etc.
I Robinson Crusoe, Complete | 1 75 1 16 00
Illustrated by many pictures, atO pases, Hne print.
Thirty-Five Cent Counter.
12 I Balance, with Tin Dish I 2 75 | 25 00
Suspended by 3 chains; '>1 lbs. t'hatiUon's make.
1 Boy Ct>iseU, ; 3 00 : 28 00
A most handy tool for opening' boxes.
PIPTY-CENT COUNTER.
I Clothes Lines 1 4 00 i 33 00
Oalvanized wire; lOJ feet lung.
1 Spades, steel, full size; well made.. ; 4 50 | 43 00
A. I. ROOT, Medina, OIilo.
MAKE^ BEES ^PAY
By getting the best Italian stock tested for " biz."
Oood prolific queens from 65 cts. up. Use molded
FDN. Jt pays big, 40 ots. for common, 5J cts. for
thin. Improved "L." fdn. mold. $3.75, other sizes to
order. Metallic mold. L. size, $7. .50, ready soon. See
Oliver Foster's free circular. OLIVER FOSTER.
Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa. 6tfd
Colerain, Mass., April 11, 1881.
Me»irs. Bingham A Hitherinylon,—
Dear Sir:— I concluded to use the Lai'ge Smoker
instead of sending it away. It is (/ir- snio?f€)', Idon't
wan't any better; shall throw all others away.
Respectfully, E. A. Thomas.
The Oeiginal Direct Draft !
Patented Jan. 9. 1878; May,
1870; Rc-issued July 9, 1878.
If you buy a Bingham
Smoker, or a Bingham &
Hot herington Hone>- -Kni fe,
you are sure of the best and
cheapest. The largest bee-
keepers use them exclusivc-
l.v. Twenty thousand in use;
not one ever returned, or
letter of complaint receiv-
ed. Our original patent
Smokers and Honey-Knives
were the only ones on exhi-
bition at the last National
Bee -Keepers' Convention.
Bingham Smokers, all but
the Small, have fire and cin-
derproof bellows. Thelarge
and extra Standard Smo-
kers have extra wide shields
to prevent burnt fingers.
These are the only real im-
provements made in bee-
smokers since the Direct-
Draft invention. Bingham is the inventor and only
legal maker of them.
Bingham & Hetherington Honey -Knife, 2 in.,
Large Bingham Smoker, 2V2 in,.
Extra Standard Bingham Smoker, 2 inches.
Plain Standard Bingham Smoker, 2 "
Little Wonder Bingham Smoker, l?.i, " - - 75
If to be sent by mail, or singly by express, add 25
cents each, to prepay postage or express charges.
Send card for tes-timoninls. To sell again, apply for
dozen or half-dozen rates. Address
BINGHAM & HETHERINGTON,
5tfd Abronia, Allegan Co., Mich.
$1 00
1 50
1 25
1 00
Single Queen, Tested, $1 50
Untested, Lai iug, ------ 80
Warranted, 1 OO
Three-Frame Nuclei, 2 50
All Queens from imported mothers. Safe arrival
guaranteed. All that favor me with orders shall be
well used. DAN WHITE,
6d New London, Huron Co., Ohio.
THE
British Bee Journal.
The British Bee Journal is now mailed to our ad-
dress In packages, each month. In order to dispose
of them, we otter them at present at SlOO per year,
postage paid, beginning Jan. 1881. Will guarantee
safe arrival of every No.
A. I. ROOT, Medina. Ohio.
Farm for Sale.
A farm of 80 acres, pleasantly situated, good build-
ings, and well improved. Only 2^2 miles from the
village of South Haven, and situated in the heart of
the "Michigan Fruit Belt." Unquestionably the
best and most profitable point for fruit culture in
America. A full crop of peaches this season.
Churches, schools, and excellent society. Climate
healthful and pleasant. Mild winters, and cool sum-
mers. Located on the east shore of Lake Michigan.
For terms and particulars, address
H. A. BURCH & CO.,
6d South Haven, Van Buren Co., Mich.
ITAlilAN and Albino Queens. Untested Queens,
bred from Imported and Home-bred mothers,
$I.O0; per doz., *10.0J this month. Albino queens,
untested, $1.00 each. J. M. C. TATLOR,
6d Lcwistown, Frederick Co., Md.
310
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
June
READ WHAT^HEY SAY !
The only swarm of bees alive In this township,
contains ii queen I bought of you ; they arc lively.
J. K. M. AlijEN.
Greencastle, Ind., April 16, 1881.
Of the 31 dollar queens purchased of you last
season, only one proved impurely fertilized. They
have wintered finely, while three-fourths of the
bees in this section are dead. L. Densmore.
Livonia Station, N. Y.. April 11, 1881.
Could give scores of letters in praise of
OurStrains of Italians
like the above. If you want bees that arc hardy
enough to
SURVIVE OUR COLDEST WINTERS,
and that will pile up the box honey, give us a trial
order. Can furnish
DOL.LAR QUEENS,
WAKRAINTED QUEENS,
TESTED QUEENS, and
IMPORTED QUEENS.
Bees by the Prmnd,
NUCLEI AND FULL COLONIES.
Before ordering goods, send us a list of articles
you wish to purchase, and get our price for the
same.
OUR 40-PAGE CATALOGUE
of Apiarian Supplies, free to all. Address,
H. A. BURCK 6l CO.,
6tfd Soiitit Haven, DUicIi.
15 One-Cent STAMPS
Will pay for our exhaustive pamphlet on raisiing,
handling, and marketing extracted honey.
Colonies with imported Italian Queens of our own
Importation, guaranteal imrc and genuine.
Our Comb Foundation was awarded the diploma at
the N. E. Bee-Keepers' Convention held in February.
The following letter will show its superiority:
Medina, Ohio, April 4, 1831.
To Chas. Dadant A Son, Hamilton, III.:
Please send me 10 or 15 sheets of your very nicest
Dunham Foundation, 8\ixll^i. As I want them to
get rubber casts from, I want them nice and true,
and nicely packed; don"t care what the expense is.
I send to you because you have sent me the best
specimens. A. I. Koot.
SMOKERS, KNIVES, EXTRACTORS, ETC.
Price List with 3 samples of foundation, free.
CHAS. DADANT & SON,
otfd Hamilton, Hancock Co., 111.
Hill Side Apiary,
SUMMMIT, N. J.
Queens, Bees by the poinid. Nuclei, or full colo-
nies. Hives, Extractors, Smokers, &e.. &c. Send for
circular. W. B. COGGESHALL, Supt.,
6 Hill Side Apiary, Summit, Union Co., N.J.
QueenS! IimN Oi'^S!
Bred from selected queens of my own importing.
Sent by mail; safe arrival guaranteed.
Warranted! If any queen ordered of me proves
hybrid, 1 will, when notified, send another, free (but
in such cases unwarranted, just begun to lay).
Queens ia June, f 1 15; after July 1st, $1.00 each.
Discounts— on an order for 10 queens, one extra will
be given; for 25, three ext'-a. Write for discounts
on larger orders. Tested queens, double above
prices. CHAS. R. BINGHAM,
Edinburg, Portage Co., O.
Money Order Office, Ravenna, O. 5-7d
CHOICE^DEENS
FOE. 1881!
Dollar Queens $1 00
Tisted " 2 00
I guarantee satisfaction every
time, or money refunded. No
blacks in my neighborhood. All
queens raised from A. I. Root's
imported stick. Send for cir-
cular. HOWARD NICHOLAS.
4-9d Etters, York Co., Pa.
1881.
Send for our new Circular and Price List of Full
Colonies, Nuclei, and Queens. We guarantee satis-
faction. S. D. McLEAN * SON,
3-7d CuUeoka, Maury Co., Tenn.
Bees by the Pound!
H. V. Train, Mauston, Wiis., will sell bees and
queens during June and July. Please correspond
by card for terms and price. 6d
For Sale Cheap
A few fine Colonies of Italian Bees in Langstroth
hives. Hives well made, and painted. Address at
once, W. G. SMITH, 313 N. Second St., St. Louis, Mo.
Any one knowing the address of Dr. Steven I.
Young, M. D., late surgeon in the 79th Keg. 111. Vol.
Inf., and sending it to the undersigned, will place
him under many obligations.
Rev. R. G. THO.VIPSON,
6d Kingsville, Johnston Co., Mo.
(Late Chaplain 64th Regt. O. V. V. I.)
ITALIAN QUEENS, NUCLEUS COLONIES.
I can furnish Bees and queens cheap. Send for
special rates. Comb Foundation and every thing
pertaining to the Apiary. A. D. BENHAM,
6ifd Olivet, Baton Co., Mich.
Full Colonies, 2 rs
I am prepared to fill orders for bees by the pound,
nuclei Cd and 3 frame), full colonies of pure Italians.
Also Cyprian Queens (Dadant's importation), and
Italian Queens at A. I. Root's prices.
Given Fdn. a Specialty. Try it once, and see if
you do not pronounce it the best you ever used.
E. T. FLANAGAN, Belleville, Box 819,
6-8d Rose Hill Apiary, St. Clair Co., 111.
1881 queens: queens: issi
We are prepared to furnish Queens in April, May,
and June. For tested Queens, $3.50; afterward,
$3.00; untested, Sil.OO. Queens reared in full colo-
nies from imported mother. In addition to our im-
ported Queens, we have some fine Queens in our
apiary from some of the leading breeders of the
U. S. We not only select our imported Queens to
rear Queens from, but we select the best imported
and the best home-bred Queens we have to rear
drones from. We allow no colonies to have drones,
except such as are from the choicest of our Queens.
Satisfaction and safe arrival of all Queens guaran-
teed. No circular. HALL & JOHNSON,
3-6inqd Kirby's Creek, Jackson Co., Ala.
1881
GLEAj^^INGS m BEE CULTUKE.
315 .
Contents of this Number.
INDEX OF DEPARTMENTS.
Black List —
Bee Botany - -
Bee Entomology —
Blasted Hopes.. 302
Cartoon —
Editorials 36()
Heads of Grain 312
Honey Column 361
Humbugs and Swindles 322
I Juvenile Department 325
I KLiidWords from C'ustoinerf317
I Ladies' Department 3.'>1
I Lunch-R • om —
' Notes and Queries 349
I Repoi-ts Encouraging —
Smilery 3.51
The (irowleiy —
Tobacco Column :!.)7
INDEX OF HEADS OF GRAIN, NOTES AND QUERIES,
AND OTHER SHORT ARTICLES.
Apis dorsata -Kl
ABC Scholai-s' Lettei-s.327, 33iJ
Axteir s Report 340
Average, How they 344
Another Aid for Ext 322
Absconding 348, 349
Bees at a Picnic 323
Buchanan' s Letter 335
Burch, Herbert A Sfil
Bees on Flo\ir in March 339
Bees Stinging their own
Members 341
Buzz-saw, Another .341
Bees from Texa-s 343
Bees not Working in Uppei'
Storj- 346
Bees on Trees in Texas 347
Blacks r. Italians 347
Black Italians 34S
Bee-sting in Eyelid 349
Bees Coming to a Well-kept
Apiary 319
Blacks for Wintering .3.i0
Bees, less than 1 lb. July 4th. 352
Banner Apiai-j- ." 319
Candy for Cages 333
California Lettei-s 334, 338
California Shipping Cans. . .:i43
Clark's Cold-Blast Smoke.. 322
Com Oysters 344
Covering with Hay 345
Candy Feeding in Spring. . .345
Chaff Hives 346
Chaff Packing 346, 347, 350
Callfor Bees 349
Colorado 350
Candy for Bees X>0
Doolittle's Answers 331
Dadant ' s Pamphlet .342
Folks who don't sign Name. .337
Feeder, Large ' s 345
( ;rimm on Wintering 32S
Uauff 's Swarming-Bo.\ M-iO
Getting Rich ;U3
Honey -dew in Arkansas XM
Honey-dew in S. Carolina.. 312
Honev-dew in Oregon '.nn
Huckleberi-y Honey 334
Houej' Required f<n- 1 lb.
Bees .342
Hive, A Large 3.50
Italians v. .S6i'ghum-mills..346
Imperfect Addresses 360
Langsti'oth 's Letters 319, 3;i2
Locust Honey-crop 343
L. ('. RoofsReport 351
Miller's Letter 323
Merrv banks 3.56
>'ew Jei-sev, Northern, from. :t40
Open -air Feeding 'M2
Our Own Apiary 358
Pollen 344, 3.50
Packing with Forest leaves. 346
Queen witli laying daughter 343
Queens . Marking ;il4
Queen, Non-laying 348
Ramble No5 327
Robbed Bees going with
Robbers 3:t5, 348
Runaway Swai-ms 344
Raising bees in House 348
Ra])ld Increase ..350
Saved bv Sugar Candy :Ki3
Smith, from Pelee Island... .329
Sections on all Winter. .;i43, 350
Sweet Corn :J44
Starters, To Fa.sten :{47
Two Queens in One Hive. . .344
Ventilation ; 342, 'Mii
Wintering Losses .313
What lib. of Bees willdo..;«S
With Biggest Crowd 349
ESSEX PIGS A SPEGIALH!
75 to 100 Pedigree Pig's for delivery in June,
six weeks to two months old. Write for prices.
Also Brown Legiiorn (prize winners) EGGS, @ §1.
per doz., and B. B. K. G. Bantam Egg.s for Hatctilng
(imported), @ §1.50 per doz., in new baskets. Sate
arrival guaranteed. C. W. CANFIEl.!),
5tfd Athens, Bradford. Co., Pa.
1TAI.IAN AND CYPRIAN QUEENS, bred
from imported mothers. Write for prices to
H. T. BISHOP,
6-Td Chenango Bridge, Broome Co., N. Y.
Italian (tested) Queens from Root's very best.
Imported or home-bred Queens, $3.00; Italian (un-
tested) Queens, Laying, fl.OO; Bees, fl.OO per lb.; 2
(L.) frame Nucleus (no queen) $1..50; ;}(L.) frame
Nucleus (no queen), S3.00; 1 colony of Italian Bees
(no queen) in 10 (L.) frame hives, $7.00. Add price of
queen to price of bees, colony, and nucleus. Dis-
count on larger orders. OTTO KLEINOW,
6tEd Opposite Fort Wayne, Detroit, Mich.
1881 HIVES FREE! 1881
Where two or more nuclei are ordered at my June
prices, I will furnish them in full-sized Koop hive,
free of charge. Queens all from dark imported
queen, or light. A few good breeders at 351.50 per
one-comb nucleus. 1 am ready; send your order to
F. E. TOWNSEXD,
7d Hubbardston, Ionia Co., Mich.
THE BEST OFFER VET!
I have a quantity of Simplicity and other frame
hives lilled with comb and honey. 1 will put in 1 lb.
of bees, I warranted queen. 1 frame of brood, and
ship them at $5.00 each. Warranted queens from
my superior strain <if Italians, safe arrival guaran-
teed, .*;i.Oti; no guarantee, 80c. Plymouth Kock
eggs, $1.00 per doz. Address,
7d H. BAKBEH, Adrian, Len. Co., Mic .
KIND READEK ! Do you want to buy queens?
If so, give me a trial order. I am confident I
can please yovu FINE M'ARRANTED ITAIi-
IAN QIJEENS a )<peciaU)j. Prices: single queen,
$1.00; per ]i doz., $5.50. Send for circular.
J. P. MOORE,
7d • Box 27, Morgan, Pendleton Co., Ky.
1881.
Send for our new Circular and Price List of Full
Colonies, Nuclei, and Queens. We guarantee satis-
faction. S. D. McLEAN & SON,
2-7d Cullcoka, MauSry Co., Tenn.
LIVE BEES IN MICHIQAN:
Italian Queens, Bees, and Supplies; also Dollar
Queens the rest of the season. Descriptive price
list free. Address O. H. TOAVNSEND,
6tfd Hubbardston, Ionia Co., Mich.
ITALIAN cV: CYPRIAN t^UEENS!
L'ntested queens, $1.00; Tested, $2.00; Selected,
$3.00; Pound of Bees, Italian, $1.(X); 2 Langstroth-
frame nuclei, $2.00; 3 Langstroth-frame nuclei,
$3.00. For prices of Novice Extractors, Veils, Smo-
kers, Hives, &c.. &c., addi-ess
WM. B. COGGESHALL, Supt.
7 . Hill Side Apiary, Summit, Union Co., N. J.
C. OLM'S^COMB FOUNDATION MACfflNE.
SEI\'D FOR SAMPLE ASD CIRCULAR.
5tfd C. OliM, Fond du Lac, Wis.
Blacks, Vi lb., 50 cts. ; 1 lb. or more, per lb., 75 cts. ;
Italians, double price. Nuclei, 2-framo, no queen,
$1.25; 3-frame, $1.50. Italian nucleus, $2.00. Black
or hybrid queens, 50 cts. each. Fdn. starters, per
100, 50 cts. For further particulars, address
S. P. CULLEY,
7d Warrcnsburgh, Johnson Co., Mo.
I WILL furnish bees during July, Aug., and Sept.,
at one dollar per pound. Also queens at A. I.
Root's last year's prices. . H. L. GRIFFITH,
7 Sumner, Lawrence Co., III.
No.
013
Price
SO
Cents.
mmm um mi mrs m so cents !
MAKER & GROSH, 34 N. MONROE ST..
TOLEDO, OHIO.
Hand-Forged Razor Steel Knife
for ;jO cents. Maher & Grosh, 31
N. Monroe St., Toledo, O., will mall
Knife Like cut, post-paid, for 50c.
Extra hea^vy 2-blade for rough
usage, 75c. Our Best 2-blade, oil
temper and tested, $1. Pruner, oil
temper, $1. Pruning Shears, $1.
All goods exchanged free if soft
or flawy.
• 316
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
July
Names of responsible parties will be inserted in
any of the following departments, at a uniform
price of 30 cents each insertion, or $3,00 per year.
$1.00 Queens.
Names inserted in this department the first time witJv-
out charge. After, 30c each insertion, or S3,00 per year.
Those whose names appear below agree to furnish
Italian queens for $1,00 each, under the following
conditions: No guaranteeis to be assumed of purity,
or anything of the kind, only that the queen be reared
from a choice, pure mother, and had commenced to
lay when they were shipped. They also agree to re-
turn the money at any time when customers become
impatient of such delay as may be unavoidable.
Bear in mind that he who sends the best queens,
put up most neatly and most securely, will probably
receive the most orders. Special rates for warranted
and tested queens, furnisned on application to any
of the parties. Names with *, use an imported queen
mother. If the queen arrives dead, notify us and
we will send you another. Probably none will be
sent for $1.00 before July 1st, or after Nov. If want-
ed sooner, or later, see rates in price list.
*B. W. Hale, Newark, Wirt Co., W. Va.' 2-1
*A. I. Koot, Medina, Ohio.
*H. H. Brown, Light Street, Columbia Co., Pa. 7tf
*E. M. Hayhurst, Kansas City, Mo. 1-13
*Paul L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La. 7ttd
♦D. A. McCord, Oxford, Butler Co., O. 1-13
*S. F. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. 7tfd
*Chas. G. Dickinson, Sou' Oxford, Chen. Co. N. Y. 1-10
*Wm. Ballantine, Sago, Musk. Co., O. Ttfd
.1. S. Tadlock, Kingsbury, Guad. Co., Texas. 3-7
*W. H. Nesbit, Alpharetta, Milton Co.. Ga. Ttfd
*J. O. Facey, New Hamburg, Ont., Can. 4-9
*H. Nicholas, Etters, York Co., Penn. 4-8
*John Conser, Glenn, Johnson Co., Kans. 4-9
*Fischer & Stehle. Marietta. Wash. Co., O. 4-9
Mas. P. Sterritt, Sheakleyville, Mercer Co., Pa. 5-10
*01iver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa. .5tfd
*V. W. Keeney, Shirland, Win. Co., 111. 6-9
*C. B. Curtis, Selma, Dallas Co., Ala. 6-11
*T. W. Dougherty. Mt. Vernon, Posey Co., Ind. 7-13
*L. E. Welch, Linden, Gi'n. Co., Mich. 6tfd
Geo. W. Baker, Lewis\'ille, Henry Co., Ind.
S. P. Koddy, Mechanistown, Fred. Co., Md. 7-S
*.T. W. Kecran, Bloomiugton, McLean Co., III. 7
*G. W. Williamson, Willow Island, Pleasants Co.,
— W. Va. 7
C. Kendig, Naperville, Dupage Co., 111. 7
*P. A. Salisbury. Geddes. Onon. Co., N. Y. 7tfd
L. W. Vankirk, Box 178, Washington, Wash. Co. Pa.
Hive Manufacturers.
Who agree to make such hives, and at the prices
named, as those described on our circular.
A. T. Root, Medina, Ohio.
Sid. D. Buell, Union City, Branch Co.. Mich. 2-7
P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, Iberville Par., La. Itfd
S. F. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. Itfd
J. F. Hart, Union Point, Greene Co., Ga. 4-3
M. S. West, Flint, Genesee Co., Mich. 3-7
Foundation Manufacturers.
Who agree to make such foundation, and at the
prices given, as described In our circular.
A. I. Koot, Medina, Ohio.
Jas. A. Nelson, Wyandott, "Wyandott Co., Kans. 4-9
Bees by the Pound.
Those whose names appear below agree to furnish
bees by the lb., and at the prices given in our circu-
lar.
I. L. Scofleld. Chenango Bridge, Broome Co., N. Y.
S. C. Perry, Portland, Ionia Co., Mich.
J. P. Moore, Morgan, Pendleton Co., Ky.
W. R. Whitman, New Market, Madison Co., Ala.
Chas. Kingsley, Greeneville. Greene Co., Tenn.
C. D. Wright, Baxter Springs, Cherokee Co., Kans.
H. B. Harrington, Medina, Medina Co., O.
W. St. Martz, Moonshine, Clark Co., Ills.
O. H. Townsend, Hubbardston. Ionia Co., Mich.
G. W. Gates, Bartlett, Shelby Co., Tenn.
W. S. Canthen, Pleasant Hill, Lancaster Co., S. C.
J. G. Taylor, Austin, Travis Co., Texas.
T. P. Andrews, Farina, Fay. Co., 111.
Allan D. Laughlin, Courtland, Law. Co., Ala.
E. J. Atchley, Lancaster, Dallas Co., Texas.
D. McKcnzie, CarroUton P. O., N. O., La.
H. L. GrilKth, Sumner, Law. Co., 111.
J. H. Martin, Hartford, Wash. Co., N, Y.
W. A. Pirtle, Cabot, Lonoke Co., Ark.
E. T. Flanagan, Belleville, St. Clair Co., 111.
J. K. Mayo, Statford. Fort Bend Co., Texas.
J. F. Hart, Union Point, Greene Co., Ga.
B. Chase. Earlville, Madison Co., N. Y.
S. P. Roddy, Mechanicstown, Fred. Co., Md.
W. J. Ellison, Statcsburg, Sumter Co., s. C.
R. A. Paschal, Geneva, Talbot Co., Ga.
Hall & Johnson, Kirby's Creek, Jackson Co., Ala.
A. Osbun, Spring Blufif, Adams Co., Wis.
H. D. Heath, Sherman, Grayson Co.. Texas.
F. A. Salisbury, Geddes, Onon. Co., N. Y.
N. B. McKee,careof D. &D. Inst., Indianapolis, Ind.
J. li. R. Sherrick, Mt. Zion, Macon Co., 111.
HEADQUARTERS IN THE SOUTH
For the Manufacture and Sale of
BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES!
Italian Queens and Bees, all bred from mothers of
my own importation. Dollar queens, $1.00. Tested
queens, $3.50; 4-frame Nucleus, $5.00. Safe arrival
and satisfaction guaranteed. Send for my illustra-
ted catalogue.
PAUI^ li. V1A1.1.0N,
6tfd Bayou Goula, Iberville Par., La.
LOOK at flir Prices for July!
Moii't send any more orders for bees by the pound.
Because vfe must sell Bees, Brood Combs, and all.
Our business, but especially our neighbors, won't
allow us to keep bees in large numbers.
One 8-Frame Colony, in Simplicity hive, - $5 00
One 4-Frame Nucleus, 3 00
One 2-Frame Nucleus, 3 00
All to be well filled with bees, brood, and honey.
Add price of queen to the above.
1 Tested Queen, $3 00
1 Untested Queen, 100
Safe arrival guaranteed.
FISCHER & STEHLE,
7d Marietta, Washington Co., Ohio.
Ai\ Italian Queei\
FOR
15
CENTS.
We guarantee to overy one who sends a dollar for
the American Bee-Keeper, to send a pure untested
Italian queen for 1.5 cents more.
4-7d E. M. HARRISON, Lebanon, Laclede Co., Mo.
.A. :Ei.AJFLiES ozz^^^ixrox:
to buy a three-horse power engine, with or without
machinery, for the bee-keeper's supply business.
Write for particulars. B. S. UNDERHILL,
7d Williamson, Wayne Co., N. Y.
AAA sq. ft., 30 lbs., Vandervort fdn. for $10.00.
£UU Orders filled immediately.
7d G. W. Stanley & Bro., Wyoming. Wy, Co., N.Y.
MAKE BEES PAY
By getting the best Italian stock tested for " biz."
Oood prolific queens 75 cts. each; $7.80 per dozen;
Tested, $1.50. Use molded fdn. It pays bio, 40 cts.
for common; .'iO cts. for thin. Improved fdn. mold,
"L." size. Plaster. $3.75; Metallic (ready soon) $7.50.
Root's rubber, $8.00. Outfit for same, $.5.00. See
free circular. OLIVER FOSTER,
Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
317
CVFRIAVr, HOLV-
LAND, HUNGARIAN,
ASTD ITAIiIArr
I have had 30 years' experience in the queeu-rear-
ing business. All my queens arc raised in full colo-
nies, on a new principle, and we send out no in-and-
in-bred queens. We combine beauty, purity, indus-
trj% and docility. I consider the Hungarian bees,
crossed by the Cyprian or Italian, the best race in
the world. They are very hardy, gentle, and indus-
trious. Queens very prolific and large; they arc
sure to winter on summer stands. I did not lose one
of these stocks last winter — all came out strong.
Try them. All queens warranted pure. Safe arri-
val by mail guaranteed. Warranted queens, $1.00;
choice selected, $1.50; tested, $3.00. Send for 30th
annual circular. Remit by registered letter, check,
or money orders on Salem, Mass.
6ttd HENRY ALLEY, Wenham, Essex Co., Mass.
SEND for my circular and price list of Italian
Colonies, Queens, and Apiarian Supplies.
5ttd H. H. BROWN, Light Street, Columbia Co., Pa.
ITAIjIAN queens ! I am prepared to furnish
pure queens at a low price. Untested, In May,
f LOO; June, 90c; after, 80c. Send for circular.
CHARLES D. DUVALL,
4-9d Spencerville, Mont. Co., Md.
J. M. BROOKS & BROS'.
. AMEHICAir ITALIANS.
PURITY OF STOCK A SPECIALTY.
4-9 CIRCULARS FREE.
COLUMBUS, - BARTH. CO., - INDIANA.
*-^*=*=t
CHOICE QUEENS
FOTl 18811
Dollar Queens $100
Tested " 3 GO
I guarantee satisfaction every
time, or money refunded. No
blacks in my neighborhood. All
queens raised from A. I. Root's
imported stock. Send for cir-
cular. HOWARD NICHOLAS,
4-9d Etters, York Co., Pa.
Bees by the Pound,
Fdn., &G.
Full Colonies,
I am prepared to fill orders for bees by the pound,
nuclei (3 and 3 frame), full colonies of pure Italians.
Also Cyprian Queens (Dadant's importation), and
Italian Queens at A. I. Root's prices.
Given Fdn. a SpcciaUy. Try it once, and see if
you do not pronounce it the best you ever used.
E. T. FLANAGAN, Belleville, Box 819,
6-8d Rose Hill Apiary, St. Clair Co., 111.
1881 ITALIAN QUEENS! 1881
Tested Qtieens ^1 50
Warranted Queens.. 1 00
Cyprian Queens, untested 1 00
As most all the Dollar queens
I sold last year were pure, I
will warrant them this year.
J. T. Wilson, Mortonsville,
3-7d Woodford Co., Ky.
KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS.
HEADQUARTERS FOR
&
ABC received. I am studying diligentlj', and am
delighted with it. Lem. Faw.
Plantersvillc, Grimes Co., Texas, May 17, 1881.
The sections to hand. Although not quite what I
expected to get (dovetailed), yet a great deal nicer.
They are the nicest sections I ever saw or used.
Burton City, O., June 'Z'^, '81. J. Rudy Roebuck.
Those hives, etc., came all right, and every thing
about them is so exact and nicely fitted that it is
nothing but fun to put them together.
A. A. BUADFOBD.
E. JaSfrey, N. H., May 34, 1881.
The mincer you sent me is received O. K. I am
now making- "hash" of jerked buffalo. Many
thanks. Please forward a " family" egg-beater for
the inclosed. Sumner A. Knight.
San Diego, Tex., March 13, 1881.
Goods came all O. K., .iust as ordered. Thanks
for promptness and dispatch. It certainly is a great
pleasure to do business with a man who is prompt
and correct. W. C. Neil.
Strattanville, Clarion Co., Pa., June 18, 1881.
THE 16-in. gem planer, $75.00.
Planer received and running, giving tip top satis-
faction. Eddy Bros.
Elsie, Mich., June 30, 1881.
[As there is some doubt sometimes about a planer
for such a small amount of money, we have given
the above.]
My last bill came to hand O. K. Thanks! I never
flatter, but I am strongly tempted to compliment
your style of "biz," square deal. You'll hoar from
me again perhaps before long. C. Waterhouse.
St. Martinsville, La., June 7, 1881.
[That is more than I deserve, friend W.; but I will
try hard to come up to it.]
I have not written you since I received your book.
With the help of it I Avintered all of my bees, and
they did well. The book you sent me I wouldn't
part with for three times its cost. L. H. Randall.
Adams, Mass., June 8, 1881.
[And so, friend R., it would seem that I helped
others to save their bees, even if I did not save my
own.]
-*"
The hives, etc., arrived in good order in four
weeks from the time I sent the order, whichi'con-
sidering season and distance, I do not think very
bad. Freight charges very reasonable— only $1.13 on
110 lbs. I was surprised at getting so large a bottle
of good sewing-machine oil tor 5c, just what we pay
15 or 30 for. Burdette H.^SSEtt.
Bonair, Howard Co., la.. May 31, 1881.
The queen arrived, I believe, about the second
Saturday after I ordered, all right; also $1.25 from
you. Many thanks for your kindness, getting her
to me from some one else if you could not furnish
her. C. W. McIntyre.
Silver Creek, N. Y., May 16, 1881.
[Why, this is refreshing, friend M. We almost
always get a big scolding when we have to send
orders elsewhere to be filled.]
Imported and home-bred; nuclei and full colo-
nies. For quality and purity, my stock of bees can
not be excelled in the United States. I make a
specialty of manufactviring the Dunham foundation.
Try it. If you wish to purchase Bees or Supplies,
send for my new circular. Address
Itfd DR. J. P. H. BROWN, Augusta, Ga.
My bees are on a big "boom," storing honey from
alsikc clover. One colony (queen bought of you,
and introduced last Oct.), has stored nearly 100 lbs.,
and are at work as if they were not half through
yet. I opened the hive to-day and gave them the 3d
story instead of the Vi story case, and I don't think
the V even stopped work. I would not take $30.00 for
that queen. F. W. Wilder.
Forsyth, Ga., May 14, 188L
The bees are here all in good order. Please ac-
cept thanks. I am well pleased, and have the first
bees of the kind here that I know of. I received the
bees on Monday, the tith, and they are at work all
right. I found only 9 dead bees in the box. Your
way of packing is nice, and your goods arc very
good. They are far ahead of any thing that ever
was here in the bee business. T. C. Kerr.
South Salem, Ohio, June 8, 1881.
318
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
July
I can handle my bees very well, but they are
bound to stay in the wronp place, and won't drive
worth a cent: please send a smoker by mail, and
oblijj-e. H. F. Ft.axders, P. M.
Nashua, Putnam Co., Fla., May IB, 18S1.
[I guess that is the way with all of us, friend F.
"They are bound to stay in the wrons" (?) place."]
The goods arrived to-day in good condition. The
only wonder is with me, how you can sell so nice
goods so cheap. The smokers are neatly made, and
all the5-cent articles are worth twice the money, es-
peciaJly the dictionary at 15c. It is cheap at ;50c. I
guess 1 will have to start a little novelty store, and
order a cart load from your counter store. Bees
are doing splendidly. Am increasing very nicely.
Winchester, Ind., June, 1881. J. H. Thornbubg.
GLEANINGS AS AN ADVEHTISIKG MEDIU.M.
The basswood is in full blast here, and we are full
of business now. The two small ad's yon inserted in
Gleanings for me brought me more than I could
attend to. I have refused orders for 100 lbs. of bees,
or more, already; and advertisements I put in
Gleanings over one year ago I have not heard the
last of yet. When will the end be"/
A. W. Cheney.
Kanawha Falls., W. Va., June 18, 1881.
The ABC came the 31st, nicely packed with its
heat guard, for protection in the mail-bag. Having
inspected its outside, and pored several hours over
Its contents on various points of present interest, I
must express my great satisfaction at every thing in
it and aboTit it. it is thorough; I suppose I might
say it is like its source— radical. I like your plan of
incorporating new matter in new editions, and have
been interested in Mr. Doolittle's notes.
New Castle, Pa., June 33, 1881. K. A. Browne.
HOW IT PAYS TO AOVERTISE IN GLEANINGS.
I am needing queens and bees now more than any
thing else. I received such a number of orders a
few daj's since for nuclei, queens, and bees, it made
mj- head dizzy for a few moments— am now consid-
erably behind, and if I have a surplus of queens and
bees, will most assuredly advertise in Gleanings, as
lam satisfied it has been an advantage to me.
W. P. Henderson.
Murfreesboro, Tenn.. June 18, 1881.
The bees arrived on Thursday all O. K. The ex-
press charges were liberal. Our way of hiving them
was to open the wire cloth on one side and set them
in the upper story, and lift the frames out and put
them in place, and then shake the remaining bees in
front of the hive. They formed a line very soon. 1
examined the queens to-day, and they were both
laying. The bees are working on the foundation
flMcly. I think those chaff hives can't be beat. The
smoker works fiaely. Your mode of packing Is ex-
cellent. J. R. Tygard.
PlttPburg, Pa., June 4, 1881.
The "horse book" to hand at last safely; also
your pastal card, telling me I could send you 13c.
for the book, as my former remittance of 35c was
probably lost in the mails, etc. Do you think I could
have the assurance to send you only 13c for the
book when the l(jss of the money you had nothing to
do with? Not much: can I do such business? and I
would, in a friendly way, ad\ase you to no longer
keep up that system of hisinu half, where the sender
of money says he has sent you only such and such
an amount. Do you not see, my friend, that it might
tempt some of us? Who knows but the temptation
may be the first step to crime? BusinessI business!
business! old friend. I am truly vour well-wisher.
Wilmington, N. C, March 5, '81. R. C. Taylor.
I do not want Gleanings stopped. I have had
four times my money's worth already, and I will try
to keep you in " shinplasters " along. They seem to
be very scarce — hardly any in circulation. I am on-
ly amazed at your wonderful management of bees.
Truly, all created kind seems to be subject to man.
1 have saved 3 swarms out of my 15, and my neigh-
bor has saved 1 out of his 30, I can not fully under-
stand all your management. G. A. Leggett.
Schodack Landing, Reus Co., N. Y.
[Thanks, my good friend; but to tell the truth, I
do not understand "my wonderful management"
either, especially the part that came in last winter.
I presume there is a chance for us both to live and
learn yet. Eh?]
THE profanity CARDS.
You must be a queer man. I think to print Mr. A.
T. M.'s cards is enough for yon to do instead of fur-
nishing them free. Inclosed you will find two
stamps to pay postage on a few of those cards.
W. T^ Williams.
Burrsville, Caroline Co., Md., June 9, 1881.
[Why, I just like the fun, friend W. George (our
job printer) has printed one big lot, and they are sold
(yes, sold, even if we do have to trust the Lord for the
pay and postage), and he is n*w at work on a larger
and nicer lot. 1 feel as much pleased to see them
go, as I do to see the well out in front patronized.
By the way, we have had plenty of water all the
time, though many other wells have gone dry. One
pump was worn out, but we now have a much bet-
ter one. Don't be backward in calling for the cards,
if you think you can use them; and, good friends,
shall we not have lots more pumps over our broad
land? Can we not at least use this kind of induce-
ment to keep our boys from drinking and swearing?]
KIND WORDS TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
Please, friends, let me once more beg of you not
to send back goods until you have first written. A
package of tin bars was sent one of you, with other
goods; but the clerk, in making the bill in a hurry
(as we often have to do at this season), charged $1.35
for them instead of 35c, the proper price. AV'ell, our
customer sent them right back hy c.v press, saying we
should give him credit for them unless we could put
them in at the advertised price; if we could do so,
send them back again. Very likely he was a little
angry; but why in the world could he not have ta-
ken a postal, and quietly written, —
"Brother Root, you advertised those tin bars at
half a cent apiece, and have charged me two and a
half cents each. Shall I send them back, or will you
stick to your price list? They are subject to your
order."
We should probably have replied,—
"■Half a cent apiece, friend , of course. We
really beg pardon for making you so much trouble,
and hasten to correct the blunder. Did it not occur
to you we could not mean to charge such a price for
a little strip of folded tin? We are very sorry you
did not go right along and use them, knowing we
would make it right."
Why should we hold each other off at arm's length
all the time? Most of you know me by this time,
and you know I am ready to bear losses from the
consequences of misunderstandings, even when I
am not to blame; but it is one of my hardest trials
to keep from saying "won't" to those who make
such precipitate haste in sending things back by ex-
press before they have told what the trouble is.
The Mr. Woodward, mentioned in Humbugs and
Swindles, page 81, Feb. No., has been found, and
through the influence of good, earnest friends, has
paid up tlie whole indebtedness, principal and inter-
est, and stands on his feet a true mai^ again. May
the Lord be praised for so much.
MuLTUM IN Parvo.— No. of Subscribers to-day,
June 39, 4184. Many whose time expired with June
have not renewed. -Orders for queens are all filled
at this date, and orders for bees with queens, up to
within ten days; orders for hives and supplies of
every kind, up to within four or live days, and are
constantly kept so. For new counter goods, send
for our J uly price list. We have now a printed list
of over .50,000 of our customers in all parts of the
world, to whom a price list is sent once a year. If
you are not in it, drop us a postal, and you will be ;
and if you want a late price list before the year
comes around, drop us a postal any time. This list
has cost me over a thousand dollars, and it costs
g!500.00 for postage alone every time we mail them.
HOLY -LAND 8e CYPRIAN QUEENS I
Raised in separate apiaries 5 miles apart. L^ntest-
ed Queens of either race this month, $1.50.
H. B. HARRINGTON, Medina, O.
I>E"VOTEr> TO 13EI>!4 AiVr> IIOIVEY, AT»3^r> iIC>>ir: IIVTJ^l^iiS'rf-
Vol. IX.
JULY 1, 1881.
No.
^.
A. Z. ROOT,
Publisher and Proprietor^ \
Published Mouthly.
Medina, O.
J Established in 1873. {
r TERMS: $1.00 PER ANXVM, IX Advaxce;
I 2 Copies for Si. 90: 3 for S2.7.5; 5 for §4.00; 10
or more, 75 cts. each. Single Number, 10 cts.
\ Additions to clubs may be made at club
rates. Above are all to be sent to one post-
OFKicE. Clubs to different postottices, not
LESS than 90 cts. each.
NOTES FROM THE BANNER APIARY.
NO. 20.
MAKE THE BEES PAY.
MUNDREDS of bee-keepers this season found
themselves the possessors of empty hives and
■ combs— but no bees. Some of them will give
up the business entirely, while others will buy a few
colonies, or else buy bees by the pound, and will go
bravely to work to build up again. I suppose that
most bee-keepers who lost bees last winter, and who
have obtained a few bees with which to make a
start, will bend their whole energies to making their
bees increase as rapidly as possible, and will not at-
tempt to obtain any surplus honey. If one can af-
ford to lose all of his bees next winter, this course
may be all right; but would it not be a safer plan to
obtain 80/»6 honej-, and make the bees pay a profit
tl\i» year? I know it is very tempting— I have felt
the impulse more than once— this idea of building
up a large apiary, and then doing some thing grand
—get honey by the ton, for instance. I know of a
bee-keeper who has kept bees a good many years,
and thoroughly understands the principles of bee-
keeping, and yet I honestly believe that, if he had
kept a "bee account" for the past ten years, it
would show that his bees have been little else than
a bill of expense. He has never obtained very much
honey, but has worked mostlj- for increase. Two or
three times his colonies have numbered 75 or 80, and
he was intending, the next year, to do some thing
"big;" but a disastrous winter followed each time,
leaving him with few or no bees. Would it not have
been better if he had secured a good crop of honey
each year, and been contented with a moderate in-
crease? Then there was one other circumstance
that contributed largely to the cost of his bee-keep-
ing business: he invented, manufactured, and trans-
ferred "his bees into a new style of hive at least as
often as once in three or four years, setting the old
hives one side as useless lumber. He also invested
considerable money in modern improvements. Now,
if one is a merchant, doctor, lawyer, minister, or
some thing of that sort, and keeps bees merely for
amusement or recreation, this kind of "doings"
might be put up with; but the majority of us keep
bees because we think or 'know that there is money
to be made at the business; and if, after a series
of years' faithful work with bees, any one finds that
it does not pay, my advice would be to quit tho
business.
Many of us (perhaps I had better say I) imagine
that we could go into some other man's apiary and
tell him where he was making his mistakes; but
can we do the same by ourselves? It is so difficult
to " see ourselves as others see us " I
If I should begin a season with a single colony, I
should expect it to pa.v a profit Umt season; and if it
had not at the close of the season, I should be very
strongly tempted to sell, at some price, a colony of
bees, in order to bring the balance upon the right
side in the ledger. Don't think that I would advise
you not to spend any money upon your bees; far
from it; but be mirc that it is going to be money well
invested. Try all new things upon a small scale, and
after you are satisfied that any thing pays, use it,
even if it does cost money.
This is my fifth year at bee-keeping, and I have
never made less than S15.00 per colony, while last
season I cleared $2.5.00; but the loss of bees last win-
ter reduced the profits to about $20.00 per colony.
^ Once more I say, make the hecs p(X)i, or else don't
liceij them. W. Z. Hutchinson.
Rogersville, Genesee Co., Mich.
To be sure, you are right, frieud H., and it
will be an excellent idea for a good many of
us to make our bees fuiuisli net cash enough
eacli season so that if they do all die the next
winter we shall not be out of pocbet. Do
this, and then don't let them die.
ON THE PROBABliE CAUSES OF THE
liOSS OF ODR BEES liAST AVINTER.
BV L. L. LANGSTROTH.
OUR heavy losses in bees affect me painfully.
While I admire your cheerful spirit under
such reverses, I know that the failure to win-
ter your bees is much harder to bear than the mere
pecuniary loss. I spenk from a vivid recollection of
similar experiences. Before I discerned what pre-
cautions were necessary for wintering bees success-
fully in movable-frame hives, I more than once
found myself in the spring in a plight almost as bad
as your own. I can fully indorse your explanation
of some of the reasons why your reverses have been
so much greater than those of some large bcc-kcep-
320
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
July
ers in your neighborhood. I often met with great
losses when my apiary was managed ehielly for the
sale of Italian queens. At the close of a poor honey
season, iny apiary often had many weak colonies.
The temptation to winter every such stock which
had a good queen was very great, as the demand at
high prices for such queens in the spring was usual-
ly greater than could be met. It was only the fact
that my location was a poor one for honey, and that
I could got large prices for nearly all the queens
that I could raise, that at all justified my course. If
in addition to the queen business, the selling of bees
quite late in the season by the pound had been prac-
ticed, the condition of my apiary after an unusually
cold winter and late spring would probably have
been very similar to that of your own. I give some
comments on your replies to questions which I sent
to you.*
1. "Did you spread the combs further apart?"
" I did not. Although recommended, so far as I
know it has been mostly abandoned."
Mr. Harrison, of Buffalo, first called attention to
the importance of keeping the combs in which the
bees cluster for winter some ?3 of an inch further
apart than the natural breeding distance. In the
old box hives there are usually spaces in which bees
can cluster in much larger numbers than in mova-
ble frames properly spaced for the working season.
In the very cold winter of 187iJ-'3, 1 wintered in the
open air in hives only '3 thick, until February ,+ a
number of stocks which were estimated not to have
over two quarts of bees per hive. All the bees of a
hive were placed between two combs full of honey,
which were kept nearly three inches apart, and they
formed a single cluster, shaped like a ball. If the
combs of these stocks had been left in their summer
position, no amount of chaff used in any fashion
could have saved them. Mr. J. S. Hill, of Mount
Healthy, O., who wintered last season 112 stocks
without losing one, and who has wintered on an av-
erage 80 stocks a year since 1868, without the loss of
one, spreads the combs.
3. " Did you make winter passages in the combs?"
"Perhaps half of the combs have winter passages.
I have never been satisfied it made any material dif-
ference."
In this you differ from those who have had the
best success in wintering bees. Mr. Hill, for in-
stance, never neglects this point, and I am satisfied
that the power of passing from comb to comb
through the heart of the warm cluster, besides sav-
ing the lives of many bees, greatly encourages early
breeding. In the old box hive the holes around the
cross-sticks for the support of the combs give the
best of winter passages.
3. "Did you place burlap or any other non-con-
ductor of moisture over the frames?"
"We used burlap, wood mats, and enameled sheets,
but saw no difference in favor of either."
Whatever the material used for confining the bees
below, it should, as a matter of course, permit the
ready escape of superfluous moisture. With weak
stocks in very cold winters, this is a point of great
importance.
4. " Did you giv(! the bees a good space above the
frames for clustering in?"
♦Friend L. wrote, liefore writing: tliis article, asking five
<lueations. I answered briefly, and his comments are oil tliese
questions. — Ed.
t Advised by the Signal Service that a cold wave more severe
than any previous one was coming, the bees were removed iato
a cellar.
"A part of them, perhaps nearly one-half, had an
empty frame, or a frame of stores placed over the
cluster. Our Holy-Land bees went into this upper
chamber and starved, having plenty of stores below."
Reference to the back volumes of A. J3. J. show
that Bickford's quilt (afterward improved by you) is
credited by him to the successful experiments which
he witnessed in my apiary. I discarded the honey-
board in wintering, using, instead, woolen rags, old
carpets, etc., through which allsuperfluous moisture
could pass, while sufficient animal heat was retain-
ed, explaining at length that the principle was the
same as using suitable bed covering to keep our-
selves dry and warm in cold weather. I have always
regarded the elucidation and application of this prin-
ciple as a great adv^ance in practical bee-keeping.
The letters of Huber, published only a few years
ago, show how much his bees suffered from damp-
ness; and before I so fully expounded my ideas in
the London Journal of Horticulture, our English
friends found that they could not use wooden boxes
with any satisfaction. My plans, as seen by Mr.
Bickford, and very fully described in A. B. J., not
only gave this free escape of moisture without too
much loss of heat, but especially provided an ample
warm space for the liees above the frames, so that
the cluster could contract or expand at will. This
saved the lives of many bees which, in very cold
weather, even with the best winter passages, often
failed to regain the central cluster, and died be-
cause they could not keep up the necessary heat.
I believe that, even in such a winter as the past
one, that with winter passages, combs properly
spread apart, and a warm clustering space for the
aforesaid purposes, bees could be better wintered in
the open air in hives 3s of an inch thick, than with
any amount of chaff above, around, or below them,
where these precautions are ignored; for in sunny
weather such thin hives will warm up so as to dry
out and allow the bees to reach their stores, while
the chaff hives may remain cold and damp as a cel-
lar. I will send you, in due season, an unpatented
device used by Mr. Hill, for securing a warm nest
above the clustered bees, which answers the end
better than any one I have yet seen. Is there a man
in all our northern country who can claim equal suc-
cess with Mr. Hill in wintering bees? It hardly need
be said that he is a pattern of skill, energy, and
promptness. He has made his bees pay in a region
where I think it is ordinarily more difficult to secure
one pound of surplus than two in the more favored
northern locations.
5. " Did you feed your bees for winter with a mix-
ture of grape and cane sugar? "
" Only a part of them, as I stated on page 378."
I think your losses were owing in part to j'our use
of grape sugar, even although your candy contained
but one part of it to three of best granulated cane
sugar. It is not at all necessary that grape sugar
should contain any impurities to make it a very haz-
ardous food in such a winter and spring as we have
,iust had. From its low sweetening power as com-
pared with honey or cane sugar, your bees which
used it were forced to eat more than they other-
wise would have done, and thus to suffer from a
greater accumulation of faeces. You say, " Had our
usual April weather come on, we should probably
have saved about 50 colonies that wo lost." Is it
not highly probable that, with the weather just as it
was, you might have saved many of those colonies,
if they bad pot been forced to gyccurnb under the
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
321
excess of f.vces produced by the undigested starch
which so largely enters into the composition of
grape sugar?
In noticing my account of Mr. D. McCord's heavy
losses from wintering his liees on a syrup largely
made from grape sugar, you express surprise that
he "should have done so foolish a thing;" but you
published last fall his account of the mixture he
proposed to feed, without a word of disapproval or
caution. You also say, in Juue Gle.vnings, " I have
never advised the use of grape sugar for wintering."
Surely, friend Root, your memory is at fault in this
matter. In Gleaninos for October, 1880, p. 489, Mr.
Crowfoot, in a letter to .vou, says, "Will you please
tell me what you would feed bees that have got just
about half enough honey to carry them through the
winter? * * * i have about 700 swarms of bees,
with about half enough honey to winter on." To
this you reply, "If I ha<l TOO colonies with half
enough stores for winter, I would supplj' the deti-
ciency with frames of candy made of coffee A and
best grape sugar in about equal proportions. If it
is less trouble to you to feed it in the form of syrup,
makethe syrup as described in the A B C. * * *
They may die with this feed, but they may also die
with natural stores, as past reports fully demon-
strate; but I think, if properly done, such stores are
just as safe for winter as natural stores. * * * *
Very likely the grape sugar that is made now would
be safe of itself; but to be sure of being on the safe
side, I would use half coffee A, as above."
Certainly j'ou have sometimes cautioned your
readers about grape sugar as a winter bee-feed; but
there can be no doubt that, us in your reply to Mr.
Crowfoot, you have fully indorsed it as a safe food
to enter at least one-half into the preparation of
winter stores. When you review carefully all your
utterances, I believe not only that you will admit
this, but that, with the experiences of the last win-
ter, you will condemn its use for winter stores so
plainly that no one can mistake your position. Per-
haps it needed such a winter and spring as we have
just passed through, to demonstrate that no prudent
bee-keeper can afford to use grape sugar as a winter
feed in any proportions however small.
Yovi say, "I am very sorry that grape sugar is
used for bad or dishonest purposes; but even if it
is, I can not see why this should be a reason why we
should not use it while rearing queens, and bees by
the pound." So enormous are the frauds practiced
by the adulteration of our commercial sweets by
grape sugar and glucose, that it seems to me that
bee-keepers should lend no countenance in any way
to those who make them. Already such suspicions
have been awakened as greatly to curtail the sale of
pure honey at remunerative prices. On selfish mo-
tives alone, those who deal in honest honey, and
those who have the control of our bee journals,
should set their faces as a flint against articles made
almost exclusively to be sold for bad purposes.
You say that the Buffalo Grape Sugar Co. have
produced a sugar which " is as pure and simple a
sweet as the best grades of maple sugar." Have
you any warrant for such an assertion? and even if
you had, is it right for you to call down a blessing
from heaven upon a company which is making
such enormous profits by selling their products
almost exclusively to men who, by their adultera-
tions, are cheating the poor man in his honey, can-
dies, syrups, and sugars? If ever grape sugar and
glucose are made as pure as the best maple sugar
and syrup, and it becomes desirable to mix them
with our other sweets, let them be offered at reas-
onable prices under their own names, so that we can
do our own mixing; or let the mixtures be sold as
such for what they are worth.
Friend Root, you have gained a host of warm
friends by your candid admission of mistakes into
which you have fallen, and by your readiness to no-
tice improvements of others, evec when they have
superseded what has cost you much time and mon-
ey; nor have you, from a false pride of consistency,
been wont to persist in advocating what time has
proved to be erroneous. It seems to many of your
best friends, however, that on this grape-sugar ques-
tion, you have acted under the influence of preju-
dices which have strangely warped your better judg-
ment. We can not question your sincerity, and can
only hope that, when you weigh well this matter in
all its bearings, you will feel that you ought to en-
list the great influence of your name and journal
against a business which, as it is now conducted, en-
ables unscrupulous men to commit such monstrous
frauds. Your sincere friend,
Oxford, 0., June, 1881. L. L. Langstroth.
May the J.,ord bless you, my good kind
friend, for your frank and faithful way of
taking your old friend to task. I certainly
had forgotten giving the advice you quote,
and felt sure that I had never said any thing
favoring grape sugar so strongly for winter-
ing. At the same time, I have no reason
now for thinking it any worse than stores of
honey. JSlore than ten years ago Ave had
abundant proof of the advantage of sealed
stores of coffee A sugar syrup over natural
stores, and the past Avinter has abundantly
corroborated it again. I haA^e alAvays sold
grape sugar luider its true name, and, so far
as I knoAV, so also have the manufacturers of
whom I bought it, and also those to Avhom I
sold it. If the experience I have had of the
AA'orld is Avorth any thing, I am sure I am
right in feeling that the unjust (and I might
almost say foolish) prejudice against grape
sugar is going to pass away, and it Avill come
out and stand as safely as a valuable i)ro-
duct from Indian corn, as does starch. Ev-
idences of this are noAV found scattered
through our papers. NotAvithstanding this
conviction, as grape sugar seems, without
question, to " make many of my brothers to
offend," I will, for the present at least, drop
it. I feel sure we shall Avinter better next
winter, but I think it Avill be greatly due to
some thing more important than the substi-
tution of granulated sugar for grape; viz.,
giving the bees more of my brains individu-
ally. As an excuse and apology to our read-
ers for the inconsistencies friend L. has so
kindly pointed out, I Avould say that I am
getting to have a great business on my
hands. In my zeal forgetting boys and girls
to AA'ork (thatimmortal souls may be saved),
a great traffic has opened in supplies. Brains
are so much needed at every turn, and so
many points are gone over in a single day,
that I am no longer able to remember
what I have Avritten and advised, as I did
a few years ago. In the next edition of the
A B C, and also in our price list, I will, at
least for the present, advise against the use
of grape sugar.
322
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
July
ANOTHER AID FOR HONEY-EXTRACT-
ING.
IN Dadaiit's excellent little pamphlet on
harvestinji;, handling, and marketing ex-
— ' tracted honey, he gives an engraving
and description of an uncapping can, which
■\ve think must be a very handy implement.
Eriend D. has kindly loaned us the cut, and
Ave present the machine to our readers.
dadaxt's c ax roil uxcappixg the combs,
AVIIILE EXTRACTIXO.
The engraving makes every thing so plain,
a description is hardly needed. The strips
across the top are to rest the combs on while
the operator shaves the caps from the cells ;
and as the caps are caught on the wire cloth
half way down, every bit of the honey has
ample time to drop to the bottom. This
honey that comes from the cappings you
will lind the thickest and nicest of your
whole crop. To keep the wire cloth from
sagging under so great a weight, we use the
same inverted cone that is used for holding
the bottom pivot of the extractor, Avhen an
extra amount of room is needed below the
revolving frame. The machine is really
composed mainly of two short extractor
cans, and we can "furnish them of two sizes ;
viz., ]7 and 20 inches. The prices Avill be
So.OO and .^6.00 each respectively. Friend D.
states that the large size Avill hold the cap-
pings of three days' extracting. After they
are drained, a jet of steam on them makes it
into our neAv steam wax-extractor complete.
"Did you ever y"
• — ^^«
CliARK'S COLiV-BIiAST SHIOKER.
OLIJ THINGS SOMETIMES BETTER THAN NEW ONES.
BID it ever occur to you that I am some-
' times a tritle awkward and headstrong
withal? Well, it has often occurred
so to me, and especially about this Clark's
smoker. If you Avill turn back to the JSlarch
Gleanings of 1879, you will find an engra-
ving of the original Clark smoker, and the
following sentence in friend Clark's letter
by way of explanation:—
It works beautifully; the draft of air across the top of the fuel
causes it to bum clear :incl t^lnwly. ami leaves very little cruci-
sote. I tiutl that rnirs hum. but perhaiis oue-tourth as fast as
where the air is lorceil up throufch the bi'ttnui. Its conveuicnce
as a •• brcech-Uiailcr " is ar. item in its favor, also that it re-
tains its position while jn use. The Simplicitj' always seemed
t(i nie a little awkward, ( m accotutt of being obliged to turn it
bottom up so often, while in use.
You will see from this that he never in-
tended the smoker to stand on end like the
others, but to be placed as in the cut bsloAv
AA'hen not in use. The draft then is through
the nozzle, and the smoke comes out through
the crevices where the door to put in fuel is
made. Well, it took me nearly two years to
get this into my head, and to understand
that my improved Clark smoker Avas not as
good as the unimproA^ed original. During
the last tAvo months I have been experiment-
ing, and testing smokers of all kinds, right
among the bees, to such an extent that some
of the boys say I have smokers on the brain ;
and my A\'ife says I smell of smoke so that
she can hardly sit Avithin a yard of me. (It's
only rotten- Avood smoke, dear friends.)
OUR FIFTY-CENT SMOKER.
Just take it in your hand, nozzle doAvn-
Avard, and push the door open Avith a piece
of fuel. Fill up the cone with any kind of
wood you can get hold of,— hard- wood
blocks, or Avet and soggy sticks, only so you
put a little dry AA^ood and shavings on top, to
start the fire. "W^hen full, close the door
nearly shut, and scratch a match on the
piece of sandpaper right near the door.
NoAV. Avhile you lay the match right across
the shavings, Avork the bellows, and the
blaze Avill go right down and light them.
BlOAV them into a good blaze, and open your
hives and go on. If you Avant to see Avhat
the smoker Avill do. work the bellows Avhile
you hold it with the vah'es upAvard, and in a
very little time you aa^II find the fire-pot red
hot, and the volume of smoke enough to
drive a whole family out of doors, let alone
a single hive of bees. Although both fire-
pot and bellows are larger than any thing I
have ever seen in the market, Ave sell the
whole for only .^Oc and 40c Avhere you take a
crate of five. If a four-quart tin pail sells
for a dime, Avhy should not a one-quart smo-
ker sell for half a dollar? Are the modern
low prices to things never to apply to bee
implements at all? We do not fill the above
smokers with rotten vA^ood, because they
burn any kind, and therefore the postage is
only 20c, instead of 2-5.
p. S.— I really don't know any way to make these smokers
' ' go out. ' ' unless you ' • duck theni under water, ' ' and then
yoti would have to get some di-y shavings to start it again. H.
J lut one In his buggy, and it got red hot, and burned up his nxb-
bercoat. Jlay be it was because " I'atsy " went so fast. Oh,
vesl 1 have made another great invention. It is a iKck basket
full of rotten elm wood. AVe sell the peck of wood for 10c,
" tling in " the basket, and "four double-handfuls " of fine
dry shavings besides.
1881
GLEANINGS IX BEE CULTURE.
323
TAKING BEES OX A PICMC, DOWN
SOITH," AND THE PliEASlKES (?)
THEREl JNTO PERTAINING.
A TIMF.LV WARNING TO THOSE WHO PIJOPOSE TO
TAKE BEES TO FAIRS.
(g((g /p^JOOD MORNIX:"
ng?) "Hallo, Lamb, how?"
"'-^'^ Neighbor L. had come over to consult me
upon taking- a colony of bees to a picnic at Point
Caswell, some 15 miles from us.
"Well, I'll take a colony. Oh! I'll take my im-
ported queen's stock, and, don't you know those tar
heels will just stare at a Simplicity tec-hive filled
with them 'golden insex' ?"
" You bet," says I.
The next day he had his bc^s smuggled on board
the steamer, and at an early hour was on the picnic
grounds. Some 3000 people were present during the
day, and neighbor Lamb just spread himself— like
the turkey hen that sat on 68 eggs. Oh yes I he gave
the rustic's " information " that was not only new to
them but -to me too. He expatiated wildly upon
the old " king bee." as the people around constantly
styled the queen. He exhibited the bees frame by
frame, without veil or smoker, which elicited great
applause and clapping of hands.
" Jerus8?a»i .'" said one "yaller-jeans " checkered
seven-footer; " mister, you jest hold on till 1 run
and git Sal and mammy."
"When mammy and Sally did get there, you should
have heard the " Ohs" and " Jerusalams."
" Now you jest look a yonder, Sally Mariar."
"O mammy! Is^e; did you ever?"
" Say, mister, what mout your name be? "
"My name is Lamb," modestly replied neighbor L.
" Them ain't bees, are they? "
" Oh, yes!" said friend L., just then rubbing off a
" dyspeptic" bee from under his right ej"c, but leav-
ing the sting behind.
" Wal," said a little cross-eyed man on the out-
skirts of the crowd, " I could handle them just that
way myself. My par used to have 60 gums. I don't
like these new-pattern fixin's for bees."
" Say, mister, what'll you ax far that gum and
bees?" says another.
"Ten dollars," says L., wiping a bee, but leaving
the most important part, the sting, on his left eye-
lid.
I had told Lamb, previously, if the bees stung
him he must take it cool, reach up, oh so gently!
and brush the bee off by gliding the hand over it,
and thus remove it without attracting attention.
" For," says I, " what would the dear people think
to see a live bee-man jumping, slapping, and shout-
ing like mad, as you do when stung at your apiary
sometimes?"
"All right," says he; "I'll boar it: but 1 r?o hope
the bees will act pretty."
The inquirer seemed perfectly amazed. "Ten dol-
lars! why. feller, I only meant that one gum, not all
you've got at home. "
"Well," says Lamb, who by this time I could plain-
ly see was getting worried, " I just mean what I say;
this Root Simplicity bee-hive, with frames, combs,
honey, and all the flxin's— even the alighting-board
and bees— can be had for— phew! confound that
bee! Run here, somebody, and get it out of my eye."
. " How much? " says the fellow, still persisting.
"Five dollars!" yelled Lamb, who had severely I
jarred the comb', and those "insex" were "play-
ing," oh so beautifully! among his raven locks.
By this time the would-be purchaser had come a
Iittlenearcrthebces.and.zip: one took him on his
lengthy nose. That settled the purchase. He didn't
run; oh, no! he Hew, shouting "dingoation! wb'^opl
take 'em off me! dod rot yer hide, le'me loose," all
the while slapping wildly with his hat.
This created a fearful stampede, and the great (?)
Carolina bee show closed for want of an audience.
After giving several dodging inquirers the address
of Gleanings, and its delightfully cheerful editor.
Neighbor L. wandered off' into the darkness of the
forest, and sat chewing the cud of discontent the
remainder of the day. After awhile I found him.
"Say, neighbor, how's picnicking with bees?"
"Oh, bZast the picnic I blqst the hees! Say, wou't
you please write Root, and tell him to send down a
thousand provisioned pound cages, and I'll ship him
millions of bees and pay the expressage on 'cm my-
self, and thank him to take the plagues."
"Take it cool; you'll feel better when j'our face
goes down." says I.
I had to make tracks then. Because the youn?
ladies laughed at his big face coming home, he went
below and tried to persuade the engineer to blow
the "blasted oil steamer sky high; " but he wanted
time to get his bees oft" the boat before this catas-
trophe occurred.
P. S.— I saw neighbor L. this morning. He looks
better, and has changed his mind. He says, only for
those " tar heels " every thing would have been
O. K. K. C. Taylok.
Wilmington, N. C, June 10, 1881.
HOW
FRIEND iniLLER CARES FOR HIS
EMPTY COMBS, ETC.
ALSO SOME THING ABOUT HIS TCSSLE WITH THE
DWINDLING.
fi HAD a large number of empty combs this
spring, some of them very nice ones, and I was
quite anxious to save them. I had no room, as
perhaps I shall have this fall, in which to brimstone
them, and at any rate they must be brimstoned rcrj/
heavily, or some of the large worms will still live.
I looked over each comb carefully, and with the
point of a p?n-knife picked out all the worms I could
find. I did this two or three times, but it was a
great deal of work; and the best I could do, there
still seemed to be worms left. I thought of putting
them in supers over the hives containing colonies.
In that case the bees would take care of them, but it
would waste the heat of the colony, allowing the
warm air to ascend into the super. Then I took the
contents of a hive,- frames, bees, and all,— and put
into a super, filled up the hive with empty combs,
and set the super containing the colony over the
hive. Thus the bees were obliged to pass through
the hive of empty combs in going to and from their
brood-nest, and the plan has worked to mj' great
satisfaction. In some cases I have set a super of
empty combs on the hive of combs, and then set the
super containing the colony over all. Of course, I
have used the strong colonies for this purpose. If
the combs contained honey, as some of them did, I
don't know of any better place for them.
You say you want to see the old veterans own up
how helpless they are in the matter of
DWINDLING.
I don't know whether you call me an old veteran
?,24
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
July
or not. I have been keeping bees for the last twen-
ty years, but at any rate I am ready to make my
<nvn-np. Until this year I have never known any
thing about dwindlina-, except what I have read.
This sprino-, however, a number of colonies were
very weak, and, in spite of all my nursing and feed-
ing, stayed weak, and gradually grew weaker. I
watched thera carefully to see if I could And out
what the trouble was. Were the queens at fault'?
Hardly, for thej' laid cgg5 in more space than the
bees could cover, and in some cases t^wo or three
eggs in a cell; and subsequent events proved that
at least some of them were good queens. Gradually
the queens began to be missing, and I concluded to
double up. In one case I united 12 of them in one,
saving the queens. This I certainly thought would
make a fair colony; but, would you believe it? in a
few days it seemed just as weak as any one of them
had been singly. They had a little patch of brood
two or three inches square in two combs, sometimes
in three; and so long as I gave them no help in the
way of young brood or bees, their patch of brood
seemea to diminish rather than increase. It looked
a little as if they were all old bees, and either could
not or would not take proper care of the brood. I
kept along 9 of them till the latter part of May, and
th<^n, by giving sealed brood or young bees, they
picked up heart and showed the queens to be gord.
Since writing the above I have read in A B C about
dwindling, and am not so certain that mine was the
regular affair. At any rate, I know that in future,
if I have any very weak colonies in the spring, I
shall not try to nurse them along for the sake of
saving the queens, but do as I did with a few this
year. I shall unite them with good colonies, not
■with other dwindlers; cage the queens and give
them to a good colony to care for till I can taki' a
frame or two of brood and bees from flourishing
colonies to form a nucleus for each queen. The col-
ony that Is caring for these caged queens" must also
have its own queen caged, for I lost a nice queen by
allowing her to remain free in a hive where othei's
were caged.
In caging the qvieens I ran short of cages, and pvit
two queens in one cage. They stayed together in
the same cage several days without molesting each
other, and each one now presides in a flourishing
colony. Do old queens ever fight?
I have just been out to look at my Cyprian and
Holy-Land queens, raised by you or neighbor H., in.
troduced 3 or 4 days ago, and they are doing nicely.
They commenced laying within 24 hours after they
were put in the hives. The Cyprian is a handsome
bird, and the Holy-Land, although not of so hand-
some color, is of beautiful form. As I looked at
them and thought that, only a few days,— indeed,
not many liourg, before,— they had been hundreds of
miles away, and were now perfectly at home in their
new domicils, I thought of the various strides in bee
culture, and said to myself, " What further advance
may we not expect in the next ten years?"
Marengo, 111., June 13, 1881. C. C. Miller.
Your plan for making the bees care for
empty combs, friend M.. is an excellent one ;
but it seems to me that, to do it quickly and
to advantage, you need those same movable-
bottom hives you said you would not have
about, last month, The idea is similar to
the one I employed in having the bees take
care of a hive when the combs liad fallen
down. Put a good set of combs above the
melted-down mass, with brood in one or
more of them, and the bees will carry all the
honey from the crushed combs above, and
then you can straighten out and fix them
back in the combs. — Your experience in
uniting, to save dwindling colonies, agrees
with what Doolittle wrote a short time ago,
and, I guess, with the experience of the
most of us. — Yes, the old queens will tight.
I have caged them on purpose to see how
they would manage. If you kept two in one
cage for several days, you have demonstra-
ted some thing new," I believe. This reminds
me. that a few years ago a friend in Michi-
gan declared we sent him a cage without a
queen in it, and two queens in the accom-
panying cage. I told him it was an impos-
sibility, for, even had we been so awfully
careless, it was impossible for them to live
thus through the trip. If he sees this, will
he ])lease accept my apologyV He may have
been right, after all.
^ ■»■
APIS BORS.I.TA!
CAPTURED AT LAST)
^I^^P^E copy the following from the Ceylon
^M Obserrer, of Friday evening, April 8,
^ -^ 18S], which we presume was sent us
by our friend Frank himself:—
CEYLON BEES:
COLOXIES OF "APIS DORSATA," THE MOST WONDER-
FUL BEE IN THE WCIKLD. TAKEN BY MR. BEN-
TON IN THE KURUNEGALA JUNGLE.
We are glad to say that Mr. Benton has at length
been successful in capturing the "Apis dorsata "
(Sinhalese "Bamhara"), which he describes as " the
most wonderful bee in the world." Mudiliyar Jaye-
tellike secured a party of Sinhalese bee-hunters who
guided Mr. Benton to the Bambara^^ala, a mountain
rock some 30 miles from Kuruncgala in the jungle,
and there, after a very interesting and exciting ex-
perience, which Mr. Benton will probably relate
for the benetlt of our readers, two colonies of the
'• dor,sata" were secured. So much importance does
Mr. Benton attach to his work here, now that he has
seen this bee, a splendid honeymaker, that he is to
postpone his departure to Cyprus for another fort-
night, returning to Kurunegala to-morrow morning.
He has left specimens of the new bee in spirits which
can be seen at our olHce. The Sinhalese were much
astonished to see the way in which Mr. Benton han-
dled bees which, wrongly used or blown upon, are so
savage that they will pursue the otfenders great dis-
tances, and Mr. Jayetilleke declares that he has got
more practical information about bees from Mr.
Benton in a week than he had from all other sources
in many years.
Very gDod; but, friend 13.. why in the
world don't you tell us plainly whether they
are really an inch long, and that their stings
are good for toothpicks V
Later:— From another part of the paper
mentioned, we find the following: —
Bamhara (Apis dorsata) is a large bee prettily
marked with yellow and black, and makes a very
large quantity of honey, varying from two to three
gallons. It constructs its hive, a large thick comb
about 3'/4x2'i feet, in a peculiar shape, attaching it
to the branches of very lofty forest trees, or secur-
ing it to the ledges of high rocks with its two ends
fastened up, and a narrow opening in the middle be-
tween the branch or rock which supports it. It is
with great difficulty got at by bee-hunters, and only
by those used to such kind of work. I have never
heard of any attempts being made by natives to do-
mesticate them like the common honey-bee of Cey-
lon, and it is my impression that any amount of ex-
ertion to domesticate them will prove fruitless. ,
Kana Veua is a tiny bee belonging to the Trigoiuv,
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
325
producing a small quantity of honey which it makes
in the hollows of rotten trees and crevices of rocks
and dilapidated buildings. I have seen and exam-
ined a great m'lny of these combs, which are irregu-
lar in shape; they never yield more than a teacupful
of honey, which Jias a rather acid taste, and is used
only for medicinal purposes. Since writing the
above I have been taken by surprise by Mr. Benton,
a good authority on bee culture; his visit to Kuru-
negala is to hunt up the (Bai)ihara) Apis dnrsata.
A narration of his valuable experience has afforded
me much information, and I indulge in the hope
that this will enable me to compete with my difficul-
ties more suecessfully in the future. A person of
Mr. Benton's acknowledged ability and experience
would do much for Ceylon in opening up a branch of
industry so easily conducted, and yielding so large a
return, but of which the natives are so lamentably
ignorant.
^ AM not a bee-keeper myself, but my father is,
J>|[ and in the summer time he gives me five cents
every time I see the bees swarming; that is, if
1 see them before anybody else does. But I thought
sure I was going to have a swarm last summer. I
had been up to my uncle's, and on my way homo I
saw some thing that looked like a large swarm just
in the edge of the woods; so I hurried home and
told father about it. Then he and I took the hiver
and a hive, and went up where it was. Father told
jne that if it was a swarm I could have it; but when
we got up there it was nothing but a grapevine clus-
tered together. So I did not have a swarm of bees
after all. Father says that he has had bees nearly
ever since he has kept house. When the bees sting
mother it makes her sick, and sometimes she has to
go to bed. It don't seem to cure father's rheuma-
tism either. My brother used to keep bees too one
time. Ho was out hiving a swarm of bees, and all at
once he came up missing. We called and called,
and after awhile we found him under a currant
bush by the side of a bee hive, fast asleep. He said
that he had just been eating a piece of honej\ Fa-
ther thinks lots of his bee journals. I have one sis-
ter. She has been siok for 4 years, and has not
walked for two years. I am ten years oUl,
Eugenie Steatjns.
Lima, Fayette Co., Iowa, Feb. 16, 1881.
Very s'ood, Eugenie. You can let your
sick sister read the book we send you. or
read it to her, and let us all remember to
thank God that we can walk, and are not
sick.
Papa has three colonies of bees; he had seven last
fall. What lived over are doing well. We have
three Sunday-schools — in the morning and evening;
I go to both whenever I can. I live in the country,
and sometimes it is too bad to go.
Cattie Goody Koontz.
Tipton, Tipton Co., lud., June 5, 1881.
Very good, Cattie. Take care of the bees
and Sunday-school too, and God will bless
your life and make it a good and happy one.
Mrs. Harrison is mistaken, for I do not work with
bees. My papa said if I worked with them he would
give me a hive, liut not until I did. A good while
ago, Josie Myer, my schoolmate, and myself joined
a "bee convention," and went three times, when it
broke up. I read of so many girls and boys of my
size working with bees that I think I shall have to be-
gin. I have a little cousin who goes out with my
papa and looks at the bees, and he is not a bit afraid
of them. I like the book you sent me very much,
and I thank you for it. Maisel L. Nelson.
Wyandott, Kansas, May 13, 1881.
I am a boy 13 years old. We commenced winter-
ing with 7 colonies. All were packed in chaff hives
but 2, ont- of which was in a Simplicity, and the oth-
er in a box hive. One hive was mine, one mother's,
and one Frank's (my brother.) Mother's died (in a
chaff hive) with the dysentery. This is not a very
good place for bees.
The way we dry corn is to put it in Hunter's steam-
er and steam until cooled, and cut it off the cob and
dry it in the Zimmer fruit-dryer. I think boiling
takes some of the sweetness out of the corn.
Poor "us," we can't get that smoker offered for
quitting tobacco (and 1 am glad of it, because we
don't use tobacco.) C. E. Israel.
Beallsville, Monroe Co.; O., March 8, 1881.
And SO " mother's hive " died after all, did
it, in spite of chaff V— It is a little sad that
the boys who have never learned to smoke
can't have a smoker free ; but, my young
friend, if you will read the Smoker Column
of this month, and the Home Tapers too,
you may thank God that he lias spared you
the task of fighting these fearful tempta-
tions.
My pa has taken Gleanings for three or four
years. I like to read the Juvenile Department and
Mr. Merrybanks and his neighbor. I liave one stand
of bees. Pa has one. We had 30 last year; 10 of
them died during the winter, and 3 this spring, and
pa sold the rest. I go to two Sunday-schools— one in
the forenoon and one in the afternoon. I don't
chew or smoke, nor do I ever intend to. My pa has
just got a new ABC book of you, and I am going to
learn how to take care of bees. 1 will be 13 years old
in July. The bees are gathering pollen very fast.
Charley W. Sch,i;ffek.
Corydon, Wayne Co., la., Juno 3, 1881.
May God bless you, Charley, in your good
resolves ! Somebody in New York City
once advertised parrots that could swear,
and the tSunday-Sdiool 2'imcs, in comment-
ing about it, said it was their impression
that almost all the swearing was done by
"parrots." They meant it was done by
boys and men who had not brains enough to
do any thing for any better reason than that
they heard it from some one else. I have
been wondering if the boys who learn to
smoke and chew do not do it much in the
same way— because they saw some one else
do it, without thinking at all, or trying to
think, whether this mimicking, or imitating
somebody else, would do good or harm.
How is it, boys? Shall we live to imitate
other folks unthinkingly, like parrots, or
shall we have minds of our own?
I wrote a little letter which you printed in the
April No., but the book you promised me never
came, and I was so disappointed I wanted to write
right away and let you know ; but mamma said she
supposed it was lost in the mails. At last she let me
write. Papa has bought some bees, but they are not
at home yet. I expect mamma and I will have to
take care of them, as papa is away from home most
of the time. Mamma says she thinks she will have
82(>
GLEANIKGS IN 13EE CULTURE.
July
to send for yom' ABC book, as she don't know any
thin^ about bees. I have a little brother; bethinks
he can help, but he is too little. He is only five
years old. If you have forgotten to send my book,
will you please send it? Anne Spencer.
Hockingpoi-t, O , June C, 1881.
"Why, I am real sorry, friend Annie ; and
to make up for your disappointmeiit, we
send you two l)o6ks this time. Tell your
little brother he is all right, and he can help
too. If you all try you will be sure to suc-
ceed; and I know you will find lots of work
that your five-year old brother can do. You
didn't tell me what his name is. I have lots
of boys and girls and men, and women too,
to work for me; and when I find one who
Trcntii in lidjj, he is often worth more than
some who are " great big," who do not want
to help very much.
I am 11 years old. I go to school, and read in the
Fourth Reader, and study Second Part of Arithme-
tic, and Geographj". I have got three head- marks
and 28 perfect marks. I go to Sabbath-school, and I
got a Bible for learning my catechism, and repeat-
ing it to Mr. Cleland, the pastor. 1 have learned the
23d Psalm. Grace McCkory.
Winchester, Adams Co., O., June 15, 1881.
Well done, (^racie. Even if your letter
isn"t about bees, it is a good one, and as it
don't take much room we put it in. Stick
to that -:3d Psalm, and you will be good to
take care of bees or any thing else when you
grow up.
I am a little girl 8 years old. My pa takes Glean-
ings, and I like to hear it read. I like your car-
toons too. I found a swarm of bees on the hedge a
year ago, and in the spring pa bought C more. AV^e
have got 41 colonies now, mostly Italians. My two
brothers take care of the bees, and I help them
some. I M'ot stung on the hand once, and you may
guess I had a fat hand; but it didn't hurt much. I
am my mamma's baby. My papa's name is A. B.
Kirk. My pa is a preacher. I like to go to Sunday-
school. I like to go to school too. I read in the
Fourth Reader, and I spell and write. I am in an
arithmetic class too. Emma Kirk.
Columbus, Cherokee Co., Kan , May 13, 1881.
AVhy, Emma, th^it is a first-rate letter for
an eight-year old ''chicken," and I should
think you were getting along pretty well in
your studies too. ]3e sure you do not neg-
lect your health in studying so much. Lit-
tle girls eight years old need lots of air and
sunshine to make their little bodies grow;
and helping their papas among the bees
will many times do them more good than
studying ai'ithmetic. Our girl Maude has
been to school so much, that the doctor
said she was in danger of consumption. So
you see we took her out of school, and she
goes with her uncle (" neighbor 11. ") down to
his apiary by the river. lie makes her drive
"Patsy," and away they go like the wind.
She says she won't drive any more, as it
makes her arms ache so. When they get
back, "Lu" gives them a lunch of slraw-
])erries and sandwiches from the lunch room,
and then jNIaude writes cards and letters to
the folks who send for queens and things;
but Ave don't let her write very long at a
time. We hope she will get well and strong
again, so she can goto school some more;
don't you hope so too?
Seeing so many nice letters written by little girls
and boys, I thought I would write one too. Papa
takes Gleanings, and likes it very much. I like to
read the letters from the little folks, and Mr. Merry-
banks. My papa keeps bees; he lost all but one
swarm, but he has sent for more. 1 had one swarm
that I found last year, and that died too. My cous-
in had a nice swarm come out last Sunday, and they
went to the woods. He did not like it very well. I
go to school. Our school is out in two weeks, and
then we will have a good long vacation. We have a
new schoolhouse. It is the nicest one around here.
It is called Medina Center schoolhouse. I go to Sun-
daj'-school too. 1 am eight years old. My brother
and I have a pet lamb; he likes to nibble the rasp-
berries. I help mamma raise chickens. We have
115 now. Lillian Ray.
Morenci, Lenawee Co., Mich., June 14, 1881.
Isn't that funny, that your schoolhouse is
called "Medina" Center schoolhouse? I
haven't got Ho chickens, but I set one old
hen on l-") eggs, and she hatched lo chickens,
and has got them all now, with their new
feathers on. Isn't that pretty well done,
friend 1 Jllian ?
lam a little girl 11 years old. My father takes
Gleanings, I i-ead it, and I like the cartoons. My
father put 172 colonies of bees into the cellar. This
spring, aboxit 75 colonies were alive. My father nev-
er puts his bees in a cellar where vegetables are
kept, because vegetables draw moisture. I hived a
swarm of bees, and my father gave thena to me. I
put a hive under the tree, and shook the limb on
which they had alighted, and they all fell into the
hive. I would like bees better if they did not have
stings. My mother makes viaegar out of the water
in which she washes the comb. I go to church and
Sundaj'-sehool. I like to go very much.
Eva Amery.
St. Croix Falls, Polk Co., Wis., Jane 13, 188L
Well, that is a very instructive and in-
teresting letter, Eva, and I think you did
pretty well in hiving a swarm of bees at on-
ly 11 years old. Your remarks about liking
bees "better if they had no stings, seems a
little suggestive, especially as they follow so
close on your account of hiving the swarm.
So your papa lost almost a hundred colonies?
You see, we get at some truths from the
children which the grown-up folks might
not think best to tell us.
MRS. LUCIND.4 HARRISON'S TALK TO THE JUVENILES.
In reading the Juvenile Department for June we
are not only amused, but encouraged and instruct-
ed. One little girl, 11 years old, says, "I plant
flowers and every thing I can that is good for them."
My dear, if bee-keepers, both great and small, the
world over, would follow your e.xample, what a beau-
tiful world we would soon have I Then " the wilder-
ness and the solitary place shall be glad for them;
and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the
rose."
My dear young friends, you can increase the hon-
ey flow in many ways. A gentleman in Iowa sent
me some seed of the Rockj'-Mountain bee-plant, say-
ing that " some soldiers brought home the seed from
the Rockies, because they thought it was a pretty
18S1
GLEANOGS I:N BEE CULTUEE.
327
flower, and now it is growing wild all over the r
town." We sowed the seed last spring, and only one
plant came up ; but after lying in the ground a
year they are now coming up in evers* place where
the seed was scattered. In the ground, all around
where the plant grew last year, the plants came up
thickly, and so we took a dibble and a pan and lifted
out the plants carefully, and set them in waste
places, so that they can seed themselves another
year. "Whenever you think of a thing, is the time
to do it; if you see honey-plants growing so thickly
that they can not thrive, such as catnip, sweet clo-
ver, tigwort, etc., transplant some of them to differ-
ent waste places. If the weather is dry, dig a hole,
put in the plant, pour in water, and fill up with the
loose soil. This is a much better way than planting
first and then watering. Try it, and see if it is not.
In rainy weather, plants grow if transplanted al-
most any way; but then, you might get wet and
drabbled, and make your mother more work.
LUCINDA HAKKISON.
Peoiia, 111., June6, 18S1.
KA.1IBL.£ NO. 5.
JOHN ANDREWS.
fPON the western edge of our county is located
a small hamlet, designated as Patten's Mills.
The mills consist of a gristmill, and a shop for
a variety of purposes. In this village lives our
friend John Andrews, who, when we visited him,
had about 100 swarms of bees. We found Mr. A. in
his shop busily engaged making bee-hives. He uses
a frame much smaller than the Langstroth, but
tiers them up on the Simplicitj' plan. His bees have
a good pasturage; and to aid them, several bass-
wood-trees have been planted along the highway;
and it is safe to say, that wherever you see basswood-
trees planted along the highway, you will find in that
vicinity an enthusiastic bee-keeper. We learn that
Mr. Andrews has lost several swarms during the
past winter, and he Vielieves bis Italian bees are
much more difficult to winter than blacks. They
dwindle down more in the spring. His bees are win-
tered in his cellar. We have found other parties
who are going to stick by the common black bee.
The disasters of the past winter have opened the
eyes of many bee-keepers to the fact, that hardiness
is a point not to bo overlooked in breeding bees, and
the breeder who will give us such a strain of bees
shall have our patronage.
While speaking with Mr. A. about bee-stings, he
related a very peculiar instance of a sting received
by his daughter. She was eating honey that had
been taken from the hive several weeks or months
before, and felt a stinging sensation in her throat.
The parts began to swell; the family became
alarmed; a physician was sent for, and, with proper
instruments, he removed the sting from her throat.
This sting, with its poison-sack, had been thus pre-
served in the honey for a considerable length of
time. We have all found people who can not eat
even the Emallest amount of honey without giving
them very disagreeable feelings, and even convul-
sions. Are not these feelings explained by the
presence of poison in the honey? We have found
persons who could not eat the old-fashioned strained
honey, but, alter many tastings, extracted honey
was eaten without injury. There was not so much
poison in the honey thrown out as in the squeezed'
out honey,
But we will return to Mr. A.'s shop, and I will in-
troduce you to his son Cyrus, who is manufacturing
row boats. We found a boat much harder to make
than a bee-hive; nearly every piece has to be made
after a different pattern, and the fit must be next
to perfect. These boats are to be used upon Lake
George, of which we wrote in our last Kamble. Mr.
A. is interested in several cottages for summer
boarders, upon the eastern shore of the lake, where,
we have no doubt, a welcome would he extended to
a goodly company of bee-keepers. Bee-hunting is
indulged in on the mnuntains bordering upon the
lake. Lines of bees have been traced directly o\er
Buck Mtiuntain to ;he apiary of Mr. Adams, six
miles away. These bees had an additional quality—
they were not only long-flyers, but high-flyers. We
could say much more of Mr. A. and his Itind family,
but must bid them adievi for the present.
Hartford, N. Y. J. H. Maktin.
If the sting was in the honey the length
of time you mention, friend ^I., it of course
possessed no life, and therefore got caught
in the throat like any other splinter. That
it could empty its poison under such circum-
stances seems liardly probable ; but if the
doctor pulled out a sting, I suppose Ave shall
have to admit it, or conclude that a live bee
had, unknown to any of them, crawled into
the comb. I confess the latter seems to me
far the more probable.
^ i»i ^
A PL.EASAAT LETTER FROM A INEIV
ABC- SCHOliAR.
YOTJXG IN EKTHUSIASM, EVEN THOUGH WELL ALOXG
IX VEAKS.
fHAD often thought I should like to have bees,
but was afraid they could not be kept here,
' where there is but little honey-making feed, and
the climate is very cold; but last year I concluded
to try. So I got a hive of the Langstroth pattern,
and in June, 1880, got a swarm of bees and brought
them home, 20 miles distance. I let them take caro
of themselves until late in the fall; I then got your
ABC book. I am rather old for an A B C scholar,
being in my 69th year, but I tried to find the surest
way to winter the bees. After considering the dif'
; ferent methods, 1 concluded the handiest to get at
\ was to take a large packing case and lay in about 3
inches of chaff in the bottom, and place in the hive,
I arranging an opening from the entrance of hive
through the side of case, and then packing all
. around it with chaff well pi'essed in, and I then cov-
i ered the top with an old bed-quilt, and left them out
' on the stand, having many doubts in regard to them.
Early in the spring they were found with a pretty
good supply of food on hand, and all lively and in
very good condition. So, early in May I got me a
! chaff hive, to have it ready for a swarm. On the
13th of May, soon after breakfast, I saw the bees
coming out very numerously, but I was not quite
certain whether they were about to swarm. I asked
' my wife to watch them, and went and got a swarm-
: ing-box and my chaff hive; but before I was quite
ready, wife came and told me the bees had settled
[ upon the post 1 have at the garden gate. 1 got a
j white sheet over them and put the box under, think-
I ing they would go into the box, which they showed
[ no disposition to do. So I sawed off" the upper end
I of the post, and put it, bees and all, into the hive,
I and I soon found it necessary to shiike them off in-
3-2S
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
JUIA'
to the hive, getting- a good many of them buzzing
around; but I covered them down, and they all very
soon got in at the entrance, but did not seem in-
clined to go to work, even till the next day. So I
took u frame with brood and honey-eclls on it, and
put it into the hive with them, and soon had the sat-
isfaction of seeing them get to work in good earn-
est. They are now doing well, having nearly filled 0
frames, leaving Imt one in the lower compartment
for me to put fdn. on ; but I intend to place some in
the frames in the upper story, ready for them. The
old stocks are also doing well.
On the 25th of May I was surprised to see bees
again coming out of the old hive as though they
were about to swarm. I again called my wife to
keep watch until I could get up a temporary hive,
but had scarcely begun when she came to my work-
shop and told me the swarm was out, and had
alighted on a small apple-tree about two rods from
the t^tand. I asked her to still keep watch until I
had got my hive ready, which I made from an old
packing case, and put into it some frames from up-
per story of chaff hive, then cut off the small branch
with the bees: but many of them Hew around, but
soon gathered in a cluster on another branch of the
same tree, which I also cut down and got them into
the hive. I think this swarm is about two-thirds as
large as the tirst turned out, which was a very large
and strong stock. I took another frame from the
old stock, and put it into the temporary hive, and I
find they have got to work like good busy bees, and
are doing first rate. I am now making an upper box
to put on the top of the first old hive so as to give
the bees more room until I can get a chaff hive made
for them. I intend to make one of the same kind
for the last swarm, and I am in hopes they will do
well.
I have got me a bee veil, but I find it necessary to
also get me a smoker. I believe the Lord has blessed
and directed me in my efforts with these busy little
folks, for which I olf er him my very grateful thanks.
I like your ABC book; have found it a great help.
I also like Gleanings. I find many very useful
hints, and some good and interesting articles in it.
My wife and children like to read it, and they feel
interested by its perusal. We all like Our Homes;
we also like your manner of doing business, and ap-
preciate your very kind manner of treating your
customers and correspondents. I wish you well.
"Wife and children join me in kind wishes for little
Blue Eyes. Geo. W. Buruidge, P. M.
Saint John's, Tooele Co., Utah, June 9, 1881.
Very good, friend 13., but I can not say I
(luite admire your plan of ''sawing off" ev-
ery thing the bees happen to alight on. It
is a sure way, I admit, but I think you will
have no trouble if you hold your swarming-
box right over the cluster, and then drive
them into it with smoke, or whip thein very
gently with a little sprig of a leafy branch.
Don't strike so as to hurt them, but keep
patting them gently, and you can drive them
as you would a flock of sheep. Give them a
little time to move, and you will find they
will soon be all in the box. In the aljsence
of a swarming- box, I often use a common .5c
market basket. When you carry them, keep
it still upside down, and they will stay safe-
ly until you go a mile or more. Thanks for
your kind Avords.
HOW TO WINTER BEES.
BY ONE WHO DOES WINTER THEM.
gp ET me tell you right here at the beginning, be-
fore I make any remarks on the above sub-
ject, that the ideas that I shall herein present
to you were not all originally conceived by me.
They were mostly the outgrowth of the long expe-
rience and close observation of my father. The fact
that, for many successive years, he wintered his
bees with such good success, and that I can claim
by the same means, in that respect, so far to have
followed in his footsteps, ought to give some weight
to the following remarks on the above subject. In
March No. of Gleanings I stated many things in
reference to the subject of " cellar wintering," but
did not then state as fully as should be all that must
be done to insure success. If it will not bore you
too much, just read once again what I there said,
and combine those and my present remarks togeth-
er, and perchance a little seed wheat may be found
among all the chaff.
We will anticipate time a little ; till July, the time
Gleanings reaches you. Your first move to make
is to secure at once a lot of combs, well filled with
basswood or white-clover honey and perfectly fin-
ished. Store them away in a warm dry room till
fall. Tf you do not need them they can be extracted
at any time later as easily as now. Endeavor to ob-
tain at least two combs (about ten pounds) for every
colony you expect to have in the fall. This you can
do very quickly by taking some of the side combs of
every hive, already partially filled with honey, and
placing them in an upper story of another hive to
seal. When this is done there is nothing more to do
till the beginning of September. At that time every
colony must be earefuUj' examined, all old and fee-
ble queens killed and replaced by young ones, of
which every bee-keeper can have a supply on hand
at that time. See to it that all are breeding well to
the end of September. If the fall honey-crop is
good, the extractor may be used to advantage to
make room for the queen to lay; but this can be
dispensed with by removing the outside combs and
placing empty ones in the center. Do not stimulate
breeding in October, but endeavor rather to have
the queen quit laying eggs by the tenth. If neces-
sarj", do not contract the entrance, which should or-
dinarily be done at this time, but allows the cold to
enter the hive. It is far better to have them quit
breeding four or five weeks before removing them
to the cellar, than that your bees should hatch after
they are removed.
In the early part of October, another important
factor must be kept in view, and that is, winter pro-
visions. Every colony should then be strong in
bees; but if they are not, then double up all weak
ones; unless, indeed, you prefer to run more risk
in wintering, offset by the chance of wintering over a
number of good queens. I always pursue the latter
course, and in ordinary winters with good success.
In spring you will always have gome become queen-
less, when you can double up to more advantage. If
your bees are otherwise in good condition, the only
thing that remains to be considered is provisions.
Now go to your storeroom and bring forth your
combs of honey gathered in July, and give to each
colony according to its wants, placing the honey on
each side, and as near to the cluster of bees as possi-
ble. This is the only division-board I ever use to
ISSl
gleaa'i:ngs in bee culture.
329
contract my bees. When this is done, give to each i
colony a few pounds of best white-sugar syrup.
They ought then to have twenty pounds of provi-
sions to every colony, and are ready to store away;
200 colonies can thus be fed up by one man in three
days. If, however, you were unable to obtain the
combs of honey, or have not thought it of sufficient
importance to do so, the feeding must be done ear-
lier, to give them time to seal. Let your bees now
stand till permanent cold weather has set in, and,
unless already too late in November, wait till they
have had a last good flight. I know that I herein
differ with many good apiarists, and that Prof. Cook
remai'ks in his manual that they should be removed
to the cellar before " permanent cold weather sets
in;" yet my experience has always corroborated my
statement once before made, that it is safer to re-
move them to the cellar late than take them out
eai'ly in spring. If the winter and circumstances
are such that bees will stand conflnement for five
months, say from the 1st of November to the 1st of
April, they will stand it.jutst as wcU from the ir)th of
November to the loth of April; and in ordinary falls \
and springs 1 should certainly prefer the latter. But |
to return to my instructions. I repeat, leave your .
bees out as late as possible. They will thus con-
sume all unsealed honey they have, and you may be
assured that all hrood will have hatched -another \
most important thing; and, what is more, having
been well chilled they will not again begin to breed
till removed from the cellar in spring, if the temper-
ature is kept even at about 42°. !
Often it has happened to me that snow and ice
have clogged up the entrance, when I put them in,
so that I had to leave the entrance blocks on till
thawed off. Last winter was no exception. 1
And now as to the kind of cellar, ventilation of j
the hives, and how to set them. I must refer you to
March No., lest this article be too long. The tem-
perature ought never vary more than six degrees,
and whether this be obtained by extra good protec-
tion of the cellar, by water, or by artificial heat, is,
I believe, immaterial. If the temperature is even,
your bees will be quiet, consume little honey, will
not breed. Let them remain there all winter undis-
turbed, only once or twice cleaning the entrance by
means of a feather. If the winter is mild, a flight
during the warm weather might not hurt them; but
my bees never enjoy this privilege, and I do not ad-
vocate the theory, except where bees are sick with
the dysentery. My objection is, it is too liable to
stimulate them to breeding. When permanent
warm weather has set in, and here again not hcforc,
unless dysentery makes it absolutely necessary,
carry your bees to their summer stands for good,
and in day time, notwithstanding Mr. Little or oth-
ers. Wait till 10 or 11 o'clock in the forenoon; then,
if there is no wind, and the weather is warm and
promising, go to your cellar and make a dense cloud
of tobacco smoke, blowing some into each hive (no
matter if you do hit a dead one), and then begin to
carry them out, always closing the door after you.
At first, all will get restless, and a few will fly out;
but an occasional dose of tobacco smoke will soon
cool them all down, and you can carry them out in
perfect quiet. Removing bees from the cellar in
day time has many advantages; the most important
is, that you know to a certainty the state of the
weather, which you can ne%-er know the evening be-
fore. As to the bees missing their hives, etc., inci-
dent to the confusion they are in, that Mr. Little re-
marks upon, I must say that I have had far less
trouble from it than formerly from wind and
weather.
Let some one who has faith in the above-described
manner of wintering bees try it and report. I can
not claim that bees thus cared for will aZu'aj/s winter
well; but so far they have every time I have tried
it, or seen it tried, and that is ten or twelve years.
There is no mystery about wintering bees if the es-
sentials arc kept in view. It is so well established
that all believe it, that "strong colonies of young
bees, a g.iod queen, plentj' of pure, healthy honey, or
its equivalent, even temperature ranging from 40°
to 45°, and proper ventilation," constitute these es-
sentials; and what I have said is simply applying
them, one and all, to the 8-frame Langstroth hive,
with tight bottom and old style honey-board. That
I add to these, put them in cellar late; do not let
them breed; remove them in day time, etc., maij be
only pet hobbies of mine, and safer for me to ride
than for j-ou. Geo. Grimm.
Jefferson, Wis.. June IT, ISSl.
There, boys, you have it right before you
— plain directions from one who winters,
winter after winter, so nearly without loss,
and in such numbers, that it can not well be
accident. If you follow carefully and thor-
oughly the directions friend G. has given,
there is no reason in the world why you
should not succeed in the same way. Re-
member, the writer is himself but little more
than a boy, like many of the rest of you ;
but he has learned from his father to do
well what he undertakes to do. I presume
friend G. would not undertake to say he
could winter bees where the young ones and
the queens are all the time sold off from the
stocks, as is the case in our apiary.
FKIEND SMITH, OF PELEE I^iLANU,
TELLS HIS STORY ABOUT AVIN-
TERING.
WHY DID THE BEES DIE ?
f THOUGHT last month that I would tell my sto-
ry about wintermg; but as you kindly admon-
— ' ished us in the May No. to drop the subject, I
was discouraged from so doing. I know that it is
not desirable to keep filling th*; pages of Glean-
ings with this subject, especially where it is mere
statements of every bee-keeper of the number he
had in the fall, and the number he had left in the
spring, which statements can be of interest to the
majority of readers only as showing the great loss
of bees last winter, of which we are all pretty well
aware by this time. But when all the facts con-
nected with the losses an<l survivals are carefully
noted and compared, with a view of arriving at
some conclusion as to the cause and remedy of
losses, they become <>f more general interest; and
we have several such articles in the June No., and
reading these has again put me in the notion of
telling my story.
My experience was with a variety of hives under
different circumstances, and it seems to point to a
different conclusion from most of the reports. I
had 40 hives, prepared and unprepared in various
830
GLEANINGS IN BEE CUETUKE.
JULY
ways, all on siimnicr stands, in a very exposed situ-
ation, and lost 11 — most of them by starvation ; but
a majority of those that were alive lost from U to -a
of the bees — some reduced to less than a quart;
but I saved them all, as I know nothing about spring-
dwindling.
In making my spring examination I proposed to :
note carefully the condition of each hive, to see if I |
could determine under what circumstances they
had wintered best. I will confess right here, that i
when I got through and compared notes I was as
much in the dark as ever, and more bewildered in
trying to arrive at the conclusion as to which is the
best plan for wintering on summer stands.
A few hives were packed in chaff ; all others had ■
frames covered, either with cushions of chaff, or i
carpeting, without any other protection. The chaff '
hives all wintered fairly, but I was surprised to find ,
the best-preserved colony in the yard in an old half-
rotten L. hive, with only a light cushion of leaves on i
the frames, and some loose boards piled on the top to
keep out the wet, which they did not do very well. ;
The second best was very much like the first. Two i
"long-idea" hives, with bees placed in the center,
and only a piece of carpet hung over the frames,
coming down on each side near the bottom, were
among the bost, as were also 2 two-story hives with
6 frames in each story, brought to the center, and ,
carpet hung over them, and cushions on the sides.
To continue my investigations, I determined to see i
every hive in the Island. 1 found only three men
who had live bees. One had 14 in the fall, in thick
box hives, tops nailed on tight, without any provi- ;
sions for surplus boxes or upward ventilation — oii7i/
two alive. Next had three; one in abeautiful hollow
section of a tree — dead ; one in a tall box hive, bees '
working out of small hole in top — very few bees, 35 '
or 40 lbs. of honey; one in an old candle-box, sides
and top only % in. thick, in very fair condition.
These two hives I transferred, and know their con-
dition exactly.
The third man had t» last fall; T of these were alive,
and 5 of them were the fullest of bees, brood, and
honey, of any colonies I ever saw at that season of
the year. They were all in hives with V2 frames, the [
same as my own, but no attention was paid to them
after the bees were put in — no protection what-
ever; no cover of any hind on the frames; but the
shallow covers of the hives, made like the roof of a
house, from one to three inches deep, were put over
them, and the bees allowed to fill the space above .
the frames with comb and honey. Covers fit loosely I
over the hive, and the bees were working out from i
the tops of several of them. And these are the best
out-door wintered bees that I have heard of this :
spring.
A near neighbor found a bee-tree some three
years ago; cut off a section of 10 feet, and set it up
in his yard. For three years they wintered well, and '
swarmed two or three times every season. This I |
thought a perfect model of a natural bee-hive; but j
they died. This led me to make inquiries of the
wood-choppers and others as to the bees found last
winter in the "bush." Heard of 5 bee-trees being
cut, not one of which had live bees in them— no live
ones found at all, and I think it probable that there
are no bees left in the woods. This would argue that
the natural home of the bee is not always the best.
Now, what lessons are we to learn from all this
to guide us in the future? I confess mj-self puzzled
to give an answer. But it does seem to indicate,
first, that a great amount of protection, with thick
walls, chaff, etc., is not absolutely necessary to suc-
cessful wintering, even in such a winter as last, as
in the case of the 7 bi'ood hives without protection,
and the thin "a candle-box. Second, that some pro-
vision for upward ventilation seems essential.
Third, that it does not depend entirely upon' the kind
of food they have to winter on, as all the bees here
must have had the same kind of stores. We all
know that good food is essential, and friend Heddoii
has a very fine-spun theory of "bacteria in the hon-
ey," ariived at by jTasojiinflr from effect to cause ([
believe that no scientist has ever discovered such a
thing- in honey with the microscope yet), but here is
one fact which is worth half a dozen tlieorics; viz.,
the best-wintered and the worst-wintered bees were
in yards not '^ of a mile apart, and must have had
the siime kind of honey, as none had been taken
from either ; consequently, the food was not the
cause of the differences in losses.
I have already made this communication too long;
yet left out many particulars that I should like to
have mentioned; but I wish to give an incident to
show the astonishing amount of exposure bees will
sometimes stand, and yet live. In March I found
one hive had been overlooked last fall, and there
was nothing whatever over them or in the upper
story, which was a large one, 11x11x18 in.— not even
frames, and yet there was a pint or so of live bees in
it — as many as in some other hives, and I would
have saved it as I saved all the others had it not
been for an accident. Thaddeus Smith.
Pelee Island, Out., June li, 1881.
FRIEND GAUFF'S SWARITIINU-ISOX,
AND HOW HE USES IT.
MSI am one who reads GtiEANiNGS, I thought
Jl^_ I would write you a letter and give you a dia-
' gram of a swarming-box that I have used for
two years.
THE "cheese-box" SWAlt.MINU-BOX.
1 got a cheese-box that was just large pnough for a
frame to hang on the inside; then I nailed on two
pieces with a notch cut in the upper end to hold the
frame in; then I put a handle on one side, with a
strap hinge, with a hole bored in the end, so that I
could use a long pole or a short one as I wanted;
then I bored holes around the bottom, except on the
side where the handle is that I lift with, so the bees
would not get on that side so bad; now, when a
swarm commenced to alight, I would take my box,
and put in a frame of comb and shake off the bees in
the bo.v, and then, if they were rather slow, I would
take a short pole, stick it in the ground, and hang
my box on it, and let the bees get settled, and then I
would take the frame out of the box and hang it in
the hive, and shake the rest of the bees in front of
the hive without any more trouble, D, K. Gauff. ,
Milan, Erie Co., O., May 1.5, 1881.
1881
GLE AIRINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
331
DOOIilTTIiE: ANS^VEKS QUESTIONS.
[Continued from June No.]
KILLING BEES A WRONG.
fKI END Bradford thinks my comparison between
killing bees and a cow too larg-e; that bees are
— ' God's " creatures "—not ours, and that God no-
tices every bee we kill by carelessness; also that he
don't think of profit when trying- to save their lives.
[q regard to the comparison being too large between
the killing of a cow and a bee, I wish to say that we
might say a sheep and a hive of bees, if that would
please better; but it was not to compare things of
equal value I was after, but to show that it was no
more sin to kill one than the other; and the claim
that, because you eat or sell the carcass of the one
proves more than the selling the product of the other,
is a difference without a distinction. Women are
supposed to be kind and tender-hearted beyond men,
so hear what Mrs. L. Harrison says in the Prairie
Farmer:—
Bee-keepers are apt to denounce tliose who brimstone their
bees, as cruel and unchristian: how about those who let them
starve? We were once talking with a kind-hearted Dane, who
handled his bees so !?ently for tear of crushinct one, about what
he was going to do with a number of his colonies tjiat were des-
titute of stores. He replied, "I'm going to brimstone them.
The farmer selects his animals that he has no further use for,
fattens ajid kills them, and no one calls him cruel. Why has
not a bee-keeper the same right? I'm not able to bity sugar for
these colonies, and they would perish with starvation before
spring. The fumes of brini.stone will kill them in a moment;
and is not this better than to die a lingering death by stai-va-
tion!"
Mr. Jones, of Canada, saj-s. " There is one redeeming fe.ature
about the system of bee-keeping practiced in Cyprus. Palestine,
and Syria; that is, although they .are heathens they do not brim-
stone their bees as do the Christians of Europe and America "
Although they do not "brimstone their bees," we see. byh's
own account, that they let them starve. He savs, ' ' It has bf en
the worst honey yeai- ever known iir Cyprus Three-fourtI s o
the bees died last spring, and since then three-fourths of tho e
that were left have died, so there are none in some localities,
and only a few in others . ' '
If we supersede a queen, we have first to decapitate the reign-
ing majesty, or destroy her in some way before anfither will be
accepted; and yet we have never heard this practice denounced
as unchristian. We have never had an occasion to brimstone
bees, for we unite the small colonies early in the fall, if we have
any, and feed them, to insure young bees and plent.v of stores
for winter; yet we think it is" a mistaken idea, about its being
cruel to do so, any more than to kill a chicken.
Question: If Mrs. H. is correct (which I claim she
is), is it more sin to kill a few bees in handling, to
save time, than it is to kill a whole swarm to save
buying sugar for them? That bees are God's "crea-
tures," and all else living, I am willing to admit; but
all were created for the hem fit of man, and man has
the control of all, as the inspired word of God tells
us, where the Psalmist says,—
For thou hast made him (man; a little lower than
the angels, and hast crowned hira with glory and
honor. Thou madesi him to have dominion over
the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things un-
der his feet.— Psalm 8 : 5, G.
Again, the apostle James says,—
For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of ser-
pents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath
been tamed of mankind.— James 3 : 7.
Thus we see God gave man control and power over
all creatures he has made; and I can see no differ-
ence between killing a sheep or cow to eat, or sell,
thus receiving profit thereby, or a hawk, skunk, or
crow, to save our property, and killing now and then
a bee that is worth less to us than our time, thus
saving time, "for time is money." As to killing
God's creatures carelessly, if friend B. will look on
the ground he treads upon he will see he scarcely
takes a step in the summer season without killing
some of the smallest of God's creatures; yet he
stops not, but walks on regardless of it; yet he holds
himself accountable to God for the bees he kills! If
the ground were thickly strewn with bees instead of
worms, spiders, bugs, etc , we would, all of us api-
arists, step over or around them. Why? because
there is a profit in the bees; and this is the reason
we treat the bees better than we do the spiders and
bugs, whether we are conscious of it or not. Now,
,iust one thing more while we are on this profit ques-
tion. I see some bee-keepers think it is not right to
spend time on the Sabb'ith to hive bees that swarm
on that day. We have been in the habit of staying
home from church during the swarming season to
hive our bees, believing if God did not design man
to care for swarms of bees on the Sabbath, he would
not have allowed them to swarm on that day. Well,
one day we were taken to task by a good brother in
the church, who made duiryirg a business, for our
neglecting the house of worship from four to six
Sabbaths each year to hive our bees. Says he, " It is
not right; go to church; and if your bees swarm and
go off, thank God for what there is left." I said,
" Brother C, you keep cows, do you not? "
"Yes."
"And milk them on the Sabb.ith?"
. "Yes."
" Why do you milk them?"
"We— 11; the cows would suffer if not milked for 21
hours, and I milk them to relieve suffering."
"Just so; but don't you take a pail with you when
you go to milk on that day?"
"Yes."
" And don't you take the milk to the house, strain
it, and, if it is very warm, skim it to keep the cream
from taking hurt?"
"I own such is the case."
"And don't these chorea, as you call them, keep
you from praj-er-meeting Sabbath evenings? or if
you go, aren't yon tirfd and weary?"
" Such is often the case."
"Well, now, brother, you see, to save the milk
from those cows, and care for them the year round,
you work ten times the amount on the Sabbath, in
the course of aryear, ihat I do with the bees, and all
for the profit accruing therefrom."
"I admit you are right, brother D., and hereafter
I will not complain of you till I don't take a pail with
me when I milk on the Sabbath."
In conclusion, I wish to say I do not believe it right
to make a business of working on the Sabbath, nor
do I kill any more bees than I can help, consistent
with doing what apparently is a necessity; still, I do
claim that a man has a perfect right to hive his bees
on the Sabbath, as well as to milk his cows, feed his
horse, pigs, hens, etc., which no one considers as
wrong. I also claim that it is no more a sin to kill a
bee than to kill a spider or a snake, and that, when
there is mere profit in killing them than in sparing
their lives, we are justified in killing them.
Borodino, N. Y., May 20, 1881. G. M. Doolittle.
It makes me feel rather sad, to think we
must have all this discussion in this niatter,
and especially so much of it in favor ot be-
ing less careful than we have been of taking
their little lives. Our boys often leave queen-
cages standing abotit, containing bees only,
after the queen has been used. It is, of
course, more trouble to take these dozen or so
bees to a hive than to let them remain im-
prisoned and starve ; but, my friends, the
thought of these little fellows dying in this
way would so haunt me that t could not be
happy anywhere, and, busy as I am, I often
take them to a liive and let them out myself,
332
gleaKikgs in bee cultuke.
July
when nobody else will do it. I let them in
some gentle hive, where they will not get
stung too. I presume it may be a dutj^ to
stay at home from church during swarming
time, but I would try hai'd to so arrange
matters that it is not often necessary. TJie
incident you mention shows how much
weight your conduct has in your community,
friend D. A few years ago I was in the
habit of going out of church just at the close
of the sermon, so I could get my dinner in
time to take charge of a mission Sabbath-
school. After a few Sundays, I noticed
others would go out after I did, and finally
quite a string of boys would start just after
1 did. They doubtless thought I went out
because I was tired and sleepy, like them-
selves, and that if I took such a liberty, of
course it would be proper for ?/iem. I thought
about it a little, and stopped ; and if the
boys are going to follow me that way, I tell
you what it is, I believe I would let consid-
erable property go to waste before I would
consent to even the appearance of evil. Ern-
est and John both remained away from Sab-
bath-school last Sunday, because the bees
" might get to robbing," and they also stayed
away from the young people's prayer-meet-
ing in the evening, because — well, the prin-
cipal part of their excuse was, so far as I can
remember, that it was more than half over
before they got started. Last Saturday
night, 20 queens came in by the last express,
in rather feeble condition, some of them. I
prepared them as best I could that night,
and found eight of them dead Monday morn-
ing. Perhaps I erred in not putting them in
Peet cages, over unsealed honey, very early
Sunday morning, for the loss was $8.00 ; but,
my friends, it is a glorious thing, when you
do err, to think you have erred "on the Lord's
side.''
POINTS OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
BLACK AND ITALIAN BEES.
(Concluded from page 333, Ajml No.)
'-HILE black bees assert no special claim to any
food offered away from their hives, Italians
will often try to prevent other bees from get-
ting any of it, as stoutly as though it werepart of their
own private stor-es.
Wheu the humbug by which bees were claimed to
be able to convert Cuba honey into some thing eciual
to the choicest white -clover product was in full
Vogue, I saw, in a Brooklyn apiary, one hundred or
more black stocks all sipping their supplies from
the same feeders,* and none asserting an exclusive
right to the public supply.
18. Italians will utilize largely any wax which they
find aivay from their hives, tvhile black brcs take no
notice^ it.
In the first edition of my work (1853), p. 80, 1 sug-
gested, that "bees might be induced to use old wax
for the construction of their combs;" and in the
1857 edition, I say, " I have ascertained that bees will
*The seller of this patent, in his recipe for preparing the food,
directs that the Cuba honey be mixed witli :ui eciual (ivlantity of
water; and asiio allowance was made t'i)r thr wat>-r i t)ie bees mi
doubt being asTvell able to change tliis water into Immy eis they
wei-e to convert the dark honey into the purest nectar i, lie was
able to reduce the apparent cost nf ids lee<l (nu'-hair! And yet,
pei-sons were indilced to invest heavily in tliis i.at.nt, who would
have laughed to scorn the idea tlnu tliev (•■luld iluurjle the yield
of their maple sugar by adding on enuiil weiglu •>( water to the
sap before boiling it.
use fine shavings of wax to build new comb; but
further investigations are needed to make the dis-
covery of practical advantage." While the blacks
are slow to accept wax shavings, the Italians would
probably use them largely .+
19. Black bces,trJicn examined by artificiql light,
are much more iJiclincd thaii Italians to fly from their
combs.
After many hard experiences, I made it a rule
never to open black colonies after dark. Even if
not disturbed, the lights from a house, if the hives<
are near to it, will often attract black bees as well
as moths. Now, when queens are hatching, it is
often quite important to examine colonies by artifi-
cial light; and the ease with which this can be done
with Italians is a strong point in their favor, as they
seem even less disposed to fly than in the day time.:):
30. Black bees have a very much stronger attach-
ment than Italians to the spot where their hive has
once stood.
Dzierzon, when he had only blacks, found it high-
ly desirable to have two apiaries far enough apart
to enable him to secure enough bees for his artifi-
cial swarms and nuclei, while many of the methods
given in my work, and which cost me so much time
in observations and experiments, aimed to secure
the same results from a single apiary. Those who
have had no experience with the blacks, have little
idea what a task it was, in many of the most impor-
tant operations with them, to get a sutficient num-
ber of bees that would stay in any new location.
For example, in the fall union of weak colonies oc-
cupying different positions in the apiary, many pre-
cautions were necessary with the blacks to prevent
large numbers of the removed bees from perishing
in flying back to their old location, either to perish
there, or to be killed by the neighboring stocks into
which they sought to gain admission. With Italians,
on the contrary, there is no difficulty in quickly
uniting stocks, however widely separated in the
same apiary. If on a good day for flying, the bees
from one stock, after being made to gorge them-
selves with honey are shaken down before another
gorged stock, their loud hum as they enter their
new home will quickly attract the attention of any
of their companions who may have flown to the old
location; and if their hive has been removed, they
will soon join their companions, and ever after ad-
here well to their new position.
31. When the union of blacks from different colo-
nies is attempted, they are far more likely to quarrel
than Italians.
How common an experience it is, in spite of all
our precautions, to have every black bee from one
weak stock killed by another black colony, no mat-
ter how sorely they may need an addition to their
scanty numbers! while with Italians, such desirable
unions are formed with comparatively little risk or
trouble.
t By the insertion of comb foundations we can make a still bet-
ter use of our wax, 1 was at work on tlie artificial -comb idea in
1853 (see first edition of my work, p. 80), but learning from Mr.
Sam '1 Wagner that He hail been experimenting in that line be-
fore me, I relegated the wlmle matter to iiim. If, like Mr.
Kocit, hec-iiuld havv availed himself of the services of such a
genius as ,"\lr. Waslibnrn. he might hnve made his foundations a
practical success before ailv one in KUicipe had even begun to
exiieriment in that line. In his last conversation with me on
this suljject, he said that the wording of his claims was so de-
fective that he mUst have his patent reissued.
JUcnlioff, the great German observer, ranks the bee and the
dog as occuiiving the highest scale in intelligence. A black-
and-tan tenier, so milch afraiil of lices that nothing could in-
duce her to go near tlicir liivcs in the daytime, would lollow
me, without any invitation, from hive to hive in my night ex-
aminations, as thougli she had a deep interest in my doings.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
338
23. While all the defects of the Italians can be rem-
edied by care and skill, hardly a single leading one of
the blacks seems to admit of any cure.
They can not be kept from racing and tumblinar
off their combs, nor cured of their propensity to rob
under almost any circumstances, nor made brave or
self-reliant under adverse conditions, in any degree
to compare with Italians, or willing, like them, to be
persistently industrious when honey is to be got on-
ly by the hardest kind of work.
While 1 do not claim to have given all the points
of difference between these two species of bees, I
have been the more particular, because of the pain-
ful conviction that so few are now living of the old
generation of bee-keepers who have had a sufficient-
ly long and large experience to be able to give the
facts on this subject. Having now no interest of
any kind whatever in the sale of Italians, or any
other species of bees, perhaps my judgment in this
matter may, with some, tind a more ready accep-
tance. Of one thing I am sure,— that the Italians
are in greatest favor with those who are best ac-
quainted with the striking points of difference be-
tween them and the blacks, and that the use of
movable frames, with all the manipulations which
follow in their wake, have set a seal of condemna-
tion upon black bees which can never be removed.
While accepting the judgment of the careful ob-
servers who claim that the Cyprian and Palestine
bees are superior even to the Italians, I am still
hopeful that the coming red-clover bee, which is to
make our land to flow with honey, even more than
the Holy Land once did, will be born of a union be-
tween Apis dorsata and some of the best kinds now
in our possession. • L. L. Lanqstroth.
Oxford, O., April, 1881.
Very many thanks, friend L. I can hard-
ly tell you how vividly the points you men-
tion bring back to memory my own experi-
ences in all these different points ; and if
any one would prove the truthfulness of ev-
ery assertion made, he has only now to get
some black bees, and attem])t to work with
them as we do now with Italians. In our
older books, we see many points laid down,
and wonder at them, while the explanation
is, that the books were written for quite an-
other race of bees than the Italians and hy-
brids that we find now almost everywhere,
even in the trees of our forests. I may, at
some future time, embody these two papers
in our A J3 C book.
SAVED BY SIGAR CANDY, IN PLACE OF
HONEY.
¥011 find inclosed an order for one of your hives
complete and all ready for the bees.
— ' I am a beginner in the bee line. I bought a
three-frame nucleus last summer, but knew noth-
ing about bees except what I learn from your A B
Cof Bee Culture and Prof. A. J. Cook's Manual, but
expect to learn more by experience. Last fall I fed
them with syrup, so that they went into winter-
quarters with plenty of food in five frames, just be-
fore cold weather. I put a division-board on each
side of the cluster, and then made a box of rough
boards just like the one on page ICl of your ABC
book, leaving a space of four inches all around the
hive, which I filled in with short straw, leaving an
entrance for the bees through it at the mouth of the
hive. In Feb. we had two or three pleasant days, on
one of which the bees came out. I saw they had the
dysentery, and so I opened the hive and took but
one of the outside frames; moved two of the others,
and in the middle put a frame containing sugar. I
left them until the middle of April, when I uncover-
ed them, raised the hive, swept the dead bees from
the bottom-board, and found sugar there, and, upon
examining the frames, I found the sugar all gone,
and the frame one-third full of comb. I have now
got a pretty strong colony. The person I bought
mine of had nearly 60 colonies last fall, but lost all
except one. He told me of one man who lives a few
miles from here who went into winter-quarters with
nearly 300 colonies and lost all except 12. I know two
other persons who kept a few colonies, but have lost
all this last winter. W. Platts.
Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa, May 17, 1881.
I should say, friend P., that you saved
your colony, without question, by the sugar.
I presume you mean sugar candy poured in-
to a frame, although you do not say so.
Whenever you can get a colony to take the
feed offered until you*get them into the con-
dition of comb-building, you are all right.
There is no further trouble, when they will
build new combs.
^ ••* ^
CANDY FOR QUEEN-CAGES,
BY THE BARREL.
W SEND you to-day the "latest improvement" in
Ji|[ "Peet" cages. First, I think they need more
— ' air than you give them. The double wire makes
smothering impossible. Second, the candy I would
have "patented," but it would be too easily "in-
fringed." It is the best thing- ever discovered for
feeding bees under any and all circumstances, as it
contains the exact elements in the exact propor-
tions that the bees require, and will not dry out
though exposed to the air a year. I have it manu-
factured by the barrel, and can furnish it at 10c per
lb. I provision cages as follows: Remove the cover
from the box, and prick a small hole in bottom, and
punch a Ji-in. hole in the side. Get a barrel of solid
candied honey in which a hole has been dug in the
center to allow it to drain. Invert the tin box over
a smooth place, and press down until the honey
touches the bottom of box; run the point of honey-
knife under box, and lift out. Shave the honey otf
level, and put lid tight. If the work is properly
done, without breaking the honey, it will never run.
I have used the cage some without loss. I can fur-
nish cages provisioned at 12V4c (with 2 boxes.)
KEPOBT.
I wintered 19 colonies in house apiary without
loss, all strong; 20 in chaff-packed hives; lost 6, and
united 3, selling queens; 6 in cellar, lost 4. Total, 45;
lost 13. All of my fecst QMt'Ciis sai't'c7; 95per cent of
bees are dead in this section. The house apiary is
on a new system, which I am going to adopt "unani-
mously." It has been in use 2 years; is a success
summer and winter. I will describe it If I get time.
Oliver Foster.
• Mt. Vernon, Iowa, May 25, 1881.
Well, now, friend F., that is just like you.
Every bee was spry and active, and I let
them stand on my table a couple of days be-
fore I let them out into the pail bee-hive.
The bees had eaten but a small part of the
honey in the box, and on opening it I found
the candy moist yet, standing up firmly
334
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
July
around the hole eaten out in the center just
large enough for a bee to go in and turn
round. I have often thought of candied
honey, but did not think of any plan to keep
it so the bees would not get into it and get
daubed. Your tin box seems to be just the
thing; but where do you get sucli boxes,
and what do they costV A barrel of candied
honey, truly ! ^Vhy, I am almost ashamed
of myself to think I never thought of it be-
fore. I am going to try some of it at once
in our new 5c cages. I have just been wor-
rying about the difficulty of furnishing a
provisioned cage for only 5c. Thank you.—
I hardly think many bees die for want of
air when all of the other conditions are all
right. I am also glad to hear of a good re-
port from the house apiary. It offers some
very decided advantages to the queen-rearer
in storm V weather.
^ ■>■
A CAIilFORNIA LETTER.
CAUTION IN REGARD TO LAMP NURSERIES, AND
SOME OTHER MATTERS.
fjjHE way that you have headed the article
sun evaporators, some one may accuse me
on
me of
claimiutc to be the inventor, which I am not,
as there are two others here that were made before
I made mine. Please make a note of the above in
Gleanings.
I am afraid that the honey season will be a failure
in this county, as the bees have made scarcely any
honey as yet. The black sage has been in bloom
about three weeks, and the white sage is in its
prime; wild buckwheat is comraeucing- to bloom.
The weather has been cold and cloiidy all the spring.
Inclosed you will liod the record of the hive on
the scales, and you can see just what they have
done. Nearly all of the swarms are killing the
drones.
LAMP nurseries; look out for them.
I have mine sitting at the foot of my bed. About
a month ago, as the nights were cold, I set my bread
to rise in it (see friend Gallup's article, Gl., 1880, p.
164.) In the night I awoke and noticed a strong odor
of coal oil in the room. As I thought the lamp was
out of oil, and had gone out, I paid no attention to
it. Some time after, I awoke again and noticed
that I could smell it plainer than before; so I
thought I would investigate the matter. I made a
light and found that the room was full of smoke. I
opened the door to the box that the nurseries were
in, and found the lamp burning, not on the wick,
but around the tube just above the perforated brass
of the burner, and a cloud of smoke rolling out of
the top of the chimney. You may make sure that I
was not long in putting that lamp out of doors. If
it had exploded, you may imagine what would have
been the result. It is the last time that it shall be
lit in the house. If I ever use it again it will be out
of doors, away from every thing, in a large dry-
goods box.
SUBSTITUTE FOR SOAP BARK.
You Wished some one to tell you some thing more
about soap root. Now, I can tell you this much
about it: I use it, and nothing else, on the fdn. roll-
ers, and know that it is better than soap, and think
it better than soap bark. I will furnish it for 5c per
lb., which will just about pay for digging and paclt-
ing. A pound is enough for two ov three quarts.
How would honey look in section boxes made of
wood like samples inclosed? It is the only wood
here fit to make them of. W. W. Bliss.
Duarte, L. A. Co., Cal., May 23, 1881.
I think, friend B., that your whole trouble
was caused by poor oil. The oil we use will
not light by throwing a lighted match di-
rectly into it. The very stringent laws that
have been passed in regard to using the
cheap volatile oils, indicate plainly the great
danger there is in using them.^ — The sample
of wood, I should call beautiful. The red-
dish tint would contrast nicely with the hon-
ey, and who knows but that you may get
up a great trade on section boxes on that
very account, if you only have plenty of such
wood?
» ♦ •
HUCKI.EBEflR¥ HONEY,
AND SOME THING ABOUT WORKING AND WAITING.
S I have not seen any thing in Gleanings
from this county (Sampson), which, bj' the
way, is noted for its Jiig Uue hucldebcrrlcs and
for the fine quality of the honey made from the
huckleberry bloom, I thought you might like to
hear how we are getting along with the bees after
the past unusually severe winter.
Well, our bees came through all right. I lost 2
stocks out of oO; one, I am ashamed to tell you,
froze, the cap leaking and ice forming in the hive;
the other was queenless, and was united with an-
other stock. Some of the others were rather short
of stores, but I gave them a comb from stocks that
could spare some, so that by the first of May, when
our honey flow commenced, my stocks were all in
good condition. The season was nearly a month la-
ter than usual; but when it did commence, the flow
of honey was unusually heavy. From 27 stocks
worked for extracted, I have taken 1300 lbs., and
have gone over them onlj' once; will commence the
second round this week, and think that I will get
nearly 1000 lbs. more. This is better than I have
ever done, and I feel that I am well paid for the care
gt\'en them for the last three years of almost no
profit; but then, it is the men who are patient,
persevering, and faithful, who are determined to
succeed, who are willing to work and wait for their
reward, that in the end will not be disappointed.
This is as true in business as it is in the more Im-
portant work of the soul's salvation. But, excuse
this digression. I will say, that this season's experi-
ence so far has proven beyond question the superior-
ity of the Italians over the blacks. I have 10 stocks
of Italians, the rest blacks and hybrids, and the pure
Italians have given me the best results. The best
yields were from 3 stocks with young queens raised
last August from one of two qweens bought from
you the j-ear before. The mother was very light,
and her workers the yellowest and gentlest bees
that I have ever seen. The daughters, on the con-
trary, are dark, and their workers very dark, and
not over gentle to handle; but such honey-gather-
ers ! I have never seen any thing like them. I sold
the mother last fall to a neighbor who lost her in in-
troducing; but I have sold him one of her daugh-
ters this spring, which he has introduced success-
fully. I have some of Brown's and Alley's stock,
but they don't "pan out" like this strain. I will re-
queen all my blacks from them this season. I have
ordered a Cyprian queen from Dr. Drown, and ex-
1881
gleani:ngs in bee cultuhe.
835
pect her next Thursday. If they beat the Italians
they will prove to be the bee for the South, as the
climate is nearer that of their native land.
I will mail you sample of our huckleberry honey,
which please test and give your opinion of in Glean-
ings. I think you will fina it A 1. I forgot to say,
that the 7 stocks worked for comb honey have given
me 318 lbs. surplus so far, and will make up about
200 lbs. more. The hive that I am using is some
thing like the Simplicity; holds 12 frames, 12; j wide
and 9 deep, tiered up 2 and 3 stories, flat cap, and
can use either sections or for extractor; brood
frames hold i sections, 4' j deep by 5 It long. I would
not exchange it for any other hive made. Hurry up
on pressed foundation, as I want a machine.
Don't allow the Home department to go down; it
is worth more than all the rest of Gleanings; and
if you will do me the favor to send me your photo-
graph for my album, I will prize It more than I do
my best stock of Italians. W. P. Wemyss.
Clinton, Sampson -Co., N. C, May 30, 1881.
Why, friend W., if I had not said so much
about the California honey in times past, I
should say this was by far the most exquis-
ite honey that ever tickled the ])dlate of a
son of Adam. 1 can not well give all the
friends a taste, but I will explain that it has
an aromatic (sore of cinnamon) flavor, and
one faintly recognizes the huckleberry per-
fume, from the" odor of the honey. How
much have you got of this, as pure as the
sample sent me? I have not yet got up my
cabinet of samples of the choice honey of the
world ; but when I do, huckleberry honey
will occupy a prominent place, I tell you. —
My heart is made glad by your kind con-
cluding words ; and, although I have almost
always crossed these out, before handing to
the compositors, I have a sort of feeling to-
day tliat not many will scold, if I do let it go
just as you liave written it. I am very glad
indeed to hear of your success this season.
ROBBED BEES GOINO HOME WITH
THE ROBBERS, ETC.
^N his criticism of your ABC, in April No., Mr.
G. M. Doolittle asks: " Did anybody ever know
the bees from a robbed colony to go home with
the robbers?" I think I have observed a case in
question.
In 1879 I had, old swarms and artificial increase, 6
swarms of Italians. Not more than one square from
me lived a man having 3 swarms of Italians, which
were perfectly marked with the three yellow bands.
They differed, however, very decidedly from mine,
in that they had shining black tips, without any per-
ceptible hair rings, while the posterior part of the
abdomen of my bees shows a plainly defined (nearly
white) ring of down at every segment of the body.
My neighbor's bees gave, during the summer, one
natural swarm, which he hived successfully. In the
latter part of the summer I noticed most of my bees
for several days in great commotion. They all
seemed to fly in the direction of my neighbor's gar-
den; and as it was in a time of dearth I soon sur-
mised that they were robbing his new swarm. Aft-
er a few days their excursions in that direction
ceased, and then it was that, while looking through
my bees, I found a good plain sprinkling of my
neighbor's "black tips" in nearly every one of my
colonies. They seemed to be perfectly at home,
and remained theri! "for the rest of their lives."
I later made the acquaintance of my neighbor, and
learned from him that he had "lost" his new swarm.
How, he did not seem to know; but I knew.
CHAFF HIVES FOR AVINTEIt.
I wintered tj colonics in open air, in Root chaff
hives, with thick chaff cushions on top, and 2 three-
frame nuclei packed between chaff division-boards,
with chaff cushion on top. The nuclei were in com-
mon single-walled Langstroth. I left from fi to 7
frames in each of the chaff hives, and closed tha
space with a chaff division-board. All came through
safely, though one of the nuclei was very weak. If
I take into consideration that I was "caught out in
the cold," and left them standing entirely unpre-
pared during- our rigid November freeze, with sur-
plus combs yet on, thereby losing heaps of bees by
freezing in every colony; and that I was compelled
to move into a new house, which I had built, on the
27th of December, carrying the bees a distance of
l'/3 miles on a wagon, and sending them, of cpuise,
into a perfect uproar, without a possible chance of
a flight for about 2' 2 months afterward, I can con-
gratulate myself on being extremely fortunate.
I say the chaff hives are a success ; or at least some
kind of chaff hives; but I am not yet full pleased
with the shape of your hive.
ABNORMAL BEES.
If the observing bee-keeper could scrutinize ev-
ery bee in his colonies, he would, no doubt, often
come across bees which arc abnormally shaped or
colored. I am in possession of two drones which I
consider quite curiously and "wonderfully made."
The one, I caught on a comb about 2 years ago, and
it is a well-developed specimen of an Italian drone
with a snow \i:hitc head. The other, I found strag-
gling in front of a hive a week ago, and, casually
picking it up, I at once noticed the extreme small-
ness of its head. Looking closer, I saw that It had
a veritable workerliead, with a short drone tongue.
It is rather smaller, and much more hairy than a
genuine worker-head; but in Its most prominent
characteristic, the eyes, it is almost perfect. I have
both specimens ia alcohol.
Bees arc doing well here now on white clover.
T. H. Kloer,
Terre Haute, Vigo Co., Ind , June 1, 18S1.
FRIEND BUCHANAN, AND SOME OF THE
IDEAS HE HAS GATHERED
FROM VARIED EXPERIENCES, SAD AND OTHERWISE.
^|jp|> EAR GLEANINGS:— Last summer I had eighty
Mm strong stocks of bees. They were in prime
condition during the time our crop of honey
is secured here, and we think they were handled
better than the average; and with all our bees, we
failed to secure, on an average, more than one-
fourth enough to carry them through. Twenty of
the poorest stocks were allowed to perish in the fall,
and the remainder were fed up in the early part of
September on a mixture of grape and granulated
sugar syrup; using one-third grape sugar, and a
few were fed with one-half each grape and granu-
lated sugar syrup. And right here I will say, these
were the first to sicken and die. I should have lost
all; but, finding they were going, I began to feed
candy by placing it over the cluster, and covering
with quilt; and In a few days they appeared to rest
easy, and were restored to health and quiet. I win-
L
336
GLEiVNINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
July
ter in a first-class cellar. I set out in the spriug-, 51
stands in fair condition, and most of them were in
chaff hives with chatf pillows on top, and confined on
5 and 6 frames. Had the weather been as usual
after setting out in spring-, all would have gone
right through; but you all know how it turned out.
I found them growing beautifully less day by day,
and after each spell of cold weather they were
united until I could count but 16 weak things, and
still scarcely any brood, and they confined on 3 and
4 frames. To-day they are filled full of brood, hon-
ey, and bees, and I have had 5 swarms. If we have
a fair season I will build them up to their original
number. You maintain that, with proper manage-
ment, there is no season so poor that bees will not
secure enough stores for winter. Now, I fell safe
in saying this is all bosh, and thousands will say
the same on reading this. Tell your customers that
one pound of granulated sugar is worth 3 pounds
of that vile stuff called grape sugar.
I know it is unsettling to the minds of beginners,
and puzzling to veterans in the pursuit to know
what course to pursue after reading so many re-
ports of success and failures coming out of the same
(or what seems the same) course pursued in the
preparation of bees for winter. I spent some time
this spring examining bees within 10 or 15 miles of
my locality, and I will report, for the benefit of all,
what came under my observation. Generally, all
were dead; but here and there I found some living,
and I want to give the conditions under which thej'
were left for winter.
I found one man with -t colonies, all he started with
In the fall. First hive examined had all the sections
on, as in summer, and in prime condition. Next
hive had section frames and boxes removed, and
covered with several thicknesses of old cloths, and
just bees enough to run a little brood in one frame.
Third hive had all sections on as first, and a perfect
"boomer." Fourth hive fixed same as second, and
In prime order— lots of bees and brood. Now, I don't
see any thing proven in this case, as to which is the
better way— to leave on or take off the section box-
es; if any thing, better left on. Bees were wintered
on summer stands. Another party had five hives in
fall, and fi\e living in spriug; wintered in a bee-
house facing the south, and in box hives raised on
blocks half an inch all round, and honej'-boxes on
with entrances opening into the same. Bees, pure
blacks; one colony in the best condition ; the other 4
rather weak, but building- up nicely, and plentj' of
honey. A small apiary, 13 stocks, in same neighbor-
hood, left in same shape, all died. Examined 6 colo-
nies of black bees, all the man had in the fall, and
found them in prime order, and especially one hive
having a ?i-inch crack from top to bottom, exposing
combs to view, and inch blocks under each corner of
hive. That's pretty "high "for last winter. Why,
I could not have slept at night at all had I a stock of
bees in that shape, even if they were blacks. The
entrances to boxes were open, and honey-boxes left
on in this case. The owner said to me, " Why, you
fellers smother your bees In the winter by keeping
them closed up too tight; they sweat and become
damp, and in this condition soon perish."
I want to tell a little experience of my own.
One season I had a swarm come off on the 16th of
May, several days in advance of other swarms. Aft-
er hiving the swarm, I thought I would see if there
were finished cells in the parent hive. When I took
the cap off I was astonished to find the frames only
half covered by the quilt, and that is just as they
were all winter out on summer stands, as I had not
opened that hive that spriug; but had I known it
was in such a sorry fix as that, you may be sure it
would have been put in what appears to me good
shape.
I got a queen from your red-clover queen last fall,
and as she was put in a chaff hive with a powerful
colony I left them out; so one day in March, after a
cold spell, I wanted to see if there were any eggs in
the combs of that hive. So I opened it, and found
the whole business dead! I scratched out the queen
and took her into the house, remarking to Mrs. B ,
"There is my red-clover queen gone up."
" Well," said she, " that's too bad."
" Yes," I said, "she is in the 'Blasted Hopes' de-
partment, along with the rest of us." But just at
this juncture I thought she moved slightly in my
hand, and in a few more minutes she was as brisk as
any bee. I gave her to a queenless stock, and day
before yesterday she came off with a fine swarm,
and left 7 L. frames filled with brood. Pretty well
for a dead queen !
This is a good spring to select queens to breed
from. A stock of bees that stored enough last sea-
son for their support in localities where it was par-
ticularly poor, and wintered without care or special
protection, and did not dwindle, is worth propagat-
ing. I have two such colonies. They are dark Ital-
ians, and I will rear almost all my queens from
these. I bought one powerful stock of blacks that
had ''stolen enough honey from the beauti'fid Italians"
to run them through; and, " don't you fail to forget
it," I will rear some queens from her too.
I think I hear some "fellers" who have just taken
the Italian fever bad, and a few breeders of Italians.
Cyprians, and so on, say, " Is not that awful? I'd
like to pinch their heads off."
I want to tell you a joke, if you don't say any thing
about it. One season, while living in Jefferson Co.,
O., I was Italianizing bees for neighbors whenever I
had a spare day from my farm work. So one day I
drummed out the bees from a box hive, and as the
queen had mated with an Italian drone, I took her
to a queenless stock to experiment with. The first
thing I did was to rear queens from her, and select
one of the lightest-colored queens to have fertilized
by an Italian drone, and from her rear queens, sav
iug the lightest queen. The fifth generation gave
me some of the finest queens and lightest-colored
bees I ever saw. One day the party from whom
I got the original black queen asked what I would
take to let him pick a queen out of my apiary. I had
been showing him one of these fine-colored queens
above alluded to. I put the price away up, and he
was only too glad of the chance; so he selected, as I
expected, a queen that had descended from the old
black queen taken from his hive two years before. I
told him thehistory, but beauty was what he was
after, and he seemed satisfied.
I notice there are a great many lengthy articles
concerning natural and artificially reared queens-
some claiming that the queens reared as the aver-
age breeder rears them arc the great cause of spring
dwindling, bad wintering, etc. I think there is some
nonsense about all this theory. I have some queens
that were reared under the swarming impulse, and
some 3 and 4 year old queens this spring that were
reared in stocks allowed to run the thing to suit
themselves after removing their queen, and for the
life of me I can't see any difference, as all are now
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
337
full of bees and brood to overflow iug'. I had a queen
of my own importation that died in April, over four
years ago, and as her stock was weak I thought the
queens they would reiir at that time of year would
be poor things. Two queens were reared— one light
and the other very dark. They were both prolific,
and both lived till this spring, when one died for
want of bees to protect her, and the other is still do-
ing as good a job at filling csmbs with brood as any
queen could do, and her bees are the best of workers.
We have had a splendid yield from the locust
bloom. White clover is now abundant, and with
seasonable showers this will be a "boss" bee year.
The two last numbers of Gleanings are grand -
crammed full of interest. John A. Buchanan.
Holliday's Cove, W. Va., June 3, 1881.
Now, friend 13., I will tell yoii what I par-
ticularly like about your letter, and it is a
feature that is too seldom found in commu-
nications. You do not start out to make
any particular point, or to defend any pet
idea of your own. You just give, plainly and
honestly, the facts as you have found them,
let them hit where they may.— After what
you have said in regard to grape sugar, I
would advise all to be careful that it in no
way enters into the stores for winter. At
the same time, we have had a multitude of
reports indicating the superiority of pure
cane sugar over natural stores of honey, as
well as over grape sugar. It may be that,
in your locality, bees sometimes will not
make a living ; "but how is it that Doolittle
always has a surplus?— There is some thing
in the fact, that bees often seem to winter
better for having a crack, or opening, right
through the hi\'e ; but then, you found other
apiaries, iu the same condition, all dead.
It begins to look very much as if we wanted
chaff hives with a good-sized air-hole, open
all winter, right over the brood-nest. I
agree with you, that a great deal of the talk
about poor queens and impure queens is
nonsense, as you term it. This season, ev-
ery thing in the shape of a queen is being
bought up at some price, and utilized; and,
so far as I know, the cheap ones are, many
of them, doing about as good service as any.
UEPARTOTENT FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T
SIGN THEIR NAIUFS.
TOIJ) you in May No. of a man who was
holding a queenless colony, but who did
not sign his name to his order for a
queen. Well, he waited 17 days, and then
he wrote the following: —
I sent to you for a black queen a few days ago.
Why is it you don't send it to me? If not, send the
money back. A. F. Eilenbergek.
Laddsburg, Pa., May 14, 1881.
Moral.— When you start out to complain,
always reflect whether it is not possible it is
just your own self who is at fault, and no-
body else, and sign your name to it. We
will forgive you, friend E.
After my respects to you, you may send me the
amount due me in registered letter; take register
fee off. I think that I shall not invest in bees this
summer — will see if they do any better. My losing
over a hundred dollars last winter runs me ashore
financially, as my means are very limited.
Shannondale, Pa., June 1, 1881.
After the clerks had exhausted all their re-
sources, and given him up, they brought the
letter to me, saying it would have to go into
the proper box, to await his writing again.
Now, although we often have to do this, I
very much dislike to do it ; and, as a further
effort, I reasoned that, if he lived iu a small
town, we might try writing to his postmas-
ter. So a letter was despatched as follows:
" Mr. P. M.— We have received a letter from your
P. O., written with a blue pencil, from some; one
who seems to have money deposited with us, which,
he wants. If you know of any bee-man who has
had deal with us, it would be a favor, both to us and
himself, if you would give us his address."
You see, the man may be a regular cus-
tomer, and we may have quite an account
with him on our ledger, if we only knew his
name ; but as our customers run up into the
thousands, it is out of the question remem-
bering, and also out of the question to hunt,
without even the initials. Again, we can
not expect postmasters to answer even such
questions, unless we pay all postage, so we
must take a stamped envelope, to inclose a
postal directed to ourselves, and this is mon-
ey out, besides the time of an expert clerk to
handle troubles of this kind. Why do we
go to trouble and expense for people who
are so careless? Because I always feel sorry
for careless people, and, to tell the truth, I
am naturally very careless too.
" Forgive U3 our debts as we have forgiven our
debtors."
Friend " What's-your name," do you not
think it pays, in the general business of the
world, to have your name printed on your
stationery?
• — ♦ »
CALIFORNIA ITEMS.
Here comes a friend who without doubt
has the best intentions in the world, and
also, without question, has money in our
possession, to be used at pleasure, by simply
dropping us a postal card ; but here is every
jscrap we can find oji the sheet of paper.
ALSO SOME KIN.D WORDS EROM AN OLD FRIEND.
/i^UITE likely you have forgotten me, but I shall
Wrjy) not soon forget my pleasant three days' visit
^5=^ with you and your kind social helpers about
the last of January, 1880. I came here the next
April; have worked a little among bees, and been a
good deal with bee-men in this and San Bernardino
counties. The year 1880 was called a " poor year; "
but some took 200 lbs. to the hive, and doubled their
stock; but that is above the average. I worked for
a man who took 24,000 lbs. of honey from about 300
stands. His "top-bo.\es" had been on all winter,
and he never looked into the lower story, or real
brood-chamber. It is quite the fashion to leave on
the upper stories through winter, as it saves work,
and the bees keep the moth from the combs. A few
take them off a while during spring breeding, but
many do not.
MR. HARBISON ON FOUL BROOD.
Last Oct. I heard Mr. Harbison give his method of
dealing with foul brood, and will give it as nearly as
possible from memory. Move the hive, and put an
empty box in its place; shake the bees into it, and
338
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
July
shut them in for 21 or 30 hours, until sure they have
eaten aZf they took with them. Then give them a
clean hive. This generally cures; but sometimes it
must be repeated. Cut all infested combs from
frames, and put in sun extractor, and (I think) boil
the bonej'. Give the hive and frames a good "cook-
ing " in boiling water, and they arc again ready for
vise. I have talked with several bee-keepers who
claim to have worked by this plan with success.
In a late private card, Mr. Harbison expresses
preference for Holy-Land queens as compared with
Cyprians; also that the present prospect for honey
in San Diego Co. is not nearly as good as last year;
and this opinion, only more so, is shared by most
bee-men hereabouts. Bees wintered nicply; no
loss except by robbing, and all now generally very
strong. In the flush year of 18T8, general extracting
did not commence until the last of June or first of
July; but I am told the signs are ditferent now from
then.
The full-sized L. frame is very little used here. A
small frame, 9x1154. is much used; I.e., runs cross-
wise of the 8-framed L. hive. A frame about llxi3J4
seems gaining in favor here. In San Bernardino
Co. the popular frame is abopt 10x15 inches. All
these are outside mensurcs. The can for extractors
is generally of galvanized iron, large enough to take
4 to t> frames; across the top is bolted a strip of
plank; in center, a hole to receive upright shaft
with 2-inch beveled cog on top; a wheel about 5 to 6
inches matches this, and the shaft extends to outside
of can, and generally a common grindstone-crank
attached. "Eastern extractors" find no friends
here. I saw an extractor for 6 L. frames with hinged
wire baskets or ])uckets to receive the frames, so
the comb was emptied without taking it out. I
don't know how it worked.
San Bernardino Co. is further inland, and liable to
be hotter than here. Tor an apiary they like a
southern slope, with honey-house at lower edge;
two rows of hives back to back, 4 to .5 feet apart,
and hives about 13 to 15 inches apart in rows; over
this a shade of some kind, often brush. These rows
run north from honey-hoase, and give a down grade
to wheel honey, and under shade all the time. In
both rows, bees get sun morning and evening. All
are shaded in the middle of day.
Some bee-men are extracting a little; but the
prospect for a good honey crop does not improve
much.
Now, Mr. Root, if you can't keep awake in church
'tis pretty good evidence that you need sleep and
rest. Please remember, that " Nature's demands are
God's commands," and can not be disobeyed with
impunity. Don't think you must print any part of
this. If it pays you for your time for reading, I am
satisfied. I feel you are doing much to bring about
"goodwill to men on earth," and may the angels
"bear you up." But you must bear in mind, there
are physical laws of life and health, which, to obey,
is life; to disolify, is death. "Choose ye this day
which ye will serve" or do. " Slow up " — you can't
stand this speed very long, and we ne^d you for
years. J. H. Bemis.
Los Angeles, Cal., May 23, 18S1.
Many thanks, friend B., especially for your
little sketch in regard to friend Harbison.
We hear so little from him that every scrap
is of interest. I am really ashamed to say
that I do not remember your -s'isit, but as I
read your kind letter, I am troubled to think
that may be you were not treated with such
kind cordiality as the writer of such a letter
deserves. Uo you really mean to say, friend
B., that everybody who goes to sleep in
church is overworked? What an awful lot
of poor fellows there is of us, if that is so !
By the way, I have lately taken to having a
half-hour's nap between the morning Bible-
class and the sermon, and my wife says that,
every time I have that nap I always say
" amen " to the sermon, no matter who it is
that preaches.
'' But they were splendid sermons, and
somebody ought to say amen."
"My dear husband, they were splendid
sermons when you went to sleep too ; it's
you. not the minister."
Well, after I had just begun to be happy
to tliink I had discovered a remedy for sleep-
ing in mpeting, I discovered that it made me
so late I was always with a crowd of tardy
worshipers. I some way thought they looked
as tliough they felt glad to see me among
them, for if the superintendent were always
in just before the sermon commenced, it was
not so much matter if they were late too.
You se^, it is just like going out before the
last hymn. The week days are not long
enough, and the Sundays are not half long
enough. I know you are right, friend B.,
and I thank you for the application you have
made of my favorite text ; but what is a body
to do, when there is so very much to be done,
and so many whom one can help so much,
with only just a few words? A few days
ago a woman asked if we could give her a
hybrid queen, and bees enough with her to
build up a swarm, for a dollar. Now, you
know it could be done by putting them on a
frame of hatching brood ; but as it would re-
quire half a page, nearly, to explain the
matter fully to her, and as we have hun-
dreds of similar inquiries, all I could do was
to send her a price list, which answers it all,
if she only would read it. It seems she did
not read it, for this morning an indignant
and threatening letter was handed me, be-
cause the queen and i lb. of bees the clerks
sent her for the dollar, had not built up into
a swarm, but had gone down to a dozen, and
the queen was lost. I felt so badly at her
dif?appointment, that I was moved to give
her her dollar back ; but as the clerks sent
her exactly what she ordered, and as the
dollars are getting scarce, I felt I had no
right to do it. I mention this to show those
who complain that I do not take time to an-
swer simple questions, why it is ; let a clerk
do it? It takes an expensive clerk to fully
answer questions like the above, and I can
not afford it. I can do it fully with the big
printing-press, but that is the only way;
and in justice to myself, I must ask you to
please be lenient. A great many of the
questions you ask are yet undetermined, and
we are all experimenting, much as you are.
^ly life is at your service, my friends, but it
is my duty to make it go just as far as possi-
ble. If I "do not answer fully to you all in-
dividually, please remember I am trying to
answer questions of piore import, to a great-
er number.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
339
AN A B € SCHOLAR'S ARTIFICIAIj
SWARMING.
BOUGHT 8 swarms of bees last fall, with plt-nty
of bees and stores; moved them ia the month
of January. They were in L. hives without
chaflf cushions. When I got them heme I put on top
of frames chair cushions. In February, 3 colonies
died with about 30 lbs. of honey. The rest wintered
all right. One suffered some from spring dwindling ;
the remainder were all strong the loth of May.
Then I thought, as I had to be away from home the
most of the time, I would artificially swarm the
strongest of them, and have swarmed 4 of them.
I shall have to be called one of the ABC class, as
I have not kept bees before in movable-frame hives,
and know but very little about bee culture. I have
your ABC book, and value it very highly; also
Langctroth. I am running them for bees instead of
honey; and as I had 6 colonies, I numbered them
from 1 to 6, and of course the new colony was No. 7.
I took No. 7 hive, fllle'd it with old comb and some
sealed honey, except one frame; then took a frame
of brood from No. 1, placing No. 7 in No. I's place,
then placmg No. 1 in No. 7's place on the further side
of apiary. This was done in the middle of the day,
and the bees that went forth in the morning in
search of stores from No. 1, of course came back to
occupy hive No. 7, to their disgust, as the comb was
not very clean and neat. But they soon settled
down to " solid business," and went to work; built
up queen-cells, and now are doing well, except one
from which I took the old Queen with the frame of
brood, and they are doing as well as the others, and
the old colony is rearing the new queen. The 3 last
I divided the 25th of May; one I gave a queen-cell
from No. 7. 1 think this plan a grand success for a
new beginner to practice, although it may not be the
best plan to adopt for others. I have had no expe-
rience with any other plan, and do not wish to ad-
vise others, as I am belter adapted to learn than to
teach. I commenced in the latter part of March to
feed my bees on bee-candy, made with 1-5 part flour
and 4-5 granulated sugar; put on top of frames un-
der the cushion; then the first days that they would
fly I commenced to feed them rye flour, and that ac-
counts for their being so str>.ng, and many of my
neighbors' so weak. I think the object is, to get the
bees as early as possible in spring; for without the
bees we can not get the honey. 1 have built 33 chaff
hives, and shall use no other, as I think the principle
the best of any, and am in hopes to increase the 6 to
30 this season by the method 1 have adopted.
Mr. O. L. Grennuff had;}6; lost all but 13. Perry
Bros, had 40; lost all but 0. The above were win-
tered on summer stands without any protection.
C. J. Kobson had 4; lost none; his were buried in
the ground. C. H. MoORE.
Richford, N. Y., Juae 5, ISil.
Your plan does very well, friend M., if
you keep constantly in mind the idea that,
every day you keep a strong colony without
eggs or brood to care for, you sustain a great
loss. This is why we should have but few
bees in a colony until the young queen be-
gins to lay, and then we can strengthen them
up as much as we choose. While the bees
are waiting for the young queen, they can
care for a comb of eggs just as well as not,
and this is where neighbor H. succeeds so
well in raising queens. He keeps every
queen in his apiary doing ner utmost in fill-
ing combs, and all the bees in every queen-
less colony supplied all the time with eggs
to keep them busy.
REPORT OF THE BEES THAT WORKED
ON FliOUR IN THE HIVES IN MARCH.
SEE P. 234, MAV NO.
fKEPT the bees working upon the flour during
cold days, by putting a hot soapstonc over the
— ' feeder, and it would keep it warm almost all
day. The bees did not carry down more flour than
they consumed rearing brood. The swarm after-
ward became quite small, but not more so than
others as large that we could not induce to work
upon flour. We have fed flour in hives other
springs, and could induce about one in five to use
it, and these invariably came out ahead. Mr. L. C.
Koot's and Doolittle's localities are so much later
than here, that that has to be taken into considera-
tion, with reference to our own. This has been a
remarkable season. We could hardly get bees to
carry in honey, and they seemed not to have pluck
enough to even rob. We have been lunesomc for
stings.
White clover is coming into bloom, and is very
plentiful; but yet the weather is very dry, and if
we don't have rain soon, the clover will not amount
to much. Black locust and dandelions are now in
bloom. Mrs. L. H.\rrison.
Peoria, 111., May 33, 1881.
My friend, this is just about as I expected,
and I came pretty near adding, " And always
thought it would be." March feeding, espe-
cially late years, even though you thereby
start brood-rearing, is pretty sure to leave
the colony no better, and often not as well
oif, as those not so fed. Of course, such
would not be the case were the weather fa-
vorable for them to fly out, as it is on occa-
sional seasons. I can explain it in no other
way, than that the excitement and stimulus
of the food induces them to fly at unsuitable
seasons, so that more are lost than are raised,
by the feeding. I judge this from finding
that the bees that are left, after the colony
has dwindled down, are all young, downy
bees. At the same time, and in the same
apiary, queenless colonies will preserve all
their old bees until June, and after a queen
is given them in suitable weather they will
bring up in very fair shape. I would by no
means discourage these experiments, for J
feel sure we shall eventually succeed in rear-
ing as many bees as we wish, any month in
the year.
Friend Jones has just submitted to mo a copy of
the letter which he wrote friend Dadant, and to
which the latter alludes under the head of " Fair
Play," on page 3;5, May No. I think no one would
say, from reading the letter, that any reflections are
cast on the honesty and fairness of our well-known
friend Dadant, and I can see no reason why the mat-
ter should not be dropped right here.
340
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
July
HONEY-DEW IN ORECiON.
SN regard to your inquiries about honej'-dew in
Oregon, I can say that there are many localities
here where honey-dew falls in great quantities.
The locality you speak of in Gleanings is one of
the favorite parts for honey-dew. It is principally
confined to the foot of the Cascade Mountains, and
on the coast. I have seen honey-dew hero in Ore-
gon where I could easily dip a teaspoonf ul up at one
dip. These were favorite spots. Some years there
is much more than others. Here on the coast we
are favored with more or less honey-dew every year
through June, July, and August. I am quite sure
that, 20 years ago, there was more honey-dew than
at the present time. Then the country was com-
paratively new, and there were but few bees and a
great field of tlowers; but since that time great
wheat fields and sheep pastures have been opened,
in my opinion cutting the resources of honey-dew
short. However, here on the coast there is a great
amount of " sallal,"* of which the common black bee
can not reach the nectar; thus such a great amount
of honey evaporating accounts for our honey-dew
on the coast. I think if the Italians were introduced
here, it would cut the honey-dew crop short, as it
would take but a trifle longer tongue to reach the
nectar, although there is some honey gathered from
this shrub by the black bees, and from the dwarf
blooms. W. E. McWiLLi.
Collins, Benton Co., Oregon, May 4, 1881.
We can hardly agree with you, friend M.,
tliat the honey evaporates from tlie flowers
and condenses in the form of honey-dew;
but it may be we are mistaken. If lioney
ever falls from the atmosphere, or from the
clouds, as some of the friends have claimed
in our back volumes, it might be, I suppose,
that it rises up from the flowers. The mat-
ter seems still clouded in mystery. Many
thanks for the trouble you have taken to
furnish us these valuable facts.
REPORT FROM NORTHERN NE^V JER-
SEY FOR THE PAST ^VINTER.
ARE LATE-GATHERED STORES LESS WHOLESOME?
fj|WO-THIRDS of the bees in this locality are
dead. The following include tlie loss to date
— in my immediate neighborhood: E. Bellis had
70, lost 51; J. Weller 30, lost 20; I. Smith 5, lost 4;
P. Cowel 9, lost 9. There are others who have lost
heavily; but as 1 have not heard from them in a
fortnight I am unable to give the exact amount, but
think that I may safely affirm, that PaOf all are dead,
and the loss may reach 4-5 of all. The above were
all in box hives.. There arc but very few frame
hives in this locality.
I went into winter-quarters with 14 swarms— 11 in
Simplicity hives, and 3 in Gallup hives; they were
left on their summer stands. Each of the Simplicity
hives had 8 frames, with division-board packed with
buckwheat chaff, with space between cover and mat
filled with chaff. Those on Gallup frames were left
with the whole of the frames with caps filled with
chaff. Of the 11 Simplicities, 6 are dead; of the
Gallup, 1 is dead, leaving me 7 out of 14 alive.
CAUSE OF THE MORTALITY.
I do not think that the loss can be attributed to
*We aie in doubt about this word, and print it just as it loolis.
the cold weather alone. It may have helped to aug-
ment it, but I believe inferior stores, with an over-
plus of pollen, to be the main cause. What would
seem to indicate that the stores were mainly in fault
is this: That of the 7 that died, 6 were young, and
one old swarm, and that I believe to have been
queenless in the fall. Of those alive, there is 1
young, 6 old ones. My theory is, that the old swarms
had a surplus of old honey, or stwres, gathered in the
fore part of the season, which were better for win-
ter than that gathered later in the season; hence
they wintered much better.
All of the swarms that died had from 5 to 20 lbs. of
honey, and of the central frames of each, half of the
cells contained pollen with sour honey on top, and
as thin as water, so that it ran out of the cells and
down on the bottom-board.
The latter part of March I thought I would try an
experiment with 2 diseased colonies. I went to my
old swarms and took one frame of good stores from
each of four of them ; put them in a clean new hive,
and brushed the two weak colonies in on them to-
together; placed a division-board on each side of
them; filled in the empty space with chaff; put
chaff over the mat, and shut the hive up and left
them for five days; at the end of which time I no-
ticed that they did not fiy any, but robbers were go-
ing in and out; so I thought I would take a peep
and see how they were coming on, when lo! all were
dead. J. D. Brands.
Delaware Station, N. J., April 19, 1881.
While stores gathered early in the season
are doubtless the most wholesome, I do not
think this is the whole of the matter. Well-
ripened, sealed stores are, without doubt,
safer ; and I believe clover and basswood
honey is, as a rule, most wholesome ; but if
I am correct, the greatest point of all is, to
have old thick combs, containing the co-
coons of many generations of brood, to keep
the bees warm. New colonies seldom have
these, and they are ahnost always the first to
suffer.
REPORT FROM MR. AND MRS. AXTELIi.
SOME GOOD HINTS FROM OLD AND SUCCESSFUL
HANDS.
3!" THOUGHT I would write you, and let you know
I our success in wintering. We had 134 colonies
— ' (I think that was the number) that we wintered
out of doors with chaff packing, but they averaged
weak in the fall; 43 are alive; 23 are now good col-
onies. The rest will save their queens, and perhaps
build up good after awhile. I think I will give them
the parent stocks in swarming time.
We had 95 in cellar; all were alive when taken out
on the 18th, 20th, and 22d of April, except one; 3
were queenless; united with weak ones. Many col-
onies were suffering with dysentery; combs wet and
moldy — so wet that some hives, on tipping up, a
dirty, watery honey would run out of entrance; only
a few so bad as that, and those that were weak in
bees. The strong ones that were good in fall were
mostly dry and clean. We took out all the combs
but just what the bees could cover densely. The
queens began to lay immediately, and fill every
comb full of brood; then we extracted the unsealed
honey from the combs, and have been adding one or
more as they could care for them, eveiy few days.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
341
The warm weather and above trcalnicnt seemed to
cure the dj^sentery immediatel3'.
Bees arc doing finely now. They gathered but
very little from fruit-bloom. It seemed to last but
a few days, and the wind blew hard most of the time;
but as we have so many combs with honey in wo set
sonic on outside of division-board, and let the bees
carry in honey if they wish. I think we never had
more brood in hives, according to number of bees,
than now.
I believe that, in order to winter well, whether out
of doors or in cellar, it is all important to have, first,
strong colonies; second, plenty of honey; third, only
a few combs; fourth, pack in chaff ; more combs can
be given in spring. If in cellar, keep cool as ;)6 or 38
degrees, never higher than 40; without chalT. better
to keep warmer, as per Quinby and L. C. Root.
Ours were so wet because wc left in too many
combs; weak colonies, and poor fall honey.
L. C. AXTELL.
RoseviUe, HI., May- 18, 1881.
Perhaps many of our readers Avill recollect
that our friends above use chaff packing and
cellar wintering both, and that they have
been very successful. The above report
seems still to favor the cellar strongly.
WHY DO BEES STING MEMBERS OF
XHEIU OWN COLON V SOMETIMES?
I^DjsJ HE question is asked (several times of you in
Bjl"' GLE.iMNGS), why so many bees are killed in
— ' front of hives, or are carried out dead in large
numbers. Your reply is, that a swarm entered said
hive, etc. Xow, I think that is not always the case;
and, in fact, I will say that I hnoiv it is not always
the case. Persons say that they are certain no
swarms entered such hives, and yet great quantities
of dead bees are carried out, having been stung to
death, as they yet, on being dragged out, have
strength to move a little.
As we can profit by our experience in bee culture,
it is our duty to give the same, if thereby we can
benefit each other and advance the common inter-
ests of our industry. Now for experience No. 1.
A fine Italian queen, with wings clipped, was put
into a hive; about five days after, the adjoining hive
carried out dead bees; it being a box hive, I did not
not look into it for several days after the work of
death ceased; but another hive was killing and car-
rying out next to the second, which had frames. I
at once opened hive, and found a queen balled, and
on dispersing bees I found my wing-clipped queen
from No. 1. I immediately caged her, and looked in
No. 1, and saw low-capped queen-cells. Where was
the queen during all this time?
EXPERIENCE NO. 2.
A friend was looking at a young wingless queen in
my hand, and in a careless manner on my part she
dropped on the alighting board of an old colony.
"There," said I, "they will make short work of
her." She, however, ran into the hive out of sight.
This occurred about noon. At nearly night I went
my round as usual to see that all was right, and
found great quantities of dead and dying bees in
front of said hive. I opened it and found the queen
balled just inside, and bees so intent on killing her
that they killed each other. How long this would
have continued I can not say, but long enough to de-
populate materially. Now, I have not only had No.
1 and No. 2, but as many as six or eight cases since.
and found, in several additional cases, where strange
queens were balled; so you can easily conjecture
that a swarm entering is not the only cause for such
disaster.
Without a knowledge of a swarm entering a hive
it would be well to examine at once, and learn the
cause, which will be found to be, sometimes, a valu-
able queen saved, as in case of hive No. 3, and arrest
the work of death of so many bees.
You can decide the honey-dew question through
columns of Gleanings by asking all, as honey-dew
may appear in their several localities, to report at
once during the coming summer where found, and
in what quantities; why honey-dew is so thick some-
times that your "breeches" stick to your boots in
passing through prairie grass. None of your aphides
production; yet we have such on our willows and
sycamore sometimes. A. L. Klab.
Pana, 111., Feb. 17, 1881.
I think you are partly right, friend K., for
I have had some similar experiences myself.
We should always be careful to take a look
into the hive whenever we see an unusual
number of bees about the entrance stung to
death.
^ m »
ANOTHER HOME-MADE FOOT-POWER
BUZZ-SAW.
M S it will probably be of some value to some of
p^ the readers of Gleanings, I will tell how I
' made my hand-power circular saw. I first
obtained the cog-wheels of an old-fashioned wind-
mill, the larger one being about 14 in. in diameter,
and the small one about 4 in. I put the small one on
a wooden shaft, and on this shaft I put a large cast
wheel about 3 feet in diameter; from this wheel I
run a band to the puUy on the end of the mandrel.
HOW I MADE the MANDKEL.
1 obtained a one-inch bolt, 15 inches long; on one
end I put two burrs: between these burrs I put the
saw. In order to make the saw run true, I screwed
one burr on first, and turned it with a sharp file;
then put the other one on just far enough to admit
the file between, then held the file between them
while running, and in that way I got the saw per-
fectly true. 1 made the bearings by pouring melted
Babbitt metal into wooden molds, with a stick the
size of the mandrel run through it. I made the saw
out of an old hand-saw, by cutting it out with a cold
chisel, and cutting the teeth with a file. This is all
in one frame, about 3 feet square. It works so nice-
ly one of my neighbors has made one like it to run
by water, though he didn't use the gearing.
Chas. Kingsle-y.
Greeneville, Tenn., March 32, 1881.
Many thanks, friend A. You have suc-
ceeded in making a saw that will doubtless
do all of your own work, and with almost no
expense out. I presume few of our friends
will be so fortunate as to find gearing with-
out expense; and even if they should, if
they have plenty of work that will pay, it
may not be so very cheap after all. It is an
excellent idea to be able to make your own
tools during spare moments; but the natur-
al tact for such work varies so much in dif-
ferent individuals, that, where one succeeds,
a great many often fail in trying to follow
him.
342
GLE AIRINGS IK BEE CULTUBE.
July
From Different Fields.
HONEY-DEW IN SOUTH CAROLINA.
I NEVER had bees do so well in my life. There is
more honey-dew on my farm than two thousand
— ' colonies could gather. It is on all kinds of trees
and shrubs. We have not had any rain for about four
weeks, and the dew has been plenty for three weeks.
The honey-dew is dripping from some of the oaks. T
have tested the origin of the dew to my satisfaction.
With the aid of the little magnifying-glass I got of
you I thoroughly tested it, and I find that the insect
gets it from the leaf or shrub, and crawls on top and
puts it out. I took home some leaves that had some
insects on the under side, and no sign of dew on top,
and put them in my house at night, and the leaves
were covered on top the next morning. I also saw
them crawl and leave a stream on the leaf behind
them. So the honey-dew is a settled fact in my
mind. I am swarming my bees. I put a frame of
larvae in and made a hive, and in five days they had
4 Langstroth frames full. I count that big for yield.
I had 7 colonies, and I have doubled at this time, and
•they are doing well.
VENTILATION.
Do you give your bees any ventilation other than
at the entrance? Say some thing about it in Glean-
ings. J. D. CooPEit.
Traveler's Rest, Greenville Co., S. C, May, 1881.
The report you give of the honey-dew is
indeed wonderful, friend C. — We can get all
the ventilation required, with the Simplicity
hive, by moving it forward on the bottom-
board. As the sun does not heat through
the walls of the chaff hive, it does not need
more ventilation than the entrance affords,
when open the whole length, assisted by the
ventilating holes in each end of the cover.
OPEN-AIR FEEDING, AND HOW MANY POUNDS OF HON-
EY DOES IT TAKE TO MAKE 1 LB. OF BEES?
I failed to sell my honey, and ara feeding in the
open air; have fed to-day VZ gallons of syrup, made
of V-i grape sugar, and well diluted. I have about
2000 lbs. to feed during the season. Who can tell
how many pounds of honey it will take to make 1 lb.
of bees? I will give the price of Gleanings for a
reliable answer. C. D. Wright.
Baxter Springs, Kan., May 20 1881.
A pretty hard question to answer, friend
Wright ; for, if I am not mistaken, it will
take as many or more pounds of pollen than
it does of honey. J3y feeding tlour candy
to bees confined to their hives, by cool
weather it seems to me we might get at it
pretty fairly. I Avill give $10.00 for the re-
sult of a satisfactory experiment; I mean
one that would be satisfactory to myself,
and you know that I am sometimes pretty
notional. Perhaps it can be managed with
Hying bees, but I confess I don't exactly see
how.
an enthusiastic ABC SCHOLAR.
I wintered my bees on their summer stands in
chaff hives, and I do not think I lost a quart of bees
in ten colonies. There has been so much said on
wintering, that I will defer giving you my mode
until next fall. One of my neighbors wintered his
bees on summer stands, and during the hot weather
last summer he raised the front of his hives and
placed pieces of lath under them to give them ven-
tilation. That was the " packing" they got for the
winter. What do you think of that kind of winter-
ing? he had 12 colonies; 6 of them died, and the
others are good strong colonies. More than half of
the bees died in this vicinity during the last winter.
I had the pleasure of seeing the imported queen
that you sent to brother Keeran. She is a beauty,
and introduced and doing her duty as a good mother
should. 1 dearly love to read those Home Papers.
"Very often I fail to attend church and Sabbath-
school; but I never fail to read those Home Papers,
and they are a great source of happiness to me.
Continue them as long as you live, for they are do-
ing a world of good. Friend Novice, two weeks
from this evening, if God spares mo and the queen,
I am going to start a little nucleus. The hive Is
made; the frames and every thing pertaining to a
well-regulated house is in the hive. You are re-
spectfully invited to attend. Thomas Butler.
Bloomington, 111., May 31, 1881.
Many thanks for your kind invitation and
kind words, friend B.; but I fear 1 can't
come, much as 1 would like to. I am not at
all sure that the Home Papers will do you
more good than going to church or Sabbath-
school, even if you do like them better. You
see, it is easier, and we are very often a lit-
tle lazy about taking up important duties.
Go to church and Sunday-school first, and
then you can read the Home Papers with a
clear conscience. We are to help the world
along, and not always to be helped or pleased
ourselves.
dadant's pa.mphle^ on extracted honev.
I hardly think your notice of the pamphlet by
Chas. Dadant & Son, in the April No. of Gleanings,
was as extensive as it deserved. I know it is hard
for the editor to give extended reviews of all publi-
cations pertaining to our favorite pursuit; but some
are pre-eminently deserving, and contain a mass of
interesting facts that should be more extensively
known, and such is the work referred to. It should
be circulated throughout the entire country, north
and south, east and west ; for there is a lamentable
degree of ignorance, even on the part of persons
otherwise well informed in regard to extracted hon-
ey and the adulteration of the same, and we can not
' do too much to impart the knowledge we possess;
and the bee-keeping fraternity should return a vote
of thanks to the Messrs. Dadant for the able man-
ner they have conveyed the information thty pos-
sess to the public; and every bee-keeper should ap-
point himself a committee of one to circulate the
same as much as possible, and so educate the public,
and all comb honey and adulterated stuff will soon
be things of the past. E. T. Flanagan.
Belleville, 111 , May 5, 18S1.
You are doubtless right, friend F., and I
should, perhaps, have said more in praise of
the book, were it not that 1 felt the amount
of matter that it contained w;is rather small
for the price. Of late, we have been in the
habit of getting a pretty good-sized book, on
almost any subject, for a dime. 1 know the
matter a book contains has much to do with
it, and I know, too, that a book on honey
will not have the general demand that some
other books would.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
343
POUNDS OF BEES FROM TEXAS, ETC.
I ship this day by express 3 lbs. of black bees, and
1 lb. hybrids. I would ship about 20 lbs. more If I
knew you wanted them. I am sending- them with-
out an order. As I never shipped any bees, I
thought I would try 3 lbs. to see if they arrived O. K.
As you have not ordered any bees from me, please
just take them and allow me whatever you think is
right. I ship the hybrids in the sample cag-e you
sent me without water. Vou will see I put a wet
sponge in the other two. Please let me know what
condition they arrive in, as I did not know how to
make the kind of candy that was iu your cage; and
as mine was harder and dryer, I thought best to put
a little water, enough to last two or three days.
You may laugh at the ugly cages I made, but 1 don't
care if you do; you arc so far off I won't know it.
They are the first I ever made. E. J. ATCHLEy.
Lancaster, Dallas Co., Tex., May 18, 1881.
AVell, now, friend A., we did laugh, but
not at the cages ; it was because every bee
was alive and in excellent health, in both
cages containing the sponges. Your idea is
a good one, only I am afraid the water would
evaporate pretty fast from the sponges. The
express was only a little over a dollar ; and
if I could not get bees any nearer home, I
should certainly buy them from Texas. In
the one without water, they were all dead ;
but your venture turned out pretty well for
the first attempt.
THE WINTERING LOSSES.
As you, no doubt, with all the rest of those who
keep bees, had a surfeit of the losses and crosses of
bee-keeping, I will only say, in common with others,
I have lost heavily the past winter. But in the ret-
rospect, I can clearly see that a large share of these
losses were from the neglect of the small details
pertaining to the care of these useful little crea-
tures. And Is it not almost always the cause of
failure in any undertaking? for this same attention
to small things, so often called business, after all
seems the " open sesame" to abundant success.
My report for 1880 stands thus: 25 good strong col-
onies, when white clover opened; but on account of
the general poorness of the season, I took only 1600
lbs. surplus, and increased to 39 fair colonies put in-
to winter-quarters. But more of them hereafter.
Am I discouraged? No, sir! Going to give it up? No,
sir! For I believe with— somebody,—
' ' To earnest, patient endeavoi'.
Conies an utter failure never. ' '
Mrs. Kose Thomson.
Cowlesvlllc, Wyoming Co., N. Y., May 31, 1881.
THE 60-LB. CALIFORNI.\ SHIPPING-CANS.
It seems odd that you should describe the 60-lb. (5
gal.) can of California as " a 50-lb. can." They are
extensively used in California for all liquids, espe-
cially kerosene oil. That size seems to be adopted
because they are most economical to make and
pack, or case. For ecojiomy's sake, bee-keepers
hei'C commenced using them second hand, and now
they continue to use them because they are a staple
article, always on hand. R. Wilkin.
Ventura, Cal., May 19, 1881.
Thanks for correction, friend W. I pre-
sume it was my carelessness, in getting it
into my head that those large square cans
hold 50 lbs. I know your honey runs about
12 lbs. to the gallon, while the most of ours
here only about 11. I discovered it by find-
ing our usual half-pint jelly-tumblers hold
just an even pound. Of course, they over-
run i pint somewhat. As you state it, very
likely they are the l^est packages you can
use.
SECTIONS ON ALL WINTER.
There has been a good deal said in Gleanings
about wintering with sections on or off. I leave my
brood frames on all winter, and sometimes top story
without any frames at all, leaving the entire top
empty, with no protection over the frames at all. I
went into winter-quarters with 61: colonies; have, up
to date, 02; lost only 2, and they were the only two
that had any protection whatever. All were on
summer stands.
THE LOCCST HONEY-CROP.
We have the largest crop of locust honey that was
ever known in this valley. My bees are storing in
surplus boxes now, a thing I never heard of before
so early in the season; the locust has been in bloom
six days, and will probably list ten days more.
Last winter was the most severe we have had for 40
years. My bees were without a fly for 42 days. The
snow was about 3 feet deep nearly all that time. I
piled snow on my bees, and left it there.
J. Luther Bowers.
Berr3 ville, Clarke Co., Va., May 21, 1881.
the queen that always has a laying daugh-
ter WITH her.
Good news ! The colony containing the queen
about which I wrote you, hatched out a young queen
to-day. The old queen and the young one were on
the same frame of brood. I at once removed her to
a nucleus. They have abcut 8 or 10 more queen-
cells started. No artificial queens have been reared
yet, and drones are not quite a week old. So you
see they are ahead of them all. I will report about
her again soon. M. B. Moohe.
Morgan, Ky., May 13, 1881.
Erom the numerous reports we have had,
aside from the similar cases we have found
in our own apiary, I am strongly convinced
we may get a strain of queens that will keep
one (or even more) laying daughters in
the hive with her, all the time. Has any-
body ever heard of three laying queens in
one hive at the same time? Two are com-
paratively common.
GETTING RICH RIGHT OFF, WITH BEES.
After looking over Gleanings for May I find that
a good many have lost bees all over, as well as
around here. I began keeping bees in 1878. I
thought, like a good many others, that I was going
to get rich right off, so I got six swarms, and paid a
big price for them. One swarm I gave $16.00 for;
two more I gave $25.00 for. That winter I lost all
but one swarm. The summer of 18T9 I increased to
three; wintered them all right. In 1880 I increased
to 8 swarms, and bought one. Last winter I lost 2
swarms, and have 7 left; 6 of these are working first
rate, and the other is not in very bad shape. I had
all of mine packed in straw. I am encouraged won-
derfully, although I have been almost discouraged
sometimes; but I am going to keep trying. I have
learned more out of your ABC book since I got it,
about a year ago, than I have out of all the rest of
the books I ever read. J. W. Fleming.
Jackson, Mich., May 9, 1881.
344
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
July
MARKING QUEENS TO TELL THEIR AGE.
In May Gleanings, page 240, you consider my
plan unreliable, as queens g-et their wing-s mutilated
by age after one year or more. If this is the case,
and the mutilation is so similar to that cf clipping
that we can not discern the difference, how can nat-
ural swarming be a success in the hands of the box-
hive bee-keepers?
Again, friend R., did you ever sec a queen's wing
that was reduced one-half or more its length by mu-
tilation, though she should live a decade of years?
I have practiced the described method with hun-
dreds of queens, and I never found one thus treated
that I could not tell, at first sight, her correct age
from the clipped wings.
T'ei-haps you do not clip as closely as I do. It you
do, I think you would find the markings reliable.
SWEET corn; "corn OYSTERS."
As you wish our recipe for corn oysters, I will give
it gladly: 1 dozen ears, scraped as described in
GLE.A.NINGS, p. 240; 2 eggs; 1 cup rolled cracker (or
flour can be substituted;) 1 teaspoonful of soda.
Add sweet or sour milk, if necessary, to make it the
consistency of thick pancake batter; fry in butter.
We plant sweet corn about May 1, June 1, and July
1, which gives us a — jugt such a " prolongment" as
Doolittle gets from basswood.
Scriba, N. Y. F. H. Cyrenius.
Well, I have seen queens, friend C.,witli
their wings all gone entirely, and I think a
similar case is mentioned elsewhere in this
No. The box-hive men don't "tinker"
their hives and bees about as we do. Nev-
ertheless, your point is a good one.— Many
thanks for the corn recipe. It makes me
hungry just to read it, and it is only half-
past 10 o'clock. Why, it will do to plant
corn for green corn after this journal reaches
you, according to your figures, friend C,
and, just as sure as you are alive, I am going
to have some planted July Jst, too. Thank
you.
TWO QUEENS WINTERED IN ONE HIVE.
A brother about half a mile distant had two queens
that wintered friendly in one hive, and no mistake
about it; for they were put in the cellar the early
part of Dec, and the 25th of Feb. was a moderate
day (and he lives at a rather sunny spot), and at
noon ho moved them to their summer stands for a
Hy. A few hours later, on examination he found
one had two queens. He sent to my place for a
cage, and to know whether any queen had left my
apiary. Without any examination I knew that could
not be, for mine were all in the cellar, except a few
very strong colonies, and the temperature had not
risen above 40°. I slipped a few cages in my pocket,
and went down, and, sure enough, there they were.
The first one we came to was a large bright young
queen, apparently fertile. The bees had then balled
her, and, after that, brother said the other one was
darker. We soon found her also balled. She had
been balled before, for she had not the least sign of
a wing ; but she was large and active. I suppose
she was the old queen 1 had reared a few years ago.
There was brood in all stages, some young bees ap-
pearing. Now, they either superseded the old queen
late in the fall, and the old mother wouldn't die for
them, or (what I think is more probable) one of my
nuclei went in there late in the fall. The young
queen looked like an albino, and I had several nu-
clei that swarmed out and went down to this apiary.
Let it be as it may, they were living very friendly.
POLLEN ; IS IT ESSENTIAL TO BROOD-REARING ?
Friends, it looks very much to me as if pollen does
much of the mischief imong our bees during winter.
Is it really necessary for brood-rearing? Who has
had larvic analyzed, and what are the proportions?
On the Uth inst. I selected several A-ery nice bright
combs with neither pollen nor honey. I placed
them in a hive, and put a rather small colony on
them, and fed them pure A sugar syrup, and to-day
they have nearly as much brood sealed over as thej'
can protect. They have not had any pollen; how is
that for brood-rearing? S. V alentine.
Double Pipe Creek, Carroll Co., Md., Mar. 23, 1881.
Why, friend V., you come pretty near tak-
ing the ground that bees never need any pol-
len at all, and that when they carry it into
their hives, they are making a blunder.
The experiments I made in the greenhouse
are, I think, conclusive, — that no brood can
be reared without access to pollen or some
substitute ; but I may be mistaken. Your
bees flew, doubtless, between March 14 and
23 ; and, although you did not see them car-
ry any in, nor And it in the combs, I think
they got enough for the brood they reared. —
I am inclined to think the queens you men-
tion w'ere mother and daughter, or at least
were both hatched in the hive. Has any one
ever introduced a laying queen into a hive
having a queen, so that both would continue
laying side by side?
HOW the GENERAL RUN OF BEE-KEEPERS AVERAGE.
I thought perhaps you would like to know how
the bees in this part of the country have wintered
the past season. The following is a list of the bee-
keepers who live within about a mile of me, and
their losses:—
NAME. NO. lOST. lAME
I Chas. Fell,
S. Navlor,
I J. J. Starr,
S. Tracy.
i.J. T. Diven,
I T. B. Anderson,
IN' FALL.
1
LOST.
1
(• E. Canoles, 33 7
Wm. .Tohnsun, 14 13
.Tohn Knight, 12 11
Harry Mays, 13 11
,T. Vance. 14 7
.■Xnios Shultz, 2 2
R. Fell, 2 2 I
Nearly all the above colonies which died were
black bees in box hives. I had only 5 in box hives;
4 of them died. The others were in L. hives. I
now have 1 in box, and 25 in L. hives. Those I
have left are Italians and hybrids, except one,
which is black. It has been the hardest winter on
bees that was ever known here. All the above bees
were wintered on summer stands. Most of the bees
that died left from 5 to 30 lbs. of honey in their
hives. I am beginning to receive orders from my
three-line adv't in your May No. C. E. Canoles.
Hereford, Bait. Co., Md., May 21, 1881.
Well, it seems the above does not ^how
greatly in favor of box hives and black bees,
does it, friend C. ?
BUNAAVAY .SW.4RMS; HOW TO REMEDY.
How do you keep bees from swarming while you
are away at church and Sunday-school? I had ten
strong hives to begin with this spring. Las: Friday
one of them sent out a large swarm, and I hived
them and set them away. Saturday another
swarmed. Sunday, all went to Sabbath-school, and
when I came home I found another swarmed, and
gone to parts unknown; but this is not what troub-
les or puzzles me so much or what 1 expect to lind a
1881
GLEA^mGS IN BEE CULTURE.
345
remedy for. But while I was looking for the de-
parted swarm, swarm No. 1 came out of the box that
I had put them in, and alighted on their chosen
limb again. I got another box and hived them
again. They went in nicely, and seemed all right;
but not feeling altogether easy about them I went
out in about two hours to look after them, and be-
hold, they were gone. Now, it is perhaps too bad
to trouble you with all of this; but if anybody knows
the cause and remedy for such a freak, I suppose
you do; and I would like to. I forgot to say, they
had made some nice combs in the first box.
Smithfleld, O., May 30, 1881. N. L. Wood.
Where you raise comb honey, it is a pret-
ty difficult matter to fix a large apiary so you
know they will not swarm during the swarm-
ing season. Very likely it is one's duty to
stay at home at such a time. Let one com-
petent person look after the bees one Sun-
day, and another the next, and so on. Of
course, very much may be done to obviate
the necessity of such staying home at all;
and where artificial sivarming is practiced,
it is an easy matter to fix each colony so
there will be but a small probability of
swarms issuing. From your writing, friend
\V., I infer you have only box-hives; if so,
you must expect to lose swarms. Use mov-
able-frame hives, and give each swarm, as it
is hived, a comb containing unsealed larvae,
with as little honey as possible, and my ex-
perience is, that not one in a hundred will
ever desert the comb of larvte. Empty
combs are a great help to a new colony, and
have always seemed to me to have quite an
influence in holding them to their new home.
COVERING THE BEES WITH HAY, OR SWAMP GRASS.
Last spring, 1880, 1 went into partnership in the
bee business with Dr. Henrj' Munger, a true, faith-
ful. Christian man. All things went well until the
9th of September, when he was taken quite sick.
The doctor lingered, hovering between life and
death until November 23, when he died. After he
was taken sick I had 100 colonies left on their sum-
mer stands. About the 1st of December I covered
them with "slew-grass," each hive as it stood. For
five months they were shut up, and never flew. I
lost 7 stands, and came out this spring with 93 colo-
nies in good condition. Now I have over 100 stands
of as fine Italian bees as can be found anywhere in
this country. I am well satisfied, considering my
inexperience. I am truly sorry you had such heavy
loss; but you have the pluck to "pick your flint"
and try again. Isaac Edwards.
Omaha, Neb., June 3, 1881.
THE FEEDER WE USE.
Take a square piece of tin, mark a straight line
around it about H in. from the edge, and also from
that line to the corner; then bend it over a sharp
tool, and turn HP, lapping the corners with the pli-
ers. I can make them without any soldering. Then
when I fill up my oyster-can, fruit-can, or any tbing
that is handy, just set my plate on top, and turn over
without spilling. I would not have those Hains
feeders with top fasteneil on. Moli^ie O. Large.
MiUersvllle, 111.
candy feeding during spring.
You sent me a tub of grape sugar in March. It
was very bitter stuff and I feared the bees would not
cat it, but I made about 30 lbs. of candy according to
directions, and put a small brick of it over the clus-
ter on 25 hives, and tucked them up warm. They all
seem to have nibbled at it a little, but I don't think
they have eaten a quarter of a pound of it altogeth-
er, and 12 colonies died— some of them evidently of
starvation ; two colonies had cakes of maple sugar,
though, and I couldn't see that that was any better.
Jackson, Mich., June 5, 1881. Joseph Cook.
When bees get to the point Avhere yours
were, it is a hard matter to get them to take
any thing in the way of food, as you found
by using the maple sugar, which you say
seemed to answer no better, f ^audy made of
pure cane sugar would have made little dif-
ference, and the best of sealed stores of hon-
ey seems to be scarcely noticed when they
get this spring malady. However, when the
weather is ct)ol and the cluster small, they
will often take to honey or stores sealed up
in the combs, when they will not notice can-
dy of any kind ; for candy, it should always
be remembered, is food in an unnatural form,
and they often have to learn how to take it,
as it were, before they use it freely. I have
very rarely found a colony, of any strength
at all, that woitld neglect to use maple sugar,
if put right over the cluster, and well cover-
ed up. I liave hunted up friend Cook's or-
der for sugar, and it reads as follows : —
Inclosed I send you $.5.c0, for which please send me
100 lbs. grape sugar by freight. Please send the su-
gar Immediately, as my bees are in a starving condi-
tion. . Joseph Cook.
Jackson, Mich., March 14, 1881.
We have several times had complaints that
bees have starved, while waiting for grape
sugar or candy, that was ordered by freight.
There is some thing radically wrong about
all this. If grape sugar is to be used, it
should be ordered, and on hand, long before
the time it is likely to be wanted. If bees
are suddenly found to be in danger of starv-
ing, go at once to the groceries and buy su-
gar or candy. Keep them going on this
until your grape sugar comes, which, as
freights are uncertain, and usually slow, is
at best uncertain. Where it has to be ship-
ped some distance, the sugar from the gro-
ceries is often the cheaper, taking freights
on small quantities into consideration. Last-
ly, when bees are starving, you must not only
give them the food, but make them, or,
rather, see that they do take it. Many a
colony has been lost because the owner hur-
riedly placed food where he supposed they
could get it, and then left them, only to find, a
few days after, that they never found it at all.
I once found a colony almost out of stores in
April. I put a quart fruit-jar of honey over
one of the holes in the honey-board, and said
to myself, " There ! I guess you won"t starve
now ; " but a few days after I found them
all dead, clustered over to the opposite side
of the hive from where the honey was
placed. There is no other way, my friends,
but to be on hand, and to make success cer-
tain by watching and prompting at every
step.
346
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
July
BEES THAT WON'T WORK IN THE UPPER STORY OB
BOXES.
I have a number of full colonies— large colonies
in 2-story hives, but they will not work in the upper
stories, cither in the L. frame for extracted honey,
or in the section boxes which I have ia wide frames.
What is to be done? The flow of honey at this time
is immense, Jno. W. Hinsdale.
Raleigh, Wake Co., N. C, May 11, 1881.
This question is pretty sure to come up
many times each season. Friend IL, you
must mal-e them go up and go to work.
With hives fixed for extracting, it is an easy
matter, for they will usually go up on tin-
ished combs without trouble; but if they
don't, just put a comb of brood up among
them. With our arrangement of section
boxes in the wide frames, you can raise a
comb of brood to start them in the sections
also ; but a better way is to hang a frame of
sections at each outside in the lower story, a
little before the upper stories need to go on,
and when they get well to working in these,
raise the frames of sections above, putting
more empty ones below. I suppose of course
you have fdn. starters in all your frames and
sections. Putting on the upper stoiies too
soon is often one cause of getting the bees
averse to going above. You should wait
until they begin to be a little crowded, and
then they will usually go right up and com-
mence work, just as soon as the room is giv-
en them.
VENTILATION IN WINTER.
My report for this winter is 3 out of 0 swarms
dead, for want of ventilation; one swarm, with
opening in top, 2x14 inches, saved In extra good con-
dition. One box hive with two-inch hole in top, al-
ways open, wintered without any dead bees; now
ready to swarm; 4 in Simplicity hives, with oil-cloth
cover; no ventilation; got dysentery badly in
March. I fed each, one quart of coffee A sugar syr-
up, and gave good ventilation: nil were well in two
days. Ventilation is the thing. My bees had no
protection. M. L. Hobbs.
Middleport, Meigs Co., O., May 18, 1881.
There is, without question, a significance
in these reports of favorable winterijig, with
an opening, or openings, of not too large a
size, right over the cluster. Suppose we
have a hole in our chaff cushions, right down
into the cluster of beesV I know this idea
is not new; but are we sure it has been
sufiiciently looked after':*
PACKING WITH FOREST LEAVES.
My bees that were packed, 17 stands in all, are in
fine condition. My box hives, with no protection,
all died. I think fully ?i of the bees in this locality
have died this winter and spring. I am fully con-
vinced of the importance of packing in some form.
I packed mine in forest leaves. C. L. Bostwick.
Sandy Hook, Fairfield Co., Ct., May 13, 1881.
I believe friend Dadant at one time used
forest leaves, and may yet for aught I know.
Will he please tell us about it? As these
are much more loose and porous than chaff,
it may be that they would offer some of the
advantages secured by leaving sections on
fill winter; viz., more thorough and com-
plete ventilation.
ITALIANS WORSE ON SORGHUM-MILLS.
Last fall I had 24, all in trim on the ABC plan,
painted like Joseph's coat: IT colonies were Italians.
When I ground the amber cane (the seed of which I
got of you), the Italians just swarmed over the mill,
and were reduced so much during that winter I lost
10 of them. The blacks did not bother, and so all
wintered well. With me, I came off better than
mDst of ray brother bee-keepers here.
W. WiNINGER.
Glasgow, Barren Co., Kj-., March 17, 1881.
CHAFF niVES AGAIN.
Don't go back on chaff hives. My neighbors lost
bees in cellars, in bee-houses, and in tenement hives.
I have been several miles around, and examined
them. Some have 3 out of 50, while others having
100 lost all. Mine on their summer stands in chaff
hives are all right. May 12, drones flying; lost 1 out
of 25. I don't want anj' space in Blasted Hopes this
spring. W. D. Higdon.
Jackson, Mich., May 16, 1881.
Friend II., if you could see the number of
chaff hives we are sending out, even in this
month of June, you would think that neither
ourselves nor customers had any thought of
" going back on them " right away.
CHAFF PACKING, ETC.
It is about time I told you how I came out, for it
was a~hard winter on bees. I am sorry so many
have lost almost all their bees. Well, the trouble is
in the stores that the bees had to live on through
the winter. You see, two years ago I lost 67 out of
70, and it was not as bad a winter as the pnst. My
wife said I had better give up the bee business now.
I told her I would get my money out of where I lost
it, and so I have. I didn't like to give up, for I had
been at it for 15 years. Now I will try to tell you
how many I lost last winter, and how I wintered.
COLS. LAST FALL. HOW PAC'KEn. DEAD.
21 in c'haff hives, - - 0
OinliousoNo. 1, iiaokcd in chaff, - 0
4 in house No. 2, iKirked in ehaff, 0
5 in house No. H, starved, packed in hay, - - - - 2
1() in house No . 4, packed in iiay, 2
2 in house No 5, paelced in eliaff, ------ U
18 no protection, ._--..--- 8
These houses are 3 feet wide, and high enough for
hives; frames to hives are all one size, and all have
9 in a hive, except a few weak ones I am building
up now. STEPHEN Hill.
Port Huron, Mich., May 8, 1881.
You say the trouble is in the stores, friend
IL, but yet you don't tell us what stores
they had during this last winter, different
from when you lost so many.
CHAFF ONCE MORE.
I have been reading so much in Gleanings about
wintering bees, that I felt a strong desire to tell you
of my success. I have not lost a single swarm since
1 have packed in this way ! I use Sayles No. 1 hive,
with Langstroth frame; take out 4 frames, put di-
Aision-board on each side, and pack tight with oat
chaff, then put a piece of carpet over, then a peck
of loose chaff, then a chaff cushion on top of that,
and leave just as they stand through the summer.
I packed 21 last fall that way and never lost one.
The hives were all dry and clean, with hardly any
dead bees. I do not like oil-cloth over them, for it
always creates a moisture on the sides of the hives
for me. Most bee-keepers in this section lost a great
part of their bees. :^y bees averaged S!13.50 to the
18S1
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
347
hive last year, and were all strong this spring when
I cleaned their hives. I go around my hives every
day, winter and summer, and sec that the entrance
is clean and every thing right.
Mrs. J. S. CocHKAN.
Macon, Macon Co., 111., June 1, 1881.
HKKti ON THE BRANCHES OF TREES IN TEXAS, ETC.
I sometimes get long letters from novices in hor-
ticulture. Those letters would be a great hore to
nic if they did not afford the gratification that I had
set some one to studying- my favorite themes, and
then I often do learn some tln)i{j, even tvoui them.
Of course, I ean not reply in detail to such long
letters.
I have learned much from jour liook alread,\ —
much that I am surprised to think I had not com-
mon sense to see. I am ashamed to tell you of some
things I have done witTi my bees, because I did not
know any better. The more I have to do with my
bees, the more I love them and wonder why they
did not sting me to death for some things I ha\e ig-
norantly done with them.
This is an alluvial region. Among the mountains
of Bandera Co. there are many "/jcc-carts." Be-
yond the Itio Grande, beeS often occupy the under
side of a large limb in the open tree-top. There
they build comb and gather stores, just as if they
were in a hive.
The other day I was talking about bees occupying-
open tree-tops in Mexico. One bystander remarked
that he had found such a swarm in the adjoining
county (Calhounj, that he took the honey and gave
the bees to Mr. Hoff, of this county. I mean to
learn from Mr. H. wliether they became contented
in his hive, and whether they were a diffei'ent A'ari-
ety of bees from those we are accustomed to. An-
other acquaintance, so well known to me as a man
of perfect veracity that I can not question any thing
he would say, says that he took a bucketful of honey
from a swarm similarly situated, in my own neigh-
borhood. He has some knowledge of bees, and says
they were the common black bee of the region.
They had selected a position under the bent portion
of the tree. Our preacher (a man of undoubted
truth) sajs, that on the frontier, toward Mexico,
whei'c he had once been on a frontier circuit, he
had repeatedly seen swarms of bees occupying shel-
tered positions on trees which had no cavity, and
that in one instance he had seen them i)!. the
yra.ss, where tall coarse grass had lodged together
from different directions so as to form a shelter.
This fact, for it is a fact, makes me smile when I
read articles headed, '• Why Bees Work in the
Dark." G. Onderdonk.
Mission Valley, Victoria C>>., Tex., June 4, 1881.
Many thanks for the facts furnished,
friend O. You judge rightly; these letters
are a great source of pleasure and profit to
me, your own affording a striking illustra-
tion of the point. I do not get time to re-
ply, however, as I would like to, and thank
the kind writers. Bees on the branches of
trees are sometimes known, even here ; but
I suppose it is more common in warmer
climates.
BLACKS OR ITALIANS; WHICH WINTER BETTER?
You say, on page 2!I3 of Gleanings, that the past
winter has almost " extinguished black bees in our
countrj'." Well, the case seems to be different here.
May.be the blackswintered better in some other
places. It may be that is why there Is such a de-
mand for black queens and bees as you say there is
on page 298 of Gleanings. I had 65 last fall; have
5 hives now (4 or 5 hybrids; rest, 60, Italian.) I give
a few reports below, here in Washington Co., Pa.:—
Mr. Fordire, 80 Italians, has left 1 this spring.
Sirs. Parkinson, 2 •• " '• 0 " "
Mi. M. G. Mintou, 8 " " " 3 " "
H. P. Bcatty 11 Blat-k, " "11 '■
F. Stanker, 601-8 " " " .5 "
A. Elliot, 20 or 25 '• lost 1
The strongest hive I have are hybrids. I will con-
fess, that I have some notions of getting the old
black bees again. Let us get at the facts of the win-
tering of bees. The people, most of them around
here, think the black bees can stand the winter bet-
ter. I have had Italians 6 or 7 years.
The bees were all wintered outdoors on summer
stands without protection. J. L. Hoge.
Sparta, Washington Co., Pa., June 9, 1881.
That is right, friend II., give us facts, by
all means. I did not mean to say the blacks
wintered worse than Italians, but rather
that those who kept black bees are giving
them up, so that the Italians had a clean
sweep, as it were. You know, those who
keep black bees mostly make bee-keeping a
secondary consideration, as it were, and af-
ter a few' reverses, they, as a general thing,
drop bees entirely. The experts, on the con-
trary, can l)uy every spring, and build up
with Italians, and make a good thing of it
even tlien. I am inclined to think that hy-
brids, other things being equal, will winter
better than either race pure. Let us have
some reports on this matter.
CHAFF, SAWDUST, AND A SUGAR, ETC.
There was a great loss in bees in these parts last
winter, as nearly all died. I had i colonies (Italians)
last fall, good and strong, with plenty of honey; two
died with dysentery; the other two came through,
one very weak, the other tip top; had a fine large
swarm on the 16th. They are also making surplus
in top boxes. I have a friend who had 16 colonies
last fall; he brought them all through without any
lo.'s; had them packed in chaff and sawdust. His
main dependence is chaff, or sawdust and A sugar.
He thinks it is just as safe to winter bees as it is
horses or cattle, or any other stock. Now, what
think you of that compared with the loss of 128 out
of 140 colonies? W. C. Neil.
Strattonville, Clarion Co., Pa., June 18, 1881.
HOW I FASTEN FDN., OR ST.iRTERS, IN SECTION
BOXES.
Take a tin pan, and put in clean wax; melt it, not
too hot, your grooved section pieces on your left,
starters on the right, with your melted wax in the
middle, or front of you. First move: take grooved
section piece in left and starter in right hand; dip
starter in wax; stick right in groove; shove It to
left, out of your way, and repeat. I tried this two
years ago; stuck .5;0 starters at two sittings by the
stove in July; had to nail the sections afterward.
Not one of them dropped in nailing. I think I can
slick full frames the same way, and beat any ma-
chine I ever read of. J. E. J.a.rrett.
West Point, Iowa, June 14, 1881.
Very true, friend J.; but you did the work
yourself. Suppose you set a child at it, or
any cheap help ; they would daub wax ev-
erywhere, and would not make it go either ;
whereas, with the Parker machine they
US
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
July
would do good work, and do it rapidly. I
know your plan is a good one for one who
can be trusted to handle melted wax.
ROBBED BEES GOING HOME WITH HOBBEBS, ETC.
Just a few words from our section. Bees never
hare done better than now; 180 natural swarms May
12; more surplus to-day than all last >car; very
heavy honey-dews.
Now just a word on Doolitlle's comments, about
robber bees joining- intruders. This spring one of
my father-in-law's stocks began robbing one of a
neighbor's, and robbed till all honey was gone. The
I'obbed swarm gave up, and followed out in a mass-
queen and all. They clustered on a barn-side for
half an hour. All the while they were there some
kept up a strong "line" to the robber's stand, and
then all went to the stand and went in. If there
was no queen, why did they bang so long? We saw
them come out in a body, and so I, for one, am con-
vinced.
yUEENS THAT WON'T LAY.
Did you ever have bees that accepted a queen for
one month, kill her? I have been buying some Ital-
ian queens, and one that was warranted pure and
laying, I think was not fertilized; if so, would she
come out twice, as if to meet the drones? I have
had one act this way. The last time, she did not
comeback; I presume the birds caught her. Now
what ought I to do? She was received in good con-
dition, with a postal stating she was known to be
laying; but not an egg she laid for me. Will friend
Flanagan tell what kind of candy he used to make
his bees boom so?
BLACK ITALIANS.
I have one swarm of blacks that have cccru pecu-
liarity of Italians. To handle them, you would nev-
er know them t<) be blacks; comb is always built up-
wai-d, but no yellow bands, and no one could buy
that queen from me. Why? She is always the first
to swarm, always the first to store supplies, always
the strongest, and I have never lost one swarm from
her in wintering yet, without protection either. 1
have taken full frames of brood from her all sum-
mer, and nothing checks her. lam now trying to
get her daughter crossed by Italian drones, but can't
say for certain, but I don't think they have. I call
her " Best," and she has well earned her name. If
there were black Italians, I should call her one.
Ed. Ladd, Jr.
Beverly, Macon Co., Mo., June 17, 1881.
I have known colonies to seemingly pro-
test against accepting queens for nearly a
month, and to finally kill them after they
had laid the hive pretty full of eggs. Re-
moving queens sometimes causes tliem to
stop laying entirely Neighbor ][. carried
one of his best queens down to his river api-
ary, and introduced her; and, although she
was a good laying queen, and was out of the
hive only a few hours, she never laid any
afterward. Have charity, friends, and be
slow in accusing anybody of selling a virgin
queen. If the queens we send out don't lay,
after a proper time, say three or four days,
if honey is not coming in, feed regularly for
a day or two; if they don't lay then, say so
pleasantly, and Ave will send another in' her
place ; but please don't write back you think
she never did lay.— I should not be surprised
if such a queen might take another flight;
you know I gave pretty good evidence that
a queen received from Italy once met a drone
here, before she commenced laying. Hold
on to your black Italians by all means.
They may have Italian blood in them, I sup-
pose, even if they have no bands.
WHAT A POUND OF BEES WILL DO., ETC.
Last fall or the last of summer I bought one tested
queen and a pound of bees; paid .f3.00. The bees
she raispd were nice. They wintered well, but one
day in March I saw the bees drag her out dead. I
thought all was lost; but one day in April T saw a
young queen out for a fly, but there were no drones.
It was the last time I saw her. The bees soon died.
Moral : The queen must have been old.
Wm. G. Norton.
Honeoye Fislls, Monroe Co., N. Y., June 1, 1881.
But I must protest against that "moral"
a little, friend N. I do not know of whom
you bought the pound of bees and queen,
but I would put the moral as it is in the
ABC; viz., any queen is liable to die or
stop laying, at any period of her life; and
because you happen to be unfortunate, do
not uncharitably decide that the person who
sold you the queen knowingly sent you an
old one.
ABSCONDING OF X POUND OF BEES XfiD QUEEN.
The pound of bees with queen came to-day in
splendid condition — not two dozen dead were found
in the case. But what ailed the pets? I think they
took a sudden dislike to this northern countr3'. I
arranged a nice hive for them, with a full frame of
brood, capped and uncapped, and a frame contain-
ing honey. I opened the case containing the bees
with queen, and set it in the hive, and covered the
same with usual honey-bu:a-il and top, and after
watching their movements 15 or 20 minutes I left
them about half an hour, and returned, when I no-
ticed they seemed quiet; and in looking into the
hive to see if they had all come out of the case, and
intending to put in a division-board, I noticed the
bees had taken "French leave"— not a dozen bees to
be seen. What could have been the reason? lam
sadly disappointed, and imagine I at first must have
resembled Rodney, in the cartoon for May, page 220.
I felt as he loolis, at all events. W. AVakefield.
St. Paul, Minn., June 10, 1881.
We had just one such report last year, and
as we have sent 'out toAvard 1000 lbs. this
season, Avith only one such report, I can
hardly think it a very common freak. I do
not knoAv Avhat more one could do, after
giving them a frame containing unsealed
larvtc. If the hive had any offensive smell
about it, I should perhaps think that the
cause. Although Ave Avere in no kind of way
to blame in the transaction, I hardly felt
right to let our friend have all that money
and trouble out, without a bee to show as
an equivalent, and so I offered to fill the or-
der again at half price.
"NEA'ER say DIE;" RAISING BEES IN THE HOUSE.
Do you remember in Feb. No. you put me in
Blasted Hopes. If I had lost all I would not despair
nor give up. My hopes are not Masted yet. I saved
two out of seven, and they are doing well. AVinter
came on unexpectedly early and severe; frost gath-
ered in the hive; after two or three weeks it thawed
just enough to run on the bees, and before they
could get dry it turned cold again and froze the little
pets to death. I discovered the trouble when all
1881
GLEANINGS m BEE CULTURE.
349
were dead but two, and they had only a handful left.
I took them into the house, set them behind the
stove, and they warmed up and got dry. In three
days the queens were layiufi-. I kept them in a
warm room, and in less than ten days they were
hatching young bees, " you liet." I took good care
of them, and they are now filling their hives full of
white-clover honey. A. Bixby.
Foristell, St. Charles Co., Mo., June 14, 1881.
The following little circumstance is not without in-
terest to the ABC class:
BKE-STIXG IX THE EYELID.
On the 6th day of the present month my neighbor
Fantcher was hiving a swarm of bees, when ho re-
ceived a sting on the right ejelid, about a sixth of an
inch above its lower margin. He scratched the sting
oil, as he thought, and continued his work, thinking
no nioro pf the accident until the 8th inst., when he
began to perceive a very unpleasant sensation of
scratching on the surface of the eye whenever the
lid passed over the copnea (or colored part.) This
soon became so intolerably painful that he came to
me for relief. By the aid of a powerful magnifier I
could see a minute dark point projecting from the
inner surface of the lid. "With a sharp knife I shaved
off a film of the mucous surface, having the point of
the sting sutficiently exposed to be seized by a pair
of forceps, with which I drew it out, thus complet-
ing its passage through the eyelid. He has had no
further trouble, but will hereafter follow my exam-
ple, and wear a veil when he handles bees.
H. A. MOODV, M.D.
Lorgtown, Panola Co., Miss., June 14, 1881.
NEW SWAKMS ABSCONDING.
I will tell you how I cared for swarms that wished
to leave for parts unknown. I put them in a secure
place sheltered from wind and sun, and covered
them with a wet sheet, and kept it wet and well
tucked in, so they could not get out for three days,
and kept them several times from leaving. When
they wish to leave they are generally uneasy— don't
act quite right. Sometimes it is too warm or windy,
and combs break down. Mary.
Independence, Cuy. Co., O., June lit, 1881.
Why. friend Mary, would you keep the
poor fellows idle three days, with the clover
'• booming " V If I had them, I would expect
them to earn almost as many dollars in that
time ; and if they would not stay and go to
work otherwise, I would divide them, giv-
ing each part a comb of unsealed brood.
This will surely hold any new swarm, no
matter how crazy and excited they are.
BEES COMING TO A WELD-KEPT APIARY.
The 2 lbs. of bees came all right in good condition,
and are doing well. You gave me good weight.
Many thanks. Yesterday a large swarm of Italian
bees came from your direction, and settled on a tree
in my yard. Did you send them? I like that way of
sending bees, as it not only saves the original cost,
but express charges too. They must have come a
good distance, as I know of no Italian bees in that
direction in this countj'. I was in Rev. Mr. Ballen-
tine's apiary last week. He wintered all his stocks,
and is making a good thing of it this summer. I
shall let you know by and by how my bees are doing.
North Salem, O., June 17, 1881. J. W. Martin.
I didn't send the bees, friend JM., but I am
glad they went there, especially as they are
good Italians. Is it not queer how they some-
times come to a body in that way V and, if I
am not mistaken, you think more of that
colony, that seems to be a sort of present
that God sent you, than any other in your
yard. Is it not so V We get several runaway
swarms in that way almost every year. I
tell the boys it is because they think this is
a good place to stay.
WITH THE BIGGEST CROWD.
Referring to your Postscript No. 2, in your May
No., I wish to say I shall try, with God's help, not to
be in a like position next spring; but,alasl we know
not what a day may bring forth; and although not
(juite so badly off as friend Rodney, of Dayton, Ohio,
still I feel badly enough at my success thus far. In
the spring of 1878 I invested in 20 swarms of bees,
and Italians at that; they increased to 41; losses dur-
ing the winter, 27; last winter I lost only one swarm
out of 44; then " the goose hung high.' ' Sold during
the year, bees, $^24.00; honey, $6.00.
Went into winter-quarters last Nov. with 59, good,
bad, and indifferent; this spring, hearing from all
sides discouraging reports, it was with fear and
trembling that I approached my bee-house to open
up. Out of 59 I found 10 alive and well. Nearly all
my neighbors' are in a like condition. I have no
objection to being placed in Blasted Hopes when
such men as Townley and yourself are there, and
from reports, I think the largest crowd is there also.
A. W. WiLLMABTH.
Embarrass, Wis., June 5, 1881.
$d^ and §mvks.
fHE swarming season is over here, and I think
that not more than one-tenth of the bees of
— ' Southern California have swarmed. Bloom is
abundant, yet there is almost no surplus coming in
yet. ]Many think we are going to get no honey, and
it seems the general feeling is, we will not have
more than half a crop at most. R. Wilkin.
Ventura, Cal., May 15, 1881.
THE CALL FOR BEES.
Bees are doing well. After selling 247 of the best
colonies that have ever left my apiary, I have al-
ready increased the remainder to about 325, and still
3 weeks before basswood blossoms. Bee-keepers
are alive, anyway, even if bees are all dead; fori
am besieged with orders dail}-, but must positively
refuse to fill them. Geo. Ghim.m.
Jelferson, Wis., June 17, 1881.
I caged in a very hurried manner, and shipped 10
one-dollar queens yesterday; hope they will reach
you safely. Please report immediately. I have
adopted a rapid way of capturing the queens and
attendants by placing the cages over them as they
rest on the comb, then cautiously sliding the lid on.
I get them in faster, and there is no danger of
crushing them. Mrs. B. H. Loave.
Hawkinsville, Ga., June 16, 1881.
[Every queen was in prime order, my friend, like
almost all you have sent, and I would say, for the
encouragement of the ladies, that Mrs. Lowe has
sent us the most early queens of any of our queen-
breeders, North or South, and no one, unless it is
our friend Viallon, has had such invariable success
in getting them through alive.]
350
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
July
We wintered 3t colonies in the cellar, without los-
ing any. DeWitt Brayton.
Sandy Hill, N. Y., April 11, 1881.
I had a swarm of bees yesterday; that is 20 days
earlier than usual for this section.
Centreville, la., June 3, 1881. G. B. Replogle.
My best colony has stored over 40 lbs. of surplus in
about 4 days. L. W. Vankirk.
Washington, Pa., May 30, 1881.
A hot wind blowing from the desert now makes it
quite probable that we will get no surplus honey this
season. R. Wilkin.
Ventura, Cal., May 18, 1881.
HONEY-DEW.
Honey-dew has commenced falling, and bees are
busy. I find it only on white oak. Why is this?
Poteau, Ark., May 17, 1881. H. C. Betiiei-.
I have wintered 125 hives of boos this past winter
without losing one. Can you beat that in Ohio?
Dr. F. Leashiek.
Hooper, Broome Co., N. Y., April 26, 1881.
Bees in our countj', 80 per cent dead. Our own,
50 per cent. Cause, dysentery, with a few starved.
Those alive are doing finely. Have 18 colonies liv-
ing. H. H. Laurence.
Columbia City, Ind., June 9, 1881.
BLACKS FOR WINTERING.
Black bees seem to have wintered here better than
Italians. The latter dwindled down so much in the
spring that they are very weak. J. H. Martin.
Hartford, N. Y., May 19, 1881.
I see in Gleanings you oflPer free advertisement
for those who have bees to sell by the pound.
Please give this room: Italian bees, 75c per lb.
Bright Bros.
Mazeppa, Minn., June 14, 1881.
POLLEN AS ONE CAUSE OF THE MORTALITY.
I have been handling bees for forty years. I think
the pollen did more damage than the cold. The few
colonies that I saved had the least amount of pollen.
W. G. Wright.
Delphos, Ohio, June 9, 1881.
I will furnish bees at $1.00 per lb. after the 15th of
July, in lots of not less than 5 lbs., put up in good
shape to ship, and delivered at the express olHce. I
think now I could fui-nish one hundred 'bu»hels.
H. R. BO.\RDMAN.
East Townsend, Huron Co., O., June 16, 1881.
CHEERFUL STILL.
I have fared no worse than the majority, having
76 in winter quarters, and came out with 10 stocks;
but they are doing famously. Being a young man,
and just starting in life, its pretty severe on me;
but this world is full of disappointments, and we
must bear them cheerfully. En. F. Christie.
Maple Landing, la., May 18, 188L
HOPES NOT BLASTED, AFTER ALL.
I lost all of mine this winter— 104 skeps. I have to
start off anew. I have bought 86 to start.
jAMts Mahkle.
New Salem, N. Y., May 16, 1S8I.
[I should call that philosophically cool, friend M.;
but I presume it is the best way to take it.]
pretty well FOR RAPID INCREASE.
I commenced in 1880 with 10 stands, and increased
them to 37, and came through the winter with 31 by
giving them very close attention. I do not claim to
be a beginner. I wintered on summer stands.
Pomeroy, O., May 29, 1881. S. E. Bailey.
We are having a very wet spring, and the white
clover is very promising; but "the laborers are
few." Bees are weak. I have 90 out of 120 last fall ;
have drones flying. Some hives have 8 to 9 frames
of brood. I think the prospect is good for a crop of
honey. J. B. Rapp.
Owensville, O., May 9, 188L
Since the advent of June, the weather has been
cool and wet; white clover very abundant, but very
little honey in it yet. We've been making "bees by
the pound" by feeding, night and day, all the dilut-
ed honey that the bees can be induced to take.
Mrs. L. Harrison.
Peoria, 111., June 6, 1881.
COLORADO.
Bees are booming here; some hives have sent out
their second swarm. But few died last winter. I
am afraid the grasshoppers will play havoc with our
surplus pastures; i, e., cleoma.
Chas. E. McRay.
Canon City, Col., May 16, 1881.
SECTIONS ON ALL WINTER, ETC.
Our bees have wintered very well; did not lose
any from the cold; lost one that was disturbed by a
mouse. Kept section boxes on all winter; wintered
on summer stands. My friend Bacon lost 120 out of
140, part in bee-house. Charles Tobin.
New Washington, O., May 10, 188L •
A L.\RGE hive.
I have a box hive which is entirely full of combs,
and strong in bees, which I expect to transfer in a
few days. It is a curiosity in size, being 2 ft. 6 in.
high, 18x19 in., made of inch boards. Contents in
the clear, 7688 cubic in. Frank J. Bell.
Moosehead, Luzerne Co., Pa., Juno 3, 1881.
CHAFF.
I wintered 21 hives in a chatf bin 40 feet long by 4
feet wide; they came through all right, less one or
two. Bees wintered verj- well in this, considering
the care they got. They are making honey fa&t
here now for this time of the year.
W. G. RUSSELL.
Millbrook, Ont., Can., May 6, 1881.
My wife is the bee-keeper. lam a cripple from
rheumatism. I have not stood on my feet for nearly
four years. She wintered all our bees successfully.
C. W. Miller.
Grattan Center, Kent Co., Mich , May 19, 1881.
[May God bless the wives, friend M., and may he
help you to bear your affliction until it is his will you
should be on your feet again!]
CANDY FOR BEES.
I commenced feeding your 10c bee candy oarly in
the spring, and fed as long as the bees would take
it; in fact, left it on until June 1st. Result: 1. It
stopped dyseatery immediately; 2. The colonies
were stronger than I ever had Ihem for the white
clover. I lost about 5u per cent of my bees last win-
ter; had 30 colonies last fall, and 19 in the spring.
Jno. W. Bailey.
Bridgeport, Harrison Co., West Va., June 16, 1881,
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
8ol
FILLING THE TIN BOTTLES TO GO WITH POUNDS OF
BEES.
We use a Davidson "family syringe" to fill the
bottles. Submerge the nozzle of the syringe, also
the bottle; holding the nozzle a short distance from
the openiuo-, the absence of escaping air bubbles
shows that the bottle is full. E. M. Hayhurst.
Kansas City, Mo., May :iO, 1881.
L. C. ROOT'S REPORT ON WINTERING.
Too busy to make full report. Our bees are out.
AVe lose 10 per cent indoors. All starve. Have con-
sumed from one-third to one-half more honej-, than
during past winters. We have doubled and lost 10
per cent more since putting them out.
L. C. Root & Bro.
Mohawk, N. Y., April 39, 1881.
[In an editorial last month, I gave the loss as 10
per cent. As I was unable to find friend Root's
card just then it has since turned up, and I give it
as above, as I am sure he would wish it correct.]
1. Who invented foundation?
[An account of the invention of fdn. wns given in
the liec-Kccpcrs' Magazine a few years ago, and it
seems it was originally discovered by Mr. J. Mehr-
ing, of Germany. Of course, it has come, like other
things, by slow steps and the united work of so
many people, it is almost impossible to give full
credit to all who have had a hand in it.]
2. Will not water-lime cement do to make fdn.
plates, instead of plaster of Paris?
[Water lime has been used, but I believe does not
stand as well as the plaster.]
3. Can you make your rubber plates to make the
thin, flat-bottomed fdn. for sections, if not larger
than 4 in. square ? W. W. Bliss.
Los Angeles, Cal., May 23, 1831.
[The rubber plates now make beautiful thin fdn.
for starters, by simply pouring on a table-spoonful
of wax, and no more. If put on the center of the
lower plate, and then closed quickly, it spreads out
into a beautiful thin sheet, and a single spoonful
can be made to cover nearly a square foot of sur-
face.]
J-c
O]
••
Tills department was sugprested by one of the clerks, as an op-
position to the Growlei-y. 1 think 1 shall venture to give names
in lull here.
fIjHATis it; stick to chaff for wintering. I had
76 colonies in your chaff hives, and lost only
7, and 4 of them were queenless last fall.
Geddes, N. Y., May .31, 1881. F. A. Salisbcry.
That "variety is the spice of life, "but few will
controvert. That variety is the "spice" of every
paper or journal, whether it be devoted to bee cul-
ture, agriculture, horticulture, or any other " cul-
ture," is equally obvious. All this may seem irrele-
vant to a report on bees; yet these are the very
thoughts that have led me to write.
Your journal has been getting exceedingly monot-
onous during last six months (in the matter of re-
ports only, I mean), and has been pervaded by a
spirit of gloom, cast over it by the misfortunes of
the fraternity. I wish to break up this one-sided
business, and will give you a few facts in my experi-
ence that will, I anticipate, entitle me to a front seat
in the Smilery.
The cartoon of friend Rodney, in the May number,
reminding one of the " Knight of the Sorrowful Fig-
ure," gave a new impetus to my slumbering gen-
ius(?) for drawing, and 1 hastily snatched up a pen-
cil and involuntarily drew a picture quite the re-
verse of that. Twill not exhibit it to the public; suf-
fice it to say, that it showed about six inches of
"ivories," which would seem to indicate a very hap-
py state of mind.
In the summer of 1877 I bought a very weak hive
of bees, common blacks, and, by dint of great
care and watchfulness, built them up to a splendid
colony by fall. The next season I purchased an
Italian queen, and by that means succeeded in
changing my black pets into a hive of very respect-
able yellow ones. I had no Increase by swarming
the first two years. In 1879 I bought one more col-
ony, and got two magnificent swarms. They went
on multiplying until last fall, when I went into win-
ter-quarters with twelve colonies in prime condition,
and one rather weakly one. You know last summ er
was a very poor one for honey, but, notwithstanding
this, I took 250 lbs. of surplus from them, leaving
them ample winter stores.
My plan of wintering is this: Leave them on the
summer stands, and build a rough board roof over
the top, packing them well around with corn fodder
or straw, and not disturbing them at all during the
winter. I have the satisfaction of now reporting
twelve apparently strong colonies on hand — the
number, you will see, is minus the weak one only.
Well, excuse this tedious report, friend Root, and,
when you drop it into the waste-basket, let this re-
flection modify the uprising of your outraged and
long-suffering good nature, that I am an amateur in
rhetoric as well as in bee-keeping. •
E. F. Setford.
Creekton, Ohio, May 9, 1881.
]adi^^' §^jiarli^mt^
M T this late date I think I can submit a correct
J^\ report. Had 1 written Feb. 22, 1 could have
' said, with excusable pride, " My 15 colonies
arc all alive and in good order," and perhaps, be-
ing a woman, gained the praise as Mrs. Harrison did.
But the month of March worked a change. April 8th
was a fine day, and I discovered one hive (which I
had overhauled and given extra wrappings in Feb.),
to be very quiet. On examination, every bee was
quiet, and great numbers lay on the bottom-board.
I brushed all off the combs, and carried hive and
combs to the house, picking out the queen, a pretty,
yellow one, not without a sigh, and laid her careful-
ly to one side. Two hours afterward I passed the
place, and the queen and several bees had revived.
Lesson No. 1. Not to be too hasty in pronounc ing
bees dead because they are still; but let sunshine
revive them.
Now for the cause of that colony dying. Before
Feb. 22, they had dysentery badly, which destroyed
numbers. Then I shoved the frames too closely to-
gether, and but few could get between the combs;
also, winter passages were not made in the combs of
that hive— a neglect which was not noticed when I
looked at them in Feb. I think those winter pass-
ages are very important; I shall remember that less-
on another time. The 1st of May I found a colony of
352
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
July
blacks, very weak and queenless ; also my pet
queen of Nellis, with but few adherents, and surely
dwindling. I united the blacks, and was much
amused to see how beautifully they behaved to-
ward the Nellis queen, circling around and bowing-
low to her, and offering food immediatelj'. I ex-
pected a quarrel between the blacks and the few
Italians; but no: without caging or smoking, they
took up with thPir new abode, and in an hour were
carrying in pollen, and now how jealous and cross
they are when I open the hive I
I wintered 4 colonies, or, rather, nuclei, in the cel-
lar. They had so little honey I felt sure I must feed
during the winter, and so put them in the cellar as
an experiment. I am satisfied my cellar will keep
bees better than outdoor wintering. They con-
sumed much less honey; were not troubled with
dysentery, and are among my strongest and best
colonies. Box hives have suffered. The doctor
has lost all, so if I had time to bother I might safely
Italianize now, without fear of hybrids. But, I am
teaching school; and if you will tell me how I can
manage swarming, with no one at home while I am
at the schoolhouse, I will be so glad. I have an ex-
tractor, and I have clipped 5 queens. I fear I may
fail to keep them, even if clipped; but there is one
satisfaction -they certainly can not go to the woods
to occupy hives set up to decoy them, and thus en-
rich the apiary of bee-keepers who will not take a
journal nor try to keep up with the times. But I
don't want to lose my pet Italians if I can help it.
Bees worked on and gathered stores from apples.
Thousands of bushels lay on the gound last fall, and
rotted. That may have been one cause of so much
dysentery, ev-ery hive wintered out of doors being-
more or less affected in this region. After all, I like
the old Simplicity best of all hives. The VA story
hive is not satisfactory to me.
Another year I intend to stay hy my bees, and do
better by them; but as I must be in the schoolhouse
during June and July, I do not see what I can do
with them, except hire some one to watch them for
me. Mrs. T. M. Squihb.
Redding, Ct., May 23, 188!.
Well, I thought at first it would be a pretty
hard matter, my friend, to tell you how to
manage an apiary while you were in school ;
but you can certainly do as we do, — raise
queens, and sell bees by the pound. This is
certainly a most effectual way to prevent
swarming, and it is a pretty good way to pre-
vent wintering too. I don't know that it
would do to ask Doolittle to help solve your
problem, for he stays home from church
swarming time. I presume if he were a
school-teacher he would stay home from
school every day ; and I am not sure but I
should too.
WHAT WILL LESS THAN ONE POUND OF BEES DO
ON THE FOURTH OF .TOLY ?
The question has often been, what a pound of bees
will do in a season. I can not tell what a pound of
bees will do, but I can tell what less than that many
bees did for me in 1879 -the poorest season I have
ever seen in the twenty years I have kept bees. In
the month of March I found one of my swarms was
queenless, but it had a queen-cell which hatched in
good time. She proved a drone-layer. What be-
came of her I do not know ; but by the first of May
they were again queenless. The hive filled with
drones, and, the few workers that still stayed in the
hive growing less every day until the 16th of June,
I then put a qvieen-cell In the hive, and one card
sparsely filled with worker brood capped over. Oq
the 4th of July I opened the hive; there was the
queen and the workers, a handful in all; the drones
all gone, and no brood. They now went to work for
several days. There seemed to be but one bee that
worked, but she did her very best. By the first of
August there was quite a colony at work. In the
fall, when I packed them, they weighed 71! i lbs.;
came through the winter strong and good; I expect
they will swarm everyday; am now watching them
from the window while I write. In packing bees for
winter I take off the cloth and put the crate that
holds the sections or empty boxes under the cover,
early enough for the Itees to make all tight — always
keeping them on their summer stands, about four
inches from the ground on the lowest side, and six
on the highest. Alzaida.
Or Letters from Those Who have Mpido
Bee Culture a Failure.
^ to Canada.
LL my 23 colonies dead but one — on my road
)anada. Oh! say, friend Root, I nearly
forgot! Can't you send me a present of a
nice colony? You are a pretty clever old "felly," I
think. If you do, be sure to send a good one. Don't
get huffy — you know we must ask if we receive,
and knock before the door will be opened.
John Baker.
Saxonburg, Butler Co., Pa., May 11, 1881.
You are right, friend 1>. I am real glad
to know you do want some more bees, and I
really think you ought to have them ; but
after studying some over the matter, I am
convinced that God sees it will do you and
me both more good to go to work and earn
them, than to have him give them to us
without such effort. It just occurs to me.
that there is another reason why I should
not give you one. I have so many friends
in the same boat as yourself, it would make
me a poor man; and then, I lost about all
my own too. Why, come to think of it, I
have as many excuses to offer as the woman
who would not lend her tub. She said it
was broken, leaked, and was full of water;
besides that, she hadn't any, and wanted to
use it herself.
Your card received. Thank you for your kind
M'ords, but my bees are dead. I don't know of any
more in this county, yet there may be more. I have
sown some white clover a friend sent me, and when
it blooms I will often think of bees, and will, if I am
able, try them again. J. B. Harris.
Plum Creek, Neb., May 15, 1881.
I thought a few lines from this locality concern-
ing bees would be of interest to bee-keepers, so here
it is. Box stands for box hives; G. P., Gallup
frames. L. for Langstroth.
LAST FALL. SPRING. LAsf I'ALL.
S. Foi-st, in 0 a. V. I L. Fossey,
B. Brink,
K. Llovd, X<
^V. Snow, 11
>".F. CoMi-pll ',1
Total
A. Whaley,
I H. Pomeroy,
I S. Cotti-ell,
SPRING.
« (1. V.
ft Bo.\-
3 G. F.
1 Box
Payette, Ohio, June 7, 1881.
170 30
N. E. COTTRELL.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE,
353
|ttj' tmm-
He that endureth to the end, the same shall he
saved.— Matt. 10:23.
fJjROM what I have written in regard to
tliose whom it has pleased God to per-
— mit me to direct to the ways of salva-
tion, it might he interred that all are saved
with whom I have labored and striven. Es-
pecially might this be the case with those
whom I liave met in jail, and finally taken
into my employ. I presume you all know,
dear friends, tliat it is a much pleasanter
task to chronicle the way in whicli a sinner
forsakes liis sins, and sits, " clothed and in
his right mind at the feet of Jesus," tlian to
tell how he forsakes his new life, and goes
back to the camp of the enemy ; but for all
that, I feel that I sliould hardly be truthful
if I contented myself with telling the for-
mer, and leaving the latter untold ; for, be-
sides being in duty bound to give you trutli
and facts, we may often draw helpful lessons
and timely warnings by noting the down-
ward course of those wlio will go back.
Last February I told you, in the Home
Papers, of a young man whom I called '' D."
Well, in the April No. I mentioned both
being present at our Saturday evening meet-
ing— just we thr(e, and that we had all
knelt together, before God, asking him to
keep and guide us. Up to that time, I feel
sure D. was in the straight and narrow path.
He had not united with any church, as had
M., but he was regular in his attendance at
the young people's prayer-meetings, and
usually took a part. During those days he
was honest, bright, and happy, and it was
particularly noticeable that he had lost all of
the disposition to be bitter and sarcastic in
speaking of his fellow-men, as he was when
I first met him.
My friends, I wish to digress a little here,
to again emphasize the point, that it is al-
Avays those who are guilty at heart who are
so very vehement in denouncing the world,
and especially the Christian people of the
world, as hypocrites and thieves. In
fact, whenever you feel like saying there
are no honest people anywhere, bear in mind
the trouble is surely in your own heart. Re-
pent and reform, and you will find good,
pure, and true people everywhere.
The first thing I noticed about D. that
troubled me was his showing me a picture
of a woman he Avas corresponding with.
Was there any thing wrong in this? I con-
fess, I could see nothing to object to, but
yet it gave me a feeling of trouble, without
my being able to say just why. I knew that
he had once been married, but he told me
his wife was dead. He also said he was en-
gaged to her. Shortly after, he asked me,
one Saturday evening, if I were willing he
should go to CJleveland to stay over Sunday
with his brother. Said he, —
"Mr. R., I came here to stay with you,
and to learn to be a man and a Christian,
and I won't go an inch anywhere, without
your consent and approval."
I thanked him for his confidence in my
poor judgment, but told him to go, by all
means, and tell his brother's folks, when he
first met them, that he was a Christian, and
wished to go to church. My friends, you do
not know, all of you, as I do, how important
it is that you should always, under such cir-
cumstances, speak out at once, and pro-
claim yourself '' on the Lord's side."
Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and
of my words, in this adulterous and sinful genera-
tion, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed,
when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the
holy angels. -Mark S: 3i.
There is no bragging or boasting about it,
but it is simply giving all your friends to un-
derstand just where you are; and while it
will often touch them, and pull strongly in
the right way, it will prevent most effectual-
ly even those who are unconverted, from
throwing any kind of temptation in your
way thoughtlessly. I do not know whether
D. did all this or not. Shortly after, he
asked to visit some friends in another di-
rection ; and as I had seen nothing amiss, I
of course gave consent. The next Sunday,
after Bible class, he came to me with the
confession that ne was a married man, and
had been all the time he was in prison ; but
having lost track of his wife, and her
whereabouts, he was ashamed to tell that he
was married.
'' Why, D., you told me you were engaged
to the "woman whose picture you showed
me."
"Oh! I was just joking then. I never
told you I wasn't a married man."
"But you told me your wife was dead, and
we have all of us here in the factory con-
sidered you as an unmarried man."
" Well, she was dead ; but I did not say I
had not married again. Here is a letter
from her, and you can see her signature as
my wife."
I tried to explain to him that his actions
and life had proclaimed him an unmarried
man more plainly than words could do, if
possible ; and that he stood before God, if
not before men, as guilty of untruth. He
confessed, and once more asked what he
should do to retrieve the past, and commence
once more on a fair and square foundation.
I looked him squarely in the eye, and I con-
fess I did not feel quite satisfied with such a
ready confession and swift promises to
amend ; but what should the boy do? He
was once more placing the whole matter in
my hands, and said he would do exactly as I
said. I wish here to pay one just tribute to
D.'s credit. He was a splendid hand to work
at any thing ; and no matter what you set
him at, he did a tremendous day's work, and
did every thing he took hold of well. He
would even take charge of hands, and look
after them witli the eye of a proprietor ; and
at night I was always sure to find a straight
and honest result of the labors of the day
whether he was looked after or not. I need
hardly tell you that all who profess to be
Christians do not do as much. Well, it was
this feature of D.'s character that gave me
faith in him, in spite of his wrong-doing.
"I will do just what you say, Mr. Root,
for I said I would stay with you and show
you and the world that I could be a Chris-
354
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
July
tian, and I am going to do it. What shall I
do, as the matter stands V'
] did not ponder long before I told him it
seemed to me he should go at once and get
his wife and stand by her as he had prom-
ised before God when he married her. lie
said he would go the last of the week, if I
thought it best; but I told him I would ad-
vise hitn to go and get her the very next
morning.
Our Abbeyville Sabbath-school is now go-
ing again nicely, for God opened the way,
and removed all opposition to it; and as I),
had never been with me, I invited him to
go with me in the afternoon. I went up and
told our pastor of the advice I had given.
and he said he thought it was, under the
circumstances, right. D. went with me to
church, and it seemed to me the sermon was
one that must have moved the heart of a
guilty man, if ever a sermon did. At the
close, I), said he woiild like to be excused
from going, on accoiint of a sick friend that
he was going to stay with. My Avife re-
marked, as he went out, that D. had a bad
look in his face. I reproved her for unchar-
itableness. Monday morning, before I was
up, a knock at the door wakened me. It
was D., who said he had been thinking so
much about his wife that he could not rest.
and, with many apologies asked the loan of
$5.00. It was the first request of the kind
he had ever made, and I granted it most
willingly, being glad to do him a service.
Before the train left, however, I heard a ru-
mor that he had been in a drunken brawl
the night before, and went to him about it.
He denied it so promptly, I again decided
him to be innocent, and he left. After he
was gone, I found that, instead of staying
with a sick friend, as he told me in church,
he had hired a livery, taken one of my own
reformed boys to a neighboring town, where
they could get liquor without stint, and D.
had then remained up all Sunday night. I
was completely put out, and, although I did
not lose faith in God, I lost faith in human-
ity, and also in my powers of converting
sinners from the errors of their ways. I pre-
sume this latter did not hurt me any. D.,
true to his promise, although contrary to
everybody's predictions, came back the next
day as he had promised He acknowledged
his fault and admitted it all, but declared he
was as sorry as anybody could be, and asked
just one more chance to show he meant it,
and to support his young wife, that he had
just brought to her new home. He said he
would not ask me to take promises, but if I
would let him go to work again, he would
show me how much in earnest he was.
What should I do? He Avent to work, and,
as before, redeemed his sliortcomings by
vigorous strokes.
About this time he was seen smoking, but,
after a rebuke, he confessed, and asfeed to
be allowed to start again. I was introduced
to his wife, and he took her to prayer-meet-
ing and introduced her to our minister as
his wife. He was very anxious to go to
housekeeping at once, to save expenses, and
begged me, as I never was begged before, to
give him just a little credit, that they might
get started. Although I was strongly moved
to do so, I told him, kindly but firmly, I
could not trust him nor could I take his
word more, until he had, by weeks of steady,
faithful work, shown himself worthy of trust
and credit. About this time, conjectures
began to be made that he was not married
to the woman he Avas living with. I asked
liim for proper .proof, and he promised to
get it ; but at the same time he spoke bitter-
ly about " folks not minding their own busi-
ness." The proof did not come; and Avhen
I insisted that he must bring it or confess
he was doing an unlawful thing, he declared
he would send her away and go himself, as
soon as he had earned the money, to some
town where people had " sense enough to
, mind their own business, and let those alone
who were doing them no harm in any sort
[ of way." I explained and plead with him,
i as I used to do in jail ; but the D. I knew in
I jail, I began to be painfully aware, was not
i the D. 1 had with me now. He sent her
j away, thinking that would make it all
! square; but I explained to him, at length,
i that Ave could not have a man among us on
I Avhom such suspicion rested, and that the
i proof must still be given, or he must con-
j fess. Another thing: I felt the more troub-
led that the Avomen of our establishment
! seemed disposed to treat him with a kind-
j ness and courtesy that he did not deserve,
1 doubtless because I had, on his first coming,
I begged them to be kind to one Avho, coming
from a bad and Avicked life, Avas disposed to
j struggle for a better one. They doubtless
(at least the most of them) considered him a
pure man, or he Avould not be in our midst.
Finally he admitted he was not married, al-
j though they had lived together as man and
I Avife for more than a year and a half, and
• had one child !
' The confession had come ; and noAV, could
; he go to work quietly?
i " D., you know that I am disposed to over-
I look ahnost arty offense, and to forgiA'e as I
hope to be forgiven ; but the good of our ea-
! tablishment, especially the girls Avho seem
to feel a friendly interest in your Avelfare,
I demands that I should at least ask for some
j evidence of real sorroAv for your sin and
crime. Why did you object to marrying the
woman you were living Avith?"
No ansvA'er. When I plead with him he
tried to turn it off Avith a laugh one moment,
and Avhen he saw I AA^ould not smile, again
turned bitterly on the Avorld, and intimated
it Avas a trifling thing, and did nobody any
harm. A few Aveeks ago, Ave knelt together
side by side; yes. side by side, but «o(o A\'e
AA'ere thousands of miles apart.
" D., you and I once thought alike. You
said you AA^ould like to work under just the
strict regulations we have here. You thought
so then, but I am sure you do not now ; noir
it is a bondage to you. You prefer to use
tobacco, to go to the saloons and drink.
Avhen you choose, and, to go further, to liA'^e
Avith one woman awhile, and then take up
another. Am I not right? Now, in vieAV
of this difference of opinion, as we will call
it for convenience just now, had Ave not best
part? Let us put it like a couple of boys
Avho are trading jack-knives. We can't
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
3oo
agree, aud we will not try to trade any longer.
Is this not the best way?"
" "Well, Mr. Root, what must I do to stay
here? I do not want to go away anywhere
else."
" AVhat must you do. D.V It seems to me
that it is your duty to go at once and marry
that woman, the niother of your child. I do
not see how else you can stand right in the
sight of God and your fellow-men."
A gueer smile came over his face at this,
and I heard afterward that he complained
of the severe penalty I had imposed. Others,
too. have smiled at my plan of remedying
the evil ; but it seems to me a man who
would live with a woman to whom he was
not married has no right to complain of be-
ing obliged to live with her as her husband.
He thought he had better go away, and I
thought so too. I turned back, however,
and said,—
"• D.. you know I am right. Yon know it
is best for a man to have one wife to love,
cherish, and support, and you agree with me.
at least in heart, if you do not in actions, do
you not? Come, lei us part friends, in any
case.""
•' Yes, ^Ir. Root, of course I know your
way is best. "
" And. I)., when you hear my name men-
tioned, you are not going to blame and speak
ill of me. I will try, too, to speak of your
good qualities and not your bad ones. You
know Avhat a Savior's love is ; but, my friend,
you have left it. and I fear you are going
straight to the prison again. Think on these
things, and remember I shall not forget to
pray for you."
My last view of liim was as he left on the
cars, with a cigar in his mouth. While
Avriting this I thought, many times, that his
eye might some time reach these lines, and
I have tried to make them truthful ; but if
he sees aught in it to criticise, I hope he
will forgive it, for I have tried to give the
substance of it, if not the words.
The lesson for us is, that we are to be very
careful of the tirst wrong step. Note how
quickly Satan came in after D. had fust gone
back to a companion of his bad days. It is
said a bad woman has tenfold the ability to
work ruin that a bad man has. After he
met her. drinking followed almost inevit-
ably; and with the consciousness of this
guilt on his soul, it was easy for him to tell
me the tirst falsehood; easy for him to listen
unmoved to that soul-stirring sermon ; easy
to hire a horse right after, and gooff on Sun-
day with a weak reformed man ; easy to see
him back again in the hold of Satan, and
then he hated and sneered at the whole
world of Christian people.
Y'ou never, /KIT/', XEVER, can be a Chris-
tian whileyou hold a single sin in your heart,
concealed from God and your fellow-men.
It must be a whole heart surrender, or it
Avill never avail.
I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, etc.— Ex.30 :5.
You thought me vehement, my friends,
when I tirst took up the cross before you
here on these pages; but you little knew
how life and death stood before me. I was
sometimes tired and wearied with my strug-
gles with and against Satan ; but you can
not tell the joy I feel now and then when I
look back and see that these fights with so
many different temptations were only bricks
laid "in a foundation for future usefulness.
You know how much I have spoken about
my besetting sin of fretfulness and impa-
tience ; well, for the past few months I have
been almost entirely delivered from this. I
say it tremblingly, for I expect Satan will
give me some fearful tussles, just to pay for
my having said this much ; but. •' the Lord
is my shepherd." I fear I have been a little
proud of the success of my jail work ; but I
am humbled now, and have been taught a
most useful lesson. Blessed be the hand
that afflicts and chastises, for we read, —
Whom he loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth
every son whom he receiveth.— Heb. 13:6.
TAKING THE NAME OF GOD IX VAIX.
Dear Bro. Root:— Ihavc just been reading your
kind offer in last No. of Gleanings, to furnish
to any one who would use them properly,
cards with some pointed lines against profane and
vulgar swearing. This is a good inspiration; may
the Lord bless you for placing this means in the
hands of his servants, for checking this very pre-
valent practice of blaspheming " that worthy Name
by which we are called." I inclose stamped envel-
ope. Please send me a dozen. Our neighbor's son
across the waj' uses the most shocking profanity;
but for this one fault he is a good, honest, kind-
hearted, generous boy. His parents do not try to
check him, and now the habit has grown on him,
until a volley of oaths is his common resource for
even trifling vexations. I have so often wanted
to help him be ashamed of it, but could not see my
way clear. There are many others who might be
touched and helped in this way better than any
other. Let us try, any way, and ask God to bless
our efforts. T)o you remember that I, through you,
sent Gleanings to our foreign missionary, the Rev.
A. Bunker, Tonghoo, Burmah, India? Well, we did
though (you and I), and he writes and sends us his
warmest thanks, and tells how much he enjoys it,
and he is hunting up items and facts about the three
kinds of bees in that country, and pretty soon he
will send us a letter for Gleanings. Think of that
now. I should like you to read his interesting let-
ters about his work there, but I know you are too
busy to read long letters. X. Y. Z.
You see, friends, I have omitted the name
of the lady who wrote the above, for I wish
to have every boy who swears, whose eye
rests on these pages, imagine that it is some
lady in his neighborhood that is writing to
me in regard to it. A great many boys are
constantly asking me for places ; but for all
that, when I wanted a trusty boy a few days
ago to carry the money to and from the bank,
I had to look quite a little while before I
found one, among all the list of applicants,
whom I liked to entrust with such a posi-
tion. Do you think I would naturally pick
out one who swears, one who smokes, or, if
you please, one who lounges about the
streets and hitching-posts on the Sabbath,
while people are at church?
356
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
July
IMERRRYBANKS AND HIS NEIGHBOR.
THEIR FEET WERE SWIFT TO DO EVIli.
ia)EFORE I tell you of the mishap of
Mm friend M. with "Mary on his shoulder, ]
— shall have to explain that John and
the doctor's boy— didn't'I tell you Iheyhad a
doctor in OnionvilleV Avell, they have one,
and a very good doctor he is too. only, like a
great many other doctors, he thinks'himself
too Avise, or some thing, to be seen in Sun-
day-school, and he also, it is said, takes med-
icine quite frequently out of a bottle, when
he isn't sick at all. "Well, John and the doc-
tor's boy had made a bargain with a farmer
H little out of town to hoe corn for him until
they had paid for a hive of bees. Under the
inspiration of the bee fever they worked hard
and patiently, and the farmer, who was a
very good old man, gave them one of his
best, heavy with honey and bees, as they
usually are in the month of June. As soon
as their task was completed, boylike they
must have their bees liome at once, and, al-
though the farmer told them they were too
tired to carry them that night, nothing would
do but that they must be taken right along.
With a little smoke th.ey were all driven into
the hive, and a sheet tied under the mouth,
and the corners brought over the top and
tied. Under the knots a stick was placed,
and the boys started home with them, full of
enthusiasm. It was at the close of a warm
day, and they Avere tired before they started,
an'd it was nothing strange that their zeal
considerably abated before they got to the
village through Avhich they had to pass.
'' O John ! " said the doctor's boy, " I am
awful thirsty ; let us stop at the grocery and
get some beer.''
John knew his mother Avould feel badly if
she knew he had been drinking beer ; Init he
knew, too, that Tom Avould jeer at him if he
said any thing about his mother ; so he only
made the objection that it cost money.
" But I will stand treat, and so it won't
cost you any thing ;" and before John could
offer a Avord more, the bees were hastily set
down, and the beer was ordered. They had
been enjoined, Avhen starting, not to set the
hive tlat down Avhen they stopped to rest;
but this they forgot all about, and down it
Avent, the mouth in the soft dust of the road,
closing every air passage through the cloth,
Avhich Avas already densely covered Avith pant-
ing bees. It was nearly dark when they
got home, and John, being unlike the doc-
tor's bov, not much used to even mild stim-
ulants, had a headache that made him glad
to set the bees down anyAvhere. According-
ly it Avas deposited on a corner of the door-
step. Just at this juncture some boys came
along and called to them that they Avere go-
ing over to the doctor's to kill the toads that
were eating up his bees. John objected, on
the ground that their bees must be located
and let out.
" AVhy, they can't lly any to-night," said
one of the boys ; '' come on, and see us de-
molish the toads."
"■ We will have lots of fun Avith them,"
said another, and off they went, laughing
and yelling as only a tribe of street boys can
do. Pown Avent the hive again, and off John
and Tom put after them, tired as they were.
Again Avas John led aAvay against his better
judgment, because he had not the strength
of mind to say nn when invited. After they
had tortured and murdered all the toads and
frogs they could find, the boys ventured near
the doctor's house, Avhere he and a brother-
bee-keeper AA'ere discussing the cause of the
losses last Avinter.
THE DOCTOR AND THE SHOEMAKER DIS-
CUSSING THE BEE DISEASE.
John got home quite late ; and as his con-
science troubled him ill icgard to the CA'cnts
of the last fcAv hours, he slipped in quietly
and kept pretty still, until he became inter-
ested in friend JSIerrybanks' reading. By
this time he had forgotten all about the bee-
hive, and never thought of it until friend M.
stumbled against it in the dark, as I told you
last month. At the scream and commotion.
John's mother brought a light, and friend
M. Avasjust picking himself up out of the
dust, after having stumbled OA^er the hive.
Mary Avas, of course, unhurt, for he took
good care to hold her up safely ; but, oh my!
what a looking sight Avas that hive I The
combs Avere nearly all melted and broken
doAA'n in one dauby, sticky mass, and bees
as black as ink Avere dragging their daubed
and sticky bodies through the dust, in hope-
less misery. Friend M. looked just one sec-
ond, and then gathered up the sheets, and
stopped the poor innocents from getting out.
" Have you got a queenless liive, with
plenty of empty combs':*" asked he quickly of
John's father.
"Yes, sir; two of 'em."
'• Bring the light and guide me to them."
At this he lifted the sticky hive, and all
Avent for the apiary.
'' John, put an empty story on this hive."
John Avas ready enough now to obey or-
ders. The hive Avas on, and tlie bees AA'ere
then carefully poured on the tops of thft
frames and asionished bees below. All
hands soon set to AAork so busily licking up
the honey, that they forgot to sting ; and af-
ter the crawling bees were doAA'ii in the hiA^e,
the combs Avere lifted carefully and set up
against the sides in such a Avay that the bees
1881
GLEiVNINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
3.57
could care for the unsealed brood, and the
sealed could hatch out. In this way the
whole contents were disposed of. Of course,
bees kept crawling up the sides of this sec-
ond story, but -John brushed them back
while his father held the light at a little dis-
tance. After the hive was pretty nearly
empty, friend M. set it down, and asked for
the other queenless colony. AVith a quick
but quiet movement, this colony, being in a
Simplicity hive, was raised and set over the
one containing the drowned bees, and not a
bee was mashed, nor could one more crawl
out in the dirt without coming through the
bees in the lower story of this three-story
triple colony of bees.
'' But AVon"t they tight V" said John.
"No danger of fighting, with all this mass
of honey to take care of,'' said Mr. M.; and
he moved the whole back a little so as to give
a larger entrance. '' The daubed bees will
naturally crawl upward, and are sure to get
licked oif clean, no matter which way they
go. The bees from above and below will,
unitedly, have every thing clean before
morning, and the loose honey all put near
the brood in the good combs."
The old sticky hive was then set over a
colony, with a good queen, and all went
home.' I do not know what the rest of them
dreamed when they got to sleep ; but poor,
tired, sticky, guilty John dreamed he was a
queen bee pursued by a great monster of a
toad with horrid eyes and a great club. This
club was full of sharp spikes, and as he
raised it over him, John distinctly recalled
the look of the poor toads as they dealt them
blow after blow, without mercy, just the
evening before.
JOHM S DKEAM.
With a scream of terror John awoke to
find it was only a terrible nightmare, and,
what Avas more strange, it was his mother's
soothing voice that quieted his nerves and
bid him tell her all about it. How came she
there at such a time of night? She came to
pray for her boy at his bedside, as she had
so many times before, and God had answered
her by so ordering it that she should be there
at just the time, of all others, when John
would be most likely to tell her of his first
steps m sin. He told her all about the
events of the evening, and promised her not
only to never allow another drop of beer to
pass his lii)s, but to carefully avoid the so-
ciety of bad and wicked boys, even though
he had to stay at home without company at
?J^-^.^^*"°^® Soing back, she opened her lit-
tle Bible and read, —
"My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou
not, etc.
Friend M. came over in the morning , and
John just laughed to see that all the bees
Avere clean and comparatively bright. The
hives were taken apart, and each restored,
as near as it could be, to its original place.
The brood from the box hive was nicely put
into frames, and as half the hive belonged to
Tom, the stock was fairly divided, giving
Tom the queen, while John had a capped
cell in his. Tom came after his colony in
tlie afternoon, bringing a lot of boys with
him. When some instruction was offered
him in regard to moving
them, he declined listen-
ing, saying he knew how
to handle bees as well as
anybody. He would not
even accept the loan of a
veil or smoker, saying his
father never used any
such things, and he knew
liOAv. I really can not
spare the time to tell
you how Tom prospered
Avith his bees, but I Avill
give you his picture as he
appeared next day.
Good-bye, kind friends, until next time.
TOM, THE doc-
tor's SOX.
TOBACCO COIiUMN.
f BELIEVE that I have smoked with my mouth
long enough, and as my Simplicity is gone, I
■ need a smoker. If you choose I will take one on
your offer to smokers. I do not wish to pledge my-
self positively to never smoke again, for I can not
tell what may be brought to bear upon me— influ-
ences I mean; nor will I agree to pay for five nor
two; but if I return to the pipe, I will pay promptly
for the one I get. You may send me a Quinby
double-blast this time, good size; and if my smoker
pledge is not strong enough, why, just charge it up
to me. J. L. Cole.
Carlton Center, Barry Co., Mich., June 14, 1881.
All right, friend C; your promise is enough.
May the Lord help you to " put on the whole
armor.''
I think I will take some stock in that smoker busi-
ness. It's a square stand-up bet, only I hold the
stakes; but to off-set that 1 give odds of two to one;
that is, you send me a large Bingham smoker,
price J1.50, and if I use tobacco, either chewing or
smoking, I pay $3.00, with interest on the f 1.50 from
date of receipt of smoker. I inclose 25c for postage.
Now, to make the above square I must tell you that
I have been in trainiug about five months; so you
see I have the advantage in the game. I am 5i years
old, and have used tobacco since I was 18. I have
often thought I would quit the use of the vile stuff,
Ho8
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
July
but never could make a start in the right way; your
offer in Gleanings set me to thinking that perhaps
now was the time if ever; so I tried it for a week. I
found myself alive, and that was about all, at the
end of the week, but with a resolution to "hang" to
it. It's now over tive months, and I think I am safe.
H. A. March.
Fidalgo, Whatcom Co., Wash. Ty., May 31, 1881.
To be sure you will pull through, friend
M.; you wiil pull through if you take it in
the right way. It is not a bargain with i«e,
])ut with God ; for every one of you who
stands out here before his fellow-men, and
voluntarily makes this protnise, if he con-
siders his word good, he will of course keep
it. Your honor as a man, before God, is the
point in question ; and surely no one would
forfeit such a promise, publicly given, for a
dollar or two. Look to God— not my poor
self, my friends ; and may his blessing rest
upon the little band of you who Lave thus
come out before men, to assert your freedom
from the bondage of appetite. Thanks for
postage.
1 have received the smoker, and am well pleased
with it. I have had a hard time of it since I burned
the tobacco-pipe; but, by the grace of God, T am de-
termined to conquer. Bees are doing well here;
clover is in bloom, and they are bringing in the
honey very fast. I extracted, on the first day of this
month, from one hive 20 lbs. of honey, and they
have filled 11 frames since, which beats any thing I
have ever had since I have had bees.
Georoe Cole.
Freeport, Shelby Co., Ind., June (5, 1881.
Don't falter, friend C. Kemember the
text,—
" He that endureth," etc.
You may put me in the smoker club if you like, as
I quit chewing some time ago, and will quit smoking
now. S. P. Roddy.
Mechanicstown, Md., .Tune 3, 1881.
Here is the smoker, friend U.; and may
the Lord help you too, Avith all the rest of
the little throng.
I see by Gleanings you are trying to induce your
fellow-men to quit the habit of using tobacco. I do
not smoke it to excess; but what I do use I think is
no benefit to me. I see you will give a smoker free
to all who will quit the use of it. Now, you may
send me one of your largest cold-blast smokers, and
1 quit using the weed in any form this 4th day of
June, 1881. S. C. Gates.
East New York, Kings Co., N. Y., June 4, 1881.
I have been an inveterate smoker for years, and
have tried repeatedly to quit the habit; but I never
promised any one that I would — not even myself.
Now, if you will send me a large-size Bingham
smoker, I give you my word that I will not touch
tobacco in any shape until I send you the pay for
the smoker, and I think that won't be this year, as I
feel pretty poor at present. I have only 13 colonies
left from 41 last fall. Joseph Cook.
Jackson, Mich., June 5, 1881.
You strike on a strong point, friend (;.,
when you say that you have tried repeatedly,
without mentioning it to anybody, and
failed. A promise made publicly is pretty
apt to be kept, if the one who promises has
any regard at all for his word. Do not neg-
lect to ask God to help you.
OUR OWN APIARY.
J'UNE 3.— Still the orders continue to
pour in for bees and queens, but we
^ have no trouble in tilling them all
promptly, except where the dollar queens
come in. Neighbor 11. agrees to furnish us,
during the month, 800 or over ; but at pres-
ent this is not going to be enough. Every
one of our old customers reports having all
the orders he can till, but this certainly can
not last long. I am expecting every day to
see such heaps of them from all directions
that we won't know where to put them. I
shall be at least happy in having a laying
queen in every one of our 160 hives, so we
can set about getting ready for winter.
EAKLY SOrrSON HONEY-PLANT.
Had I just gone over among them, I
should have reported Simpson plants in
bloom before our last journal went out, for
I found bees busy working on them before
white clover was out. Of course, they will
be of little account, right during our clover
and basswood bloom ; but from what I have
seen, 1 am pretty sure we may develop a va-
riety to fill the vacancy between fruit-blos-
soms and locusts.
By the way, we have had a most bounti-
ful flow of honey from locusts again this
year, and it has lasted fully ten days, filling
the hives with most beauliful yellow honey,
and I have really got in the fever of having
a locust orchard as well as a basswood. But
would it not be splendid? Just think of the
bees roaring on about two acres. I think
two acres would keep a hundred colonies of
bees busy. Who will start the first oneV If
you do not look out, I shall.
Neighbor iL has revived the old queen
nursery, to be placed over a strong hive,
such as I described and went wild over in
the first volume of Gleaninus. He uses
only a broad board, like a Simplicity cover,
forinstance, and then bores it full of auger-
holes; these holes are covered with wire
cloth on the under side, and tlie board is
then placed in a chaff hive, under the cush-
ion. He says it is working nicely. The se-
cret of it is, the chaff hive for protection,
which I did not have in my earlier experi-
ments. On the 25111 of May, he sold a queen
from a hive, and at once let in a newly
hatched queen from this nursery. .June 1st,
he found her laying, and took her out and
sold her. What do you think about the
profit a hive or nucleus would give during
the season, if worked in that way? with the
great call there is every spring for bees and
queens, I am really suri)rised to see so few
making asuccess of it. JJoysand girls, what
ails you? It is the pleasantest and easiest
way of making money I ever heard of, only
it takes brains and energy, and getting up
early in the morning.
13//i.— Beautiful weather, and every thing
is doing finely. The orders for bees and
queens aie beyond any thing we have ever
heard of. We have purchased and divided
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
359
until our colonies now number about 200 ;
but we have sold off queens and bees until
at one time the boys reported we had only
about three laying queens to supply eggs for
the whole apiary. Neighbor II. reports his
apiary in much the same condition ; and, al-
though a hundred or more young queens
will be laying in less than a week, the orders
are so urgent we can hardly give them time
to fill a single comb. Queens we get from
the South are often introduced and then
taken out and shipped before they have laid
a dozen eggs. I mention this to show you
how hard we have tried to help you. Bee-
hives, sections, and every thing else in the
bee line we have had no trouble in keeping
on hand, for the stack of bass wood in our
lumber yard, nicely seasoned, has been equal
to all emergencies. I presume I should have
foreseen some thing what the call for bees
would be ; and we are now making plans to
be abreast of orders another season. One
bad feature of deals in shipping bees is,
that they arc perishable ])roperty, and must
be taken from the office as soon as received.
Well, if our customer is several miles from
the express or post office, he is obliged to
make a trip, or send, almost daily, until the
goods come. It is true, he might have a no-
tice there would be a delay ; but he must be
on hand to get these notices, and then he
must make more trips, about the time the
bees are expected to be on hand. I tell you,
my friends, there is no way in the world to
do business like having them all ready to go
off the very day the order comes ; and the
man who will have bees and queens to send
■off: in this way, will get the trade, even if he
•charges double the price that those do who
have to write apologies about the weather,
being sick, or absent from home, and the
like. Are you listening to this, you who ad-
vertise bees and queens for sale?
Even at $2.00 per lb. for bees, the orders
come pouring in ; and after a man has had
a package, and put them on his empty
combs, and seen them go to work, he and
his neighbors are sure to want another lot
right off, and here we are. unable to send
right back promptly. I am ashamed of my-
self, and, with God's help, I will do better
next year. Why do not more of you take it
up? I thought, when I said $2.00 per lb.,
somebody else would undersell me, and I
should have a chance to get ready for win-
ter ; but here you are letting all this great
trade fall into my hands when you who have
time on your hands, and the requisite skill
to do it, could make excellent wages at it,
at just half the money. Here is a great field
open to all those wanting some thing to do.
Wake up, boys, and " make hay while the
sun shines."
HANDT BOXES FOR TOOLS ABOUT THE
APIARY.
A great many tools and implements are
needed, especially in putting up queens and
bees, and very often a shower comes up, or
it comes on night, when you hardly have
time to carry them to the house. AVell, if
you will look at the plan of our apiary, you
will see, where the paths intersect, quite a
little gravel space. On this space, we keep
empty Simplicity hives for convenience. A
bottom-board is nicely leveled up, and on
these we can pile hives up any height. Well ,
3 hives set on this bottom-board, and then
a cover, will raise it just about the, height of
your vest buttons, and you will find it a very
handy table on which to set your smoker or
any tools, and being a conspicuous spot, you
can always tell wliere to look. Now, to
make it into a tool-box, you have only to set
another hive over it, and put on the cover
when it comes night, and all your imple-
ments are secure, handy, and dry in case it
rains during the night, or, in fact at any
other time. This stand and tool-box costs
you nothing, for every bee-keeper wants at
least a half-dozen empty Simplicity hives on
hand constantly for emergencies. Below is
a picture of a couple of them as they appear
in our apiary.
SIMPLICITY-niVE TOOL-BOX, FOR KEEPING
HANDY AND DRY, S3I0KER, BASKET
OF ROTTEN WOOD, MATCH-BOX,
(iUEEN-CAGES, ETC., ETC.
IMPERFECT ADDRESSES.
A friend sent us $10.00 for four tested queens,
which were promptly sent, but they all lay in his
postofflcc, and died, because he wrote his name so
badly we called it "Borus " instead of Barnes. As
we had his first name correct, and also the initial, it
does seem as if his postmaster might have guessed
the truth, when our friend had been calling day af-
ter day for his queens. Oftentimes a little impor-
tunity at express and post oflices is a good thing.
Ask your postmaster if there are no bees there for
any one, and he will often pull out some thing
that will prove to be just what you are waiting for.
But the real trouble, my friends, is with you who
will persist in hastily scrawling your names. This
friend wrote us three times, and we got his three
signatures together, but none of us would ever have
made " Barnes " of it. It takes time to always write
plainly, I know; but any printer* will print your
whole name and address a thousand times on a small
gummed label for the very trifling expense of Sl.OO,
and then you need not write it at all, unless you
choose. In this case, I stood half of the ten dollars;
but, my friends, I give you fair warning, I can do it
but a little longer.
' If they won't do it, we will, and pay postagie.
360
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
July
GlEAWmCS m BEE CULTURE.
-A.. I. :root,
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER,
MEDINA, O.
TERMS: $1.00 PER ¥EAR, POST-PAID.
FOR CLUBBING RATES, SEE FIRST PAGE
UF READING MATTER.
]VEX3X3X3>a-.A., iTTJTLM^Sr 1, 1881.
For even Christ pleased not himself.— Rom. 15:3.
The evidence this season in favor of starters com-
pletely flUiug the sections, is now very strong-.
The next meeting of the Cortland Union Bee-
Keepers' Association, will be held at Cortland, N. Y.,
Tuesday, Aug. 6, 1881. C. M. Bean, Sec.
The supply of wax sent in since our cover was
printed, obliges us to reduce prices to 31c cash, or
23c trade. Please read these prices instead of those
on the cover.
The best advertisement you or any one else can
have. Is to send the goods just as you advertise them,
or a little better, and the very minute the order
reaches you.
Neighbor H. and myself will visit D. M. Ferry's
seed-gardens, in response to the invitation of friend
Hunt (see page 289, June No.), on Saturdaj% the 16th
of July, no preventing providence.
The Revised New Testaments are just at hand, a
whole thousand of them. Price 10c; if wanted by
mail, 5c more for postage. For wholesale prices, see
counter store. Give us an order, and see how
quickly we can send you one.
The American Bee-Journal has completed its first
six months as a weekly, and has proved a success,
as it could not well help being, with the able way in
which it is gotten up— clean nice print, good paper,
and brim full of "bee-talk " that could not all very
well find place in a monthly.
We have to-day, June 28th, 265 queen-rear iug col-
onies, and are adding to the number by buying new
swarms of blacks, hybrids, and Italians, at 50, 60, and
75c, per lb. respectively. If you think I am making
too much money in selling them at $2.00 per lb., just
take the trade out of my hands, please. In fact, I
wish you would, for I want to go right to work now
getting ready for winter, that I may fill orders more
promptly next spring.
BEES TWO DOLLARS PER POUND.
It is very bad to change prices, I know ; and everj'
time I have to do it I resolve I will not do it again if
I can help it — I mean, a raise in prices. I do not
know that anybody ever found fault when I put
them down. Well, as you will see by our Julj* price
list, bees by the pound will be $2.00, or just double
last year's prices, until further notice. Every thing
else will be at ola prices or lower. When bees get
to be a drug in the market again, I will try to do
better.
shipping BEES BY THE POUND.
Some of the friends have had very discouraging
success in sending bees by the pound, but I think
they are all doing better now. With abundance of
Ventilation, candy, and plenty of watei', they go
safely to Texas and California. We now put a water
bottle in every section. It needs wire cloth, on ev-
ery one of the six sides of the package, and the cage
for a pound of bees, should be full as large as those
we use.
We h ave received from C. H. Lake, Baltimore, Md„
a very fine specimen of workmanship in the shape
of a wax-extractor. It will no doubt do its work
Avell; but since our invention for rendering wax by
steam, the job is so quickly done with any quantity,
we hardly have occasion to even try any of the new
inventions.
Thirty queens were received at 7 o'clock in the
evening. Ntnghbor H., John, Ernest, and myself,
undertook to introduce them before dark. It was
done by caging only three, and not one of the thirty
was lost. The 27 were let right out on the top of the
frames without a single one being attacked. Of
course, every colony had been several days queen-
less.
Moral : About 27 times out of 30, during a yield of
clover honey, you can let queens right out in any
hive that has queen-cells well along. Many of them
were laying next morning.
labels for honey, etc.
Since there has been so much trouble about de-
lays on labels, we have finally arranged to
print them ourselves, and expect to be able to
mail all orders within 48 hours after the day they are
received. The work is in the hands of Mr. Gray's
son George, one of the microscope boys. He will
print you any kind of a gummed label, one color, for
$1.00 per 1,000, providing it does not exceed in size
1x2 inches, nor contain over 50 words. Try him, and
see how he "pans out" tor promptness. If you
"swamp" him with orders, a dozen boys and girls
are ready to give him a lift. If wanted by mail, put
in 5c per M. extra.
the rubber foundation plates.
The rubber plates for fdn. work beautifully in our
hands, and Mr. Gray, with one hand to assist, makes
and trims L. sheets at the rate of one a minute, on
an average. These sheets are from 6 to 7 square ft.
to the pound, and work in the hives beautifully.
One strange thing about the rubber is, that you do
not want cold water to Immerse the plates in, but
water tolerably warm. When every thing is right,
the sheets will almost fall from the rubber dies of
themselves. We have sold perhaps a dozen sets of
plates; but I am sorry to say, as we go to press, only
three of these purchasers have reported, and none
of these favorably. In starting a new pair of plates,
a little soap bark dissolved in the water in the tank
seems to make the wax lift easier.
sending queens without marking the cages.
It would seem strange that any one should send
us queens without saying a word as to whether they
are blacks, hybrids, dollar, or tested queens ; but we
have received two lots to-day, in just that way. Do
you suppose we are so wise that we can tell all
about it by simply looking at them? I have been
sorely tempted to say I would give you credit for all
such at 15c each, and sell them to the first customer
for 25 ; and if they are worth more, it would be his
good fortune; but a small voice within says, "No,
you won't, for you have promised to ' suffer long,
and be kind.' " Please to be more thoughtful, dear
friends, and do not thus block the wheels of the busy
1881
GLEAKINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
361
whirl here in our ofiQce and out in the apiary. We
have got to introduce these, and risk the chances of
identifying them when your answer comes.
While at Neighbor H.'s I saw a comb so lilled with
brood that there was scarcely room for a drop of
honey or a bit of pollen. Every cell was capped, and
the beautifully regular brown embossing, clear up
to the wood of the frame on all sides, was such a
sight that I begged the comb and brought it home.
It contains about 6,800 bees, and when they are
hatched out will be worth, at retail, about $4.00. It
was the work of a Holy-Land queen— one of those so
long, slim, and dark, that she looks, as H. says, like
a slate pencil. He thinks the sheet of fdn. had some
thing to do with it. It was made on our thick-
walled mill that we call Dunham, to distinguish it
from the work of the other mill, with light walls. I
never saw such a comb before, ajid I am inclined to
think the Holy-Land bees do excel, in number of eggs
laid, any thing we have had; but doubts are felt
about their wintering as well as others.
HERBERT A. BIRCH.
Ix the May and June No's of Gleanings, friend
Burch advertises—
That we can write success upon our ( apiarian i banner is indi-
cated by the fact that even in this most disastrous winter,
every colony of our lai-ge apiary is in fine condition.
Almost as soon as the above came out, a protest
was made against it by his neighbors. I wrote him
for an explanation; but, after some evasive replies,
the following came to hand: —
Friexd Novice:— I have been so busy I could not possibly
write before, and even now I must be very brief. Last Septem-
ber we had about 27-5 colonies of bees; these were reduced, by
sale and uniting, to about 125 (can't give e.x.act figures). The
first week in April, 1881, these were all Hyintr, and in good con-
dition. Did not see them again until last of .\pril (apiary live
miles out. iiacked in chaft'i, when we found that about three-
fourths had starved; liives were tilled with hces; had sealed
bi-ood, and not an ounce of honey. We have nut misstated a
■ single thing in ouradv's. They simply aimiil to show that our
bees weie hardy . We suppose that almost auv livintr thing
would die if kept without food long enough. iWe know bees
will now.) We can ohow a good many lettei-s that state that
bees procured of us have lived this last winter, while all others
have died.
Now about orders ; We are doing our utmost to till them.
Despite the earnest remonstrances of friends, I am working 18
to 20 hours every clay, and can't well do more. If we had the
bees we liave bought and paid for, we could fill evei-j- order to-
day. We intend, so far as lies in our power, to make every
thing satisfactory with eveiy customer. Son-y that you should
think us ttt camlidates for •'Humbugs and Swindles." If we
wanted to swindle the jjeople. we would have taken the thou-
sands of dollars we have refused to take, and not have re-
turned the hundreds of dollars we have. Even Jamts Mohan
wished us to receive more ordei"s than we did. Now, m\ Irieutl,
do with us just as you think right. Whatever you wish to put
in Glea.stxgs will be all right, if you will give us space for a
reply in tlie same issue. Should like very much to have written
more, but can not now. H. A. Birch.
South Haven, Mich., June 3, IRSl.
Of course, a great many orders were received by
him for bees possessing such extraordinary quali-
ties; and as his prices were also lower than others,
as a general thing, quite a considerable sum of
money was sent him, as I gather from complaints.
Now, to fill orders with bees purchased after such
an advertisement, of course would not be honest ;
but the worst of it is, he seems not to have done
even this; and when he has been asked to return
the money, he refuses— or, at least, fails to do this.
I supposed he had been unfortunate, and have been
trying to help him to pull through; but I am sorry
that, for the present at least, I am compelled to sa.v
I can no more be responsible for Mr. Burch as I am
for the rest of my advertisers. One of his customers,
who had sent him over $300 for bees, finally made
him a visit. The conductor of the train, at this
friend's request, made examination of Mr. Burch's
apiary, and the card below is his report:
De.\r Sir :— RefeiTing to the colonies of bees at Kibbles, thei'e
are only 9 left that show any life. Mr. B. is off through the
countrj' buying what he can. and perhaps will fill your order.
That he has not got them of his own, I am assured, it. B. P.
Kalamazoo, Mich., May 4, 1881.
Friend Burch doubtless can help the matter some
by explanations; but the best explanation he can
make is to return all the money sent him, at once,
and to make a full, frank, public confession of his
sin against God and his fellow-men, whatever it is.
If he will do this, we will all help him, in every way
in our power, to get on his feet again. Friend B.,in
the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, whom you pro-
fess to love and serve, I call upon you to confess
your fault, make restitution as far as lies in your
power, and stop blaming or speaking unkindly of
those who have been so much your friends as to
send you their money.
CITY MARKETS.
There is an entire absence of tiansactions of comb honey this
montli. there being no icinsuni|itive demand; dealers are
awaiting the new crop. There ha^ been a little speculative de-
mand tui- extracted on account of the anticipated advance in
prices, based upon the great losses in bees. Extracted, white
clover, sold He. We look for bright opening of the markets on
the receipt of new 1-lb. sections.
Beeswax inactive; prices nominally 20 to 25c.
Cleveland, O., June 21, 1881. -\. C. Kendel.
Honey and wax remain about the same as last quoted. The
market is fully supplied, and there is a slight downward ten-
dency in prices" of honey .
Beeswax remains firm . Alfred H. Newmas.
Chicago, III., June 21, 1881.
No change in the market of honey . Demand slow, and prices
nominal .
Beeswax is quoted at 18g22c on arrival.
AVith an abundance of white clover, and apparently favorable
we.ither, my bees did not collect hai-dly anj- honey last week .
No houev coming in now. Ch.is. F. Mvth.
Cincinnati, () , June 21. 1881.
■r:EILiDE3I>I3C03\ri3Si
For Private Lines. Ours excel all oth-
ers for lines within their compass. Pat-
ented 1878 and 1881. Latest, Jjcst. Dura-
ble and reliable. ^^Illustrated Circu-
lars and Testimonials free.
7 HOLCOMBE & CO., Mallet Creek, O.
Op' BLACK QUEENS for sale at 25 eta. each,
Af3 postage paid.
7 JAMES A. GREEN, Dayton, 111.
ITALIAN AND ALBINO QUEENS !
Untested queens, bred from Imported and Home-
bred mothers, 90 cts.; per doz., $9.00, this month.
Albino queens, untested, $1.00 each.
7 J. M. C. T.\YLOR, Lewistown, Fred'k Co., Md.
Before Purchasing
any Italian or Cyprian bees, send for our 30th annu-
al price list. Full colonies. Nuclei and Queens, at
greatly reduced prices. Also headquarters for Api-
arian supplies in New England.
WM. W. CAliy & SON (formerly Wm. W. Cary),
3tfinq Colerain, Franklin Co., Mass.
At Kansas City, Mo.,
I breed pure Italian bees for sale. I warrant my
"Dollar" queens to be mated by pure yellow drones,
and guarantee safe arrival and perfect satisfaction.
Tested Queens, $3 00
" Dollar •'^ '• 1 00
ItvUl have no Cyprian queens for sale after July l.'>.
Bees, per lb., same prices as Dollar queens.
Please address all letters plainly to
6tfd E. M. HAYHUKST. P. O. Box 113L
THE
British Bee Journal.
The British Bee Journal is now mailed to our ad-
dress in packages, each month. In order to dispose
of them, we offer them at present at $1.00 per year,
postage paid, beginning Jan. 1881. Will guarantee
safe arrival of every Ni>.
A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio.
362
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
July
!)m^ %&©
The best-Informed bee-keepers in
the U. 8. sav that our DOUBLE-DEAFT
aUINB? SMOKEE is decidedly the BEST
now made. Hethering-ton discards all
others, and orders two dozen lor his
own use. Doolittle says it is not
equaled. So say all who see and usr it.
Price, by mail, $1.50 and f 1.75.
oxjpj. book:
PNSn ra EEMiEEFM
continues to grow in popularity, and
is the most practical work pub-
lished. Price, by mail, f 1.50.
We sell every thing used in ad-
vanced Bee Culture. Send for Illus-
trated Circular to
ij. C. ROOT & BRO.,
Ttfd Mohawk, N. Y.
llO STANDS OF BEES
As my health has failed, and I have decided to re-
move to Col. this fall, 1 offer my bees at a bargain.
Almost all my frames are wired, and will stand ship-
ping. I will sell by the colony, by the pound, by the
nucleus, or any way to suit purchaser. Write what
.you want, and I will give you low prices and fine
stocks. I have a large number of $1.00 queens on
hand; can furnish a number of Presses before I re-
move to Col. Write for our late postal circular.
D. S. GIVEN.
7d Hoopeston, Vermillion Co., 111.
!ONnod3HiAa$]]g
July and August I will sell bees by the pound, de-
livered at express office; viz., lib., $1.00; or with
untested queen, $3.00; 3 lbs., and queen, $3.00;
;j lbs. and queen, $1.00; 5 lbs. and queen, $5.00. Holy-
Land and Italian queens, bred from the best honey-
gatherers. Cells mostly raised in natural way.
L. E. ST. JOHN,
7-8d Greene, Chenango Co., N. Y.
I SAY, Doolittle don't raise
clicap queens, but he will
send a tested Italian queen
from his choicest stock,
raised from cells produced
by natural swarming, for
$3.00 each. Two stocks gave,
in 1877, 010 lbs. of box honey;
one giving 309; the other 301;
and our average for the last
!• years has been 8Gi^4 lbs. per
stock. If you wish queens
from such stock, send in
.Aour orders to
G. M. DOOLITTLE,
Borodino, Onon. Co., N. Y.
W. Z. HUTCHINSON,
Rogei'sville, Geiiei^ee €o., Mlcliigan,
Makes a specialty of rearing line Italian queens. All
queens bred from imported queens, and from the
purest and best home-bred queens; and the cells
built in full colonies. No black bees in the vicinity.
Single queen, $1.00; six queens for $5.00; twelve or
more, 75 cts. each. Tested queens, $200 each. Safe
arrival by mail guaranteed. Send money by draft,
registered letter, or by money order drawn on
Flint, Mich. (itfd
Sunny Side, Napa, Cal., June 10, 1881.
T. F. Binoham, Ahronia, Mich.:—
Dear Sir:— Please send me by mail two Large, six
Extra, and four Standard Bingham smokers. Your
four-years-old smoker is still in use, and does good
service; the only trouble being, it is too small. I
require the Large size. I have a Large and Small
Quinby; Large one condemned; the other I got
along with by repairing often. As far as I have
tried them, I prefer yours above all, and shall keep
them in stock. Yours truly, Jas. D. Enas.
The Oei&inal Direct Draft !
Patented Jan. 9, 1878; Mav,
1879; Re-issued July 9, 1878.
If you buy a Bingham
Smoker, or a Bingham &
Hetherlngton Honey-Knife,
you are sure of the best and
cheapest. The largest bee-
keepers use them exclusive-
l.y. Twenty thousand in use;
not one ever returned, or
letter of complaint receiv-
ed. Our original patent
Smokers and Honey-Knives
were the only ones on exhi-
bition at the last National
Bee -Keepers' Convention.
Bingham Smokers, all but
the Small, have Are and cin-
der proof bellows. The large
and extra Standard Smo-
kers have extra wide shields
to prevent burnt fingers.
These are the only real im-
provements made in bee-
smokers since the Direct-
Draft invention. Bingham is the inventor and only
legal maker of them.
Bingham & Hetherlngton Honey-Knife, 3 in., - $1 00
Large Bingham Smoker, 2'/2 in., - - - 1 50
Extra Standard Bingham Smoker, 3 inches, - 1 35
Plain Standard Bingham Smoker, 3 •* - 100
Little Wonder Bingham Smoker, 1?^, " - - 75
If to be sent by mail, or singly by express, add 35
cents each, to prepay pnstae-e or express charges.
Send card for testimoni:ils. To sell again, apply for
dozen or half-dozen ratv?s. Address
BINGHAM & HETHERINGTON,
5tfd Abronia, Allegan Co., Mich.
ITALIAN QUEENS, NUCLEUS COLONIES.
I can furnish Bees and queens cheap. Send for
special rates. Comb Foundation and every thing
pertaining to the Apiary. A. D. BENHAM.
(itfd Olivet, Eaton Co., Mich.
BEES BY THE POUND!
I will, during July, sell bees for $1.00 per lb.; and
if 5 lbs. are ordered in one coop, will put a queen
with them gratis. My bees and queens are blacks,
hybridized by using Italian drones. Queens, single;
or with 1 lb. of bees, $1.00 each.
7d H. V.;TRAIN, Mauston, Juneau Co., Wis.
Bees by the Pound!
During July, August, and September, I will sell
boxes containing 5 lbs. of bees, and an untested
Holy-Land. Cyprian, or Italian queen at $5.00. Or-
ders tilled in rotation. P. Elbert Nostrand.
7 550 Bushwick Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y.
MONTHLY FAMILY VISITOR.
Full of excellent reading. Price 18 cts. a year.
Sunday- schools are purchasing it for free distribu-
tion to families. Send 15 cts. in postage-stamps, and
get a package of 15 papers on trial; or more papers
at same rale. Address
7 B. F. SANFORD, Cincinnati, Ohio.
ONE-PIECE SECTIONS A SPECIALTY.
Pound and Prize size, $4.50 per 1000. Sample sec-
tion free. BYRON WALKER,
7d Capac, St. Clair Co., Mich.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
3G7
Contents of this Numbsr.
INDEX OP DEPARTMENTS.
Black List —
Bee Botany o91
Bee Kntomolopy —
Blasted Hopes 382
Cartoon —
Editoi'ials 413
Heads of Urain .VM
Honey Column 411
Htnnbugs and Swindles :Mil
1 will sell a few full colonics of bees, in 10-frame
L. hives (Root's style), cuch to contain a young
Juvenile Department 377 1 ,„ _ ,. „ , .^ , ^i ^
KindWoids irom Customers.iM | queen reared from daughters ol my best and gentlest
Ladies' Department 382
Lunch-R • om —
Notes and Quenes 401
Reports Encouraging —
Smilory —
The Gi-owlei-y....: 40.'i
Tobacco Column HY.i
Italian queen of 1880, at fO.OO per colony.
A. G. WILLOWS,
8 Carlingford, Ontario, Can.
INDEX
OF HEADS OF GRAIN, NOTES AND QUERIES,
AND OTHER SHORT ARTICLES.
Another improvement on
the Peet (lueen-caKe 37:i
Artificial anu Natural swaiin-
ing Queens, etc 372
Apis Dorsata 389
After- Swarms 39fi
Albinos 413
Bannei' Apiary 371
Bees Stinging their own
Members X7fi
Blue Bees .■i9»
Hers to On
.11(1 Q\ieens for Sale ...403
lliitlea's Jlishap 383
B.'escit India .380
I'.iitton 's I'.eeKeeping 388
Bee ( 'ultuie in Texas 388
liees uuing two miles to
Frepaie Hive 395
I'.ees in ( )pen -Air 39.^
Had Honey 395
Heesof Italy 395
Hlaiks in Chatf Hives .398
Clu.trHivus 396,399
Candv for Wintering 401
(Vllai-s Ahead 401
Cyprians and Holy-Lands.. 402
closed-top Frames 394
Cellars not always Ahead. . ..397
D. A. Jones 401
Dollar Queens 401
Drone Brood in Upper Story 403
Disturbing Bees 385
Death from Sting 390
Dollar Queens in Poor
Season 395
Difference in Queens 396
Dry Brick in Winter 39Si
Feeding in Jul.y 378
Florida as a Bee State 381
Forest-Leaves 401
Future of Italians 401
Fdn., new Tool to Fasten. . .402
First Italians west of Miss-
issippi 402
(iloves 401
(Jrape Sugar in the South.. 402
(Jrape Sugar in Illinois 385
( (rape Sugar •. 412
(letting Bees under DitK-
culties 396
How to Rear good Queens . .375
Hatching Brood without
Bees 399
How an A B C Scholar
manages 373
Honey-Dew from the Clouds374
H. A. Burch 409
Hiving a Swarm on Sec-
tions 399
Hungarian Bees 400
Hiving of their own accoid 4(il
Hayhnrst's Te:i-Party 384
Hciisemint in Texas 393
Hunev from Willow Roots.. 394
Holy-Land Bees ,374
Introducing to a Hive hav-
inga Queen 400
Ilex l):ili..oii 391
Introducing 398
Ml- .Mi-rrylp.ndjs' Neighbor 410
Newly Cathered (Iranula-
trd Houev 399
( )nc Moi'uing's Work 374
Our (iwu Aiiiary 379
Out of Blasted hopes .397
Propolis, uses for 378
Pound of Bees in July 402
Poiuul of Bees in May 402
Peters on Upward V'enti-
lation 386
Plea for Blacks 398
Ramble No. 6 375
Raising Bees in Gieenhouse 380
Report from Colora<io 399
Robbed Bees going with
Robbers 402
Rape as a Bi'c-plant 403
Robbing when tirst set out ..394
Rubber Plates 398
Silverhull Buckwheat 399
Starting cells when they
ha ve a cpteen 400
Side-opening Hives 400
Small Story with gi-eat
Moral : 401
Sections on In Winter 384
Starters, full-size. . . : 391
Sugar vs. Natural Stores ...394
Success of A B C Scholar. . . ..394
Santlpaper 396
Svrup for Bees 397
Suiolu', Too much 372
Ten Davs before laying 403
Trials in Bee-Keeping. .389
Thick Combs for Extracting 398
Ups and Downs of a Scholar 400
Under the Box-Kldcrs 383
Unfairness 390
Un'^apjiing K nives 395
Vi:illon's Candy 383
Wintering without Pollen.. :«i9
Why did they Die! 392
What a Pound of Bees
willdo 394
Wintering in a Room 397
W.Uer-B.)ttlcs .397
Wintrriug without loss 398
Wiiidiii^^- the Waterburv
W.itch again '.....373
Iwishtoexchangebeesfor pine lumber for adwell-
iug-tiouse, shop, and other buildings, lumber to be de-
livered at some convenient point to ship by It. 11. to
Kalamazoo, Mich. Correspondence solicited.
O. H. TOWNSEND,
8d Hubbardstown, Mich.
C3I3L-a.:]E':f' ni'V^iESS :
lean furnish Root Chaff Hives in flat for$1.5U;
nailed and painted, $2,50. Address
A. F. STAUPFER,
8 Sterling, Whiteside Co., 111.
I'l^C XJI* ST3FL03XrGr
For \vinter during the month of August. I will sell
2 frames containing brood and honey and one pound
of hybrid bees, delivered at express ollice in good
conditijn, tor $'i.OO. No queens for sale.
H. F. HAGEX.
8d DeSoto, Jefferson Co., Mo.
LBS. of bees for sale, $1.35 per lb. Queens
$1.10. Tested, $3.00. Send for circular.
A. D. BENHAM,
Olivet, Eaton Co., Mich.
100
8d
KIND READER ! Do you want to buy queens?
If so, give me a trial order. I am confident I
can please you. FIINE AVAKKANTED ITALi-
lAN QUEEINS a specialty. Prices: single queen,
$1.00; per ii doz., $5.50. All queens bred from choice
imported and improved stock. Send for circular.
J.P.MOORE,
8tfd Box 2V, Morgan, Pendleton Co., Ky.
FOR $5.00 I will send you 5 lbs. of Italian or hy-
brid bees, 5 worker combs, and 5 lbs. of honey,
all in a second-hand Langstroth hive. Tested queen,
bought of G. Grimm in May, $3.00 additional.
J. L. WOLFENDEN,
8d Adams, Wal. Co., Wis.
FOR SA1.E.— The first eight volumes of the
American Bee Journal. Four \olumes, bound
in paper, leather back. All in good order. Price
$10.00. V. LEONARD,
8 Springfield, Bradford Co., Pa.
1 OFFER for sale, this month, 100 3-frame nuclei'
with queens reared from mother whose progeny
gave over 300 lbs. surplus in 18S0. Price $3.00 for
nuclei containing untested; $4.00 with tested queen.
F. L. WRIGHT,
8d PlainQeld, Liv. Co., Mich.
ITAIiIAN QUEENS ! lam prepared to furnish
pure queens at a low price. Untested, in May,
$lOO; June>90c; after, 8Jc. Send for circular.
CHARLES D. DUVALL,
4-9d Spencerville, Mont. Co., Md.
t t\f\ SWARMS OF BEES FOR SAI.E,
XLFvr at $6.(0. May be selected from over 200
swarms. This price includes 30-frame hive, s worker
combs and contents, 3 chaff division-boards, one con-
taining feeder, bees and queen. Bees are high-grade
hybrids. I have about 70 young (jueens (not yet
tested) from Doolittle's best stock. My frames are
American, with open top-bar. Correspondence so-
licited. F. B. CHAPMAN,
8 Scipioville, Cayuga Co., N.Y.
mmmt um im mii m so mil i
MAKER & GHOSH, 34 N. MONROE ST.,
TOLEDO, OHIO.
Hand-Forged Razor Steel Knife
for 50 cents. Maher & Grosh, 34
N.Monroe St., Toledo, O., will mail
Knife like cut, post-paid, for 50c.
Extra heavy 3-blade for rough
usage, 75e. Our Best 3-blade, oil
temper and tested, $1. Pruner, oil
temper, $1. Pruning Shears, $1.
All goods exchanged free if soft
or flawy.
o(i8
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Aug.
Names of responsible parties will be inserted in
any of the following departments, at a uniform
price of 20 cents each insertion, or $3,00 per year.
$1.00 Queens.
Names inserted in this department the firi>t time vnth-
out charge. After, 30c each insertion, or $3,00 per year.
Those whose names appear below agree to furnish
Italian queens for $1,00 each, under the following
conditions: No guarantee is to be assumed of purity,
or anything of the kind, only that the queen be reared
from a choice, pure mother, and had commenced to
laj' when they were shipped. They also agree to re-
turn the money at any time when customers become
impatient of siich delay as may be unavoidable.
Bear in mind that he who sends the best queens,
put up most neatly and most securely, will probably
receive the most orders. Special rates for warranted
and tested queens, fumisned on application to any
of the parties. Names with *, use an imported queen
mother. If the queen arrives dead, notify us and
we wiU send you another. Probably none will be
sent for $1.00 before July 1st, or after Nov. If want-
ed sooner, or later, see rates in price list.
*E. W. Hale, Newark, Wirt Co., W. Va. 2-1
*A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
*H. H. Brown, Light Street, Columbia Co., Pa. 7tf
*E. M. Hayhurst, Kansas City, Mo. 1-13
*Paul L. Viallon. Bavou Goula, La. Tttd
♦D. A. McCord, Oxford, Butler Co., O. 1-12
*S. F. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. 7tfd
*Chas. G. Dickinson, Sou' Oxford, Chen. Co. N. V. 1-10
*Wm. Ballantine. Sago, Musk. Co.. O. Vtfd
*W. H. Nesbit. Alpharetta, Milton Co.. Ga. 7tfd
*J. O. Facey, New Hamburg. Ont., Can. 4-0
*H. Nicholas, Etters, York Co., Penn. 4-8
♦John Conser, Glenn, Johnson Co., Kans. 4-9
*Fischer & Stehle. Marietta. Wash. Co., O. 4-9
■■*Jas. P. Sterritt, Sheakleyville, Mercer Co., Pa. 5-10
*01iver Foster, Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa. atfd
*V. W. Keencv, Shirland. Win. Co., 111. 6-9
*C. B. Curtis, Selma. Dallas Co., Ala. 6-11
*T. W. Dougherty. Mt. Vernon, Posey Co., Ind.V-r^
*L. E. Welch, Linden, Gen. Co., Mich. fitfrt
S. P. lloddy, Mechanistown, Fred. Co., Md. 7-8
*J. W. Keeran, Bloomington, McLean Co., III. 7-9
L. W. Vankirk, Box 178, Washington, Wash. Co. Pa.
7tfd.
*Otto Kleinow, opp. Ft. Wayne, Detmit. Mich. 8
r. H. Deane, Sr., Mortonsville, Woodford Co., Ky.
8tfd
Hive Manufacturers.
Who agree to make such hives, and at the prices
named, as those described on our circular.
A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, Iberville Par., La. Itfd
S. F. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. Itfd
J. F. Hart, Union Point, Greene Co., Ga. 4-3
Foundation Manufacturers.
Who agree to make such foundation, and at the
prices given, as described in our circular.
A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
Jas. A. Nelson, Wyandott, Wyandott Co., Kans. 4-9
Bees by the Pound.
Those whose names appear below agree to furnish
bees by the lb., and at the prices given in our circu-
lar.
I. L. Scofleld. Chenango Bridge, Broome Co., N. Y.
S. C. Perry, Portland, Ionia Co., Mich.
J. P. Moore, Morgan, Pendleton Co., Ky.
W. R, Whitman, New Market. Madison Co., Ala.
Chas. Kingsley, GreeneviUe. Greene Co., Tenn.
C. D. Wright, Baxter Springs, Cherokee Co., Kans.
H. B. Harrington, Medina, Medina Co., O.
"W. St. Martz, Moonshine, Clark Co.. Ills.
G. W. Gates, Bartlett, Shelby Co., Tenn.
W. S. Canthen, Pleasant Hill, Lancaster Co., S. C.
J. G. Taylor, Austin, Travis Co., Texas.
T. P. Andrews, Farina, Fa/. Co., 111.
Allan D. Laughlin, Courtland, Law. Co., Ala.
E. J. Atchley, Lancaster, Dallas Co., Texas.
D. McKenzie, Carrullton P. O., N. (>., La.
H. L. GrifHth, Sumner, Law. Co., 111.
J. H. Martin, Hartford, Wash. Co., N, Y.
W. A. Pirtle, Cabot, Lonoke Co., Ark.
E. T. Flanagan, Belleville, St. Clair Co., 111.
J. K. Mayo, Stafford. Fort Bend Co., Texas.
J. F. Hart. Union Point, Greene Co., Ga.
B. Chase. Earlville, Madison Co , N. Y.
S. P. Roddy, Mechanicstown, Fred. Co., Md.
W. J. Ellison, Statesburg, Sumter Co., S. C.
R. A. Paschal, Geneva, Talbot Co., Ga.
Hall & Johnson, Kirby's Creek, Jackson Co., Ala.
A. Osbun, Spring Bluflf, Adams Co., Wis.
H. D. Heath, Sherman, Grayson Co.. Texas.
N.B.McKee,careof D. & D. Inst., Indianapolis, Ind.
J. B. R. Sherrick, Mt. Zion, Macon Co., 111.
Otto Kleinow. opp. Fort Wayne, Detroit, Mich.
J. C. & D. H. Tweedy, Smithfleld, Jetf. Co., O.
HEADQUARTERS IN THE SOUTH
For the Manufacture and Sale of
BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES!
Italian Queens and Bees, all bred from mothers of
my own importation. Dollar queens, $1.C0. Tested
queens, $3.50; 4-trame Nucleus, $5.00. Safe arrival
and satisfaction guaranteed. Send for my illustra-
ted catalogue.
PAUIi li. VIAL1.0N,
6tfd Bayou Goula, Iberville Par., La.
BEE.«^ 1.^0« SATL.E i^JtmAF !
Also Supplies. Send for terms to
8 Enos D. Smith, Moira, Franklin Co., N. Y.
Bees by the Pound.
During the month of August I can ship bees
promptly at the following rates: Blacks, 80c; Hy-
brids, 9Jc; Italians, $1.00. Safe arrival guaranteed.
J. A. GREEN,
8d Dayton, LaSalle Co., 111.
iQNnodMAasiBa
July and August I will sell bees by the pound, de-
livered at express oiHcc; viz., 1 lb., $1.00; or with
untested queen, $3.00; 2 lbs., and queen, $3.00;
•■i lbs. and queen, $4.00; 5 lbs. and queen, $'..0U. Holy-
Land and Italian queens, bred from the best honey-
gatherers. Cells mostly raised in natural way.
L. E. ST. JOHN,
7-8d Greene, Chenango Co., N. Y.
W.Z. HUTCHINSON,
Rogersville, Genesee Co., IVIicliigan,
Makes a specialty of rearing fine Italian queens. All
queens bred from imported queens, and from the
purest and best home-bred queens; and the cells
built in full colonics. No black bees in the vicinity.
Single queen, $1.00; six queens for $5.00; twelve or
more, 75 cts. each. Tested queens, $3 00 each. Safe
arrival by mail guaranteed. Send money by draft,
registered letter, or by monej' order drawn on
Flint. Mich. 6tfd
^^He has a stock of queens on hand, and can fill
orders priimptl I).
Bees by the Pound !
Having received an order for all the bees I have to
spare in the fall, 1 shall be imableto fill anv more or-
ders at prices advertised last month. The above
speaks well for mj' bees and (jueens.
QUEENS !
I shall continue to sell untested Cyprian, Holy-
Land, and Italian Queens at $1.00 each. Tested,
double price. P. ELBERT NOSTRAND,
Sd 5."j0 Bushwlck Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y.
1881
GLEANINGS IK BEE CULTURE.
369
Untested queens, fl.OO; Tested, f3.00; Selected,
$3.00; Pound of Bees, Italian, $1.00; 2 Langstrotti-
frame nuclei, $3.00; 3 Langstroth-franie nuclei,
$3.00. For prices of Novice Extractors, Veils, Smo-
kers, Hives, &c.. &c., address
WM. B. COGGESHALL. Supt.
8 Hill Side Apiary, Summit, Union Co., N. J.
MAKE BEES PAT
By gettinjf the best Italian stock tested for " biz."
Good prolific queens 75 cts. each; $7.80 per dozen;
Tested, $1.50. Use molded fdn. It paj/fi bio; 40 cts.
for common; 50 cts. for thin. Improved fdn. mold,
"L." size. Plaster, $3.75; Metallic (ready soon) $7.50.
Roofs rubber, $«.0O. Outfit for same, $5.00. See
free circular. OLIVER FOSTER,
7tfd Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa.
Italian (tested) Queens from Root's very best.
Imported or home-bred Queens, $2.00; Italian (un-
tested) Queens, Laying,' $1.00; Bees, $1.00 per lb.; 2
(L.) frame Nucleus (no queen) $1.50; 3 (L.) frame
Nucleus (no queen), $3.00; 1 colony of Italian Bees
(no queen) in 10 (L.) frame hives, $7.00. Add price of
queen to price of bees, colony, and nucleus. Dis-
count on larger orders. OTTO KLEINOW,
6tfd Opposite Fort Wayne, Detroit, Mich.
SEND for my circular and price list of Italian
Colonies, Queens, and Apiarian Supplies. i
5tfd H. H. BROWN, Light Street, Columbia Co., Pa.
Thanks, friend R., for that smoker. It is just
" boss." We have had 26 natural swarms this month
from 12 hives, averaging 5 lbs. each.
W. W. Young.
Fort Dcdge, Iowa, June 29, 1881.
The bees you sent came all r)8;ht, and they are
working like "little Turks," and from all present
appearances, they will do well.
Jonathan Goble.
Marion, White Co., Ind., June 29, 1881.
You will find postage stamps, am't 05 cts., for
which you may please send me 1 more lb. fdn. The
other lb. which you sent me [ like very well indeed.
1 could not get along without it.
J. H. CUTSHAWL.
Grecneville, Greene Co., Tenn.. June 23, 1881.
The queen-cages you sent came to hand prroHpIi/.
If others filled orders as you do, there wouM be less
grumbling. Those cages are a marvel of cheapness,
with good quality combined. Certainly you give
value for the monev. G. H. B. Hoopek.
Toronto, Canada, .July 13, 1881.
C. OLSrS COMB FOUNDATION MACHINE.
SEND FOR SAMPLE AND CIRCULAR.
5tfd C. OliRI, Fond du Lac, Wis.
J. M. BROOKS & BROS'.
AMEHICAN ITALIANS.
PURITY OF STOCK A SPECIALTY.
4-9 CIRCULARS FREE.
COLUMBUS. - BARTH. CO., - INDIANA.
Inclosed you will find 11 stamps to pay postage on
the smoker you sent me. It came all right, loaded
ready for the match. The boys had more fun with
it than to have gone to a circus; and the bees, when
they saucily come around, behave in a respectful
way on being administered a little whiff of smoke in
their faces. Wm. B. Jones.
Manchester, Del. Co., Iowa, July, 1881.
Extractor arrived in good order this p. m. Works
splendid. Expect to make it hum to-morrow. Some
hives are crammed full of bees and honey. I have
more honey now than I got all last summer. Charges
on extractor to Chicago, 80c; from Chicago. 50c.
Cheap enough. J. B. McCormick.
Ncoga, Ills., June 13, 1881.
We received the goods ordered from you in due
time, and in the very best condition. They were
packed nicely. I put up and painted the hives, and
with the assistance of my wife we transferred 12
colonies, which work, I think, was done very well,
not having had any experience in that line. The
bees are doing well now. J. H. Roderick.
Dodd's City, Fannin Co., Tex., April 23, 1831.
Full Colonies
Bees by the Pound,
I am prepared to fill orders for bees by the pound,
nuclei (2 and 3 frame), full colonies of pure Italians.
Also Cyprian Queens (Dadant's importation), and
Italian Queens at A. I. Root's prices.
Given Fdn. a Specialty. Try it once, and see if
you do not pronounce it the best you ever used.
E. T. FLANAGAN, Belleville, Box 819,
6-8d Rose Hill Apiary, St. Clair Co., 111.
1881 ITALIAN QUEENS! 1881
Te!«ted Queens $1 50
AVarraiited Queens.. 1 00
Cyprian Queens, untested 1 00
As most all the Dollar queens
I sold last year were pure, I
will warrant them this year.
J. T. Wilson, Mortonsville,
8-9d Woodford Co., Ky.
KIND WOBJ)S FROM OUR CUSTOMERS.
I find Gleanings an excellent advertising medi-
um. M. L. Dorm AN.
SinclairvUIe, N. Y. , July 21, 1881.
I received extractor just in time, and it works
complete. I think we will have a first-class season
for honey. S. Rich, Jr.
Hobart, N. Y., June 7, 1881.
I beg to acknowledge, with many thanks, the re-
ceipt of your excellent book on bee-culture; it was
UiinlDi CHn in i ^ most agreeable surprise to me, as I understood it
I nllClcl) rUlli, ftUi was but a mere paper-bound pamphlet, containing
the most necessary elements of bee-farming, in
place of the handsome and really interesting vol-
ume you sent me. LoDis M. Hayes.
Toronto, Can., July 11, 1881.
Vou sent me Christian's Secret a second time, and
said, "'No charge;" but I will pmi it.
Corinth, Miss., June 22, 1881. N. Y. Steele.
[Well, I declare, friend S., it would be a "pretty
tough job," if anybody should try to get up a quar-
rel between you and me. Do you not think so? It
makes one feel as if it was not so very rixkn to " suff-
er long and lie kind, "after all.]
Imagine my pleasure and surprise the other day
on going into the postolHcc, to find Gleanings there
to my address. '• Well, now," says 1, "that is some
of Mary's work" (my wife, you know), a birthday
present, and I tell vou I appreciate it. especially
that part called Our Homes. Three-fourths of the
bees in this vicinity are dead. I saved six out of
ten, packed in chaff on summer stands. They are
now doing nicely. White clover is just commencing
to bloom.' D. McLaffertv.
Great Valley, Catt. Co., N. Y., May 30, 1881.
Bees and smokers came all right. The queen
filled 4 Langstroth frames in six days.
John Gilmore.
Corunna, Mich., June 29, 1881.
The nucleus sent me came to hand yesterday at 4
P.M. in good condition. That same evening I put
them in the hive I had prepared for them. To say
that they are satisfactory, is not enough; they were
more than satisfactory. Will you be so kind as to
send another just like it, for inclosed? I was truly
surprised to get the nucleus in such nice condition ;
and had I known they could be had so satisfactorilj'
at an earlier date, I should have ordered 2 or 3 times
the number. L. O. Shultz.
Brazil, Ind., July 1, 1881.
370
GLEANINGS IN I3EE CULTURE.
Aug.
I thought I dill not need bee things enonsrh this
year to pay for sending away for them, so T bargain-
ed for some nearer home, and my husband, accord-
ing to agreement, went eight miles after them to-
day, and came home disgusted, not having found
any hi\'ps, nor the maker at home, and he said, " Now
you will have to send to Korvt and have alL the things
sent by express." Until this year I have alwavs sent
to you with neighbor Guild for articles, and have
been delighted with them, because they wen; so nice.
Mrs. C. a. Greei.ev.
Chester, Windsor Co., Vt., June 22, 1881.
After another hard day's labor I am spending a
little time reading Gleanings, and studying my
Sunday-school lesson. They both open up a little
world of pleasure to me. It seems that I never had
so much to do — busy from -i A.M. until 9 P.M., Sun-
days included. I have been app tinted teacher in
two Sabbath-schools. I walk nearlv 12 miles every
Sabbath, and en.ioy it very much. We have organ-
ized a Sabbath-sehbol about three miles distant, in a
school house. We are having a very interesting
school; have over fifty scholars— some who have
not been to Sabbath-school for twenty years.
F. .T. Wahdell.
Uhrichsville, Tusc. Co., O., June 3, 1881.
OUR HOUSEHOLD ('ONVEXIENCE.S IN IT.\LV.
The cry in the hou.^e is. " We want more of them."
More of them mean more of the same kind of
needles you sent me in January. Please send me
twenty papers, and three glass-cntter-s. I send you
a post-olfice order for Uii cents: if it does not cover
expense, [ will remit balance when advised. There
is a question that has arisen since I received the 5-
cent nippers; that is, what are they good for? They
are too soft to cut with, and too hard to draw with.
Are they like Pindar's razors, made only to sell?
M. S. WlCKERSH.\M.
Perrara, Italy, J une 3, 1881.
[t am very glad to know you like the needles,
friend W., and heg to assure you that we try to have
all our goods .last like them; viz., to use, rather
than to sell. There seems to be much trouble with
the friends all around in deciding what the 5-cent
nippsrs are for; they look so much as if they would
cut, almost everybody tries them on some thing
hard, and snap go the jaws, for five cents is not
enough to pay for making a pair of cutting-plier«.
They are to "nip" hold of things you could not
reach and hold with the fingers alone, always re-
membering they are a five-cent tool. Thanks for re-
porting from so far away, friend W.]
Inclosed please find $1.75, for which please send
me a smoker, the best in the market — a larse one,
and one that [ will not have to light every half-hour.
I am standing in the door waiting for it, standing
first on one leg and then on the other. One year
ago 1 got Benny Judson, of Salt Lake City, to send
to you for th^ ABC book. 1 confess I like the book,
and am taking GLEAMNfis. There is one thing I
learned there in the ABC book worth more to me
than many times the price of the book; that is, I
read on page 275 how vou learned chaff packing of
J. H. Townley.
I had experience previous to this in bee-keeping,
but would have given it up if I had not got some
such idea from some source. I thank you again for
your works on bees; and those metal-corners and
metal rabbets ! how nicely they work !
Wm. C. Bills.
South Jordan, Utah, June 4, 1881.
[Many thanks for kind words, friend B. ; but real-
ly, if I were you I would stand squarely on both feet
and go out and work with the bees, or do some thing
else useful until the smoker comes. I know how it
is mysolf; for when I want a thing /inni"; if ; Imt I
have always found it most profitable to get right to
work and do some thing meanwhile.]
THE FARIS PLATES, ETC.
I received your wrapper on Gleanings, notifying
me that my subscription was run out, and that if I
thought it a good investment, to renew. Well, I
think it is a good investment, and on looking over
the past year I think there is not any thing in read-
ing matter, that has paid me so well as Gle.^nings.
In the first place, it was worth all the price to find
out how to make those plaster plates of friend Paris*.
I made a pair, and have made all the foundation I
shall need this season, besides selling quite a lot.
Then there were Doolittle's articles, well worth the
subscription, especially those two on page 320, July
No., 188J, about the care of empty combs, and the
other, on page 232, May, 1881, on sido and top stor-
ing, is a splendid article, which I know from this
season's experience; and I could name a lot of other
good articles from different writers, which are fine.
Then there is the pleasure of having not only fi
smile, but a good hearty laugh every month at Mer-
rybanks, "old Zac," and such like. Then there is
the Home reading, which is worth double the price
of Gleanings; and mav God bless you in trying to
do good in this way. Well, I think Gleanings is a
good investment, and inclosed you will find the
money for another year's subscription, and also one
year's subscription for a friend. My bees are doing
very well so far this season. I had three colonies to
start with — two very weak, and one very strong.
One has swarmed, and the other two areabout to.
We have had a steady yield of honey from white clo-
ver for the last two weeks; but it has been too cold
nights to be a heavy yield, but we can't complain so
far. John Myers.
Stratford, Out., Can., June 27, 1881.
KIND WORDS TO OUR CUSTOMERS.
Of late there seem to be a good many complaints
that goods are not in the packages, even when they
were put in all right, and overlooked by the person
who unpacks them. Now, about opening goods:
Do not trust to anyboly else; but, bill in hand, open
and tak'e out the goods yourself. Eo not unpack
them among a lot of other stuff, or where any thing
might get out of sight and be lost. Also be sure you
have the full number of packages from the R. R.
or express comp.iny that your bill calls for. The
following illustrates the point: —
I wrote vou a few days ago, stating the bottoms
and ^ ends of the broad section frames were want-
ing. I now find that my man misplaced them, and
forgot all about it. It seems they were put in a
small box by themselves, and he set them in an out-
of-the-way pi ice. , I regret very much the mistake,
and will do whatever is riglit in the matter. If you
have shipped the parts, please send me your bill, and
I will remit; and if you have been to any trouble
put that in. W.W. Reynolds.
Penn, Cass Co., Mich., Jane 16, 18S1.
Our friend apologizes and offers to recompense us
in a manly way, and we can not think of taking any
thing for trouble; but it took quite a search among
the clerks before we could write him that the goofls
were all sent him orrectly. Of course, we sent
them on again, which makes him trouble and ex-
pense. Another friend wrote us his spring balance
was missing, for he had looked the goods all over,
but next mail he said he found it safely tied in his
extractor. So many cases of this kind are turning,
up, I have thought best "to tell you to look very
carefully, before asking us to replace what is miss-
ing, for I assure you our clerks are more careful
here than you, the average of humanity, wlio have
not had the drill and discipline they have.
OUB, $175.00 STEAM-ENGINE.
One of our customers asks a number of questions
which may interest many of our readers in regard
to the small engines we sell. As Mr. Washburn
runs his machine shop with one of them, we have
asked him to answer the questions.
How much water to till boiler when empty !— Can start on five
pails to fill.
Has it a (;l«ss water- gausre?— Yes.
Has it three Kaug-e-foclcs? -Only two.
Has it a steani-whistle!— Xoije.
Is its cylinder eonvenient to get at lor piiokingrf— Yes: cylm-
der is easily prut at.
How thick is the plate iir boiler!— Do not know: it is east-iron,
tested tu :iO0 lbs.
How many pipes in boilea'?— N'onc-
How many poinuls ol' steam to run scroll saw?— Not many,
perhaps 20 lbs.
Is it .simple, and easy to operate?— Yes.
In short, is it an engrfne to be depended on for scroll saw and
wood lathef— Yes-: I can run fi'.< feet iron planer. 3 iron lathes,
uprijirht ilrill, and a-rindstone. all at om-e. I carry stcani fi-ora
10 to 100 lbs. I'se SO to 00 Ills, coal, and Oil to 70 gallons of water
per day; it has automatic cut-off, and is a koo<1 little machine.
Medina. O . .lidy 1. 1881. .\. W.vshdik.n-.
GLEANINGS
IN
BEE CULTUI\E.
Devoted to Bees and Honey, and Home Interests.
Vol. IX.
AUG. 1, 1881
No. 8.
A. Z. ROOT,
ruhlishcr and Froprictor, \
Published Moiillily.
Medina, O.
r TERMS: Si. 00 Per Axxum, in Advance:
I 2 Copies for 81.90: 'A for 82.75; 5 for 84.00: 10
I or more, 75 cts. each. Single Number. 10 cts.
■{ Additions to clubs may be made at club
I rates. Above are all to De sent to one post-
\ Established in 1873. [^K^S'tLnSl.ttl^^ar"-^"*'"^^*^'"^-^^'''"^
NOTES FROITI THE BANNER APIARY.
No. 21.
^ULY 1.— I have never scon the basswood-trees
QrjJ so loaded with buds as (hey are now.
Jid;] 6.— Basswood is in blossom, and the trees
are just one mass of s'ellow bloom. When I pass
thai large basswood in going- to the "spring-" after
a pail of water, I notice that the air is fairly laden
with sweetness. I presume an orange grove would
smell no sweeter. It is very easy to see that the
bees arc galheiiug honey very rapidly, because they
go into their hives with that " swish " and " wiggle"
that always shows that ihey are "scooping" in the
honey. AVhat a humming the bees do makcl Sev-
eral times today I have gone to the door to see if
they were not swarming. They arc so eager to
gather their harvest, that they are loth to stop, even
after dark; and at the first dawn of the morning
those that stayed in the tree-tops all night come
home with their loads. (I guess that is the way it Is.)
Jnhi 16.— And the basswood harvest is almost over.
I have extracted about 300 lbs. from my 18 colonies,
and their upper stories are full again, ready to ex-
tract when I get around to it. Yes, and four of
them are three stories high. Oh, yes! and then
there are the 70 nuclei, and a good many of them
arc "chock" full. There are about 50 acres of
buckwheat sown within two miles of here. Some of
it is already beginning to blossom; so you see I
shall have a good time rearing queens the remain-
der of the season.
To-day is the day when friend Root and other bee-
keeping friends are having such a good time in De-
troit. How I did wish that I could go; but I have no
cleris nor boys to Ijave in charge of my queen-
rearing business, and it would suffer if I left it; be-
sides, I might belter take the money that it would
cost me to go, and use it to help pay my debts.
Never mind, friend Root; when the time comes
right, I am coming to see j'ou. I dreamed, the other
night, that lyou came to see me.
AN HONEST BEE-KEEPER.
T,ast May I sent S7.5.00 to friend Townscnd, of
Hubbardston, Ionia Co., Mich., for T colonies of pure
Italians. I thought the price pretty high; but when
the bees came I was satisfied. They came the first
week in .June, and the hives were full of bees, each
hive containing 12 combs with brood in 8 combs. If
friend T. does as well by every one as he did by mc,
he deserves to bo patronized.
THIEVES CAUGHT.
A year ago last August I had two hives of bees
stolen, and last spring mic of the thieves was brought
to justice. He was fined .SIO.OO and costs; all of
which amounted to about $60.00. At the time the
bees were stolen he could have bought 600 lbs. of
honey for S^'jO.OO. Rather expensive honey, consid-
ering that, as the thief remarked, they " didn't get
more than a teacupful of honey." They were hives
containing queen-rearing nuclei.
BEE-KBEPERS, WRITE FOR YOUK PAPER.
An old gentleman living near here, one who
doesn't believe in " book farming," says: "The ones
that know the least about farming are the ones that
write the most for the agricultural papers." Now,
while I do not entinlij agiee with this old gentleman,
37:
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Aug.
I do think that there are many bee-keepers who
might do much good by writing for the bee-papers,
and yet they seldom or never write. There is a bee-
keeper living a few miles from here, of whom I al-
ways obtain valuable hints and suggestions each
time I meet him, and yet he seldom writes for the
bee-papers. Seems to me I hear some one say, " I
don't have the time." Let me tell my experience.
I presume some of you remember the "Scraps and
Sketches" that I wrote a year or two ago for
Gle.\nings; but I don't believe any of you can tell
why the articles were called "Scraps and Sketches."
The first winter after our little twins came to
brigh'.en our pathway, they were certainly "trouble-
some comforts;" many and many a night we would
not get more than an hour's sleep, while during the
day we could just manage to do the "housework"
and the " chores." I could not leave home to work,
neither could wc afford to keep a "girl," and my
time was sd occupied, and I felt so " tired out," that
it did seem as though I should be obliged to give up
writing or Gleanings; but finally I placed a paper
and pencil upon my desk, and whenever I had— yes,
just oif minute, I stepped to the desk and wrote.
Many and many a paragraph have I composed with
a baby on each knee; and as soon as an opportunity
presented itself I would step to the desk and write it
down in phonography. What else could my writings
be but " Scraps and Sketches"? When an article was
finished, it was written out in long hand in scraps.
Don't say that you haven't time, because you can
find time if you only try hard enough. Don't write
Uicnry, but give fa tm, and ».§(/!(? iii'unnation.
W. Z. HOTCaiNSON.
llogersville, Genesee Co., Mich.
Friend II.. I have just this minute return-
ed from almost a week's absence in your
State, and the pleasant visits I have had
have determined me to visit more of you. I
can think of no place I would rather visit
just now than your little home.
TOO MUCH SMOKE.
not the least disposition to be cross, that it
was an act of sheer cruelty. Sometimes a
very little smoke will answer all purposes,
where honey is not coming enough to keep
them peaceable. Another thing: Where
robbers are bad, smoke is the very worst
thing ; for where bees would promptly repel
robbers, and keep them entirely out of the
hive, if let alone, I have seen the boys smoke
down the inmates so they could not prevent
the robbers from pushing right down and
getting their fill, almost before they could
get back to defend their rightful stores. I
have, too, seen smoke used at the entrance
to drive robbers away. If you want your
bees to defend their hive, and take care of
thieves, by no means think of smoking them.
I believe, however, friend D., I should like
a lighted smoker near, to itse if needed.
Sometimes it greatly facilitates getting the
bees out of the way in opening or closing the
hive, and thereby enables us to work faster.
It is no strange thing to find bees you can
handle at certain times without smoke, when
you could not with.
ARTIFICIAIi AND NATCRAIi SWARM-
ING QUEENS, ETC.
r
tHY not caution the ABC class often about
using too much smoke in handling their
bees? I know you have done it heretofore,
but I believe it ought to be repeated often. When
we throw awaj' fear entirely, I think smoke is of
little or no. use. I believe we can handle bees the
year round, and do it with more satisfaction and bet-
ter results by leaving smoke entirely out of the api-
ary. If instead of going to a hive, jerking- the cap
off, tearing off the quilt, and blowing in smoke to
arouse the colony to a fighting pitch, we would be
cautious, raising the cap easily (a cap that will not
come off without jarring the hive has no business in
the apiary), raise the quilt slowly, without jarring,
avoiding all quick motions, laying the quilt to one
side, and then pick up the frame, or, rather, com-
mence picking it up, draw it out slowly, I tell you,
sir, you will have no trouble, even with black bees
running over their combs scared to death. If they
fly in your face and alight on your hands, not one in
twenty will sting you if you just pay no attention to
them. I have discarded smoke almost entirely.
A. H. Duff.
Flat Ridge, Ohio, June 10, 1881.
There is much truth in your remarks,
friend D., and I have often thought, as I saw
somsbDdy dose with smoke a colony that had
eN page 277 of the June No., I notice an article
on queen-rearing, by E. Gallup. I wish to
briefly notice a few points in said article. In
the first place, he says chat no one will deny that
some queens are far ahead of others in proliflcness.
Among what class of queens do we find such? My
artificial queens, as a rule, generally outstrip the
natural ones. As good queens as I have in my api-
ary were reared from brood received from A. I.
Hoot. As to size and appearance, no one can tell
the difference. I would not go to much extra
trouble to save natural cells. Colonies that are not
disturbed, frequently have queens that are just the
same as those reared artificially, and a colony that
swarmsjnaturally frequently starts cells after the
I swarm has left. Now, if we save all these cells, we
get some that are not natural. It is very easy to get
natural cells at any season of the year by putting an
old queen in a small nuclei, and feed liberally, sup-
! plying cells from time to time as they are found in
i colonies just before the egg is deposited in them.
Such cells can easily be found in new swarms. I
never succeeded in ^^'cttlng the bees of the nuclei to
build many such cells; but if a dozen were inserted,
an egg would be found in each shorHy after. Such
queens are as good, but no better, than those reared
artificially. I agree with Mr. G., that we should
change our stock often, but we should be careful
from whom we obtain our stock, as some breeders
of queens are getting careless. A great many are
rearing queens from those that " winter well," or
are " good honey-gatherers," without regard to pu-
rity. W. Z. Hutchinson said that if he were not
rearing queens for sale, he would breed from a black
queen, just because her colon j' happened to winter
well I I sold a queen for 50 cents a few days ago (the
mother of as good a colony as I have), just because
she was not quite pure. I would be afraid to breed
ftom such, as the "bad blood" might crop out in
futui-e generations, as it does in breeding other
stock. Any one ought to be satisfied with the Ital-
ian bee; and while we breed for desirable qualities,
we should not lose sight of purity. I am satisfied
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
373
that the good qualities found in the blacks and hy-
brids are also found in the Italians.
L. W. Van KIRK.
Washiug:tOD,ra., June 10, 1881.
i* m w
HO^V AN A B C SCHOLAR 7IA:VAGES.
SWAS just tbinkinj?, friend K., I would like to
" toot roy horn," as I see many of the ABC
— ■ class are doing. On the 30t"h of March, 1880, I
purchased a colony, brought them home, drove 4
stakes in the ground, leaving them about 2 feet
high; set up the hive, thinking I might shortli' be a
bee-keeper. They never swarmed last summer; at
least, I never saw them. I watched them closely—
the bees hanging in clusters outside of the hive
nearlj' all summer. The entrance was U of an inch
by 3 inches long. To make things better, a colt got
in in early winter, and over went the hive, loosening
many of the combs. I left them there all winter
without protection, and they came out all right. Re-
ceiving from a friend one of your circulars of Janu-
ary, I purchased ABC, made a couple of Simplici-
ties, and a smoker, as per directions. On the £2d of
April I transferred, using little smoke; got along
well. Care assures success. The fun was, I could
not find the fjueen, and was afraid I had a fertile
worker inside. So I sent to one of your advertising
patrons on the 30th, and on the 12th of May she came
safely to hand. J went to take the last look for the
black queen, when, right before my eyes, there she
was. I did not like to kill her, so I took out two
frames of sealed brood, and what bees were on, and
started a nuclei. They ha-\c a nice lot of sealed
brood now, which will hatch out in three or four
days. In introducing I took the Italian, and drew
open the door. She passed out on the comb, which I
was holding in my hand, and my smoker in the oth-
er. They were soon in the act of taking her to parts
unknown, when I gave them a little smoke, when
they let go. 1 did so a couple of times, when they
let her pass as an old friend. Will Ellis.
St. David's, Ont., Can., June 3, 1S81.
Fl RTUER BHPROVEiTIEATS IN THE
FEET CAGE.
^[pj VEN a very little improvement is quite
JTO an item, in an article tised in the apia-
ry as much as queen-cages are now;
and although the cage below differs but lit-
tle from the one we pictured recently, it has
features that make it worth while to be il-
lustrated again. The first of these is the
groove for holding the tin slide.
LATEST IMPROVED FEET CAGE.
Instead of making the groove near the
corner, and slanting outward, we now make
them as you see, right on the corner, slant-
ing in toward the center of the block. The
tiji slide is simply folded over to an acute
instead of obtuse angle. This improvement
was made by two friends at just about the
same time, for both cages came in the same
mail. One cage was from our old friend Oli-
ver Foster, and the otlier I have had the
misfortune to mislay. The other feature is
the little tin water-bottle which you see. A
description of this will also be found on page
397. These little bottles are made bv rolling
tagger's tin on a steel rod, say about the size
of a round lead-pencil, and putting a cap on
each end. The size should be just as largo
as it can be and still let a bee "pass over it
freely without getting fast between it and
the wire cloth. Although this water-bottle
is needed only for long distances, queens are
much safer with it, and they seem to stand
the trip looking much better. The bottle is
long enough to just squeeze in across the
cage. The orifice is made with the point of
an awl. To be sure your bottles do not leak,
just put one to your mouth, and, after suck-
ing the air out, see if it Avill stick to your
tongue. AVe can not have any leaky bottles
when shipping queens. We can not, at pres-
ent, make these bottles for less than S2.00
per liundred. I wish some one else would
make them cheaper. Where are our ama-
teur tinners ? The bottles are hlled with an
oil-can, as I have before explained.
AVINDING THE WATERBIRY AVATCH.
EKE is the way I make a " windlass " for wind-
ing the Waterbury watch: Take a small
piece of wire, and bend it as I have marked.
The end at the point catches in
one of the grooves on the stem,
and keeps the wire from slippiug.
A. T. McIlwain,
Abbeville C. H., S. C, July 6, '81.
Many thanks, friend M.; as
soon as I saw your idea, I
went down into the counter
store, and taking a blanket
pin from the o-cent counter,
with a pair of the round-nose plyers I soon
bent it into the shape of the accompanying
cut. and the girls who Avind the watches
every morning were very much delighted
with them. \v e have sent a sample to the
factory, and perhaps they will improve on it
still more. They might easily be made for
a penny each.
GRAPE SUGAR.
I HAVE washed a piece of the crystal grape sugar,
exactly as Mrs. Harrison has rojiiested me to do, in
another column, and I find no residue whatever.
The sugar dissolves as perfectly as a piece of rock
candy. I presume I am perfectly acquainted with
what she alludes to. In feeding grape sugar from
the Davenport factory, in a glass jar on a grooved
board, as 1 have so many times described to you, wo
invariably find a green scum on the surface of the
water. This scum has an offensive look, but I have
always supposed it was a vegetable scum, like that
from sorghum. The Buffalo A sugar shows a very
little of this scum, but the crystal sugar that I com-
mended so strongly has no residue, and no taste but
that of pure sugar, so far as I can discover. As I
can not think that Mrs. H. has ever seen any of the
genuine, I ha^■e sent her a lump.
374
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
AuCf.
HONEY-DEAV FROM THE CLOUDS.
ANOTnER STATEMENT OK ITS FALLING FIIOM THE AIR
IN A MIST.
M EKIENJ) sends the following, clipped
^^^ from a newspaper. .Vs the town is not
—^^^ given, we have no means of knowing
whether we ha\e subscribers in that county
or not; but if we have, or if anybody else
whose eye meets this, can put us in commu-
nication with this John Kee, we will consid-
er it a great favor :—
HONEV-DEW IN GEORGIA.
Mr. .John Kee, of Talbot county, is responsible for
the following-: " it was early Sunday morning-. My
claugtiter was cngng-ed in sweeping off the front
porch, when her atrention was attracted by the
plaintive cries of young- chickens and the distressed
clucking of a hen. The sound came from a pile of
leu ves under some poplar-trees in the yard, and hur-
rying to the spot, She found the little chicks all
stucK up with leaves, rolling about trying to free
themselves, and two of the little sufferers were stuck
together. She picked these two up, and, coming to
the house, called nie. On examination we found
them covered with a sticky substance, which seemed
10 have come off the leaves, and. tasting, I was sur-
prised to find it honej'. On looking around, I could
see it glistening in the sunshine like diamonds on
every itatlet, and on the porch for two or three feet
were splotches of it. Several neighbors dropped in
during the day whom 1 told of the honey shower,
supposing it had been general, but they were in-
creuuluus until shown evidences of it. Jn the even-
ing of the same day I noticed a mist between me
and the sun, and a closer examination disclosed the
fact that we were having a repetition of the phe-
nomenon, which was witnessed by a dozen people.
While it did not rim off the house either morning or
evening, it covered the leaves of the trees and
shrubs, and was, without doubt, honey-dew, and
that, loo, from a cloudless sky."— Cof. Times.
The above, it will be noticed, is given by
those who seem to have no interest in bees ;
and, although startling, it seems to have
about it an air of truthfulness. I would al-
most make a visit to Georgia to' have an op-
portunity of witnessing such a sight.
HOlil-liAND BEES; CANDY FOR Ul'EEiN"
CACJES, ETC.
HAVE shipped queens all over the United
States and Canada this summer, and all I have
lost were two that were sent in your old bottle
cages. I use granulated sugar, with honey enough
added to make it stick together, for feed; how do
you like it? I think you are mistaken when you say
the Holy-Land bees are not as hardy as the Italians,
or that you do not think they will winter as well.
My experience last winter with them tells me that
they stand the winter much the better. Last fall I
had about 100 colonies of Italians, and about 60 Holy-
Lands and 37 blacks; out of the Italians I saved
about 10 very weak colonies, and out of the Holy-
Lands I had some 40 odd left, about 15 in splendid
condition ; the remainder weak, and not a black col-
ony survived the winter. The blacks, I bought and
got for nothing late in the fall.
There are a few things about the Holy-Land bees
I do not like. They are crosser than the Italians,
and will not stick to their comb in handling like the
Italians, and the queens are more timid, and not as
easily found as the Italians; but then, there are
other points I like about them. They will go to
work earlier in surplus boxes, and with less bees in
the hive, than the Italians; the queens arc very pro-
lific; are proof against moth worms and robbers;
they will not attack a person to sting, as long as left
alone. Please do not condemn any thing without a
thoi-ough trial. "Prove all things, hold fast that
which is good."
Tell neighbor H. he had better luck with his light-
ed smoker in the buggy than A. P. Blosser, who had
his entire buggy-box, with a fifty-dollar h^irness,
burned by leaving his smoker with fire in it in the
buggy over night. _ I. R. Good.
Nappanee, Elkhart Co., Ind., July II, 1881.
The queen and bees came through on the
granulated sugar, wet up with honey, in
splendid trim. The mixture is put into an
auger-hole, adjoining the cage, witli only a
small passMge through the wood into the
candy. The bees crawl in and get the food,
and then crawl back again. I think there is
but little question now, but that sugar is
safer food than honey alone ; but it is quite
likely that both the sugar and honey are
what we want. Eriend >S. D. McLean, of
Culleoka, Tenn., has just sent us a lot of
queens, one half of which were put up with
candy and water, and the other half with
honey. lie asked us to report which were
received in better order, as he wanted to
know which kind of food is the safer. Those
with water and sugar were in decidedly the
better order ; and as they came Saturday
night, we had to keep them over Sunday.
]\Ionday morning the bees in the cages with
honey only were nearly all dead, while the
others seemed as fresh as when they lirst
came. In wintering we have about the
same result. Granulated sugar is very much
better for winter stores than the various
kinds of honey (especially fall honey) that
are collected here and there.
ONE MORNING'S WORK.
fCAN not resist the temptation to report what I
have just done. After breakfast, at fi:;iO o'clock,
— ' I pounded some sugar corn, and fed my German
carp; gathered an armful of the best smoker wood;
lighted my smoker, and opened a chaff hive, and
took out 10 frames of sections, 72 ready for market,
the other 8 about half filled. I did not kill a bee nor
get stung. I will give you my reasons why I think
this was so quickly and well done.
1. The upper and lower frames come close to-
gether; over the lower frames I put a piece of c<,)t-
ton cloth, eaten full of holes by the bees; the holes
give free access to the brood frames, which are so
close that there are no ladders or bridges built.
3. The wide frames, bees, etc., are, as fast as taken
out, set in an empty lower story ; 5 are put in this,
then an upper story is placed on the first, and the
other 5 frames put in it and covered with a cloth.
The bees in the hive were then given a feeder, full
of sugar and water, in place of the wide frames,
and the cover put on next. Began smoking the
wide frames by turning up one edge of the cloth;
as soon as a frame was clear of bees it was carried
to honey-room; in a few minutes all the frames
were sitting oti my honej'-table. I carried in 10 bees,
and had to scrape wax from only one bottom-piece.
I did not spill one drop of honey. After attending
other things, and writing this, it is 8:30 A. M.
Pewec Valley, Ky., July 25, 1881. A. W. Kayk.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
37o
RAMBLiE NO. 6.
f||0 the N. W. from our apiary is located the his-
torical town of Fort Ann. Bee-keeping: in
— ' this town is, or was. some thing of an indus-
try. Several hundred swarms were kei>t, two par-
tics owning each over two hundred coiinies. The
main supply of honey in this region is willow, of
which an abundant supply is found along the
streams. White clover, chestnut, and basswood are
abundant, while the moii::taln-sides that have been
recently cleared are covered with raspberries, and
a specie-* of aster. Some buckwheat is sown for fall
pasturage.
The past winter made sad havoc among the hund-
reds of colonies of this town. Mr. Keech, owning
over 200 colonies, built a new bee-house for winter-
ing. The hives were packed in (luite closely, and
all in the center were smothered from the effects of
a Scant supply of ventilation. Many more died upon
being placed upon their summer stands. So this
man's apiary was reduced nearly one-half by the
first of May. Mr. Keech will have nothing to do with
movable-comb hives and modern fi.\tures. flis hon-
ey is secured in large rough bo.ves, and is sold at a
price in keeping with the style of package.
Mr. Adams, in another portion of the town, harl a
line apiary of over 2Ufl colonies in Laiigstroth hives.
He has usually had excellent success in wintering
in his cellar, but last winter they were left upon
their summer stands, and this spring twenty swarms
arc all that are left. Mr. A. thinks h3 has bees
enough now. In relating his experience with bees.
Mr. A. gave me an illustration f>f what to do with
burglars or night thieves after honoj-. I was re-
minded of your (juestion in a past number of
rJiiE.\.viNG.<!. >rr. xV.'s plan was very efrecti\e. Find-
ing his bees tampered with, he armed himself with
a rifle, stationed himself behind a fence, and sat
down for a night vigil. About midnight two shad-
owy forms were seen moving toward a bee-hive.
Mr. A. took aim as best he could in the dark, and
fired. No dead bodies were found upon the battle-
field, l>ut some time afterward he learned that the
ball took effect in the young man's coat, between
his arm and body. It was such a close call that his
apiary has not been molested since.
Bee-hunting is some thing of a business on these
mountains in the fall. Many swarms are found in
all sorts of locations. Conversing with a bee-keeper
in relation to these absconding swarms, he told me
of bis method of pre\entii)n, and how to prevent
swarms from settling together. In answer to my
question as to how he prevented it, " Why," said he,
"all you have to do is to hang them in the cellar."
If a swarm seems inclined to abscond by coming out
of their hive a second time and alighting, the limb,
bees, and all, were hung in the dark cellar; if a
swarm had nearly settled, and another was seen is-
suing, the limb was severed, and the swarm hung
in the cellar until he had time to hive them. Three
or four swarms were thus hanging quietly, waiting
for their turn to be hived. Swarms that had tried
to abscond were left hanging in the cellar two days.
His theory was, that by that time they were get-
ting hungry, and would work in any kind of a re-
ceptacle. "Why," said be, "you ought to see them
get up and dust for honey when put in a hive."
I found another bee-keeper who didn't care any
thing about his bees; didn't care whether they lived
or died; hived them in any thing handy, and has
good success In keeping them; winters well upon
their summer stands, and when they swarm they
hang on the tree until he comes home to dinner. At
least, that is about all he hives; if there are any
that don't wait for him he is none the wiser for it.
Still, he has over 60 colonies.
Another friend we found had eleven colonies in
the fall. They were elevated two feet from the
ground, in a very exposed position. The front en-
trances were 2 inches by 12. The holes in the tf>p
surplus boxes were all open, and a rough flimsy cov-
er with a heavy stone on the top, complfted the
hive. Still, those bees wintered with the loss of but
one colony. The rest were strong, with drones fly-
ing on May 8th. This was another don't-care bee-
keeper. And with him we will close our ramble.
Hartford, N. V. .T. H. Martin.
Many tlianks for your array of facts, friend
M.: biit I want io protpst a little against
your way of trealin<.i,' burglars. The law
floes not sanction the taking of life for steal-
ing honey, if I am correct; and had our
friend killed his man, I hardly think he
would have felt happy over it. even had the
law made no interference. Let him now go
to this young man and bave a good plain
talk witli him. It is ignorance, or one spe-
cies of ignorance, that i»rompts acts like
these. If we can succeed in saving bis soul,
instead of killing his l»ody, while be is in an
act of sin. will it not be belterV I by im
means believe in letting such ff'llows off.
mind you ; but I think the regnlar course of
law better than bullets.
^ i8i »,»
HOAV TO REAR GCOIJ Ql EENS.
^ OXCE said, in the North-Eastern Bee-Keepers'
ji|[ Ctmvcntion, that everything pertaining to prof-
"* itable bee-keeping centered in the queen; for
the queen is the mainspring of the colony as surely
as the mainspring of the watch is the power that
makes all else in the watch of use. If this is so, it i?
\ery easy to see that, if the mainspring is poor, the
whole that has this for a center will he poor also.
Hence, the necessity of rearing good queens be-
comes apparent to every one who is looking toward
success in apiculture. Probably all will admit that
no better queens can be obtained than those reared
under the impulse which returns to the bees with
each successive spring to perpetunte their soecies
through natural swarming; and if all cells could be
built bj' the bees while under this impulse, good
queens, as a rule, would be the result. Well, whj'
not rear them thus? Chiefly because of the extra
trouble and care it takes to accommodate ourselves
to the impulse of the bees; or, in other words, to
have the bees themselves conform to our wishes.
So far this season I have reared all my queens ex-
cept one by natural swarming, having reared over
200, and I will tell you how I did it. The fore part
of May I began giving my best stocks brood from
other colonies, taking the brood each time from the
same colony as they could spare it and not reduce
them too much. May 2.')th queen-cells were started,
when I ceased to give them more brood, not chang-
ing brood any more after that. Soon we had a fine
lot of cells sealed, and swarms issuing along at in-
tervals as we wished to use the cells. As I had but
two or three queens I wished to breed from, of
course the colonics containing these queens could
;{7(;
GLEIANINGS IN JJEE CULTURE.
Aug
not be kept swarmiiiji- all the time; so I adopted the
transposition process, and soon found that I could
get all swarms that were strong- enough to have
cups for fiueen-eell-i started, to swarm almost when
I wished to have them, and rear all their queens
from my best stock. Thus those made strong
swarmed first, the medium next, and those made
weak bj' taking- away brood last, furnishingr me with
a succession of natural cells for nearly two months,
and I do not see why I can not keep it up till Sep-
tember if I wish; for if pasturage falls, the lack can
be supplied by feeding. At first I looked ovor the
stock, and all I found having eggs in the queen-cells
I marked; and when the eg-g-s had been hatched, and
royal jelly was plenty in the cells, I took out their
larviB and jjut in one just hatched from my best
queen. To do this I shaved the piece of eomb taken
from my best stock down near the base of the cells,
when the small larviB just hatched could readily be
seen. Ni^w, with a toothpick made of a goose quill,
having- the point bent into a hooked shape while
soaked and then dried, so it should not stiaighten
out, I could lift these little larvte from their cradles
and set them floating in the royal jelly, from which,
in duo time, they emerg-ed royal princesses of the
right lineage. Next I thought trying taking those
eggs out of the cells an'l transferring my intended
i-oyal larvic directly into them. The bare cells, de-
void of all royal jellj', looked rather unpropitious,
and I doubted the proprietj- of placing the tiny in-
fants in such a hard cradle without even a blanket
beneath them; but an examination an hour or two
afterward showed them plentifully supplied with
the necessary loyal jelly. If they were well cared
for in this case, why not transfer them into the
queen-cups before the eggs were laid? was my next
thought. To think was to act, and I soon had IT lit-
tle larviv snugly ensconced in 17 queen-cup cradles.
An examination showed, however, that only about
half of them were fed, while the others were re-
moved. Next I took 24 old queen-cells from
which the queens had hatched, and stuck them, by
means of melted wax, on to strips, and tacked 4 of
the strips into a frame. Then I transferred the lit-
tle larvae into them. Some of those cells were one-
fourth full of old royal jelly, left by the previous
queen; and although it looked hard and uninviting,
I placed the larvte on it. I expected the bees would
remove the old jelly, larva; and all ; but an examina-
tion showed that these old cells were the surest of
the whole. Next I tried transferring eggs; and al-
though I succeeded to some extent, yet as many as
4 out of 5 were removed. To be sure, this is all some
trouble; but I think the queens will average enough
better to pay; and as I said at the outset, good
<iueens are the mainspring to successful bee-keep-
ing. The difference between a queen that will keep
SCO square inches of comb occupied with brood, and
one that will keep but 600, is half of the surplus
honey-crop; and the difference between one that
will keep MOO square inches of comb in brood, and
one that will keep but 400, is the difference between
a g.')0d crop and no crop at all. Then let all of us
see to it, that our queens are of the highest type
possible to obtain.
I forgot to say, that to keep track of the cells in
poor stock which were grafted with the selected lar-
Vfe, I stuck a l!i-iach wire nail through the comb
near the cell. By this means it was impossible for
the bees to steal a march on me by deceiving me as
to the identity of the cells. Also I believe Mr. J. L.
Davis, of Michigan, was the first to bring the trans-
position of larviB to notice. G. M. Doolittle.
Borodino, N. Y., July 18, 1881.
I believe there has been a caution, friend
D., in these pages, against nsing the trans-
position process, when there were other
larva' in the hive. If I understand you.
yours would all have it. To illustrate : If
you transpose larvae into queen-cells in a
stock of black bees, if the black bees have
larva' of their own unsealed, they will often
throw out the larva.' you givetliem, and
use some from their own hive. I do not
know why they do this, unless they dislike
the larvae because of its having been handled.
We transposed a great deaf last year, but
this season have not used it. You have crit-
icised the way friend Hutchinson and the
rest of us have raised queens, quite a little;
and when you advertised those raised in the
good old way under the inlliience of natural
swarming, we expected you were going to do
away with the " unnatural''' ••tinkering"
way of getting up queens. I do not mean to
say that queens reared by transposing the
larva' are necessarily iioor, aside from the
danger of having the bees use their own lar-
vae after all, as I have mentioned; but is it
really '• according to nature," or are we to go
according to nature, after all V
^VHV BO BKES SriNG lUKlTrBERS OV
THEIK OWN FAMILY SWITIETIMES ?
fJlHE 3l3t of May I hadanew swarm which I hived
and went to work all right. I think the sec-
ond or third day after, about six o'clock, I
saw a ball of bees at one corner of entrance; I got a
smoker, and open d and found a ball inside, and a
queen in that. They had killed a number of their
own bees. This was an old laying queen out of a
hive in my own yard, for she had lost a foot, and I
knew her, and she must have come out without
many bees to accompany her; but wh3' should she
try to go in that hive?
Queen-cell, queen just coming out; let her in at
the entrance, Saturday afternoon. I looked and
found her all right, about an hour after. Sunday
morning, looking around to see if all was quiet, I
found this nucleus killing off their bees and carry-
ing them out lively; so I got a smoker and opened
the hive; found my j'oung quCi-n in a ball; took her
out and caged her till Monday morning, and they
took her again all right. I took the laying queen
out of this nucleus about an hour before letting h'.r
in Saturday. July iith, about G o'clock, T had her
laying all day, looking round to see if all was quiet;
found a three-story hive killing off their bees;
opened them, but could not find any queen or ball,
but they were a good deal excited. On the lOth they
were still bringing out, now and then, a bee.
I introduced an Italian (jueen in a black swarm. I
think the third day I found her dead at the entrance
of the second hive in same row back of them, but
no dead bees, no fighting. Why did the blacks drive
her out? Here is what beats me. 1 took a queen
out of a nucleus, carried her off half a mile, put her
in a hive, and the third day went to lot her out;
took the cage out, and pried up the wire cloth; and
she went like a streak. "Well, you are gone,"
thought I. I came home, and the third or fourth
day went to that nucleus to see if they had started
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
any queeu-cells, and the Hist thing that met my as-
tonished gaze was my runaway queen. I had
marked her "sold" on the slate, so no mistake
about it. V. W. Keenev.
Shirland, 111.. July 11, ls#l.
Your last case was just what I sliould ex-
pect, friend K. llie queen, after taking-
^vin^^ saw familiar objects, noted when she
took her wedding trip, shortly before, and
went back to lier old home. It might have
been in the very direction you carried her.
that she met tlie drone wlien fertiUzed.
AVhen a queen Hies away. I always look for
her to come hack to the" hive in which she
was raised, if it is any where in tlie neigh-
borhood.
r^nUnikz §^jiai4in(inh
«gp AM a little boy ten years old. Last year was
J«||_ the first that we kept bees. My pa bought two
' swarms. They swarmed once, and then we
had three. Pa and I packed them in chaff. One of
them died. They have swarmed, so we have seven:
but one of them has been fighting- until there are
but a few left. AVe sent and got your A B C book.
We think it a great help. Wo take Glea.vixos. and
think it is a good journal. I l.ke to read the letters
from the boys and girls. I have one sister. Slie is
15 years old: I have no brothers. We go to ehurch
and Sunday-schof.l at Hudson, which is four miles
away. Now I will give you my address.
OSC-VR J. ANDEliSON.
Hudson, Lenawee Co., Mich., July tJ, 1S81.
Very good, friend Oscar. Yon ate cer-
tainly ahead of some of the older ones in one
point at least : you give, full and plain, your
name and address. Xow, please help your
pa to keep those 7 safely through the winter.
I am a little girl 13 .vears old. I go to school, and
-tudj' reading, writing, spelling, arithmetic, geogra-
phy, and grammar. School will be out in one week.
I am a Sabbath-school scholar. I get a nice paper
every Sdtibath. 1 have a little sister 5 years old, and
a brother 3 years old. I belong to the Methodist
Church. Emma Eckley.
Lincoln, Cass Co., Ind., June It, 1881.
May (lOd bless you, your little brother and
sister, that r^Iethodist Church, and your wee
little letter, friend Emma !
I could not go to school this morning. Pa divided
the bees, and made four more swarms of them. 1
havcTi't been stung this summer. Pa gets stung,
but it don't hurt him much. I have got a sister and
two brothers. One of my brothers will be four
years old the last day of June, and he likes bread
and honey. We hnve got some buckwheat in blos-
som. We have lots of blossoms, and the bees work
at them. Elizabeth Edgmanh.
Columbus, Cherokee Co., Kan., June S;J, 1881.
'• Lizzie has a brother, and, what is very
funny, though he is only four years old, he
likes his bread and honey.'" AVhy, it almost
takes my breath away to see that I came so
near making a verse of poetry. Don't you
think it might be called poetry by some
folks, Liz/iey
I am a little boy 11 years old. My pa bought 13
hives of bees a year ago. The moths killed one of
them and now he has got 11 hives. Our bees win-
tered all right, and we never lost a hive. Pa has got
two numbers of Gleanings. I like to read, very
much. Eddie Beelemey.
Vienna, Johnson Co., .Mo., June 33, 1881.
First rate. Eddie : we want to see you and
your father keep up that excellent reputa-
tion for Ijeing hee-fca jn r,>-.
I am 10 years old, and I am a Sunday-school schol
ar. 1 love to go to Sunday-school, and I love to at-
tend religious worship. My pa keeps bees. I don't
work with them much, but I like the honey. He
kept 11 hives over last winter. They have been
swarming and have increased to 18.
' M.\rietta Sperhv.
Lincoln, Cass Co., Ind.. June 13, 1881.
A'ery good, ^larietta.
I thought I would write you a letter. My pa keeps
bees; he had 7 swarms, but he wintered through
with only one. I go to school, and s-tudy geography,
arithmetic, and read in the Fourth Reader. I am
only nine years old, and cati not write very well.
My name is Katie McCRoitv.
Jerome, Union Co., Ohio, June 9, 1881.
Pretty good for you, Katie, and you did
right to tell the truth right out, how many
your father lost. We think you write very
well indeed for nine years old.
I send a dollar for Gleanings fori year, and .'> cts.
for another mat chromo, because I think they are
so pretty. I am going to give the other to my teach-
er. Our school is out this week. Last fall I had 31
stands of bees and all died but i stands; irow they
have swarmed until I have 23 stands. Our whole
apiary consists of 36 stands. Pa has 4 stands. Aunt
Clara 4, besides some nuclei. Most little girls say
that it was their pa who gave them their bees, but I
gave pa his. I will be 13 years old on the 30th of
June. 1 have read the New Testament nearly
through. LiLLiE A. (iANiiv.
Churubusco, Whitley Co., Ind., June 30, 1881.
Well, I tell you what it is, Lillie, that is
pretty well for only 12 years old. So you
gave your jja his beesV UU bet he is a pret-
ty good pa, even if you did, and I guess he
must have helped a little, a good many times.
Eh? _J
I am a little girl nine years old. T go to school.
My pa keeps bees. He had only 30 swarms last fall,
19 in the spring. He has sold 0 and has 38 now.
Most of them are in chaff hives. I help him put the
starters in the sections, and foundation in the wired
frames. He had a great deal of trouble to make it
stick to them till Mr. \\hite told him how. He put a
long handle on a five-cent piece that had a crease
filed around the outer edge, and I run that o\er the
little wires and press them into the wax. Ma fas-
tens the top with melted wax. 1 will make a picture
of the roller. My" pa's name is E. D. Gillett. He
bought one of your little dictionaries for me, and I
am learning to use it. Martha Gillett.
Brighton, Lorain Co., Ohio, June 14, 1881. .
AVell done indeed, my nine-year-old little
bee-woman, both in writing the letter and
making the picture: and to encourage such
work and letters, we, besides sending you
378
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Aug.
tlie book, credit you witli .50 cents, and you
can liave it in money, or any thing you may
select from our list, as you choose. Tell
your ma that I do not think she needs to
fasten the sheets at the top with melted wax
at all. 1 think you will do tip top with the
dictionary, JMartha (that is my sister's name
too), for you Avrite already a great deal bet-
ter than some of the big "men who send for
queens, etc.
I am a boy 11 years old. Papa gavo me a swarm
of bees on my tenth birthday. They swarmed last
week, and so I have s'ot two swarms of bees now.
My school has just closed. Papa has got 125 swarms
of bees. They wintered nicely; he lost only 5 last
winter out of 115. Papa has a swarm that has
swarmed every day for two weeks. I have two sis-
ters and one brother. Cat.ly Dinks.
Fulton, Oswego Co., N. Y., July T, 1881.
Now, f'ally, you tell your pa I wouldn't
have a hive lluit swarmed every day for two
weeks, "nohow." I would break them all
up into "little bits," and give each " bit" a
frame of unsealed brood, and make them
raise queens. Your pa must be a ])retty big
bee-man, if he can winter like that every
time.
I have not seen any letters fram Cottage Grove,
so I thought that I would be the first to write from
here. I was 10 years old on the first of Feb. I hste
to expose my ignorance in writing to an editor. 1
have never been to sohool but a few days in my lite,
but my sister and I study at home. I study Apple-
ton's Fourth Reader, Harper's Geography, Quacken-
bos' Ariiiimetic, and writing, and take music lessons.
I have made up my nund, that if this letter is put in
the waste basket, I will try to write a better one
next time. Papa an'l I put 23 swarms of bees in the
cellar last November, and you may well guess that
we had pretty sorry faces when weonly found 10 live
swarms this spring. Now please don't put my letter
under Blasted Hopes, for it sounds so had. And pa
has now only si.x good swarms. Papa uses the Lang-
stroth hives; he makes them himself; he made a new
extractor, and extracted over 50 lbs. of honey last
summer, but bethinks he won't have any surplus
honey this year. Not one of our neighbors have
saved a single swarm. Emma Guiinee.
Cottage Grove, Dane Co., Wis., June 12, 1881.
Why, Emma, when you started out with
your letter I w'as afraid so much book learn-
ing for a girl of 10 years old would spoil her
entirely for any thing useful; but if you real-
ly helped your fathei- to —to lose 12 swarms
of bees, 1 guess I won't think so after all.
Did you really help very much when he put
them in the cellar? You know I don't want
my class of girls to get a habit of bragging
too much ; it would not look well before all
this great company. Don't you think so?
This is a splendid honey year. There Is a fine crop
of red and white clover; there is a good crop of
linn; it is in the prime now. Papa bought 20 three-
frame nuclei of Mr. Henderson, Murfreesboro,
Tenn. They are now pretty fair stands. We have
extracted about 10 gallons. I have to do the ex-
tracting, for papa is superintendent of 'the fair. I
take out the frames and then extract it, and then
put the frames back in the hives. Our fair is im-
proving; they have got a half-mile track. Every*
body who has seen the fairground says It is the
nicest in the State. Freddie L. Cbaycraft.
Salem, Wash. Co., Ind., July 6, 1831.
AVell, Freddie, are you sure your pa didn't
help some about the extracting, even if he is
superintendent of the fair? By the way,
those half-mile tracks are sometimes bad
things for boys, and even men too. You
see, they get to driving fast horses, and be-
sides the time it uses up, the}; sometimes get
to be "fast" lioys.
USES FOR PHOPOIilS.
Children, you know what propolis is, do you not"?
Ha\e you ever tried to put it to any good use? I use
it in many ways, and there is scarcely a day that 1
do not use it for some thing. I noticed yesterday,
that bees were in a cap of a hi\e, and on examining
found that they came in through a hole in a honey-
box. I got some propolis, worked it up soft with my
fingers, and spread it over the hole. If I saw off a
limb from a tree, I cover the wound with it, to keep
out insects and rain. If the dipper leaks, it is soon
mended with it, and the wash-basin can be cured of
its leaky tricks by having a thin coating rubbed on
the bottom. Old pans and dippers, used for dipping
slop and feeding chickens, would be much better, if
their holes were mended in this way. Some roofs leak
around chimneys, which can be stopped by rolling
up propolis into little rolls, and fitting it in nicely in-
to the crevices, so that the shingles and bricks are
glued together, leaving no cracks for water to run
through.
Some of you hnvc parasols or umbrellas with a
carved fish or dog's head on the end of the handle
for ornament. If you have not one of this kind, you
may have seen them. We have one, and on the 4th
of July our dog's head came off; it was so dry it
wanted to drink. Wo worked some propolis then,
and wrapped the handle with it, and put on the dog's
head again, cleaning off all propolis that oozed out,
after pushing it cm. To-day we tried to pull it oft',
but it was no go; it was just as if it had grown there.
Who will try propolis for budding and grafting?
LuciNDA Harrison.
Peoria, 111., July, 1881.
\7ell, I declare ! I have wanted somebody
to study u]) some use for propolis ever so
long; and I have used it foi' mending leaks
in the bellows of smokers, for patching torn
queen-cells, leaks in honey-barrels, and the
like, but I had not got quite round to mend-
ing tinware with it. I wonder if it would
not mend crockery, if it was baked after-
ward to expel tlie" most liquid portion. I
know- it will stick fingers together when one
is in a hurry.
FEEDING IN JULY TO KEEP QUEEN-
REARING GOING.
now friend FLANAGAN DOES IT.
N mj' last I asked if grape-sugar candy could be
made in hot weather, and intimated that I was
— ■ going to try it anyhow. Well, sir, I did so, and
made as hard, smooth, nice candy, this hot weather,
as I did in the winter. I gave it to weak colonies
and to nuclei to make or start the queens to laying,
and it is a perfect success. Our hot, dry weather
has dried up nearly all sources of nectar, and to keep
the bees rearing brood, feeding must be done. I
1881
GLEANINGS IN 15EE CULTURE.
87!)
made me 100 sjTup-foeders; placed them in front of
hive, and at just dusk took a bucket and oiip and
gave each one about 'i pint of diluted extracted
honej-. By morning- all was removed except by two
nuclei, and it was all I could do to save them from
being "cleaned out," and even now every mornina-
the other bees flock by thousands to those two nu-
clei, and I have to watch them very closely to save
them.
How with those that had the candyV Not one par-
ticle of trouble; but the way they are rearing- brood
and building- up, would do you ^ood to see. Now,
friend Root, you and Neighbor " H." just try it
once, and see if you don't give up feeding in the
liquid form, and report results; for they will take
your word for it much quicker than that of a novice
like mc. Though it is some trouble to make candy
for too or more colonies, yet, if you have to feed
any length of time, it is far less trouble in the end,
for it is no little job to put out 100 feeders every
evening, and fill them' and then remove every
morning. "Let them stay until feeding is over."
You can do so, but it don't look well to see the feed-
ers lying around to be in the way, and cracked by
the hot sun. At least, it don't to me. But, enough
of candy and feeding for this time. Of course, the
candy is made according to A B C, but more grape
sugar can lie used in hot weather. Be sure to give
us a report in August Gleanings of your trip to
Ferry's seed-gardens. E. T. Flanagan.
Belleville, 111., July IB, 18S1.
OUK OWTS APIARV.
ST is the Fourth of July, and the bees are
luxuriating on a s])lendid. tlow of honey
— ' from the basswood just opening. I am
happy, too, for God's blessing seems espec-
ially resting to-day on the roaring apiary of
about 300 hives. A few weeks ago, and the
prospect of being able to ftll orders for bees
and queens seemed utterly hopeless. What
should we do? One of the worst troubles
was that my health again seemed failing un-
der such a load of cares, and I felt painfully
that I lacked strength, wisdom, and judg-
ment to care for so much business. It was
only the old story over again, to go with it all
to God in prayer, that he would help me
where 1 was weak, as I have in every under-
taking since the business began. I prayed
for bees and queens, that we might till the
orders promptly, and thus help the kind
friends who were sending in their money so
freely. The bees came, and are coming yet,
at less figures than I had any hope of getting
them, after our bad winter; and within the
past few weeks the queens have been com-
ing too. \Vhy, our friend S. D. Moore sent
us one lot of -50 that reached us on the last
train one evening. Think of -50 queens in
one crate ! It would have almost made me
sick to think of introducing so many in so
short a time a few weeks ago ; but, taking
courage after what I told you of last month,
I with my own hands introduced 80 of tliem
in a little over an hour. Many of them had
a comb pretty fairly filled with eggs the next
morning, and in one day almost every one of
them was ready to send out to you with a
pound of bees. I lost only two out of the
thirty, and both those hives, although mark-
ed queenless, contained queens. Had the
hives been as they were marked, I should
have lost none. Ernest declares that much
of my wonderful success is due to letting
them out in the evening after the bees have
had a very successful day's work in gather-
ing honey. A'ery likely this is so. I was up
before sunrise this beautiful Fourth ; and as
I stood alone in the apiary, so prosperous,
and yet built up in so short a time, it seemed
almost as if God was too kind to a poor, sin-
ful, erring mortal. A few years ago, wlien I
planned just what 1 see now, I had a sort of
feeling that it was too visionary, and tliat so
great a number of colonies could never be
kept in bounds in one spot. I prayed then,
that even my mistakes might be blessed.
Shall I tell you how this prayer is being ans-
wered V
One of our smaller toys places the hive on
a little bed of cinders, and with a scoop-
shovel makes of gravel a nice sloping en-
trance to the hive. A feAV empty combs are
placed in the hiAe, an enameled sheet over
these combs, and the cover put on. A slate
is also hung on the hive, that every thing
may be done with system. A load "of bees
(the hives having been fixed according to the
directions given in our county paper) comes
in from the country — second and third
swarms as they come out, and ordinarily of
little use to anybody in July. Another "boy
takes them from the wagon to the Fairbanks
scales. From this they are taken to the api-
ary and put into one of these hives ready
prepared for them, a comb of unsealed brood
being always put in the center of the empty
combs. This makes them stay, no matter
whether they have a qiieen or not. The
empty hive is now taken back, weighed
again, the owner paid, and, if I am busy, I
need not direct in regard to the matter at all.
If heavy, the swarm is divided. As soon as one
of the "parts has started queen -cells from
the larva- given them, a queen is introduced.
We give them laying queens if any are on
hand ; if not, a queen from the lamp nurse-
ry. This iani]) nursery is proving to be a
splendid thing during" this flow of honey.
Most of the bees aljout the country now
have some Italian blood in them, and some
that we buy are very finely three-banded. In
the latter case, we often send you a pound of
bees and a dollar queen from one of these
second swarms in less than 48 hours. This
pays first cost of the whole swarm, and we
have two queen-rearing nuclei left. Very
simple, is it not? It is true, the boys do it
all ; but I t€]\ "you it takes watching and
praying. To-day I found a new swarm all on
the front of the hive, and, come to look, the
boys had done it all right, even to putting in
the frame of brood ; but they had not opened
the entrance. The bees could not get in at
all. At another time, the bees were fastened
in so they could not get out at all. Now, do
not blame the boys : it is an exceedingly
hard matter to jump from one thing to an-
other and make no mistakes : and I tell you,
I have never found many men in my life
who would keep such an apiaiy all the time
so nothing should go wrong or to Avaste.
Multiply each operation up into the hun-
dreds, and it is no trifling thing to carry it
880
GLEANINGS IN i3EE CULTURE.
Aug.
so straight. The prayer is answered, and we
caii lill almost any kiiid of an order yon may
send ; and besides that, I am well and stronj;'.
'I'he braiu-work has not hnrt me a i)article.
J 'lease do not think I am boasting or adver-
tising, for I wish and expect you to take this
great industry off my hands. I have opened
ihe way, and J wish' you to •■ go in and pos-
sess tlie land,'' to succeed and prosper. I
am to edit (tleaxixus; and to help me do
this is the purpose and end of my apiary.
^Vhen you take the trade out of niy hands,
and sni)plythe demand for bees, I shall have
room to try raising honey, as I used to a tew
years ago."
Jidfi []fh.— In buying swarms of bees by
the pound, we have been a little curious to
learn how much a natural swarm of bees
"would weigh, and the heaviest we bought
last year was about 7 lbs. AN'ell, a few days
ago neighbor Clark brought us a swarm of
hybrids, that he said he guessed weighed
about 18 lbs. 1 suggested he had put several
swarms together, but he insisted that it was
Just one swarm and no more ; when weighed,
they actually did show ch-Ka and iln-ci-
J'm(rih.'< lbs. As a sort of curiosity, I put
them into a two-story Simplicity, furnished
with 20 Avired frames of fdn." The next
morning I was ui) and in front of the hive,
about daylight. Under the inspiration of
the moment, I placed the hive on the bee-
hive scale, and before night of -Inly 7th they
had gained s lbs. The next day, July Sth,
they showed the astonishing record on the
dial, of 18^r lbs. as their day's work. Of
course, they built out the fdn. at the same
time. As the basswood season began to ap-
proach its close, just here the amount is
now tapering off eaVh day ; for on the itth
they gathered only s lbs., (i on the lOtti. and
to-day, the 11th, lean perceive a slight dis-
])osition in the bees to rob.
25//;.— Our apiary now numbers 81U colo-
nies. Since the 12th, we have had to use the
mosijuito-bar tents almost constantly, or the
robbers would dive down into each iiive the
very miinite it was opened. In a large apia-
ry like this they very soon learn to follow
the operator constantly, and unless the ut-
most care be used, trouble will come in the
shape of robbing that is no triflng matter.
Even with the tents they have got a habit
of pouncing on the entrance of every hive
just as soon as the tent is removed ; and un-
less the stock is a i)retty fair one, and the
entrance duly contracted, they would be
used up pretty shortly. I believe we have
had no case of robbing this season, so far,
which speaks pretty well for -lohn. All or-
ders for bees are tilled to date, and the last
order for dollar ([ueens will be sent off to-
morrow, nothing preventing. We have been
l)retty badly behind on queens a part of the
time, — at one time having orders on the
books for 150. We have had one lot of im-
])orted (jueens from Italy this season : but
our friend Charley Bianconcini did not seem
to have his usual success in getting them
through alive. We are daily expecting an-
other' invoice. I can not yet answer the
question as to wliicli race of bees is best,
Cyprian, Holy-Land, or Italian. I feel pret-
ty sure the iloly-Lands excel iu the rapid
production of brood, and therefore in bees;
but they are not, as a general thing, quite as
large as the others, aiid 1 am not sure tliey
gather as much honey. The Cyprians are
as large as the Italians, and perhaps a little
handsomer; that is, they show full yellow
bands, and are what almost anybody would
call nice Italians. The com})laint made,
that they are cross, I do not believe belongs
to all of the Cyprians. Those we had last
fall were very gentle, while those from the
(jueen I purchased of friend Hayhurst are as
nervous and touchy as almost any hybrids
you ever saw. We have ordered of friend
Jones both Cyprian and Holy-Land queens
this season, but he has as yet sent us none,
nor have I heard of his sending any to any
one.
RAISING BEES IN A GREEMIOI SE.
CAN AVE RAISE BEES EARLY IN THE SPRING, IRRE-
SPECTIVE OF THE WEATHER?
OE^'ERAJ.,of the friends will remember
O^ what I said last spring on this subject,
' and many of our older readers will re-
member the experiments I have made in
years gone by. Well, those who have fol-
lowed the matter can tell with what eager-
ness i read the following letter:—
Last year I was givfu a hall'-intercst in a swarm of
Italian bees that swarmed, and which 1 had the g'ood
fortune to keep from s'oing awa}-. I tried to hive
them and was snccesslul. Tlicy were a late swarm,
some time in July. Parties said they would not live.
A neighbor who had 10 hives of bees told me so.
However, when eool fall weather came in December,
1 thought 1 would keep them if possible; so I moved
them into my warm jrreenhouse, set them upon a
high shelf, built e.xpressly for them. That was on
the ")th day of Dscember. 1 kept them there, and
left the hive open so they could fly whenever they
wanted to, and there the}' stood luitil the middle of
.April. Then 1 set them out on their summer stands.
I looked into the hive, which is sectional; I think
they had about 10 lbs. left after wiiUering: did not
get .'yi deail bv^es the entire winter. Last week they
swarmed. I caught them, put them in a hive that
had lieen used, and found the iiueen. I clipped her
wing-s; in an hour they came out. I looked, and
found the "old lady" in the grass; but before I
found her the bees had all gone back into the old
house hive. I put her in with them this morning;
they came out again, cut the same caper, and went
back again. What 1 want to know is, how to swarm
bees artificially. I saw your advertisement of ABC
for beginners in the bee business, and I should be
glad to receive a copy of the work to enlighten me
on bees. The man that said my bees would not live
over winter lost 15 hives of bees himself out of 16.
So much for his judgment in that case.
W. J. Kii»i).
Logansport, Cass Co , Ind., June 7, 1881.
I immediately sent him a complete A 15 C.
with the following letter:—
We send you a whole book, friend K., and for pay I
want you to tell me if those bees flew in the green-
house, and went back into their hive again, without
Hying against the glass, and dying. If 1 had time, I
would gi all the way out there to find out about it.
1881
GLEANINGIS IN 13EE CULTURE.
381
It is the unsolved problem, to fly bees inside a build-
iag or greenhouse.
In answer to this. I in due time received
the following:—
Your ABC complete Ciune to hand Saturday. I
was s'l surprised to find so much general informa-
tion about the busy bee. This morning- I received
your letter, staling- that you wouldnot ask any thing
more for the payment of the A B C, if I would tell
you about those bees of mine. Friend Root, I think
you arc very liberal indeed. I thank you kindly,
and will tell you, .as nearly as I can, what you ask
for. The bees are Italians, very strong- and prolific.
They were a July swarm; came late; do not know
the date. Kept them on stands until Dec. 5th; built
shelf up about 0 ft. from floor of greenhouse, close,
in N. W. corner, sheltered by 6-in. walls from W.
and N. This was all I did put them on. This shelf left
the mouth of the hive completely open; if they
wanted to come out they did so; if not, they could
do otherwise. Through the warm days of February
and early part of March, during the warm part of
the day they would come out by the hundreds and
fly about the house overhead. Sometimes I would
go in and attach the hose to the hydrant and sprinkle
plants, bees, and all, when they would hurry for
their his^e. This would frighten thetn home. Other
times or days, when I did not need to sprinkle the
plantsto keep the atmosphere moist or humid, they
would wing- their way about the greenhouse, seek
the sunniest places, cluster in bunches of a dozen or
more; when the sun left them in the shade they
would go back to their hive. The temperature of
the greenhouse would be, in the day time, about 65° ;
at night, 50 to 55°. About the 2Cth of March the sun
became so powerful under the glass that the tem-
perature would rise toOC; at this the bees would
be out by thousands. But I found this would soon
spoil my plants, for they would spot them so much
with their excrement. 1 had to move them into a
colder greenhouse to keep them in the hive. The
place I now put them in had no fire, but did not
freeze at night. Here I kept them until about the
first of April. Old Sol began to send down his raj'S
so hot and penetrating, that even a greenhouse
without fire was up to %° at times. I knew it would
not do to let my bees out, for I had doors and venti-
hito.s open, and they might get lost; so I made a
wire frame about 4x6x12 inches, and placed it in the
entrance of the hive. This they would go into and
buzz for an hour or two, until the temperature was
lowered. Then they would seek their hive again.
Toward the last of April I put them on their sum-
mer stands; have secured from them already two
good swarms. The last one I hived this morning.
She is a virgin queen, a beauty.
I love liees, and like to work with them; never
used a veil in my life to handle bees, and I get along
first rate.
[ do not know any thing more to tell you, except
that you can write to K. K. Crooks, a bee-man across
the street, and hear what he has to say about the
care my bees had the past winter. W. J. KioD.
Logansport, Ind., June 13, LSSl.
Many thanks, friend K. The only point I
wished to make was about their getting
back safely into their hives at night. Did
you find no dead bees on the floor in sweep-
ing V Did you see any of them on any of the
tiowers in the greenhouse, or Avere there no
flowering plants V Did you ever try feeding
them any tiling during the winter, outside
of their hives V I>,astly, did you not see them
spot tlie plants at all with their excrement
until the air became very warm in March or
April, as you say V I have sometimes thouglit
the temperature would be more even in a
large greenhouse ; will you tell us the dimen-
sions of the house you kept these bees in,
friend K. V About how high is the glass from
the ground V
FLORIDA AS A BEE STATE
fSj^E have frequently seen reports from Florida,
but none from Dade county, and 1 will give
you a few items. January last there were
no bees kept within 75 miles of us, and none in this
county that Ave know of; occasionally a wild swarm
in the woods, but very few near the coast. We
bought ~ colonies of Fra»<cher (he whcj sent you
those nice oranges), brought them home in a sail
boat, 150 miles. Some of them died, and colonies
were weak to start on. They commenced imme-
diately (in Jan.) to gather pollen and honey, and to
raise brood. In March the hives were booming, and
we went to dividing. Our neighbors were getting
the bee fever hmUij, and our idea was to get lots of
swarms, sell them, and make "a heap of m(mcy."
We committed the blunder usually done by begin-
ners; ciz., made our swarms too weak, and have not
done as well as we might. Kesult: We have sold 1
swarms; 1 ran away; 3 were destroyed by ants,
which accident might have been prevented, and we
have two weak colonies left. It is the best cash in-
vestment we ever made, and the experience Is
worth still more.
There seems to be a continual succession of flow-
ers and bee forage the year around. Many trees
and plants yield their sweet nectar, that we had
not supposed belonged to that class. The mastic-
tree is now in bloom. The gum limbo, stoppa, wild
locust, sweet bay, persimmon (a kind that does not
fruit here;) all and others of which we do not know
the name, have blossomed in turn; also the cabbage
and saw palmetto. The latter is the best bee-plant
in Florida. Of course, the question of wintering
does not come in here. We raise the tenderest trop-
ical fruits without protection, and were shipping to-
matoes and other vegtables and fruits all last win-
ter.
Have noticed the mosquito hawk take occasionally
a bee, but not a serious pest.
Success to Gleanings! May it be the means of
leading many a poor soul to a better life, as well as
to enlighten us on the bee question.
F. S. DiMlCK.
Lake Worth, Dade Co., Fla., July 5, 1881.
Neighbor Clakk who sells us bees by the pound
has .iust mentioned, incidentally, that ho uses a pa-
per tunnel instead of our tin one, and that it does
very good service for sevi^ral times using.
Bees sometimes gather pollen from timothy. As
they only do it early in the morning, 1 have some-
times thought they did it rather for the fun of it;
may be while they are waiting for "breakfast to be
ready," before going out into the fields and woods
on their regular day's work.
382
GLEANINGS IN I3EE CULTURE.
AL'G.
ladk§' §q]^ar'hgmt'
AM not a Quaker, but the spirit moves me to
write you how I wintered my bees, or, rather,
how I winter them, as I have practiced the
same method for three winters si((Tfs;</H?/.i/, and have
not lost one. I tirst make two division-cushions
for each hive by taking a brood frame (mine have
the heavy top-bar), and making- a sack for it out of
" Indian Head " muslin, enough larger than the
frame so that, when stuffed with chaff, it will en-
tirely fill the space between the frame and hive. In
tilling- it I am very careful to stuff it evenly outside
of the frame, at the bottom and ends. It is tacked
to the top-bar, and then quilted through a few times
to keep it from bulging- out. I then put one of these
on each side of the bees, giving them only what
room they need and a piece of muslin or piece of an
old quilt over the tops of the frames. Now I am
ready for packing; so I take all the old rags after
the carpet-rags are cut, and fill, or partly till, the
space between the cushion and outside of the hive,
and put a sack of them on top at Jrast three inches
thick. Now they have a porous material on three
sides that will allow the moisture to pass off, but re-
tain the heat, just as our woolen clothes do. This is
the best use for old rags I ever found.
My bees came through the winter strong, and I
just ciui't keep some of them from swarming. One
swarm has filled G six-pound boxes, and have the
second six almost filled with combs, and they keep
the lower story crammed, the queen having brood
on 8 frames, and I have taken two frames full of
brood, honey, and bees, from that hive; but they
have not swarmed. We read of "non-swarming
hives;" but are there any "non-swarming" bees?
If there are, mine must belong to them. Is this
more than an ordinarily good queen? Busy Bee.
The above is by a lady who says we mustn't
publish her name. 1 "should much prefer
full names and addresses, but i suppose I
must obey orders. We formerly made all our
division-boards as above, but every little
while the bees would eat through and let the
chaff out, and if they didn't do that, the
combs built next to them would be waved
to match the quilting. This determined me
to have nothing hereafter next to the combs,
unless it was hat and straight, like the sides
of the hive, even if it is some work to make
it.— "\Ve think your queen, my friend, about
a fair average one, from the description you
give.
I am an interested reader of Gleanings, and a
member of the ABC class. Fully two-thirds of the
bees in this vicinity died. One of our neighbors
lost his entire lot of eleven stands. Another one
saved 4 out of 17, and another s out of about 30. As
regards my own, I saved ~ colonies out of 5. They
were left on summer stands, 4 of them in iSiinplicity
hives, with chaff cushions on top. The other in a
box hive. The 2 have increased to 6 by natural
swarming. They are all in splendid condition, and I
have ancthergood swarm that I bought of my boy-
one that he found.
ANOTHER NOVEL MEE-HIVE.
Well, you need not try to guess where he found
them, for 1 don't believe you could guess in a week.
He foun'l them in the barn loft, under the hay, fully
20 feet from the ground. There they were, as busy
as you please, flying in and out at a crevice at the
rear end of the barn. I suppose they had iteen there
but a few days when found, as they had stored but a
small amount of honey.
Bee culture is a branch of industry that is greatly
neglected in this locality; true, there are a good
many who have bees, and some have quite a lot of
them; but thej' are generally neglected, or attended
to in a kind of hit-and-miss fashion. I do not know
of a man in the range of my acquaintance who takes
a bee journal of any kind.
THE SI.MPLICITY HIVE.
Box hives are mostly used, although there arc
some who use patent hives of various kinds; but
the Simplicity is my choice. It is far ahead of any
patent hi\e that I have ever seen; and if there is
anj' thing nicer than a Simplicity section box well
filled with honey, I would like to see it. Mine were
nice enough to take lirst premitim at oin* district
fair last September, anyhow. I suppose you will
think this a rather lengthy letter from an A B C
scholar, especially one who has the care of a fam ilj',
to say nothing of the hundred and one things devoh-
iug upon a farmer's wife in the midst of a boimti-
ful harvest, for which I thank God in my heart.
May he bless j'ou in your good work, is the sincere
prayer of Sarah E. Duncan.
Lineville, Wayne Co., Iowa, July 18, 1S81.
Or liCtters from TliO!>e AVlio liavo stride
Bee Culture a. Failure.
LOSS OF 800 BV ONE M.\N.
^iJyjOURFIFTHS Of the bee-men here usethe Mitoh-
j8n^ ell hive, and fully four-fifths of their bees are
— ' dead. We have heard here that Overmyer,
the big bee-man of Sandusky Co., Ohio, lost over
e/j/Zit /M(n(Zrf(/ — all he had. He uses the Mitchell
hive. Thej' have "sung" Mitchell till the hum of
the "busy bee" is heard no more (in the Mitchell
hive;) gone to Blasted Hopes — some for the second
time in three years. The old box hive is victorious
again. C. W. Doren and Frederick Baker have each
a colony that has stood the test for 25 winters. How
is that for the old box-hives? .-V few yeai-s ago. Dor-
en told me that the least that old colony brought
him in any year was $G.t'0. Those colonies arc
blacks. I saA-ed both of the queens you sent me last
fall. I lost only one colony last winter; bees are do-
ing splendidly, with good prospect of a big basswocd
harvest. Isaac Feasel.
Bettsville, Seneca Co., Ohio, .June 6, 1881.
The above may be only a report ; and if so,
we liope friend Overmyer will correct it. 1
should hardly think the Mitchell hive would
be better or worse than the box hive ; it is
not the hive we object to, but ^Mitchell's way
of defrauding his fellow-men, year after
year. See report in Humbugs and Swindles.
You need not send me the Gle.\nings this year,
for my beesare starving; for the drought hps killed
every thing. G. H. Seavev.
Hallowell, Maine.
I had bad luck with my bees last winter. I had 24
swarms last fall, and have one very weak one now,
I. C. PETER.S.
Greenleaf, Meeker Co., Minn., June 7, 1881.
ISSl
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
VIAIiliON'S CANDY.
HOW IT WOBKS UP TO DATE.
■inipljOyou know that, after i-eading- my letter in
Jlijj) Gleanings, that it looks as if I was asking
' you to pay for the candy, which was certainly
not my intention. I suppose you remember that, in
the sprins- of 1880, when you wrote to me that the
candy was a success, and asked if I had any ol>.iec-
tion to gi\ing you the recipe, how I responded, and
stated that 1 should be pleased if I could help the
bee-keepers in some way, etc. I am well aware that
you experimented on the honey candy in 18T8, but
you omitted the principal ingredient— flour. Now,
if you have lost several valuable queens this season
with this candy, the reason must be that the candy
was cooked too much, or it may be due to the Peet
cage, as I must say that I tind it too shallow, and on
account of the tin it is too cold in March, April, and
part of May. Well, friend Koot, I wish I were near
you, as I would go and make the candy for you, and
guarantee every queen you would send out, and you
may rest assured that the $100 would be- not called
lor.
There is no greater pleasure for me than to be
among my bees and in my orchard. By the way, I
have been enjoying ripe peaches since the 2.5th of
May, and I wish you were closer to us, friend Boot,
as I would have the pleasure of sharing the peaches
with you, and also several varieties of plums.
Jime U(?(.— The above was written just after read-
ing Gleanings and laid aside for the next day, and
I think I did right in not sending at once, as I have
since had two reports of dead queens. Yes, 5 report-
ed dead to date; 2 were received very weak, and
died next morning or during the night; in one, all
the bees were alive but the queen; in another every
thing was dead, and but 4 days in route; and in
another every thing was dead, and 14 days in route.
This is a little over 1 per cent, as so far nearly 400
queens have been mailed. Now, this is from all
those I have heard from; but I have mailed many
queens, not included above, since a week, not yet
heard from.
I did not write the above for publication, but you
may speak of my loss of 5 queens, as those having
received the dead queens may think it strange that
I leave every one under the impression that I lost
no queens. P. L. Viallon.
Bayou Goula, La., June 6, 1881.
Many thanks, friend \ .. tor your valuable
items, as well as for the otter of the peaches.
I believe we all know you are one who is
working for the good of the people, and we
shall call the candy by your name, even if
you will not accept any thing more. If you
will excuse me for reverting to it once more,
1 would say that I did use liour, and aban-
doned it because I got an idea that it, like
pollen, rather disposed the bees, when con-
tined, to dysentery. The queens you have
sent us came to hand in such excellent trim,
that I have remailed a great number, with-
out even introducing them, and I believe all
have gone on right. A lot of tive are now
near me', from which the address got torn
off. and they came back to us. but all lively
and in excellent trim. Your candy is cer-
tainly a wonderful improvement for queens;
but for pounds of bees, we must have the
water-bottles also. With a bottle in every
section, we have had most excellent success;
but when I tried using only one bottle in a
cage, losses commenced at once. Can we
not ascertain why you lost the few queens
j-ou have mentioned lately? Your cage is
an excellent one, only that it does not admit
of being used on thV comb, like tlie I'eet
c?.ge.
^ i>i ^
FKIEND Bl TTL.ER-S mSHAP, .\ND IIOAV
HE DID fiET MARISIED AFTER AI^Ij.
SEQI'EL TO THE LITTLE STORV ON P. :U2, LAST NO.
jP>^ INCE I wrote you in regard to that " nucleus," I
l^i; was stung by some bees, and, thinking per-
'-^ haps you might be amused by reading some of
the newspaper accounts, 1 will send you one taken
from the Chicago Times, June 1.'), which paper is
somewhat mistaken, as you will see by this note:
WHY HK l)U«N 1 C.KT MARRIED.
Uloomixgtox. 111., June U.— Tlioma.s Butler, of this city,
was to lia\e been uiaivieil this evening-, but tliis afternoon acei -
dentally overturned a hive of bees, and was nearly stunjf lx>
tleath. ' He is in a dangerous eoudition.
Isettleda swarmin the top of a tree in my yard,
and had the limb cut off, and was coming down very
carefully with the bees, when a limb gave way with
me and the bees, and I'tried to see which could land
on earth the quicker. I think from the number of
bees that were mashed, that they fanded first. I
wish you could have been near so you could have
seen the performance, and you could have had car-
toons for some time. My sister took nine stings out
of my right ear, and I was stung in the face as badly.
This was the 14th, the day I was married. At 13
o'clock I had both eyes closed, and at 6 p.m. I had
them both open, and was married at 8. The number
of stings I received was no more painful than one
sting would be, and one sting does me no harm.
The little "nucleus" is started, and is one of the
happiest little colonies on earth.
Thomas Butler.
Bloomington, 111., June lit, 1881.
— ^ igi ^
UNDER THE BOX-ELDERS.
^T was one of the beautiful mornings of the last
Jt|[ days of April, when, as we were passing the
— ' residence of our cheery friend Duster, we saw
that he had at last set out his bees, and he himself
standing among the hives. We were quite anxious
to know how his bees had wintered, so we opened
the gate, and joined him at once. Friend Duster
was evidently in a deep reverie, and a pleasant one
too, for a smile was on his lips, and his whole face
fairly beamed %vith happiness and satisfaction. Our
somewhat noisy morning greeting was the first he
seemed to know of our presence. Pointing down
the valley where the Inlet, a small sparkling stream
of water dodges in and out, its crooked way traced
by the large willows overhanging its banks,—
"See," said he; "was there ever a picture more
beautiful than that? I can hardly realize" (and he
went on in a sort of musing way; " the change of
two weeks when this scene was white — covered
with snow. The finger of the great Unseen" (and
here he revereiitially raised his hat) " has touched
the earth, and the grass springs forth; the trees,
and they bud and blossom. To me, this morning, so
sudden has it all come, it is a transfiguration, and I
bow before its power and beauty. The very air is
almost oppressive with fragrance; 'tis the breath of
3S4
GLEANINGS IN I3EE CULTURE.
Atfo,
spring; new life: spring is here!" And we clasped
hands in congratulations. "Well, you want to
know how my bees have wintered? I got them out
the ICth of April; had no tly for KiO odd days; have
lost one hive by starvation; the others, as you see,
are all in good condition, and many of them quite
strong. I gave them rj'e meal for two days, and
then they commenced to bring in pollen — the soft-
maple first. It lasted about three days. Next the
bi)x-elders were roaring with them for four or live
days, and then the willows took their turn. I tell
you," said Mr. Duster, "everything is just 'boom-
ing,' and the very trees are bound to take a hand in;
and if we bee-keepers only take time by the forelock
— keep pace with this rush of things, we shall reap
our reward. Spring has been a little tardy, and, to
meet Summer at the appointed time and place, dress-
ed in all her beautiful garments, and bringing her
usual and matchless gifts with her, she is hurrying
and will hurry on to the tryst ; will be on time, and
he who heeds the unmistakable signs — gets his hive-
boxes and cans ready— will reap a satisfactory har-
vest.
"I see you are in a hurry," said Mr. Duster; "but
before you go I wish to express my sympathy
through you to friend Novice jn his loss, not in bees
only, but it will unsettle him so in regard to the
way of wintering them. He's got lots of pluck and
perseverance; tell him to put in a chunk of faith-
enough to stiffen the batch (and I confess it wants
to be made pretty stiff after the experience of last
winter), and all will be well yet. One thing more,
and I'm done. Tell him to lay aside ne.xt fall his
enamel-cloth covers, and put on straw mats directly
over the bees (and sides too it he likes), then cover
with chaff or fine dry leaves, and, my word for it, he
will see next spring brighter combs generally than
he ever saw before. And, please, don't forget it."
K. H. Melt.en.
Anibny-on-Inlet, 111., June 18, 1881.
SECTIONS ON IN AVINTER, AGAIN.
ARE WE AT FAULT TN THE M.4.TTER OF VENTILATION?
fHERE seems to be quite an inquiry as to the
propriety of leaving sections or boxes on the
' hives all winter. I have never had any e.xpe-
rienco in my own apiary, but have seen it tried in
others year after year with apparently good results.
An uncle of mine, Mr. J. S. Phillips, an old bee-keep-
er of 30 years' experience, has practiced it for some
time; and as he lives just "across the corner" from
us, we have had an opportunity to note how the
thing works. Until within a few years he has been
a bee-keeper of the old school, and kept his bees in
box hives, getting his surplus in boxes holding 10 or
13 lbs., placed over holes in top of the hive. At the
close of the honey season, the boxes were taken and
emptied, and returned again to their place on top of
the hive, and there left all winter, being held in
place by a large stone or heavy piece of iron. This
has been his practice for a considerable period, and
I have observed that (with but one or two excep-
tions) he has iiever lost a colony that had plenty of
honey to carry them through. Later, he became a
convert to the new system of bee-keeping, using
movable-frame hives, and obtained his surplus hon-
ey in four small boxes placed over slats in the hon-
ey-board. In the fall thej' were emptied and re^
turned to their places, and the bees were left alone.
to live or die as they chose. As before, all win-
tered well (that were not short of stores) for several
years; but i;i the fall of 1879 he came to the conclu-
sion, that if it paid others to protect their bees it
would him; and so, suiting the act to the thought,
he moved them together and covered them with
corn-stalks. As you will remember, the winter was
an unusually mild one; the bees became very rest-
less, and what did not die outright came out very
weak in the spring of 1880; and as the season was a
very poor one they did not cast any swarms, but
were generally strong, and had plenty of stores last
fall. This time he thought he would try chaff.
Well, the upshot of it all was, that he found himself
minus bees when Shawondasse (the south wind) paid
us his accustomed visit. Now, I do not pretend to
say that the empty boxes saved them, or the pack-
ing killed them ; but we would say it had some thing
to do with it. I have given you the facts just as
they are; but, as I said before, I never tried it in
my own apiary. It did not seem reasonable, so 1
dared not try it: but, Providence permitting, I shall
try the plan with a part of my bees this next winter,
and will report results. F. L. Wkight.
Plainliold, Liv. Co., Mich., June 28, 1881.
IIAYHURST'S TEA-PARTV.
ALSO SOME THING ABOUT CYPRIAN BEES.
^I^D. GLEANINGS:-Availiug myself of friend
1^1 Hayhurst's invitation, I recently found my-
self at his hospitable mansion. After paying
proper respects to his lady and late winter " queen"
who still keeps on piping, I repaired to his apiary. I
almost believe he has got "Root on the brain," for
he tries almost everything recommended in Glean-
ings. I might except sawdust for bottom-boards,
but scarcely any thing else. At one time he had a
grapevine on the west side of each hive, but he
found it easier to raise grapes in some other locali-
ty, and up came the vines. He thought he would
increase the natural size of his bees by using found-
ation with only twenty cells to the inch, and secured
a puff in Gleanings for purchasing, at one time, 100
lbs. of foundation. The bees hatched in the cells
were indeed somewhat increased in size, but they all
happened to be drones, and he speedily had nearly
100 lbs. of beeswax to sell. He adopted the chaff hive
exactly as recommended in Gleanings, and certain-
ly has a fine lot of them well filled with bees and
honey. As he lost no bees to speak of last winter,
he throws up his hat for the chaff hive, although
every one of them cost him nearly four dollars.
But what do you think I f()und him doing? Actu-
ally killing drones, and from his imported Cyprian
queen too— from the identical queen that he paid
Jones .«I6.00 for last fall !
" What are you doing that for?" said I.
"The rascals sting so," said he. "I shall deslroy
every Cyprian drone in my apiary to-morrow."
CYPRIAN bees.
Very beautiful are Hayhurst's Cyprian bees. The
queens are immensely prolific, and the bees great
honey-gatherers. Remove the queen from the hive,
and the bees start a great number of queen-cells.
We counted upward of 70 in a single hive. Then the
queens are very warlike, and will tight each other to
the death in less than two minutes after hatching.
This necessitates a separate cage for each cell, and
then the nucleus from which a laying queen has just
18S1
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
S85
been shipped, in about four cases out of five, will kill
a young virgin queen as soon as introduced, and
probably the same day a fertile worker will usurp
the place of a genuine queen, and render subsequent
efforts to supply said nucleus with a queen useless.
But when a queen is safely introduced she flies from
the hive about the fifth day, and repeats the excur-
sion nearly every day for a week or more before she
returns fertilized, and about two-thirds or three-
fourths of them get lost during this ceremony.
Then the Cyprians arc undoubtedly hardy— perfect-
ly impervious to smoke, bell-ringing, and all such
foolishness. In order to get them to gorge them-
selves sufficiently to obtain a pound for shipment, it
is actually necessary to kick over a hive; and then
Hayhiu'St says they will find a smaller hole in a pair
of pants than any insect he ever saw. Several times
they have not only driven him into the honey-house,
but out of that and through the yard Into his cellar.
Subjugation is ne.xt to impossible, and coaxing not
much better. He rais'ed a frame, well covereil with
bees, very carefully; got them in proper position
above his trap, thinking to secure half a pound at
least; gave them the important shake, and, presto !
every bee went into the air, " zip!"
"I'll sell that imported Cyprian queen for half
price, and throw in all her progenj', if anybody can
catch them," said he.
He wanted me to take some of the queen-cells
home and rear them for experiment : but about
this time his confounded Cyprians had found my
horse, more than 200 yards distant, and were paying
unappreciated respects to him. I concluded not to
wait for cells, and the unusual activity of my horse
about this time soon removed me from the vicinity
of Hayhurst and his Cyprians.
S. W. 8.4LISBURY.
Kansas City, Mo., June 27, 1881.
-^ ••• ^
MRS. liUCINDA HARRISON ON GRAPE
SUGAR.
^IRIEND BOOT: -I extend unto you my right
jlH J^~ in token of approval of your present po-
— ' sition on that vexed glucose question. Your
former one was always a sore trial to nie, for I was
fearful that the tnonci) that was in it, so warped
your better judgment that you could not see It in
its true light. When ynu invoked the blessing of
Heaven upon the Buffalo Sugar Co., it was a dose
too great for me to swallow; and the longer I
chewed, the bigger it got.
Hamlin, who is the principal member of the Buffa-
lo Co., has large works here (Peoria, 111.), and has re-
cently purchased an extensive tract of land in the
vicinity of I)es Moines, Iowa, to erect glucose works
there. He has acres upon acres of lime-kilns to
manufacture that compound for his manufactories.
He knows no God and no Sabbath. His employees
are not freemen, but slaves, compelled to work ev-
ery day in the year, with the eye of a watchman up-
on them lest they cease from their toil, and watch-
men over watchmen, with small wages; and when
he walks through his vast works, an armed guard
protects him. The smoke from those vast chimneys
never ceases, nor does the deadly waste that pours
into our magnificent river, to be the certain death
of the finny tribe. The fumes that are wafted over
our city, from the boiling vats of corn starch, con-
taining deadly chemicals, can be compared to noth-
ing else than to pens where a million pigs are kept
and fed on distillery .slops. We who have braved
the privations of frontier life to obtain a home have
no redress — for there are millions in it. Car-load
upon car-load of lime, nitric and sulphuric acid, are
daily used in the manufacture of glucose. There
have been syrups sold in this city that have eaten a
hole in a table-cloth I This company have bought
chemi.^t!s as well as nitric and sulphuric acid.
But the people are awakening. They are inquir-
ing why they feel so strangely after eating sugar
and syrup, and what makes the little one's lips bo
black, as if it had been licking the ink-bottle after
its meal of bread and syrup — clear as honey.
Brother Root, j'ou are a busy man, I know; but
take time, and if you can't get time on a week day,
do it on Sunday. Tie up your handkerchief full of
your best Buffalo sugar; sit down bj' a pail of water,
and wash it; and when you are through, tell us
what you have left, and whether the water is sweet
or not, — and what kind of stuff is left in your hand-
kerchief. Be candid, and tell us all about it, if it
does hurt worse than any bee-sting you ever had;
and whether you would like to give it to Blue Eyes
or the baby to eat.
I can not call down the blessing of Heaven upon
the Buffalo Co. ; but may Almighty God bless good
father Langstroth, and continue unto him the use of
his mental powers ! May he long stand upon the
watch-towers of this great industry, that he has giv-
en his lifetime to promote, and run up the signals
of alarm in full view of his hec children, warning
them of the vagaries of such impulsive persons as
A. I. Root and— Mrs. L. H.\hkison.
Peoria, 111., July, 1881.
Many thanks, my good friend, for the facts
you have given us. I sliould have suggested
that you were going as much one way as I
did tlie other ; but as you close by putting
you and my poor self both in the same cate-
gory, I guess I won't say much. The things
you speak of are of course awful ; but are
you sure all sugar refineries do not present
some thing of the same state of affairs, both
in the way of chemicals and a disregard for
the immortal souls of the employees V Are
you not going a little on the same strain j^oit
did when you denounced comb fotnidation
and all who made and recommended it, a
few months ago ? Begging your pardon, my
kind good friend, while we are in the way of
confessing our mistakes, would it not be
well for you to recall some of those hard ex-
pressions you used there, to the effect that it
was all done for the sake of the money that
could be made at it? Most heartily do I
join hands with you in all you say of our
good friend JVIr. Langstroth. In fact, I can
join hands with you in the spirit of all you
write.
DON'T DISTURR THE REES AFTER
COIiD AVEATHER.
AN IDEA IX REGARD TO THE MATTER OF LEAVING
THE SECTIONS ON ALL WINTER.
fHAVE just been reading your May No., and I
have an idea in my head why some have good
— ' success in wintering bees with sections on, and
others don't, and why so many fail in wintering in
any of the common ways some years, and other
years winter successfully, and why one swarm win-
ters well, and another, treated just the same, dies.
3S(i
GLEANINGS IN J3EE CULTURE.
Ar(i.
The ililTerciicc is this: We overhaul our lices too
late ill the season, and it comes on cold, and they
don't have a chance to plaster up with propolis and
make it tight, wbile another, perhaps fixed up one
or two days before, had an opportunity to work a
day or two and patch up. I've noticed, in opening
hives the first time in spring, where the duck or
enameled cloth was stuck down so firm I could hard-
ly pull if off, there were no signs of dysentery, but
every thing clean and bright — bees lively and
strong; but where the cloth was not stuck down to
the top of frames they would be all blacked up, and
smell badlj'. Now, I think when they have it tight,
as nature teaches them to do, they don't consume as
nmch honey to keep warm, and will go a much lon-
ger time without a fly than in the other case. I lost
;> swarms out of 14 the past winter; one of them 1
neglected to make passages for through the comb,
and they starved with plenty of honey on the other
side of the hive. One had dysentery, one spring
dwindling. The rest are doing finely. I extracted
50 lbs. of apple-blossom honey last week, which was
very nice. They just commenced on red raspberry,
of which we have -t acres of the Brandywine. Now,
Mr. Editor, please call for proof of my idea, and see
if those who wintered successfully with sections on
were not those who did not touch them after the
honey season was over; while those who lost them
fixed them up late, and broke the propolis all up,
which they failed to repair, and consequently lived
in a draft of cold air as long as their bee nature
could stand it, and then gave rip the ghost.
W.D. Hinds.
Townsend, Middlesex Co., Mass., June 16, 1881.
jVIy ex])enence has been very much like
yours, friend II., and I can not remember
having a liive well waxed up with propolis,
and filled with honey clear down to the
corners of the combs, but that wintered well.
Since you speak of it, I recall that our bees
had such good care last winter that we
opened and examined each hive at every mild
spell during the winter. ^Vt the lirst exam-
ination, about Christmas we were congratu-
lating ourselves that they were keeping
splendidly; but from that time on they
seemed to go down. AVho can tell us more
about making them wax up every thing sol-
id, and then letting them be until Mav?
THE BEES OF INDIA.
BY ONE OK OUR MISSIONARY BROTHERS.
^l^jRO. ROOT:— You have spoken of wanting to
fH}^ know about bees in India, so I am going to
tell you what I know, which will not take
long, as I am not well posted in " Beeology." I have
seen three varieties of bees here. The most com-
mon is the smallest variety, a specimen of which I
Inclose. I do not know in what condition he will
reach you, bul his size was that of the figure marked
when he started on his journey. This variety hang
their combs on trees and bushes in the open air. In
<me walk the other night I came across two swarms
of these bees. There is a common-sized variety
which are not so common, but which are sometimes
domesticated. Then there is a very large variety
which are quite common, whose acquaintance I have
no wish to form. They live in the rocks and trees
in these hills. A year ago a swarm alighted on a
tree five or six rods from the street, and woe to man
or beast who ventured along the road. The antics
which they caused the natives to cut were amusing to
us who sat secure in our bungalow. Indian honey
is not of a pleasant flavor. What it could be made
through proper culture I do not know. The bee
which I inclose is a young one of its kind. I do
not know that this small variety sting, although
the natives say they do. But I have never seen
them manifest any such disposition. The natives
will declare that every snake is poisonous, when
the fact is, onlj- four or five varieties are poisonous
out of about twelve found in India; and so it is,
I suppose, with the bees.
Some time I may be able to get specimens of the
different varieties of bees, and I will preserve them
in alcohol and send them to you in a box. But I
have little time for any thought but upon the one
great object that calls us here. There are many
very interesting things in the natural world about
us, al)Out which I should like to write; but we have
to see so much undone in the way of spreading the
gospel among these perishing people, that we are
forced to leave other things alone, that we may tell
the "old, old story." It is the same precious word
here as in our own country; "the power of God un-
to salvation to all that believe." Many thanks for
Gleanings. We cut out the Home Papers, and
sew them together, and have quite a little book.
Our work seems prospering. There is a little com-
munity of Christians gathering about us, which we
trust is the little leaven which is to leaven the wh.ile
lump. But, oh the awful moral darkness ! Pray
much for us. We are quite well, and very happy in
the Lord. The Christians which we baptized lately,
a man and wife and child and a blind boy, give good
evidence that thej' have been born again, and by
well-ordered lives glorify God among their people.
Mrs. Sibley unites in much Christian love to you.
May God bless and prosper you is the prayer of
J. W. Sibley.
Chikalda, India, May 34, 1881.
]Many thanks, fdend S. I should enjoy
hugely an encounter with that swarm
that frightened the natives so much.
I presume it could not have been the far-
famed Apis dorsata, that we have heard so
much about of late. I should enjoy, too, be-
ing with you a little while in your work for
the ]\Iaster. We often think of you, and
shall always have a warm corner in our
hearts for you and yours, away off there in
your foreign home. May the Lord bless your
work I
FRIEND PETERS ON UPWARD VENTI-
LATION.
ALSO SOME TniNO ABOUT LEAVING SECTION BOXES
ON ALL WINTER.
MID. GLEANINGS:-The present advanced con-
I dition of apiculture is due not only to the
thinking men who observe facts, but also to
the long years of accumulating data by the unscien-
tific mass of bee-keepers in times gone by. Practice
and patient observation by this latter class laid the
ground work of a new industry, which, though long
delayed, has 'culminated into one of the useful
liranches of rural economy. Being based upon e.x-
pDrience and facts, the progress of apiculture should
be protnoted by all who feel an interest in it, by
ISSl
GLEAlsIII^GS IN BEE CUETURE.
387
contributing such facts as may fall under their
knowledge. On thinking-, I am reminded of the re-
cent inquiry in Gleanings, "Should section boxes
bo left on inwiutfr?" For this climate I answer
unhesitatingly, yes. But in your rigid winters it
may not be the best plan, l)ut I think it will. Here,
I know, bees ar-.' more comfortable >\ith than with-
out them, either empty or partly filled. On account
of the respiration, the accumulatinj,'- moisture ema-
nating- from bees requires an absorbent to prevent
frost and ice in the upper part of the hive. I once
thought that bees stowed away water for winter
use, and that freeznig ruptured the cells, and wtiere
moderate weather occurred the water escaped from
the entrance; but now we know the cause and the
remedy — this moisture should escape or be ab-
sorbed. Nothing answers so well as the dead-air
space in the sections and the absorbent surface of
the sections themselves. In bo.v hives, surplus boxes
answered the same end. Yon use sawdust, chaff,
blankets, etc.; we use dry leaves, cotton seed, etc.,
but every thing used by me can not be compared
to sections covered with the quilt, and a close cap.
The bees close every aperture with propolis, and
the air heated bj' the warm temperature of the bees
occupies the sections while the moisture arising is
absorbed by the sections, keeping the interior of
the hive dry, and free fri)m frost during our fluctu-
ating winters.
in connection with this subject, I I'eluctantly ex-
press the belief, that the great mortality of bees in
our Northern States, is owing in part to the manage-
ment in winter. Your boe-raisers ha\e been reared
and educated in the belief of a bee-house, or a bee-
cellar, as a neccssit J' to bee-keeping in winter. Now
a man in this latitude "can't see it." I don't believe
it is the better plan. Moderate weather does some-
times supervene in your country, and bees should
have free access to the air to disgorge their over-
loaded fiscal organs; their instinct impels a quick
return to the hive. Where they are in a torpor
from cnld, the secretive functions are sluggish, and
the bees will bear a long conlinement. Look at na-
ture. Where bees are found in the woods, if the en-
trance to the ca\ ity is above the combs and brood-
nest, they have upward ventilation; if below the
mass of bees, they sometimes perish from cold,
while those in the former condition are strong and
populous. Acting upon this principle years ago, I
arranged some of my box hives on this plan, bj- giv-
ing an entrance I't inches in cap of hive, and no en-
trance below. This was upward ventilation. Every
warm day all the bees piled out on top, and I had to
give a lower entrance for the summer. This aper-
ture In the upper part of the hive only admitted up-
ward ^•entilation, and the bees could not drive the
air through the hive with their wings, as they do
in low ventilation. As cold weather approached, I
closed the lower and opened the upper entrance in
the hive to accustom the bees to it, befox'c winter,
there being danger that they would return to the
lower place, and perish frum cold. In winter this
acted like a charm, those colonies were active all
the pleasant weather in winter, and in spring were
the strongest, and swarmed first. There was a les-
son taught by nature, and based in philosophy.
Now, Mr. Editor, will you experiment on one of
your strong colonies? Do thus: Bore an inch auger-
hole near one corner, through the cap, quilt, and sec-
tions, to give a free access of air to the bees; close
every aperture below in the fall, in time to teach
the bees the way to upper entrance, so that no bees
are lost by going to lower place, where they fly.
Leave the hive on the summer stand with shelter to
keep ants, rain, and snow from the entrance. All
these conditions complied with, if you lose the hive
send me bill for damages, and I will pay. The basis
of wintering bees in your country is upward venti-
lation and summer stands I verily believe.
Council Bend, Ark. Geo. B. Pkters.
Friend P., your idea about closing the
summer entrance entirely, and having a
winter entrance, is by no means new, for it
is given in Mr. Langstroth's book, one of
the oldest editions ; but if I am correct, Mr.
L. afterward abandoned it. Friend Hill, of
Mt. Healthy, O.. who has had such wonder-
ful success in wintering, used to close the
lower entrance, and give only an upper one,,
and he may do it yet for aught I know. Hi's
plan of preparing his hives for winter was
given in our back volumes, with a cut of
the plan of his apiary. ^Vill friend l.iang-'
stroth please tell us about upper winter en-
trances? To be sure, I will try a hive as you
say, friend Peters. By taking the wire cloth
from the ventilating holes in the chaff-hive
cover, Ave have an excellent winter entrance.
And a hole through the center of the enam-
eled sheet, with the rest all waxed up
tight, would be just about the thing, as it
seems to me. If the upper story were then
filled with forest leaves, it seems to me we
should have just about the thing. I have
wintered hives in something this way, and
the hole through the honey, bored right over
the cluster, would be tilled with live bees
looking as happy and contented as could be.
even during zero winter weather. If a
chance comes for them to take a liy. no dead
bees can clog their entrance, and snow
would be likely to impede their egress on
the outside. Why, what is to hinder having
a chaff hive without any entrance at all, ex-
cept up through the cover, as I have men-
tioned? Only yesterday, during our great
basswood yield, while '^ opening hives the
bees would come up and ottt at the top in
great numbers, and sally off to the (ields as
if they enjoyed this short cut. \\'ho will
tell what is to hinder having a top entrance
all the year round? Do you fear they could
not drag out dead bees, etc.? Well, perhaps
they would never have any to drag out.
Who knows?
The Cyprian q leen, mentioned on another page,
whose bees so tried the patience of the veteran bee-
man, friend Hayhurgt, is now in our own apiary.
She came with a pound of bees, and I believe there
was not a dead bee in the package. Friend H. knows
how to ship bees, if he don't get along Avith Cyprians.
The bees arc a trifle excitable and fldgetty, but it is
no very hard matter to handle them by following
directions friend Benton has given in former num-
bers. If we ha'd a colony of 8 or 10 lbs. of Hying bees,
of this stripe, very likely I should have my hands
full (possilily hair, too), in trying to handle them. I
am glad to be able to say, that all Cyprians do not
have this peculiarity, for those we had last season
were as gentle as any Italians we ever had in the
yard. Those that went into the apiary of neighbor
H. were more like Hayhurst's.
388
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Aug.
FRIEND BUIT TON'S BEE-KEEPING.
AS NAKRATEU BY HIS BOY.
FAPA took the boe fever last year, and ia July
bought a colony <>f hylirids, which we divided,
— Then pa and I each bought a hive of Mr. Tom-
kins, who has mighty nice Italian bees. He also
made papa a present of an Italian queen, which we
put into one of our hybrid colonies.
MOVING BEES IN THE SAME YARD.
We had to move the two hybrid colonies to an-
other part of the yard, to g'et them ready for win-
ter. We moved both hives at the same time, moving
them about a foot and a half to two feet every night.
Was that right? or tell us, please, just how far to
move at one time, and how often. We noticed when
we moved the bees, that those in the last hive were
lighting all the time. We first thought they were
robbing; but it at last struck us that it was the bees
from the first stand, trying to get into the second.
We just let them alone, for we didn't know what to
do. What ought we to have done? Consequently,
when we got them where we wanted them, they
were very weak. So we went into the winter with
two weak hybrid hives and two strong Italian hives.
I forgot to say, that papa and I went into partner-
ship — I as one-fourth partner. We built a house
all around the stands, flUing ia tightly with straw,
and putting chaff bags on top. How far apart ought
you put your hives for wintering?
When we opened thorn this spring, both hybrids
were dead. One had plenty of stores, the other had
none. Papa then bought two stands of black bees
in place of those that died. We immediately got
queen-celh from a friend whom we knew had pure
bees; took the heads off the black queens, and put
the cells in there, and also started a nucleus, right
Jn the midst of the honey season. That was not
right, was it? We got no honey from the black
bees, but got about 130 lbs. of extracted honey from
the two hi^•es we got of Mr. Tomkins. The nucleus
fills up nine frames now; the queen in it is the poor-
est of the three we raised. The other two filled up
their hi^•es with brood nicely. The brood is just
hatching this last week, and they are just as pure
as they can be.
I will tell you a few funny things now. When we
first began looking at the bees, I thought I saw some
capped brood, and told papa so; he said not, for he
had just looked at them and it was capped honey.
I said it was, and was told not to contradict my
father — he Imcw. Well, one day wo were looking at
the hive together, and I said, " There! that is what I
call capped brood."
He looked at it, and said no. I said I'd bet it was.
He said he Inicw, and there was no use to say any
thing more about it. Well, I took a pin and un-
capped one and showed it to him, and sure enough,
it H'rts brood. He didn't say any thing, but I'll bet
he felt cheap.
When we made our nucleus, we just put in a
couple of frames from our strongest hive, and shook
the bees off a couple more from the cfthcr hives, but
never thought to look for the queen. Well, the next
day we went to look into it, when we saw the queen-
cell torn down. We looked around, and there was
the queen. Oh, we felt cheap!
R. D. Bbitton.
Wyoming, Ham. Co., O., July 10, 1881,
Well, I declare, friend B., you have writ-
ten a pretty good article. I hope you and
your pa will always be •' partners,'' not only
in the bee business, but in every thing else ;
but I hope you will remember to speak to
him and of him in a respectful way (because
he is your father), even if he should be wrong
and you right. — Moving bees one foot a day,
or about that, is very apt to bring about just
such differences as you describe; and. in
fact, it is a pretty bad plan to move bees
about in the same apiary, any Avay you can
fix it. Put them where you want them, and
there let them stay.— l' presume you both
know capped brood from capped honey now,
without resorting to picking it open with a
pin. — You probably know, too, by experi-
ence, that it is best to find the old queens be-
fore you take bees from a hi\'e to make a
nucleus.
• ♦ >
BEE CULTURE IN TEXAS.
CHAl'F PACKING IN THE SOUTH, AGAIN.
W' CLAIM to be the first man to introduce the mov-
Jt|[ able-frame hive in this part of Texas, ye ars ago,
— ' and have had the care of bees twenty-two
years; yet lam only anABC scholarin thebee"biz."
As formerly stated, I wintered 23 colonies; one died
- starved. I had two black colonies which I did not
count with the rest, unprotected during the winter,
they dwindled badly, but have been built up to half-
colonies, and heads are now off the queens; the Cy-
prian queens have been in the hives just 2S days to-
day, and things are quite different with hive full of
young bees. Let us go back and say, we live 200
miles nearer the north pole than our Austin brother.
We had several zero spells; snow-storms, eight or
ten; ice five inches thick. I had a nice swarm the
25th of 3Iarch, and bees were doing well; but about
1st of April they began slaying their drones, and in
five days not a drone was left, inside or outside, in
cell or anywhere else. Capped queen-cells were
torn down, queens stopped laying, not a drop of
honey to be had in the fields, with every hive full to
overflowing with bees; honey rapidly disappears
from the hives, and I am compelled to feed a little
to keep out of Blasted Hopes. About the 10th of
April the willows bloomed; on the 13th, in full bloom.
The joj'ous hum was again heard, and the bees fairly
poured out and in; farmers are busy plowing corn
and planting cotton. What is that yonder in the
north? A cold " blizzard." It comes at the rate of
35 miles per hour, ice cold. I walk down to the wil-
low pond iind find at least 15 lbs. or more of bees
hanging to the willows, stiff with cold. These pass
awaj' like my peaches, apples, and other fruit, to en-
rich mother earth. For the next ten days I thought I
would give it up; but $3.00 worth of sugar brings
them up to prickly ash and ratan bloom. April 24th
to first week in May I had to use the extractor to
give the queen room. I sold 3 colonies for $37.50,
and had just twenty, all told, left, including the
March swarm to begin. May 1st I commenced to
raise my queens, and had good luck. I now have 40
full colonies, six nuclei with queens; sold 8 queens,
two tested (raised 1880), and have on hand 1000 lbs. of
mint honey, and still the flow continues. I attribute
my success to my winter protection, as I did not re-
move the packing until the middle of April, and
some hives until May. I kept my hives full of bees
all the time. I have one colony which I have divid-
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
;:589
ed six times, and it is now full. I will tell j'ou how I
increase so fast. I put full stories over strong stocks,
and give them fdn.; in two days this is drawn out
ready for the queens to lay. I now divide upper
and lower stories equally, making two hives, having
t he old hi ve on the same stand. I no w go to my two-
frame nucleus, and get a queen, and just let her
crawl right into the qucenless hive; in a few min-
utes I look through to see if the queen is all right. I
have lost only one out of 20 or more, and I sa^'e by
this plan, in one month, on 'M colonies, about 5 good
strong colonies. If you buy your queens you had
better not do this, or you might lose your dollar.
If horsemint will do as well as it has this j'ear, and
could only last a couple of weeks longer, we could
all have honey. As I have received many letters in
regard to this State for honey, I will say, portions of
it can not be beat. On Chambers' Creek, in Ellis Co.,
Dees do well nearly every year. Plenty of basswood
in Leon, Houston, Henderson, and nearly all the
eastern counties. I had a pleasant visit from Dan'l
Kcepler, Napoleon, O., net long since.
, B. F. Carkoll.
Dresden, Tex., June 10, 1881.
TKIAI^S IN QUEEN-REARING.
fjlRIEND NOVICE:— I am having so many strange
freaks in queen-rearing, that I have conclud-
"^ ed to report, and ask if others are having
such fun. Mrs. L. Harrison writes me for queens,
and says, "Something is taking my young queens
when they fly out to mate." I have had so much of
this kind of "biz," that it is worrying me. I lost 5
out of 1 in the fore part of the last week in June,
and have lost such a large per cent in this way, that
I dare not promise queens until I have them laying.
Have lost two in succession from ditferent nuclei.
This cuts a " feller's " nose off pretty fast, as he can
test a queen while he is getting one mated. Where
ray heaviest losses occur, the nuclei are from 13 to
20 feet apart, some facing east, some west, and some
south.
Two days ago I opened a hive containing a cell,
and found a young queen in a ball of bees. As soon
as released she flew and alighted in the hive again.
There was but one young queen in that part of the
yard, and thinking she had come out and made a
mistake in going back, I carried her to her supposed
hive and released her again. She flew, and was seen
.no more. Further examinations showed that no
queen was missing. Where did she come from?
A colony cast a swarm. The next day, I took a
laying queen and dropped her in the old hive; but
the bees did not treat her just right, so I put her in
a small cage and left her. Next day, I tore down
the cells and tried her again; but the bees did not
act right, so I put her in a Pcet cage, on a comb,
and waited another day, when I found her iu the
cage with quite a number of bees; but all was quiet.
I loosed the cage a little and shut up the hive. The
same day that I took her from the nuclevis I put a
hatching cell in her place, and the young queen was
accepted. The next morning, after looking at the
queen in the cage. I saw the young queen and sev-
eral bees, all dead at the entrance of the nucleus.
Looking for the cause, I found the old lady there as
quiet as if nothing had been going on.
I have one colony with two queens — a mother and
daughter. The old lady is not doing a very big busi-
ness; perhaps 24 eggs per day. We have had too
much rain for a good honey yield. Basswood is over,
and but little honey from it. Bees are gaining but
little now, as clover is past its heaviest bloom.
S. A. Shuck.
Bryant, Fulton Co., 111., July 13, 1881.
There may be kiiiK-birds or bee-martins
that take oft" your queens, friend S. ;
but I hardly think there is any thing annss
so bad as that. Once in awhile our (jueens
seem to get lost badly, and again every thing
will go on all right, and almost none will be
lost.' Stick to it, and be assured you will
get the upper hand of the difficulties event-
ually. It is alwavs a little risky, moving a
(lueen from one hive to another iu the same
apiary. They often step out and go home.
^VINTERING WITHOUT POLLEN.
FRIEND LANE'S IDEAS ON THE M.A.TTER.
fDO not think, after all the reports that we have
from veterans and all, that we have found the
— ' road to successful wintering; but I think that
we are approaching it. I have been experimenting
on a small scale for the three past winters. I will
say right here that I always pack my bees in chaff
on summer stands (the more chaff the better.) I
find that the bees usually store more pollen around
the last brood in the fall (if they can get it) than at
any other season, filling the cell? three-fourths full,
flnishing with honey when the brood has hatched
and cold weather approaches; they use this empty
space to cluster on, uncapping and using the honey;
by the second week in January they have this all un-
capped; about this time the queen commences to
lay. If the winter is mild, the bees will use aU this
uncapped pollen to start brood-rearing; if very cold,
they have to consume it themselves; the result is
sickness and death, and the colder and damper the
interior of the hive, the more fatal the sickness.
The plan is, remove those pollen sheets and replace
them with solid combs of honey (I prefer buckwheat
and blackheart honey for this purpose.)
In the spring, say as soon as bees will work on
flour in the open air, give them a comb containing
an abundance of pollen on each side of cluster, and
note the result of this plan of wintering. Friends,
please try a few colonies this winter on the above
plan, and report the result. My opinion is, that this
is the long-looked-for secret in wintering bees.
S. H. Lane.
Whitestown, Boone Co., Indiana, July 15, 1881.
Our friend D. A. Jones reports, in the A. B. J. for
July 13th, that his losses during the past winter
were comparatively small. As nearly as I can get
at it, he had between six and seven hundred colonies.
APIS uor:<.4ta found at last.
In the same No. of the A. B. J. mentioned above,
we have a letter of almost romantic, thrilling inter-
est, detailing how friend Benton has at last found
and captured swarms of Apis dorsata. Were it not
for its length, I should like to give it. He does not
at present report favorably in regard to them as
honey -gatherers. Strangely enough, the Youth'x
Comiianidn for Julylith also gives an account of
the methods of capturing Apis dorsata, with an en-
graving of the way in which the natives hunt and
capture them, mainly for the wax, throwing the
honey away. This was as far back as in 1857. Both
descriptions of the way the bees build on limbs, etc.,
agree substantially.
Hno
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Aug.
UNFAIRNESS.
ILLUSTRATEII BY "LITTLE STORIES."
fplE following is from tlie Bci-Kcepa'''s
Guide, of July. Friend Jlill, as you ob-
— ' serve, begins by copying a paragraph
from our price list,
II yon lairchase only half a pouiul of bt'es with yourqueen ami
Inin them loose on one or two of you)' brood combs, when re-
ef'ive<l, you have a fair, working colony at once, and the <iueen
will Ro riirht to layingr; for we jint them uj) so that she ordin-
arily kfcips liivins on the wav, or diirins' transit, I'l'rhaps one-
fourth of all the iiueens scdd are lost in introdueiiiK-; .wnl. with
the A B ( ' class, I do nnl know luit it sometimes amounts to
nearly half. With a i)Mnnd of bees, this loss is entirely done
away.
The prpcediug- statement was made some time ago
b.y the editor of (ilraiiiiifi-'i. Queens are cased during
thieir introduction fmni twcnt.y-four to forty-eight
hours and then released among the bees. Since this
is the process to lie gone through each time an intro-
duction is made, we can see no reason why the bees
will not accept a queen as readily from the hands of
a beginner as from a vetei-an bee-keeper.
We ne^■cr had anj' bees that would show any re-
spect for our years of e2fperiouce. We ao not re-
member of over possessing any with such proper
feelings. We liberate the queens, close the hive, and
seldom lose one.
We have a bo.y who iloes errands for us who knows
nothing about cees, and we let him release several
queens .just to see if we have any supernatural
power, but I guess we haven't, for thev got through
all right.
That old bee-keepers lose one-fourth of the queens
they introduce is a monstrous statement. That be-
ginners lose one-half is an outrageous one. Had Mr.
lioot said one-third it would have been tremendous;
had he said one-fourth, experts would not have be-
lieved it; had he said one-tifth, the statement would
have been incorrect. Usually such statements are
not made without an ob,1ect, and very likely the ob-
.iect here is to scare unsophisticateil bee-keepers in-
to buying a pound of bees with each queen. This
would not be so terrible were it not that he charges,
for a fact, $3 per pound for his bees. This is at the
rate of from ten to twelve dollars per swarm, with-
out queen, combs, and hive (first swarms weigh from
four to six pounds.)
We can think of onl.v one other case of equal un-
fairness: This is related by Mark Twain, while trav-
eling in California. The incident occurred in the
mines of a wealthy mining company. A hole was
drilled deep into the rocks and a laborer had put in
a charge of powder. As he was ramming the wad-
ding down with a crowbar, the charge exploded and
the man was seen going up \\ith his crowbar, becom-
ing a mere speck in the sky and then disappearing
from sight. In a few moments, however, he came
into view, and returning, lit on the identical spot,
resvuuing his labor where he left off, apparently
as if nothing had happened. The foreman re-
ported the case to the company directors, and after
due deliberation, they decided to dock the man for
the time he was gone!
Now, my friends, I want to tell a little
story too. A boy was once viewing with
much pleasure some pretty birds that were
sporting at a little jlistance from the house,
and in his eagerness to have one for his t)wn,
he appealed to his father, who sat by, to
know if it Avere possible to catch them,
" Oh, yes I" said his father ; "it is the eas-
iest thing in the world. Just go, get a hand-
ful of salt, and put a little salt on each bird's
tail, and it will be just as tame as can be."
" Why, is that so, father?" exclaimed the
boy, and, full of confidence in his father's
Avord, he rushed for the salt-barrel, got a
handful, and started for the birds. As he
ran, however, he all at once began to slacken
his pace, and, finally wheeling around, he
came back, and once more standing by his
father, with a frankness and honesty that
Avas touching, said,—
"O father! won't you do itV Please, you
do it; here is the salt."
Friend Hill, you have spoken unkindly of
my way of doing. Noav, ''won't you do itV"
Here is the salt, in the shape of a free ad-
vertisement, and all you Avill have to do is
.lust to sujiply the demand for bees at a fair,
honest price. You of course know what
that price should be. Send the bees off
promptly, even if it is the ruin of your colo-
nies; if ttieyare received dead, send them
again, and give satisfaction to your custom-
ers, and I shall be most happy' to give you
all the trade. Again, friend 11., can your
boy introduce 37 queens in an hour, so they
Avill be filling the combs with eggs in a few
hours afterward, as I told you of doing in
in this No.y You are Avell aAvare of the
magnitude of our business in queens and
bees, I suppose, friend IL; and 1 suppose,
too, that you know the people Avill send tn-
ders to us, Avhen plenty of other advertisers
offer the same things at very much loAver
prices. Bees have been offered in Glean-
ings at one-half or less what I charge, and
I inserted these advertisements free of
charge too. Shall 1 tell Avhy they do not
get trade? It is no secret ; it is simply be-
cause they do not fill the orders they get,
promptly and carefully ; and when troubles
and misunderstandings come, they quarrel
with their customers, and sometimes call
them hard names. I have prayed (iod to
send me orders; and Avhen they came, I re-
ceived them as a sacred gift from him. 1
have tried, too, to treat his messengers kind-
ly who brought these answers to prayer.
Friend Hill, if I have not prayed for you be-
fore, and for the success of your bee journal,
I pray for it now. I pray, too, that Ciod may
guard all the bee journals from luikind crit-
icisms against each other, or any thing that
may set a bad example before those who are
looking to us for instruction.
DEATH FROM A BEE>STIN<>i.
I INCLOSE an article which attracted my notice
this morning, and I send it for your considera-
tion and comments in a subse<iuent number of
Gle.vnings, if you feel inclined.
Frank J. Bell.
Mooschead, Luzerne Co., Pa., June 27, 1881.
DE.VTII FROM THE STIXC nl." A HKK.
Kii n.MoXT), Va., .Time 25.— Last evening:, while Mr .lames
Vu\m!^ was e.xamininp a new beehive belonging to his father-
in-law. the liev. r. ('. Henkli'. in t'onover. he was s'lins on
the bai'k »\ his nci'k bv a bee which Kot behind his collar. His
neck swelled rapidly, and the l>oison seemed to (extend all over
his body, swellini;- it frreatly. Last iduht he became deliricnis,
and so continued until this eveniny. when he clieil. The syniii
touts were said to be like those resultini^ from a rattlcsnaki-'s
bite. The physicians a.s.scrt this is the lirst case of death from
the sting of a bee. Mr. ^'ouiiK was a man of powerful physique.
The physicans are mistaken in thinking
this is the first case of death resulting from
l)ee-stings. There are quite a number of
them on record. In making this statement,
I hope no one Avill be frightened, for Ave are
to bear in mind, that, although great num-
bers of people are killed almost constantly
l)y the use of horses, no one, so far as I know,
has ever thought of discarding them as do-
mestic animals, on that account. Most cases
of bee-stings result from suffocation caused
by the swelling, l^erhaps mauy lives might
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
391
have been saved had the friends kept open
the breathing-passage to the windpipe, by
mechanical means. I would suggest the
use of the handle of a silver spoon for this
purpose, or, perhaps, two spoons used in the
same way. The swelling usually goes down
in a short time. Can our medical friends
suggest any thing better to be done, where
the breath threatens to be stopped?
tmbuQt
I?ei'taliiiiig to Bee Culture.
We n/spfctfiiUv solicit tlic niil of our fiifiuls in (.•oniliirtiiig
this (Icpartiiiciil. and wc.ulil ci.nsidcr it a favor lo liavi- tlii-m
sfiiil us all ciriMilars that have a dprcjitivc apiicaiatii-c. The
li'roatest care will be at all times maintained to prevent injustice
being: done any one.
fJjHERE Is a man hpre claiming to have a patent
on the N. C. MitcheU adjustable bee-hive. He
""^ claims that no other person has the right to
use any division-board except by buying a farm
right. Is it so, or is it not so? L. E. Miller.
Honey Grove, Fannin Co., Tex., May 16, 1881.
Had you read Gleanings; friend M.. you
would have known this is an old, old sivi)i-
dk. ^litchell has l)een for years published
as a liumbug.
I sent N. C. Mitchell, of Indianapolis, Ind., an order
and five dollars for one of his Italian queen bees,
model hive, farm right, etc. It has been two months,
and he has not sent me the bee yet. As he knows so
much about you, I guess you iinow some thing of
him. Please let me know what you think of him. I
expect to patronize you soon, as N. C. Mitchell will
not do. M. C. DOHMOiV.
WiUiamsville, S. C , July 2, 1881.
I told our readers, years ago, that money
sent JNlitchell was, as far as I knew, like pour-
ing water into a tunnel. It was gone, the
minute it was out of your hands. 1 am sor-
ry to say he is in the ''tunnel business"
still, judging by the reports we have given
almost monthly, of those who have sent him
money.
Two years ago I happened to get hold of some of
N. C Mitchell's writings. I thought he was .just the
man I wanted. He claimed to be a heavy dealer in
Italian bees; so myself and a neighbor concluded to
send for the Italian bees, because wo wanted them
badly. So we sent an order of .f u'H.OO, and never re-
ceived a single bee, nor do we c\er e.vpect to. This
is the way I have been rol^bed by N. C. Mitchell, of
Indianapolis, Indiana. Peteh Shokm.vkkk.
(fichrantou, Crawford Co , Pa . June 10, 1><81.
Mitchell's customers curse him loud and strong.
One of the (jueens I order is for a man his agent
"sold." Casper Kettering.
Apollo, Pa., June 22, 1881.
STARTERS FULl. SIXE OF THE HONEV
BOXES. ETC.
*i^Ji?Y bees commenced swarming on the 1st of
jl'M'IJ this month. The honey tiow has been good;
' some hives have stored as much as 50 lbs.
since the middle of April, chiefly from honey-dew,
red clover, and hoarhound. The latter I consider a
splendid honey-plant. It commences to bloom about
the middle of May, and with favorable weather will
continue until frost. If I were making bee-keeping
a specialty (which I may do some day), I would
plant a piece of ground with it; however, I would not
advise farmers to get it on their place, as the burrs
get in the wool of sheep. It will grow on almost any
ground; but it is hard to eradicate from the soil, as
it completely takes possession of it.
My experience is that it don't pay to use starters
much less than full size for boxes. Last year I did
not get one section out of 3D0 full enough for sale;
starters were about ivj inches wide. This year, hav-
ing a lot of TO combs, I thought that I would try an-
other plan. Last year I had the top story filled with
sections. 1 put 7 combs and two frames of sections
below, and four combs and four sections above. You
see, I was intent on having the honey oneway or the
other. One swarm put most of the honey in sec-
tions; the other in the frames. I hived one colony
in a chaff hive, and on the 1st day of June gave them
four combs below and four frames of sections, one
of which contained some comb; also another con-
tained a starter almost full size. Now, thebees filled
the one containing the comb on one side; and on the
other side they passed right by the one containing
narrow starters, to the outside one containing start-
ers full size. On examining them a few days after-
ward, I found the other two frames entirely neg-
lected, so I got more frames of sections, took out
the narrow starters, and put in nearly full-sized
ones, lacking but 'i inch of touching the bottom. I
raised the two filled sections, placed them in the
middle of the hive, the other on each side, and put
three more empty combs below. At this date they are
working on about 40 sections. All of this fdn. is of
your make, one year old. H. T. Hagen.
DeSoto, Jefferson Co., Mo., June 12, 1881.
t
m WMY PLANTS TO BE NAMED.
ILE.X DAHOON.
SEND, by to-day's mail, a small package of
flowers, twigs, and leaves, of a tree that grows
her(^ on the limestone glades. It grows about
20 or 30 feet high, and blooms about the tlrst of July,
generally, or about the time white clover is out of
bloom. It must be a splendid honey-bush, for the
bees work on it from daylight till dark. They call it
gimlet-bandle wood here. Please give the right
name. You will see that the flowers arc not in full
bloom yet. It lasts, generally, about two weeks or
a little longer. Aug. Ghikfith.
St. Mary, St. Gen. Co., Mo., June 10, 1881.
The leaf of this tree is much like the ap-
ple; but the blossom-lnids ar^ little round
balls not much larger than pinheads, and
they are clustered so closely right where
tlie leaves started out, that 1 was tempted
to think them eggs of insects. Prof. Ideal's
reply below, however, settles the matter.
This is Ilex DaliDon, Walt., a species of holly. The
books give no common name. W. J. Be.\l.
Agricultural College, Lansing, Mich.
392
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Arc
WHY DID THEV DIE?
ItY .I.VMES HEDDON.
"CDiuf, let us reason together."
flHIS case of last winter's depredations is one of
such vast importance and interest lo us, that
it will never come off the docket till the fate
of next winter cniwdx it off. The reports of last
season's successes and failures bear me out, at least
to a g'reat extent, in my preconceived notions as to
why our bees die during- winter.
For some few years back I have felt .sure that the
principal trouble was in the food, and so I wrote up-
on the sub.ieet. Now I wish to appeal directly to
the reason of each reader, and ask him this
question: Is it not fair to suppose that this disas-
trous result, whose phenomena are so universally
alike, is caused by one and the same thing? What
proportion of colonies in apiaries generally, do you
suppose, would die during winter if there was no
such a disease or effect as what we know by the
name of bee dysentery? Now, the worthy object of
each scientific searcher is to find the fdimr of this
malady. I have declared that my experience and
observation forced me to believe that the cause is
in the food, in the form of an over-amount of animal
or vegetable matter. I thought that perhaps it
might be animal (bacterious), and threw out the hy-
pothesis, to see what might come out of a philosoph-
ical if not a mechanical research into the theoi'^. I
always said I did not lamw that any such micrococus
existed; I never said I really and fully believed it;
but that, in our inttaite ignorance, why not guess at
a cause, and then base our experiments upon that
guess? I could sec no other way to get hold of the
case. We were forced to commence at the outside,
and work in to a center. I considered that bacteri-
ous guess as the only one that would cover all the
cases that had come within my knowledge, and con-
sequently a good point to commence work at. Last
winter, all of nine-tenths of the colonies of this
whole region failed to survive the period of confine-
ment. Of my own 196 colonies, 1 was presented with
122 subjects for post-mortem examination. I im-
proved the opportunity to the best of my aliility,
and have only just closed the work; and for the first
time since I have kept bees I am iimc salisfinl (tx to
tlif catiKC iif hcc ihjxeHhrn. What I suspected as the
possible cause (as referred to on page 272 of June
Gleanings), I now fully believe to be pollen. My
former suspicions, that the trouble was wrapped up
in the food, were correct; but that it is in the honej'
I now do not believe. I place it in the adjoining
cell, in the form of bee-bread. Upon this rock I
shall stand, until forced by further proof to step
down and off. I believe that all the results that have
been made known, either by observation, experi-
ence, or report, can be accounted for upon the pol-
len theory. The kind of bee-bread, the amount, the
quality of the honey, and consequent greater or less
preference for it over bee-bread; the hardiness of
either during our protracted cold spells, when the
bees can move about but little to choose which they
will feed upon, and, in fact, all conditions that cause
the bees to consume bread instead of honey, will ac-
count for the \ astly different results that we expe-
rience, observe, and read about in different seasons
and localities.
I am of the opinion, that any process that will
cause the bees to feed upon any honey that they
may have in the hive, to the total avoidance of the
bee-bread, will be the "open sesame" to success in
wintering. I deem all the talk about "dampness,"
' fall honej'," "ventilation," "holes throu^'h the
combs," etc., as having only a slight bearing upon
the cause at best, and a tendency to lead our minds
from the rra^. cause. I can think ( f no greater sin
than intentionally leading astray those of less expe-
rience; so when we tliiiik that some one is being mis-
led, however honestly so, it becomes a duty to put
in our mite in what we hdicir the right direction, as
viewed from our standpoint, whether the future
should bear us out or not; and so the discussion
goes on. These discussions arc not only of profit,
but pleasure, because it is his argument, and not
the man, that we combat.
Our old friend and benefactor, Langstroth, has
given his views upon our recent disasters, and I am
compelled to say that my experience does not cor-
roborate his conclusions. In regard to "spreading
the combs," I supposed that the distance we placed
our frames apart was taken from nature. I never
discovered that combs in box hives were further
apart than those in the Standard L. hive, except
some drone pieces sometimes found in the extreme
corners. But however that may be, I am unwilling
to recognize box hives or hollows in trees to be our
standard of successful wintering. This same dysen-
tery cleans out trees and box hives wholesale, when-
ever it visits us in its severity. Mr. Ferry had one
left alive out of 85; Mr. Jenkins 1 out of tiS; all in
box hives. I doubt not but holes in the combs
would serve the purpose of giving the bees a better
choice in food, and pro\e an adjunct to success; but
as long as these holes of nil sorts (tio-lined) have
long been advocated, owinv'- to the impracticability
of the process, they are hardly ever used.
I accomplish what 1 believe to be the same result,'
and more completely, too, in the following manner.
I put two little bows, thus: ' — - over the top of the
hive, and the quilt and packing over them, and this
2-inch space gives the cluster a tine chance to work
down between any of iheir 8 ranges of combs and
honey, in the shallow 8-frame L. hives. We know
that colonies fed with sugar are more apt to siu-vive.
My idea is, that its superior sweetness, and addition
to the amount of honey compared to the amount of
bee-bread, induces the bees to partake of it only to
the avoidance of the bread, as a rule. We know of
cases, however, where stocks have died with the
malady, fed all their liquid stores of sugar syrup.
I believe that if, in addition to this, all bread had
been removed, success would have been realized.
Now, I do not wish to be understood as ignoring
most of the modern appliances for the safer winter-
ing of bees. Packing in boxes is good. Cellaring is
good (some winters one is safer, and in others the
other plan;) absorbents are also an aid; but that
young bees, over-grown colonies, high board fences,
the way the hive faces, and a dozen other such con-
trivances, arc causes, or even potent adjuncts, to
success, experience does not bear us out in be-
lieving-
I have just read the article of Mr. Grimm, "one
who does winter bees." His first admonition, to
supply each full colony with at least 2 five-pound
combs of thick sealed honey ("if they need it"),
would likely prove a great advantage to all well bee-
breaded colonies. These combs would be filled with
honey to the exclusion of bread. I suppose he
world consider that they needed it, provided they
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
393
were light of honey, while I would sec the greatest
need, if the colonies were heavy with bread. I be-
lieve, however, that if colnnies are well supplied
with honey, and the packin;,' so arranged that the
stores are easy of access (thus allowing a choice be-
tween honey and bread), and the whole protected
against extreme cold, to take the chances, is, in the
long run, the greatest economy. If they lack in
honey, sugar syrup, properly prepared, or a mixture
of syrup and honey from a voluminous feeder, is
my preference for supplying the same. 1 tind It
neither protitable nor pleasurable to open hives, or
do aught that will excite bees to robbing, at any
time when it can possibly be avoided. The opening
of hives to insert combs will: the use of a good feed-
er will not. The superseding of old queens by
younger ones, I consider of no importance at this
time of year. The less breeding the less bread is
manipulated, and the less dysentery is the result.
The cheapest and best way that a bee-keeper ever
produced queens for his own use is in full colonies,
very little varied from the plan of the old farmer,
who lets the bees do it all themselves.
I favor the late removal to the repository. In re-
gard to the proper temperature, I have found that,
in the same cellar, with all the conditions the same,
ns far as irr ran detect, that in one winter my bees
would remain most quiet at 42°, while in another at
34°. A change of 2 to 4° either way from these
points in either of the respective winters would
cause the bees to " scold." Wlni, I can not tell; but
I lirraly believe the best temperature in each case
was the one in which the bees kept most quiet. The
description of Mr. G.'s cellar is interesting, and it
strikes me as a good cellar.
The way to keep the temperature down in a warm
spell, is to put but 40 or .50 colonies in this cellar.
Yes, I know that that makes more expensive hous-
ing, but that leaves the facts regarding the temper-
ature the same. I heartily agree with Mr. G. in re-
gard to carrying out our bees to fly at once, and not
in the night, etc., as advocated by some writers. I
would add two points left out by him, and they are
these: Place your colonies in their respective places
in the cellar or house xo quictln tliry will nut know uf
any removal. Instead of upward ventilation through
open holes, place at least a light packing over the
bees, the same as outdoors, only uncovered. Eo not
forget that bees can not pass the combs and spaces
for a free choice in stores, in a temperature of 42°,
unless the space over the frames above referred to
is given. I am glad that Mr. G. has read with confl-
dence the disastrous reports of those who were pre-
pared equally well with himself, which I infer from
his remarks twice, " except the bees are sick with
the dj'sentery." 1 very well know that all these pre-
cautions, yes, even more and better perfected, will
prove utterly futile in some localities during some
winters. That Mr. G., and his father before him,
have an exceptional locality for freedom from dys-
entery, and for candied honey, has been my opinion
for years. I have no doubt but that such a winter
as last one would in its severity drive bees to dysen-
tery, while those well housed would have it but lit-
tle or none. This disease rages to such an extent in
some places during certain periods, that all jirecau-
tions and fa^■orable conditions that the master can
command, prove of no benefit. Again, I have
known cases where bees have been misused in every
conceivable way, and die they would not. No dys-
entery, success ; dysentery, no success. What is the
cause of the disease, and how can we best and most
cheaply remove that cause? James IIeddon.
Dowagiac, Mich., July 11, 1881.
While I am strongly of the opinion tliat
bees will winter better without pollen, and
without raising any brood, 1 am hardly as
yet prepared to take the very strong ground
of friend II. , that pollen causes all the trouble.
I have seen bees winter most beautifully
where they had new light combs, with scarce-
ly a trace of pollen. An old box-hive bee-
man once told me it Avas pollen and pollen
alone that made bees spot their hives in
spring. The matter will be, most likely,
thoroughly tested ue.xt winter and spring.
HORSEItlllNT IN TEXAS, ETC.
E have just passed through a bountiful har-
vest of honey from horscmint, our great
honey-plant. This plant begins to bloom
the last week of April, and in order to obtain the
full benelit of this choice crop, every colony must
be strong, and in fine working trim by the 1st day of
May slmrii. Bees work on this bloom about live
weeks, and they do a rushing business. It is a de-
licious honey, of light amber color, and of a pleasant
aromatic flavor. The plant grows in great profu-
sion in this county, and never fails. Our bees do but
little during the months of July and August, it be-
ing generally too dry and hot. We had but few
swarms this spring. We expect to reap a rich re-
ward from our bees ne.xt season. We have nothing
to fear in wintering. Keep each colony strong >vith
plenty of stores, and they will come through all
right without any protection whatever. It is of
paramount importance to have a theoretical know-
ledge of bee-keeping, and this can be obtained only
by a thorough perusal of the several excellent books
on apiculture, now well known to the fraternity.
But this is not altogether sufficient to make one
practicaUtj expert. The advantages of each locality
must be well noted, and as we are all of the ABC
class here as regards scientific apiculture, it is im-
portant to us as beginners that we should have a rec-
ord of the apiary in which we should record the
monthly work in the apiary, as well as to note the
honey-plants of each month. I have adopted this
method, and next season I will have this valuable
aid for reference. I find this to be essential in or-
der to avail ourselves of all the advantages in ob-
taining the entire honey crop. For our locality,
empty hives, frames of wireil fdn. (which are always
best in this climate), must be in readiness by the 1st
of Mai'Ch ; the swarming or dividing m ust be done
with by the 15th of April; supers of wired fdn. for ex-
tracted, or sections with starters of fdn., or nice
comb for comb honsj-, must be put on by the 1st of
May. 1 purpose running my apiary for extracted
honey, because I think it will pay better in this lo-
cality. We expect a light crop of honey in the fall,
if not too rainy. When dry, the live-oak balls are
said to yield quite a quantity of fine hSney. We have
the morning-glory {convolcidns miiior), which is a
good fall bloom. I shall discard the black race next
year. The Italians have proven vastly superior, for
many reasons I will not now mention. I shall pro-
cure for trial the Cyprian and Syrian races also, this
being about the same latitude of their native home.
My opinion is, that they will prove an invaluable
acquisition. J. E. Lav, M. D,
HaUetsville, Texas, July 9, 1881,
;^!)4
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Aug.
From Different Fields.
HONEY fROM WILLOW ROOTS.
MO bees here, and very few in the State. A few
swarms near Canon City, on the Arliiinsas
River, are said to have done tolerably well.
One man, A. Pickerell, who, at my siig-gestion, sub-
scribed for Gleanings, and who lived at Beulah, in
Pueblo Co., had about 40 swarms of Italians in the
fall of 1870; but they all died with dysentery before
spring-. He thought it was caused by some unhealth-
f ul juice they g-ot in the fall from the roots of wil-
lows growiuj^ on the banks of the 8t. Charles Creek.
He lived on the bank of one branch of that little
stream. W. M. Spalding.
Gunnison, Co)., June 8, 1881.
AVell, I declare, friend S., that is a queer
idea of honey from roots. How did they
get at the roots, and where did the juice
come from? I wish your friend would en-
lighten us a little.
CLOSED-TOP FRAMES.
I am keeping bees in a hive made in such a way
that the frames of It are made forest touching each
other so that the bees are considerably jarred in
taking them out. Will you please inform me whe-
ther it is the fault of the frames in this respect
that makes my bees so uglj', they l)eing handled in
other respects all right? Upon taking out a frame
from this hive they Hy all o\er me. The bees are
partly Holy-Laud (or Cyprian), I don't know which,
and Italian, with an Italian queen. I have a Ncllis
hive with Italian bees, >vith which I have no trou-
ble in opening. C. A. Wood.
Tarrytown, N. Y., June liO, 1881.
It is my opuiion, friend AV'.. that the clos-
ed-top frames will not work very well with
Holy-Land bees. AVilh tlie constant han-
dling we are obliged to give our combs in
queen-rearing, we want llie frames to touch
nothing, as nearly as it can be secured.
AVhere hives are worked only for comb hon-
ey, closed-top frames have some advantages.
It may be well to remark, that the metal
corners seem to be coming more and more
into favor each year. By far the greater
part of all the frames we now sell ai'e of this
kind. With the lloly-Jjand l)ers, when no
honey is coming, it is of the greatest im-
portance that they be handled without jars
or knocks.
ROBBING WHEN FIRST SET OUT.
1 had 1 poor and 13 good colonies this spring.
Pretty soon it was 10 li\e ones only and then down
to .t; and what made them dwindle so is hard to tell,
unless it was robbing. 1 set them out one warm day
about noon, and such another mess — a regular free
tight, and then to robbing, and they would rob in
spite of me. I contracted the entrances, and shut
some of them up for four days, and then they would
rob.
CAN A BEE EXTRACT THE STING IF LEFT ALONE ?
We know how many bees will get their sting out
if left alone when they sting. I have had one, and
that is all, and I think that I have tried it fifty times,
but did not keep count, but wish 1 had so as to be
sure. C. H. Angell.
Clarksville, Tenn., June 25, 1881.
If I am correct, friend A., there is some
tiling wrong when bees rob at such a rate in
the early spring. If I mistake not, friend
(xrimm, with his hundreds of colonies, has
no such troubles, and the only reason 1 can
give is, that each one is so strong and full of
bees it can not well be robbed. 1 he Italian
or foreign bees seldom allow any sucli work.
I hardly think I should prove martyr enough
to let them sting me tifty times, friend A.,
even in the pursuit of science.
WHAT A POUND OF BEES WILL DO.
I iiurchased of you 1 lb. of bees and (jueen, which
came to hand the 15th of last October. They have
increased to 4— first swarm. May 17th, about half a
bushel of bees; at any rate, they filled a ten-frame
hive in 6 days, and commenced storing in the box-
es. I have 2 hives of blacks, very strong in bees
—have not swarmed. I had 3 colonics last fall, in-
cluding your dollar queen, which proves to be p\irc
Italian. I wintered on summer stands in chaff
hives without loss. Noah Deaton.
Carthage, Moore Co., N. C, June 22, 1881.
My friends, you can get a little glimpse
fron'i the above of what the trade in pounds
of bees is destined to amount to.
superiority of sugar over natukal stores
FOR winter supplies.
As we have passed through the worst winter and
spring for bees that have hirP-ned for years, the
question arises as to the cau.>c. Three yards last
fall came under my observation, and as I assisted
in putting them in the cellar, 1 will give a brief re-
port as to their condition as they went in, and dates.
One lot of 160 was taken in Nov. Hilh and 17th. This
lot was not fed, and had natural stores to pass
through an ordinary winter. Thc.\' were removed
from the cellar April iUh, about lUd, which dwindled
down to 40 by the !Uh of May.
Lot No. 2 was put in cellar Nov. 22d, was dug out
of the snow, and was filled with frost; taken out
April 22d, and out of 170, lost 10, and the rest were
in good condition. They were fed up late on best
granulated sugar, >vhieh, when put in, was not
sealed.
Lot No. ;i was put into the cellar D;'c. 7, and taken
out about April 20th. This was a small lot of 20 in
large hives, and ver.^- heavy with honey; in fact, so
heavy that it was necessary for two to carry them.
Losses, one, and the rest in first-class condition.
All these lots were put into very dry cellars, which
have been proven by successful wintering hereto-
fore. I think if we had taken all of the honey away
last fall, and fed sugar, best granulated, we would
not have had the losses we now have. I hope some
of our successful bee-keepers will agitate this ques-
tion of proper food for successful wintermg, along
with the rest of theories advanced.
Chas. G. Feukis.
Mohawk, N. Y., July 3, 1881.
HOW AN ABC SCHOLAR SUCCEEDS.
I have kept bees for the last 13 years in box hives.
Last winter I lost 12 out of 15, and now I have 4 colo-
nies, all in movable-frame hives, manufactured by
John Smith, of Morpeth, to whom I am indebted for
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
395
adopting the new plan (to me at least) of handling-
bees. I transferred them myself, and was surprised
to tind that it was so easily done, and now I handle
them every day. I have ma<le a smoker, which an-
swers every purpose, and I am bound to know more
of the business before smnmer is gone.
Morris W. Grant.
Guild, Kent Co., Ontario, June 22, 1SH1.
DOLLAR Ql'EENS DURING A POOH SEASON.
While writing this order T had to stop and hive a
nice swarm of Italians, the third so far. I have now
14 swarms, which makes mo more work than I like,
as I have to work ten hours in the shop. I wintered
in my cellar with but little loss. I got 393 lbs. of
honey, mostly extracted, last season. They call it a
poor locality, and a very poor season, and only ten
swarms. Two swarms gave us 80 lbs. each. One is
a dollar queen I had of you; the other is her daugh-
ter, and just as good as her mother. We think it
the best strain around here. But few bees around
here; nearly all winter-killed.
Guv Clakk.
Bellows Falls, Vt., June 15, 1881.
BEES GOINO TWO MILES TO PREPARE A HIVE, BE-
FORE SWARMING.
In the spriug of 1879 we commenced bee-keeping
with 2 colonies of Italians in the American hive.
NVe increased 6, but got not much surplus. The first
swarm came out May 13th ; but as we tried to hive
them they clustered beneath the hive, and soon they
ruse again and went straight across the hills and
woods about two miles into an empty hive of D.
Kern, and the eld man told us they had been clean-
ing out the hive for several days before.
Chas. H. Brunner.
Zionsville, Lehigh Co., Pa., June 22, 1881.
Your report is indeed wonderful, friend
Jj.; but I think you will lind, as a reason for
their going so far, that they found better
pasturage at the new location. AVe once
had a swarm go a mile without clustering at
all, but their new home was right near an
immense clover-field, where our bees were
almost all at work daily. They appreciated
the advantage of a saving of steps (or wings
rather), and therefore ''moved.''
BEES IN THE OPEN AIR, AG.\IN.
There is a curiosity in the way of bees within
about three miles from here. About a month ago a
fair-sized swarm of bees settled on the body of an
elm-tree, and have quietly settled down to business.
They have several cards of comb attached to the
outside of the tree, and are working away, appar-
ently as well satisfied as if they were in a hive. I
shall watch them with some interest. Two years
ago, a swarm took up their lodgings in a Dois-d'arc
hedge, and built several cards of comb on the under
side of the limbs. Some of them I should judge to
be la inches deep by 11 or 12 horizontal; but about
Christmas a fire got into the hedge and destroyed
them. J. K. Mayo.
Stafford, Fort Bend Co., Texas, June IT, 1881.
Almost equal to the Apis dorsata. was it
not, friend M.y
BAD HONEY.
I have about half a barrel of honey from my old
hives that died. It is strong and tastes of bee-bread,
and is thick. Now, this honey made us all sick be-
fore it was cleansed. But we boiled it, and took the
scum off. Will this do to feed, as I want to raise
bees? or is there danger of its killing the bees? and
if it is good, shall I thin it with water?
John Baker.
Saxoiiburgh, Butler Co., Fa., June 24, 1881.
The honey will do perfectly well for warm
weather, as in fact will any kind of sweets
that I know of, when the bees can fly out
daily; but T should hesitate to use it for
winter stores. Use it up for raising brood
if possible, and then feed it up for winter
with sugar. Boiling will much improve it,
as yon have demonstrated, and it might do
for winter stores ; but I would prefer not to
risk it. Adding water will save the 1 )ees the
labor of bringing water to put with it, and
will thus help in lirood-rearing ; but in this
case, do not dilute more than they will use
up in a single day, on account of tiie liabili-
ty to sour.
UNC.A^PPING-KNIVES, ETC.
I have extracted 140 lbs. of new buckwheat honey
with my e.vtractor to-day, and all works well except
the uneapping-knife, and I conclude the failure in
that may be in my awkwardness, although it don't
seem to be sharp enough. It drags the bits of comb
with it sometimes, thus tearing away the cells.
Should I sharpen it, or would it be better to heat it
with water? I have now 75 strong colonies, 18 nuclei,
and 1.500 lbs. of honey from :>8 hives that came
through the winter and cold spring. Bees won't
notice broken bits of comb in the yard now that arc
full of honey. I have 2 acres of buckwheat just be-
ginning to fail from drought; have one acre sowed,
not up; have had no rain for 3 weeks; it is very dry
and hot. Some frames of brood melted down last
week, mercury at 103^ in shade at 12. J. T. Ay.\rs.
Bycan Island, Texas, June 14, 1881.
To be sure, you want your knife sharp,
friend A., like any other tool. We try to
have them made sharp enough when sent
out ; but it is a very hard matter to get them
just as they should be, and a little touch of
an oil-stone Avill almost always improve
them, and sometimes possibly the grind-
stone too. When your nncapping-knife will
cut paper by just drawing it across a strip,
it is in nice order for uncapping. I should
never think of fussing with hot water.
BEES OF ITALY; BY X RESIDENT OP THAT COUNTRY.
I have looked into the question of the two kinds
of bees existing in this country; but whilst satisfied
myself of the fact, I do not know how to proceed to
satisfy others. I shall follow up the matter, and
will inform you toward winter of my conclusion, and
the gi'ounds upon which I may base them. Bee-
keepers here are, with few exceptions, ignorant and
poor, having no idea of keeping bees but putting
them in a hollow log when they have swarmed, and
killing them in the fall with sulphur to take the
honey. They have neither time, money, nor incli-
nation to go further. Moreover, the agriculturist
here has far more to do than in the U.S.; the crops,
consisting of grass, wheat, hemp, and Indian corn,
follow each other in such quick succession that no
time can be given to bees. But you do not want a
lectuxe upon Italian agriculture,
Morris S. Wickersham.
Ferrara, Italy, June 3, 1881.
ISIany thanks, friend W.; but if you would
396
GLlEANIKGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Aug.
just say right out whether you tind any black
bees or not, it would be a great favor to
many of us here. ^Ve will take your word
for it, and if you find no blacks, of course
there will be no hybrids.
SUBSTITUTE FOR SANDPAPER ON THE SMOKER
ISELLOWS.
Did you ever try rubbing the tin case of a smoliei-
with the coarse side of a rasp, and nialiing a rough
spot on which to strike matches'? If not, try it, and
I think you will find it better than sandpaper. Tt
does not have to be renewed. A. T. McIlwain.
Abbeville, S. C, June 14, 1881.
Many thanks, friend M.; but if you sand-
paper the tin, it will soon rust, will it not?
This may not be a very great ol)jection, for
a smoker tube pretty soon gets black and
rusty any way. We will try it on one of our
old ones.
CHAFF HIVES VERSUS CELLARS.
I would like to ask you to explain some things.
But I will first give you a history of the ease. My
bees, r> hives, came out this spring good and strong.
Two of them were in chaff hives which I bought of
you, and two in American hives which arc packed
in chaff, and one in Simplicity hive with chaff cush-
ions; sides and an upper story filled with chaff. So I
say, hurrah for chaff packing, for almost everybody
around here has lost heavily. My father had about
30 hives in his cellar, but this spring they are very
weak and backward, and it is the same with the
others around here who put them in their cellars,
while those who left them on summer stands lost
the most of them. I had one swarm on the 30th of
May, and one on the Ist of June, and the other three
soon after, but now I am coming to what I don't un-
derstand.
AFTEU-SMARMS, AND THEIR QUEENS.
When the second swarms came, I put some of them
into hives that had just swarmed, and cut out the
queen-cells. Some of them 1 looked into just as they
were about to send out second swarms, and took out
all the queens and cells but one. Some of the colls
would have a yoiuig queen who was peeping to get
out, and I would let her out and take out all the
rest. But this morning 1 thought some of them act-
ed as though they were queenless, and I can not
find a queen, nor eggs in any of them, and some of
them are building queen-cells (or have built them,
and have them half full of royal jelly.) Now, what
has become of the young queens, and what is the
cause of their disappearance? Two of them I saw
several days after I put them in (or let them loose
from the queen-cell), and one commenced to lay, or
at least, eggs were there. But now I don't believe
there is a young queen in my yard. My bees are all
Italians and hybrids. It has been so cold and wet
in this section, that I think the white-clover crop of
honey will be light. We almost always have a good
yield of buckwheat honey. Wm. F. Sherwood.
Liberty, Sullivan Co., N. Y., June 33, 1881.
Your plan of putting after-swarms in with
some colony that has swarmed, friend S., I
am afraid was not quite ''orthodox," espec-
ially after you had destroyed all queen-cells.
You see, your after-swarms contained virgin
queens, of such an age that it is a very hard
thing indeed to introduce them anywhere. I
should think about half of them would be
killed, under the circumstances. You may
be in too much of a hurry for them to lay ;
it takes about a week, before you find eggs
in the combs given to any after-swarm.
Finding eggs in the combs right after the
swarm was put in, would not be conclusive
that the queen was laying, for you must
bear in mind, eggs will be found in the hive
until the laying queen has been absent fully
three days. Give them some unsealed brood,
and if they start queen-cells, then you know
they are queenless and can give them queens.
GETTING IJEES UNDER DIFFICULTIES.
I had lost all my bees, 20 stands. A neighbor of
mine found one in a limb 65 feet high. He gave it
to me, if 1 would or could get it down; I did so,
climbing the tree ml|sfi^f! I thiak I did well, as I am
(inhj ,")6 years of age. I let the limb down safely, and
transferred them into a hive. After it filled up, I
divided them, filling both hives full of empty combs,
and I now have two hives, and quite a lot of nice
empty combs. I think I can find some more in the
woods. I saw your advice, "Dnif'f j/o in deht for
them." I am poor. My hives are nice, cost me over
$100.00. So of course I want bees in them as soon
as I can get them. J. Barohers.
Brookville, Mont. Co., O., July 4, 1881.
Pretty well, friend B., but I think after
you have worked at bee-hunting awhile, you
will conclude it is easier to raise bees than
to climb trees for them.
DIFFERENCE IN QUEENS.
And now for a little talk to the class, if you please.
I have seen much in the papers about the difference
in the laying qualities of queens; and I have been
studying the subject by a few experiments, and
have come to the conclusion that some good queens
are badly slandered, not "with malice aforethought"
perhaps, but really misrepresented, notwithstand-
ing. I have come to the conclusion that a good vig-
orous swarm of bees will make almost any queen a
good layer. For inst.^nce, I had one swarm in spring
that didn't fly much, and on examination I found
they had a fair number of bees, but very little
brood. I examined them from time to time for 4
weeks after taking out of cellar, and never found
more than ^i of a card of brood at a time. At the
end of the 4 weeks, I changed places with it and a
vigorous swarm, in the middle of the day, which
gave her a fair swarm of vigorous bees; and in four
days she had six cards well filled with eggs; and in
an amazingly short time the space was full of bees,
and it required the upper story to hold them and
their honej'. When I changed stands with the
strong colony she had but a mere handful of bees.
I afterward tried several others with similar re-
sults. I hope the friends will investigate this sub-
ject and report; and lot us not call a queen poor, be-
fore she has a fair chance. H. V. Train.
Mauston, Juneau Co., Wis., June 20, 18S1.
Thanks, friend T. I have held much the
same opinion as yourself, for a long time,
and when I have heard queens complained
of, I have often felt as if I would like to put
them in a good colony, and "•fetch them
up," but still T feared to say any thing that
might tend to encourage the keeping or dis-
semination of poor stock. During the past
season we have scraped up every thing in
the shape of a queen, just to accommodate
those who wanted some thing to keep tlieir
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
397
combs from spoiling, and some small puny
queens that did not look as if they could run
a small nucleus, have proved equal to the
best, in the amount of brood they would
produce. Once in a great while, we find a
queen that lays only a dozen or two eggs in
a day, but these we can hardly call laying
queens at all, for they never go right at it
and fill a comb, and such should be killed at
once, as we would a drone-layer.
OUT OF BLASTED HOPES.
My bees came through the winter without the loss
of a swarm; 23 in cellar, and two on summer stands,
packed in chaff. I like cellar best, all conditions
favorable. Mj- bees are all in splendid condition,
and have filled their hives with fruit-bloom, and
those on which I had placed boxes have partlj^ tilled
them, which is some thing- uncommon here so early
in the season. My best swarm last season gave me
240 lbs. extracted — n&arly all white-clover. Please
count me out of Blasted Hopes, where you had me
two years ago. I have had splendid success with
bees ever since that time. C. Butman.
Plymouth, Penobscot Co., Me., June 8, 1881.
SVRUP FOR FEEDING BEES.
Will you be so kind as to give in your next num-
ber a recipe for making sugar syrup for feeding
bees, that will not grain in the comb after being fed,
and not hurt the bees? Some recommend one tea-
spoonful of cream of tartar to the gallon of syrup.
Joseph Garst.
Springfield, Ohio, July 8, 1881.
My plan, friend G.. would be sugar and
water, and nothing more. jVIany years ago
we used cream of tartar and vinegar; l)ut
where the syrup was fed early enough so the
bees had time to seal it up in the combs, we
found it to answer just as well without any
chemicals. If you use granulated or even
coffee sugar, the bees will use it all up with-
out any trouble, even if it should grain in
the combs. Since reading friend Grimm's
article in the July number, I have been won-
dering how he feeds to do it so rapidly, and
how he prepares the syrup ; what feed he
uses, etc. Friend Grimm, will you be so
kind as to tell the boys a little more al)Out
feeding, especially feeding sugar in place of
honey V
CELLARS NOT ALWAYS AHEAD.
Host over half of what I had last winter. I win-
tered some in the cellar, and some out on summer
stands; all died that were in the cellar, but one. I
use American and box hives mostly. I got through
the spring and winter with 18 swarms, all black
bees. They commenced working the ITth of April;
commenced swarming the 12th of June; have had ">
young swarms, and have divided one, and have got
over 100 lbs. of honey in surplus boxes up to this
date. I like to hear from all of the A B C scholars,
and the older ones too. George W. Sorter.
Wells, Tnscola Co., Mich., June 10, 1881.
teacher and pupil, and wintering in a room.
You said, on page 3.3, of last Jan. Gleanings, that
you were afraid I had defeated any chance of "cele-
brating the Fourth of July, 1881," with the colony of
Italians I was then wintering in a room above
groimd. That colony stayed in that room until
about April 15th, and it is now very strong, having a
great many bees, 8 frames of brood and honey (a
large proportion of it brood), and two queen-cells
started. "How is that for high?" It is better than
some did who were not "green hands."
Samuel A. Miller.
Bloomfleld, Essex Co., N. J., June 9, 1881.
Pretty good for '• high,'' I should say,
friend M., especially as your teacher didn't
winter his own bees at all. " scarcely.'' Now*
I wish you to tell me if you wintered that
colony all these months in a room above
ground, with a window in it, as such rooms
usually have V If so, why did not the bees
fly out on this window when you had days
warm enough for them to fly V If you fas-
tened them in the hive, did they not get very
uneasy these warm spells V
WATER-BOTTLES FOR QUEEN CAGES.
Please send me 100 tin water-bottles for queen
mailing-cages, such as used last year, by return
mail if possible, or as soon as possible. I have aban-
doned the candied honey for the present, as the i^rn)
hot weather, I fear, will be too much for it imless
put up as I described formerly. Oliver Foster.
Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa, July T, 1881.
"We too, friend F., have discovered that
queens can not well be sent safely long dis-
tances during this very hot weatlier, and I
must confess that it was with sadness I be-
gan to think again of adopting the water-
bottles in queen-cages. At this juncture
came some Feet cages from friend J. P.
Moore. Morgan. Ky., containing a slender
bottle made of light tin. much like the bot-
tles in our cages for bees. Ills queens were
always in beautiful condition ; a tiny drop
of water was always observable in the small
orifice, not unlike a drop of dew, and the
candy was always white and free from stick-
iness. I sat down and pondered on it. The
cause of the leaking of the bottles, and the
daubed condition of our l^ees, began to
'•leak ''into my understanding. At first I
had the candy in one part of the cage and
the Avater in the other, and, I hardly know
how. I got into a way of having the candy
come right up acrainst the side of the tin
bottle. The result was, that the water ran
by ca])illary attraction along the side of the
tin tube until it reached the sugar, and then
all the water ran out, some thing as it runs
out of a wash-basin when the towel is left
hanging in it. We are now going to put a
little tube across, as friend Moore does.
These tubes Avill cost about 2 cts. each, the
best I can do; but I thi!ik with them our
bees will he safe the hottest weather, for 10
days or two weeks. Elsewhere we give an
engraving of the latest edition of the im-
]n-oved Feet cage, with the water-bottle in it.
Frice 7 c. each, or SO c. per doz. If wanted
bv mail, 3 c. each extra.
ONE O0<lD REPORT FROM THE RrBBER PLATES.
I have the pleasure to report, that after nearly de-
ciding that those rubber plates were a failure, with
me, I thought, this morning, the cause might be
hard water, so I added a little lye. The result was
a complete success. Tell the friends they must have
soft water, a pint of lye in it, or perhaps bora.x
would do. I. B. RUMFORD.
Bakerstield, Cal., June 25, 1881.
398
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Ava.
WINTERING WITHOUT LOSS, ^TC.
I believe that I have not reportfjd yet. My bees
came through the winter splendidly, as they always
do when left on their summer stands. I once wrote
yon that I would not give three cents to have my
bees insured to cume through winter sound and
bright, proviiJid /prepared them for winter. I sup-
pose you thought I was either an idiot, or dement-
ed. I may say J ne\er lose any, and it is true when
I properly Ux them up for wintei-. All I do is to see
that breeding is kept up till cold weather; that they
have stores enough, but not too much ; then take
off the division-Vioard, place a piece of old carpet on
the frames, fill in a peck or more of chaff on the
carpet; replace the co\er, and leave them alone
until warm weather.
So far this has been the best season for honey that
we have had in ten years. Bees have , behaved well
during the swarming season, very few having de-
camped. Thcj' have fairly heaped up the honey.
There has been a succession of honey-yielding flow-
ers, from the V)eginning of warm weather until now,
there being no " wet spells " to wash the honey out.
How long this shall continue, we know not. The
wheat crop has failed, and there are hundreds of
acres of buckwheat sown. J. W. Johnson.
Shelby\nlle, Shelby Co., HI., June 22, 1881.
Friend J., our neighbor Blakeslee used to
talk just as you do ; out finally there came a
v» inter when the bees did die, after all, even
in his beautiful cellar: and since then, they
sometimes die and sometimes they do not,
just like a .ofood many others of us. (Had to
hear the honey is coming so "svell.
THICK COMBS FOR EXTRACTING.
I Started this spring with three stands— one in a
ohaff hive, and two In single hives. I have receiv-
ed two swarms— one from the chaff hive, and one
from one of the others. I want only one more
swarm; that is, one swarm from each old one. My
bees have got their upper stoi'ies filled very nearly
full; one swarm, hived about three weeks ago on
old comb, has its hive filled. I intend to extract
from four hives next week. Are eight frames
enough for the upper story? How do j'ou keep the
queen from laying in the upper story?
Elias Berg.
Cicero, Hamilton Co., Ind., June 18, 1881.
Eight combs will do very well for the up-
per story, if they do not make your arms
ache too much in handling sttch heavy
weights. We prefer about nine. The thick
coml)s will do much to prevent the queen
from going into them, but you will likely find
some brood occasionally. Carry the comb con-
taining the brood to some queenless hive
that needs lirood, after you have extracted
the honey.
GOOD FOR THE BLACKS IN CH.AFF HIVES.
We packed IS colonies In chaff last fall; .3 of them
were Italians whose queens we bought from you in
August. The fall pasture was so poor that they did
not winter through, so we lost all of our Italians,
liut took out 1.5 colonies of blacks, which thus far
have given us 15 large swarms. We took our first
surplus honey on the lath of June. This is unprec-
edented success for this section of the country.
There is a great deal of white clover here, and red
raspberries are in full bloom. U. S. Painter.
Streator, La Salle Co., 111., June 34, 1881.
A PLEA FOR BL.\CK BEES.
I wintered 14 stands of bees last winter on their
summer stands without loss. I never had them
come through in better condition. They are doing
very finely now on white clover, when the weather
is warm enough. 1 have kept Italians and native
bees side by side for .'•; years, and although 1 would
like to keep Italians, I must, in all candor, say that
my common bees give me the best returns in box
honey. They will begin work in boxes 10 days earli-
er, they are not as likely to swarm, the fever is easi-
er controlled when the>' do swarm, and as long as I
raise comb honey I think I shall buy no more yellow
queens. I have bought V queens of the best queen
breeders in the V. S., and there was but one of the
7 I would raise (jueens from; and her bees were so
dark they would hardly pass muster.
D. O. Sweet.
llockport, Cuy. Co., Ohio, June 27, If 81.
DRY BRICK AS AN ABSORBENT IN WINTER.
Bees are doing splendidl.v here this season. I had
100 stands last fall, wintered on their summer stands,
single-walled hives, and all the protection they had
was gunny sacks placed on top of the frames, and
tucked down nicely, and then a layer of new dry
brick on top. I ha\e wintered bees this way for the
last five years with good success. My loss last win-
ter was nine stands, all from starvation.
Geo. W. Kennedy.
Carrollton, Carroll Co., Mo., June 28, 1881.
Although dry brick will absorb a large
(juantity of water, I can hardly feel, friend
K., that it exercised any especial influence
in your succeisfnl wintering. Would not a
loiig spell" of wet, damp, rainy Aveather, so
charge the brick Avitli moisture that it could
not readily take any from the bees? ]\Iay be
you are right, and I am wrong, however,
friend K.
INTRODUCING QUEENS.
Queen arrived all right yesterday, and lintroduced
her into a hive last night. I prefer introducing
queens by placing them and their escort in a cylin-
drical cage of gauze wire, one end permanently closed,
the other closed with honey-comb, full of honey. I
place this between the combs, and, if the queen is
acceptable, I generally find that she has been let out
the next morning. I introduced this queen in that
way, and when I looked into the hive this morning
I found her out, and making herself very much at
home. T. Williams.
Milwaukee, AVis., June 22, 1881.
But, friend W., are you sure the success of
your plan, and a dozen other plans for that
matter, was not due to the fact that queens
will be received all right, in the majority of
instances, when let right out without any
caging, in any queenless hive, while honey
is coming in? The case mentioned in this
number, Avhere I let loose oO in an hour, was
certainly not accidental their not being killed .
I have actually lost fewer queens this sum-
mer, and last, where I have let them right
out, than where I have caged them. Of
course, if they are attacked, I would cage
them, and it is likely that you will once in a
while have one stung before you can rescue
her, but such cases do not occur very often.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
8!)!»
THE BLUE BEE;— SOME THING AHEAD OF APIS DOR-
SAT AC')
There is a friend of mino who came from Indiana,
and he says there is a man, one of his neighbors,
who got a swarm of bees from New York, and an-
other from Kentucky, both wild bees, and crossed
them and produced a him hrr. He says they are
larger and hardier than any bee he ever saw; better
than the Italians, he thinks; they will work in rainy
and fogsy weather just like a bumble-bee; if the
dew wets them, they shaku it off and stamp their
feet, and go to work as hard as ever. He says the
man does not know how to ship queens, and that he
sells them for f +.C0 or $5.00 apiece, and the buyers
run all risks. I want a queen, but am afraid to trust
him, as I live in the far West. Couldn't you go and
see him, or write to him and get some (jueens? They
would be a great help to you, as I think there will be
a great demand for them; and couldn't you afford
to send me a queen for iyformin^' ,\ou? If not, I will
buy one of you. The man's address is Robert Lucus,
Orland, Steuben Co., Indiana. Also, that they arc
quicker than the Holy-Land bees or the Italians.
\VlLLAI{D R. LVMD.
Monterey, Monterey Co , Cal.
To b? sure, I 'will, friend L.. and I will
'• stani]) my feef too when this great bee
does all you say. T could not well go to see
him. but I will send him this journal : and
then if he has got any left we can just send
him some queen-cages, and he can ])ut them
in that, ■• sure.'" I was just wondering what
was the matter with our Italians this year,
because they did not start out during bass-
wood bloom before sunrise as they used to
do. I think it must be they were waiting
for that great '• blue bee "' to come and do it.
HATCHING BROOK WITHOUT KEKS.
My Idea is, that sealed brood will hatch in chaff
hives without any bees in it, as I know by experi-
ence of last summer, when I cut out some drone
comb and laid it in my tool-box, and every one came
out just as if they were in a hive of bees; so I think
workers will come out also. I believe the queen
will lay sooner in a comb when it is placed between
two combs of br.iod. W. K. Deisher.
Kutztown, Berks Co., Pa., June 13, 1881.
To be sure, capped brood will hatch with-
out bees, friend J)., providing the tempera-
ture is kept high enough, say between so and
]()0. We have done this for years past in
the lamp nursery. During the hottest sum-
mer weather, the bees follow the queen and
feed the larv;e until it is sealed; and if the
hive is destitute of bees, yon will see only a
ring of nnrse bees aronnd the outer edges of
circles of sealed brood. Placing an empty
comb between combs of brood is an excel-
lent plan, if it is not crowded too far. Re-
member what Merrybanks said of such wcn'k
a few numbers back.
SILVERHULL BUCKWHEAT.
Try silverhull buckwheat for breakfast fjr the
bees during white-clovei- bloom. I think it pays as
well as it does in the fall. One thing more about it;
it is splendid for the bees to calm down on after
basswood. S. H. Lane.
Whitestown, Boone Co., lad., July 15, 18S1.
And I have got " one thing more " to add
yet, friend L. Silverhull buckwheat holds
np to $2.00 per bushel in price every year,
and we can't get enotigh of it even at that.
\Vhat do bee-keepers do with all they raiseV
I have this season sent to A. C. Nellis for
all he had. and was tinally compelled to send
clear to (iregory, of I\Iass.; and after paying
SI. Toper bushel for all he had, 1 had to go
without any to sow myself. I sold it to cus-
tomers for less than it cost me, after paying
for bags and freight, rather than disappoint
them. Wake up, boys, and raise not only
honey for your bees, but seed for bee-keep-
ers.
CHAFF HIVES.
Last fall I did not get my chaff hi\cs in time to
transfer from Simplicity until December. 1 then
transferred ]-' swarms, knowing that such action
was opposed to all t>ieories, and thinking my chanc-
es very slim for saxing even a fraction of these 1~
swarms; but I also knew b.y experience there was
not the slightest chance to save any in the Simplici-
ty \«ith the weather at zero so early in the spring.
The result of this rash transfer was 10 good strong
swarms Ihis spring. The two that died were very
light when transferred. 1 also wintered 4 success-
fuUy in Simplicity hives in a damp cold cellar.
Wakcman, O., June 11, 1S81. M. I. Todd.
.NEM'LY GATHERED GRANULATED HONEY.
Our honey this season is gi-anulated when it comes
out of the gum, and all our neighbors' is the same
way, and I should like to know the reason, as there
must be a reason for it. The honey is sweet and
pleasant, but nearly all sugar. I have not fed my
bees any. W. C. Hill.
Jefferson, Tex., July 8, 1881.
We have had several such reports in back
volumes, friend II. Your bees have gather-
ed grape sugar from nature "s laboratory, that
is all. It is just as good as liciuid honey,
only that there is the same danger from
hardening in the cells that there is from ar-
tificial grape sugar.
GOOD REPORT FROM COLOR \DO.
Bees just "beat the Dutch" bringing in h<mey.
It just beats all to see how much honey a barrel of
bees, in chaff hives, can bring in in one day. Ours
are giving us 50 lbs. surplus per day for 10 days, and
— we are not keeping up with them extracting.
Can't tell how long it will hold out.
R. H. Rhodes.
Arvada, Jeff. Co., Colorado, July, 1881.
If your apiary is composed of oO stocks,
friend 11. that isift a very large yield; but
if only 10, it would do very well; while if
only three or four chaif hives, it is pretty
'• big." Whv don't you tell us how many?
hiving a swarm ox NOTHING BUT SECTIONS.
'V\''hen increase Is not desired, why not hive the
swarm on frames of sections? It may be a common
practice, but 1 have not seen it mentioned any
where. As soon as bees are hived, all hands unite
to fill up the empty spaces with comb, and they go
in well prepared for it. 1 should like to hear how
it works with others. My bees wintered well; lost
two, with twenty left. It has been warm and sea-
sonable since the .*^th of April, and the prospect for
the summer and fall was never better.
S. T. Hamilton.
Botland, Nelson Co., Ky., June 30, 1881.
400
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Aug.
HUNGARIAN BEES.
As some ol' my customers have an idea that the
Hungarian bees are marked similar to the Italians, I
want to say, lor the benefit of such, that the Hunga-
rian bees are quite dark,— the hairs, or down, on
the workers give them a whitish or very light gray
appearanee. Some of the <]uecns show muddy
whitish bands; the queens are larger than those of
any other race of bees I have; very prolific, and their
worker progeny very gentle, and line honey-gather-
ers. Those who want fancy-colored bees had better
not order them; but if bees are wanted for business,
try the Hungarian. I do not raise or ad\ertise pure
Hungarian bees for sale. Every queen of this race
will be fertilized in my apiaries where my Italian
and Cyprian bees are kei)t. I consider this hybrid
race as good as any in the world. H. Allev.
Wenham, Essex Co., Mass., July 18, 1881.
But, friend A., where did these bees come
from, and when did they comeV ^Ve know
all about Italians, Holy-Lands, and Cypri-
ans, but we have no record, that I know^_9f,
of any bees from Hungary. If they are any
better bees than Italians, all things consid-
ered, of course we want them ; Init it is pret-
ty expensive trying so many new kinds that
differ so little from those we have.
INTRODUCING A QUEEN TO A HIVE HAVING A LAY-
ING yUEEN.
We are having a good season for bees in this sec-
tion of Iowa— perhaps the best we ha^•e had for
years. You ask, in July No. of (J leanings, if any
one has ever introduced a laying queen into a hive
having a (lueen, so that both would continue laying
side by side. I united a colony of bees last October
with a swarm in one of your chaff hives; both
swarms had good laying queens, and I did not hunt
up the queen, as I could not use her. In April I
opened the hive and found both queens laying side
by side, as well contented as could be. In a few
days I took out one of them and put in another
hive, and they both proved to be splendid queens. I
have had several old queens and their daughters
laying in the same hive. M. M. (Lvllen.
Moravia, Appanoose Co., Iowa, July 14, 1881.
STARTING queen-cells WHEN THEY HAVE A QUEEN.
This morning I found a queen lying on her back
on the porch of the hive to which I introcuced fie
queen from Hutchinson two days before. This is a
new swarm six days old ; in three days they had
queen-cells started on the foundation. I supposed of
course they had lost their queen. They have no eggs.
This is a second swarm from the hive, and thej' may
have a virgin queen. I opened the hive and found
a nice queen. Now, what "gets me" is, would they
start queen-cells if they had a queen of any kind ?
The bees are hybrids, and whether the queen they
now have is Hutchinson's or one of their own, I do
not know. Can you enlighten me any ?
JoH.N F. Nice.
Williamsport, Pa. , July 18, 1881.
It may be set down as a rule, that a colony
that starts queen-cells from brood given it is
queenless, although there may bo occasion-
ally an exception . It should be remembered,
that queen-cells are produced by two or
more different causes, or impulses, as it
were. One is from or under the intluence of
natural swarming, a!id the other, the start-
ing of cells when suddenly deprived of a
queen. IJesides these two, liees sometimes
seem to be displeased with a queen, and
start cells to replace her. In deciding whetii-
er or not a colony is queenless, it is well to
iiKjuire Avhether either the lirst or last may
not have caused the starting of cells. When
you find a colony without brood, and see no
queen, some brood suitable for starting cells
should be given it at once ; and after about
48 hours, if we lind queen-cells, we are al-
most absolutely certain tlie colony is queen-
less. If no cells are started, we are equally
sure there is a queen of some kind present,
which should be hunted un.
f^IUEOPENING HIVES.
I was induced to go in for American hives on ac-
count, as I then thought, of easy operating; but I
want, and will have, after this winter, hives that I
can get out the last frame without having to tak(;
out all the others. You say you used them once on
a time. Did the bees ever boil out when you took off
the side to open it? Mine do sometimes, and then it
seems as though I would like tobe inmy otticestudy-
ing out some intricate law problem, rather than try-
ing to lay down the law to those bees.
J. E. Pond, Jr.
Attleboro, Bristol Co., Mass., July Jl, 1881.
I woiddif t wonder if they did sometimes
" boil out," friend P., as you say. I used the
side-opening American hives five years en-
tirely, when I first commenced ; but I then
transferred all of my bees liack into the L.
frames again, where they were originally.
UI'S AND DOWNS OF AN A B C SCHOLAR.
I will try to give you a bit of my experience as a
bee-keeper. Mj' first experience with bees was
about Cor 7 years ago. I got a swarm that settled
on a peach-tr(!e in our garden. It was hived in a
box hive. I had many up^ and downs, but more
downs than ups for about three years; I didn't
know, scarcely, any more about bees than an old
hen, until I received a copy of Gleanings. I then
began learning my A B C's. I made frame hives,
and transferred my box hives. I have now been
using frame hives for three years, and was making
good headway when the past cold winter swept
them all away but ^stands. As I told j-ou in the
March No., my hopes were not blasted, and never
will be as long as I have a stand left; but, more en-
couraged, I set our with renewed vigor, increased
my stands to C, giving each new swarm a two-story
hive with 20 fxames of comb each; Italianized each
swarm, and have taken, to date, 430 lbs. of basswood
and clover honey. They are doing well. Now, I
don't know where they get their honey, unless it is
honey-dew, which I think it is. I believe I never
told you how I liked the extractor I got of you last
year. Well, sir, I don't believe that I ever invested
$7..50 in any thing that I was as well satisfied with.
It works well. I have mine screwed to a bench,
about 30 inches from the ground; this bench has a
small leaf, hinged underneath the honey-gate, with
lU-inch auger-hole for the strainer to hang in, and a
button to hold the leaf. I like this arrangement the
best, especially when working in the apiari*. I can
pick up the extractor, take it from one hive to an-
other, set a can or bucket under the strainer, and
go to work. The strainer is never out of place.
When working among the bees I hardly ever use a
1881
GLEA2«rNGS IN BEE CULTURE.
401
smoker unless they are very cross. Smoke should
never b3 used unless it is neeepsarj-, for it f)ften
makes them crosser than il' no smoke were used.
Elias Ukrg.
Cicero, Hamilton Co., In.l., July V-K 1881.
Jo#^^ and Queries
D. A. .lONES.
^ HAVE nut heard from Mr. Jones this season yet.
ji| Shall likely go and see him again this season.
— ' Hr is (>'? /)(vx, and a .iolly fellow. I spent a pleas-
ant day with him and his g'ood wife two yeara ago,
when he was right in the midst of that good season
when he had everything filled with honey; even
collected all the women's wash-boilers to store his
honey. He had enough honey to drown the whole
village. How is that for Canada?
Ben.]. Duitt.
Waterloo, Ont.. Canada, June 6, 1881.
I have givcTi up the use of tin separators. I don't
consider them profitable. Henrv Daxiels.
riaintichl, Sullivan Co., N. fl., June, 18S1.
Bev.s have built up very rapidly since thrseasjn
opened, some reporting 5 swarms from 1 naturally.
Wm. H. CiRavks.
Dur.can, Stark Co., Ill , Julys, IS:*!.
CANDY FOU WINTEIU.VG.
My l>ees wintered all right, and one colony on can-
dy alone. E. T. Hodge.
North Edgccomb, Mc. June 5, 18.S!.
FOliEST-LEAVES.
I wintered 40 colonies out of 40 in Quinby hives,
packed with forest-leav'cs on summer stands.
John F. Logsdon.
Barton, Allegany Co., Md., June 2T, 1881.
My Cyprian bees wintered best of all. You have
to be very careTul in handling them, as they would
sting you to death; but with care thes' are all right.
H. S. Shull.
Wellsvillo, Columbiana Co., O., June 11, 1881.
Bees doing finely, making lots of honey. I lost
none last winterer spring. Swarming began June
10. I wintered on summer stands, chatf hives, 2.5
stands. Alex Fiddes.
Centralia, Marion Co., 111., Juno 18, 1881.
Will queens' wing- grow out again when clipped?
C. W. C'LAVTO.V.
Laurel Junction, Ritchie Co., W. Va., July 2, 1881.
[They don't at our house, friend C. Once clipped,
and they are clipped for ever.]
A SMALL SrORY WITH A OHE-VT MUKAL TO IT.
I commenced last winter with 13 stafids; came out
this spring with 11; the 4 that were lost were some
that I divided and transferred. They did not fill up
full like the others. David Sperry.
Lincoln, Cass Co., Ind., June 6, 1881.
I'RETTY WELli FOR .VN A HCSlHOLAK
July it, 1SV9, 1 got my swarm on a tree in the woods.
AV'hen winter set in they had about six inches square
of comb; I fed them on sugar and they came out
quite strong in the spring. Samuel Benson.
Hockley, Ont., Canada, June 23, 1881.
THE CKLLAK AHEAD.
I have only 41 hives of bees left out of !"1; 21, left
out of cellar, all died; the 41 are from the TO put in-
to cellar. My hopes are not quite blasted.
De.nnis Gardner.
Carson City, Mich., May 24, 1881.
A SWAK.M GOING INTO A HIVE OF THEIR OWN AC-
CORD.
Thanks to an all-wise Providence, the cold weather
took all my bees. This morning I took a walk into
my bee-yard, and found that a swarm of bees had ta-
ken possession of an empty hive. S. Angle.mire.
Dupage, 111., Julys, 1881.
The bees I received from the South are doing fine-
ly; six combs full of brood since May 19th.
Geo. W. Howsell.
Bainbridge, Putnam Co., Ind., June 16, 1881.
[The above was a hybrid queen with 1 lb. of bees,
from G. W. Gates, Bartlett, Tenn.]
We have just passed through the greatest swarm-
ing campaign I ever knew, and it has been very an-
noying when you wish honey and not increase.
Honey crop good ; have taken off 2000 section boxes
well filled, and of fine quality , have as much more
to take off this week. J.S.Giles.
Apalachin, Tioga Co., N. Y., July IS, 1881.
Most of my bees, or the larger half of them,— IT
swarms, died during' the past winter, but the re-
mainder have more than doubled, and have filled
every available cell with honey. The trouble now is,
the breaking down of combs from overloading with
honey, and the extreme heat, over 100'' Fahrenheit
in the shade. I.E.Stevenson.
Canal Winchester, Franklin Co., O., July 12,1881.
DOLL.A.R (iUEEXS.
A dollar queen I had of you two years ago last
June is just as near perfect as can be. We took out
of her swarm last poor season 85 lbs. extracted hon-
ey: this year, 2.5 lbs., and a three-story hive full now.
Her bees winter best of any here, and best every
way. Gcy Clark.
Bellows Falls, Windham Co., Vt., July II, 1881.
GLOVES.
Please send mc a pair of gloves. I suppose I shall
ha\e to be put down on the coward's list; but no use
talking, bee-stings are not pleasant to have every
few minutes through the day.
HONE v.
From thirty hives 1 have taken, to date, 1216 lbs.
of honey. Chas. H. Kincade.
Sterling, Chicot Co , Ark., June 23, 1881.
THE FUTURE OF THE IT.VLIANS.
I have about 225 colonies, blacks and hybri<ls, and
I feel quite sure that they show more of the Italian
each succeeding year; the best evidence that I can
see of their superiority over other bees. When I
commenced the b\isiness three years ago, I hsd a
very few that showed one band; now half my stocks
are marked. T. G. H. Jones.
Xicolaus, Sutter Co., Cal., June 30, 1881.
LI think j-ou are right, friend J. The bees in the
woods, and those owned by the farmers about here,
are now more or less Italian; and we have fre-
quently purchased swarms during the past few
weeks as nicely marked as any we have in our api-
ary. These, too, came from those who have never
taken any notice of the Italians at all.]
'^
402
GLEANINGS IN BEE CUETUilE.
Aug.
Friend Roof;— The smoker arrived, and I am well
pleased with it. As soon as it came I smoked the
bees simply to sec it work, and I tell you it makes
them "git furder" every time. Henry Wauu.
Bufifalo Shoals, Wayne Co., W. Va., June 27, ISSl.
A POUND OF BEES, AND A HYBRID QUEEN IN .JULY.
I bought of you last July one hybrid queen and a
pound of bees, which have their cap full of honey,
and during last month have thrown off six complete
swarms that are doing well. K. W. McFahland.
Paulton, Westmoreland Co., Pa., July 7, 1881.
I wintered 11 stocks of bees without loss. They
were well filled with buckwheat honey. I covered
them with the hulls of oats. They were placed side
by side, with a runway for them to go out at will;
all came out strong, and that in this climate, some-
times below »5 degrees below zero, and hardly any
thaw for three months. C. Neads.
Lindsay, Ont., Can., July 5, 1881.
This has been a poor season for honey so far. I
wintered .58 ctilonies, packed on their summer staflds,
and did not lose any; but it has been so wet and
cold that they are not getting much honey.
A. AV. Smith.
Parksville, SuU. Co., N. Y., July 4, 1881.
[Guess you wrote that before the basswood came,
did you not, friend S.?]
Bees are doing well. The loss was 7 per cent in
wintering. They are now filling 3 or 4 stories of
Simplicity hives with white-clover honey. White
clover is yielding more honey than it has for the
last 4 years. I have :J0 stands which I have win-
tered. I had tiO last fall; I sold some of them, and
fed 50 dollars' worth of sugar. II. F. Carpenter.
Polo, Ogle Co., 111., June 21, 1881.
I have just received notice of a shipment of 24 lbs.
of bees to Ontario, Canada, with "not a cupful
dead." Am I not improving? G. W. Gates.
Bartlett, Tenu., June 23, 1881.
[Well, I think you are, fiiend G.,audlamglad of it,
too, for I should feel very sad if I thought no one
else but ourselves could ship bees by the pound safe-
ly every time.]
It is too bad that the red-clover queen died. I
wanted to get another daughter from her. The one
I got last summer proved very good stock; her bees
at this time work as much on red as on white clover.
I wintered 8 out of 21 colonies outdoors iu chaff and
sawdust packing; the Italians stoxid it better than
the blacks. Aua. J. Hintz.
Lemont, Cook Co., 111., June 20, 1881.
A POUND OF BEES IN MAY.
Bees that I got of you in the spring are doing well.
We got what started three colonies, and we now
have eight doing well. We put them in hives that
the bees died in last winter, and that gives them a
good chance. Accept thanks. H. Lewis.
Muneie, Ind., July 12, 1881.
[Do you not see how it works, friends? Friend L.
had three tested queen.*, with a pound of bees and a
frame of brood each, the 10th of May.]
grape sugar in the SOUTH.
You know that barrel of grape sugar I got of you?
Well, I have a little of it yet, and I will get more
when it is out. I am not afraid to feed it to my bees
in candy made like your recipe. I have fed nearly
a whole barrel away, and I don't think I have lost
any bees by it, but it has raised lots of them. By
using it I have got some of the nicest queens and
gentlest bees I ever saw. I very often look through
them without smoke, and do not get stung once.
T. G. Wallace.
Stone Mountain, Ga., June 4, 1881.
CYPRIAN and holy-land BEE.S.
My Cyprian and Holy-Land colonies are ahead. I
think I never saw a better queen than the $1.00
Cyprian I got of you last season. They get out ear-
lier and work later than any colony that I have.
Holy-Land colony is \ery prolific, good honey gath-
erers, but very cross. Which are the better sale,
Italian or Holy-Land queens?
F. J. Wakdell.
Uriehsville, Tusc. Co., O., June 6, If 81.
ROBBED BEES GOING HOME WITH THE UOBBEKS.
I will help you answer Doolittle. In two instances
I have noticed the remaining bees in a robbed colo-
ny come into my apiary in the form of a swarm, and
take quarters with their victors; and in both in-
stances they were attacked and nearly all killed.
This happened once in the fall and once in spring,
and both times my neighbor came chasing his swarm
of bees. D. AVhite.
New London, Huron Co., Ohio, June 1, 1880.
Last ye.ir I had a colony of bees come to me in my
dooryard,and I did not know what else to do with
them, other than to liiv them. They wintered
through nicely, and have sent off two colonies (or
swarms) already. I shall ha-\e to get rid of them, or
read up and see what I can do with them. Can you
give me light on the subject? S. B. M,\ktin.
Onawa, Monona Co., Iowa, .1 me 24, 1881.
[Accept them as a gift of God's own sending,
friend M., and care for them accordingly.]
fastening in foundation; a new tool for the
business.
About fastening fdn. in brood-frames. I think
that your No. 0 cast hammer is the best thing; use
the claw end rubbed in a little honey. It works
them down very nicelj'. Some of my hives have
bo.xes nearly full of comb and honey, but what is
it made of ? They work very little on white clover.
E. n. Hanford.
Wakeman, Ohio, June 27, 1881.
SENDING BEES TO OREGON.
The queen, in the three-frame nucleus I got from
you, is laying all right now; but please make sure to
put enough provisions with the queen j-ou send
now, for I am sure, if those bees had missed the
steamer in San Francisco, and had to wait for the
next one (five more days), that they would have all
died; but as it is, they are doing well now.
Will True.
Astoria, Clatsop Co., Oregon, June 20, 1881.
FIRST ITALIAN.S WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI.
I see, by May Gleanings, that some one in Cali-
fornia claims the credit of bringing the first Ital-
ians we?t of the Mississippi Kiver. I believe that I
brought the first Italians west of the Ohio Kiver.
Aug, 1st, 18ti0. I received an Italian queen of J. P.
Mahan, of Phil;i., he having imported 3 stands,
about three months in advance of the Parson
bees, of Long Island, imported by the C S. We
claim no vrclit, or lionor. Who else will make the
claim of prior date? Jesse Oren, M. D.
La Porte City, Black Hawk Co., la., June 14, 1881.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
403
HAPE AS A ISEE PLANT.
The rape I find the best thing to keep the bees
from going to the cane-mills in the fall. If sown
about Aug. 1st, it blooms till hard freezing. There
are four cane-mills within one mile of me. Some
j-ears the bees go for them strong. I neglected to
save seed, so had to send off for it.
KOBT. QaiNN.
Shellsburg, Benton Co., Iowa, May :!0, 18B1.
TEN DAYS BEFORE DAYIXQ.
The queen did not commence to Liy for 10 days af-
ter she was introduced. Her bees just eonnnenced
coming out. James S. Browx.
Pimento, Vigo Co., Ind., June 28, 1881.
[We often have rjueens that do not lay for adaj' or
two, after a long journey, but not often where it
takes 10 days. In view of this, however, I think I
should keep a queen 10 days before deciding to de-
stroy her, under such circumstances.]
DRONE BROOD IN THE UPPER STORY.
Plea.se tell me how you prevent the queen from de-
positing eggs in the drone comb that i.s \ised for the
extractor. I have them about 1!^ inches apart. I
wash them out with the hose when 1 tind them, and
then throw the water out with the extractor.
W. G. Saltford.
Po'keepsie, N. Y., June 27, 1881.
[Some one of our number has suggested sprinkling
the drone larv:e, while quite small, with a minute
quantity of fine table-salt. This kills it all at once,
and the bees clean out the cells. I think this would
be much less trouble than the plan you use.]
BEES AND QUEENS FOR SALE.
Would it not be as well for those who rear bees
and queens for sale, to wait until "God has borned
them," before advertising? Then there would not
be such weary waiting and repining.
Mrs. L. Harrison.
Peoria, 111., July, 1881.
[Mrs. H.. you have hit the nail squarely on the
head, and the people are fast learning which ones
advertise goods, and don't have them when the cash
comes. I do not know but that it might be well to
have a growlery. In which folks might growl about
other folks besides myself.]
i
..^
UfCl
This department is to be kept for the benefit of those who are
dlssatistled ; and when .luythinR is amiss. I hope you will ' ■ talk
right out." As a riile. we will oiult names and addresses, to
avoid being too personal.
GOOD FOR FRIEND BURCH, BUT BAD FOR U.S.
f ORDERED three queens of you, to be shipped
July 1st. Vou wrote me you would make ship-
ment promptly at time I stated, b»it no queens
have arrived yet; but in the mean time I have re-
ceived a splendid swarm of bees from H. A. Burch
& Co. I wrote them some time ago to know if they
could ship me a queen by a certain time; they re-
plied thej- could not, and said, " If you can find A. I.
Root, please stir him up a little, and tell him to hur-
ry up your queens; he seems sometimes to get be-
hind with his orders, and I guess almost all of us are
sometimes unavoidably delayed in making out ship-
ments, which annoys us as much as it does the pur-
chasers." I have bought a good many swarms of
bees, and I must say Burch sent me a rousing good
swarm. I sold mine down to 20 last fall. I lost all
but 3; have increased to 10. Well, friend Root, send
the queens as soon as you can. G. W. Kinnicutt.
Tecumseh, Mich., July i:!, 1881.
As soon as I liad read the above, I took it
directly to the queen clerk, to see what the
matter was. Here is her reply: —
DcdcS/r.— Mr. Root is nowise at fault for the de-
lay on the above queens, and I do not wish you to
attach any blame to him for the same. The matter
was left in my hands, and the delay was caused by
my being so careless as to overlook your order. If
you will now make out a bill of damages I will will-
ingly pav it. I.e.,
Clerk.
I am very sorry indeed for the 12 days' de-
lay on the queens, friend K.; but I confess I
felt rather pleasant when I read the letter
after all. I am >-ery glad indeed to get such
a letter in regard to friend Burch, and I con-
fess I am a little proud of having clerks
that Avill take the responsibilities of business
off my shoulders, as the above indicates.
Xotv.ithstanding the heavy trade we have
on queens, I do not know that the clerk ever
made such a mistake before, and I trust she
never will again. I am responsible, though,
and always expect to be. for all my clerks-
doings in my employ.
TOBACCO COIiUMN.
A CALIFORNIAN FINDS VIEWS ON THE SUBJECT.
fHAVE used both tobacco and whisky, and
hardly know which was the worse habit. I did
— ' not have much trouble to stop drinking whis-
ky, as the habit was hardly estaldished. I began to
smoke at about IT, and used tobacco about 13 years.
At llrst I thought it ver;/ manly, then I was not com-
fortable without an after-dinner smoke. By and by
I began to be dyspeptic, and thought tobacco hurt
me, so I quit and have stayed " quit," though it took
at least two years to outgrow the craving for my
after-dinner smoke. Since then I have induced a
few to quit, but 'tis slow, up-hill work. Hope your
smoker plan will succeed better. Men say they have
the right to smoke; yes, perhaps so, on their own
premises; again prrliapx jiof.in a moral sense, if they
have a wife, and a coming family to inherit the sins
and appetites of their parents. I contend that no
one has a right to puff tobacco smoke in my face on
the street, or in any public place, as a post-office,
where people are compelled to go. In the winter of
1879 I stopped some months in a town in Ohio. The
post-office waiting and delivery room was about 7x9
feet, with a low ceiling. Repeatedly I have seen
this room so full of tobacco smoke, that one could
hardly see or breathe. Yet here were delicate
young girls soif for mail, and had the alternative of
this smoke or the cold snow or rain outside, and yet
we boast of our Christian civilization. Twenty
years ago there was a little pamphlet containing :>
essays on the evils of tobacco-using; it was the best
thing of its size and kind I have ever read. One es-
say was by a minister, another by R. T. Trail, M.D ,
and was sold by Dr. Trail. No. 1.5 Leiglit St., N. Y.
Dr. L. M. Holbrok of the above place may have it,
or some thing as good, from which you can get argu-
ments against tobacco. Fowler & Wells also used
to publish some good things against tobacco.
Los Angeles, Cal., July 1, 1881. J. H. Bemis.
401
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Aug.
I am goiuj<- to try the yniokcr's pledge; if I fail,
you get your money. W. J. Enuly.
Edgerton, Johnson Co., Kan., June 27, 1881.
Since you make such an exceedingly grand offer of
a smoker to all those who quit the use of tobacco, I
for one haA-e stopped the tilthy habit, and avail my-
self of the opportunity. Send the large Quinby.
North Lima, O., June U, 1881. J. Buzakd.
Accept thanks for smoker. It is just the thing to
tame the bees. If ever the pledge is broken, I will
send you $2.0:. in cash. Bees are doing finely.
W. H. COLI.l.NS.
Ayersville, Ga.
The smoker I received in good order 2 weeks ago
to-day. I am very much pleased with it. Mine was
not only a promise to stop smoking, but it was a ficlfi-
will to stop. S. C. Gates.
East New York, N. Y., June 25, 1881.
I am happy. I received the Smoker's smoker in
due time, and find it .just the thing. I can now drive
ihe bees around like sheep in a pasture. I am hold-
ing the fort so far. When I fail you will receive
$1.2.5. W. J. Endlv.
Edgerton, Kan, July 4, 1881.
Send me one of your largest Simplicity cold-blast
smokers, if you wish to fullill your promise which I
see in Gleanings. I ha\'e not smoked a cigar nor
pipe in two months, and, with the aid of ray Maker,
never will. M. A. Joiner.
Sun Hill, Ga., June 27, 1S81.
Put ine down as one who has tried to stop, and has
demonstrated that, l>y the help of a higher power, I
have been enabled to let it alone for some time.
Have chewed for 26 years. If 1 fail I will pay double
price for the pledge. Geo. G. Heruiman.
Cambridgeboro, Crawford Co., Pa., June 13, 1881.
T see so many in Gleanings are throwing away
the pipe and tobacco, so please send me a smoker,
and I give you and God my word that I will never
use it again; and if so, my wife says she will settle
the cost with you. J). F. C. Hamblv.
Quincy, Plumas Co., Cal., May 28, 1881.
Now, friend Root, I see by Gleanings that you
still give away smokers to those who give up tobac-
co. 1 have been a smoker, but I am determined to
quit, for I know it is an iu.jury to my health; so, if
you send me one, I will pledgi- mysell' that I will
never use the weed again; and if 1 do 1 will pay you
double for it. H. I.eweuao.
Wheeling, W. Va., June 17, 1881.
I see you are giving smokers to tobacco-ehewers,
lor quitting. Now, 1 was one of the worst ehewers
in the State; it would have killed ine if I had not
gi\ en it up in February, ISti-'i. I gave it up, and have
not tasted it since, and never will. I don't want any
man to give me a smoker to quit, either.
Geo M. Brvner.
Cisua's Run, Perry Co., Pa., July 0, 1881.
Will you please send me a Bingham smoker,a3 I have
quit using tobacco. I have used it six years, and
have become a perfect slave to it. If 1 ever use it
again, I will pay you for the smoker.
J.\,MEs Forbes.
Macedonia, Summit Co., O., June 33, 1881.
You add one more to the little band, friend
F. ]May God help you I
1 see that the tobacco column is increasing. I
have made up my mind to give you one more name
for that column. I have used tobacco for fifteen
years, but will quit for a smoker. I will send you
ten cents to pay postage on it. I think that every
one who gets a smoker this w.iy dught to be liberal
enough to pay postage. M. F. Mosi'er.
Palmyra, Harrison Co., Ind., June 7, I8S1.
Thanks, Friend M.
1 am 47 years old; commenced using tobacco more
than 20 years ago— became a slave to both chewing
and smoking, in the army. I lost my health, and the
physicians toM me tobacco was in.iuring me. I quit
using it more than a year ago, and with the Lord's
help I will never touch it again. I would not report
until I was satisfied that it would be a success. Go
on in the good work. S. Buchanan.
Irving, Kan., June 2t», 1881.
An old tobacco smoker wants a l)ee-smoker (your
invention.) Having used the "weed" for a great
many years, I haw fully decided it to be a bad hab-
it, and have not used any for some time, being fully
convinced 1 have mastered the business, and now
send in my recommendation for a smoker. Accord-
ing to Gleanings, you send them "on the cheap."
Now, I think it is a little too " steep " for a Western
man to ask you to pay him for dissolving partner-
ship with a bad habit. In my next order I will send
you the money, as I do not want to make an order at
present. Wm. S.mitil
Mill Creek, Utah, May lit, 1881.
I commc-uced the use of tobacco when quite a bo.v,
and continued it until six years ago last January,
at which time I became thoroughly con\inced of all
the demerits attached to its use. and I resolved that
1 would control "this liltle matter" myself. 1
went down on m.v knees bctore God, and asked his
assistance. It was easy, and now I stand high above
temptation, and I can find nothing that even savors
of a reason for its use. I really believe it is sinful
in a degree. Now, is there a defieiency in the minds
of those who persist in its use'? or is it for the want
of sober retlectioii on the subject'/ or do men natu-
rally want to bf unlike a higher order of beings'i*
Hiring men to quit is commendable", brother Root;
but the least tlegree of commendation belongs to the
party hired. Am I too severe? Pardon!
J. H. Roderick.
D.idd's City, Fannin Co., Texas, Apr. 23, 1881.
I have a smoker,but it is a poor thing, as it is hard
to get it to work. 1 have resorted to the pipe to
smoke my bees; have not much of the habit yet.
Now, if you will send me a (,)uinby, 1 will discard the
old pipe. T). S. Ri'RnANK.
Rcinbeck, Grundy Co., la., July ('., 1881.
We send the smoker, friend 1'.; but, to
tell the truth, I feel more troubled about
your case than any one that has yet come
up. A few years ago it was said by some,
that the way to get a situation in our estab-
lishment was to ^get drunk and be put into
.iail. \o\v, if an'ybody has coiunicnced smok-
ing, that they might write me and get a
smoker for stopping, I am in danger of doing
more harm tlian good. I believe (lOd has
guided us in this department so far, and I
feel sure he will guide us safely throu.gh tlie
danger that opens up here.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
40o
|wi' tmm-
How amiable ir c thy tabernacles, 0 Lord of hosts!
My soul lonaeth, yea, even lainteth lor the co\irts of
the Lord: ray heart and my tlesh crieth out for the
living God.— Psalm 84: 1, »'.
M T 6 o'clock, Friday evening of the loUi
^h of July, I was at work in the office ;
' but at 7 I was on my way to see Fer-
ry's seed-gardens. 1 told the hands at the
noon service where 1 was going, and why.
It was a beautiful tranquil evening as we
crossed the lake, but after enjoying it
a half-hour I began to be ashamed of myself
for having nothing to do. No one seemed
to talk. If I went to bed without saying
a word for the Master to anybody, I should
miss a joyous consciousness of Ivi^ presence,
that I dislike to fall asleep without. - Near
me sat a man who had l)een silent) like my-
self. With a prayer for the blessing that
had been given me so many times before, I
opened conversation. lie was a manufactu-
rer, like myself, and employed many hands.
lie, too, lamented the presence of tobacco,
whisky, and profanity. Although a for-
eigner by birth, he was free from all these
vices. lie was a member of no chtircli ; but
before we closed, he promised me, though
perhaps indirectly, to "seek the kingdom,''
for he said he hati been for some time tend-
ing that way. God blessed the effort in an-
other way too, for they make a kind of
goods I had long been wanting to get direct
from the manufacturers.
The tirst bee-man I found was Otto Klei-
now, of Detroit. He is a young ({erman,
but I tell you he is a good bee-keeper. His
yard is entirely surrounded by a high board
fence, and the ground is covered with saw-
dust. The hives are all chaff, neatly made
and nicely painted. On the fronts of many,
are beautiful pictures. His native taste for
gardening shows itself in the beaitti fully ar-
ranged and trimmed shrubbery. ( )n a pret-
ty little peach-tree we found a swarm of
gentle yellow Italians. In fact, his bees are
all gentle and yellow. 1 found the queen as
they hung on the tree, and we put them in a
hive. Honey seems coming yet in plenty.
Otto is extremely nice and particular in ev-
ery thing (he is over 30, and unmarried ; but
I "scolded" him about it.) Although his
father keeps a beer-garden. Otto neither
drinks, swears, nor uses tobacco. Very kind
and respectable people are his parents, and I
hope, as I have been told, no intemperance
is allowed on the premises.
Mr. Hunt is a fair type of one of America's
independent young farmers of the present
day. lie is not what men call rich in this
world's goods, but he is rich in brain and
mxiscle, and a lover of square honest work
on his own ground. His pleasant little home
is all the work of his own hands, and the
young man who could look on it and not be
inspired to "go and do likewise" isn't wor-
thy of living under the American Hag. His
apiary is on a lawn, and is in the shape of a
hollow square, the bees all going out toward
the center. Like friend Kleinow's they are
very prettily painted. The effect from the
street, of some of these painted with orna-
mental paneling, is exceedingly pretty.
Friend II. makes his own hives, paints
them, and does every thing. One of the
first things that attracted my attention as I
jumped out of the buggy was a prettily
painted Adams' horse-power made from a
drawing and description given in Glean-
ings in former volumes. It works splen-
didly, but friend II. says you must use a
chain instead of rope. It costs but little
more, and can remain right out in the
weather. The wheel sliould be not less than
15 feet in diameter.
Ferry's seed-store is an immense l>uilding.
The appliances for accuracy, and for facili-
tating work, more than once reminded me
of our little building at home.
On the way to the seed-garden I asked
friend Hunt about liis reasons for not going
to church and Sabbath-school. It was the
old story of the "inconsistencies of Chris-
tians." One instance given was of that of
the members of a church in his neighbor-
hood, wlio turned off" a nice young minister
because he went out shooting with the boys
of his congregation. Another was of a min-
ister who raised and kept so many chickens
that they damaged friend Hunt's fruits and
garden to a most aggravating extent. When
our friend expostulated with him in a ("'hris-
tianlike way, he asked him if he could not
get a little dog and train him to drive them
out. This minister turned out badly, as I
should suppose he would. The people were
bad, and tlie ministers were bad, and friend
II. didn't want any thing to do with them ;
that is, he did not want to go to their meet-
ings. These cases occurred some time ago,
however. Friend Hunt likes the minister
they have now, and I think he likes the peo-
ple; and I guess, too, he is going to church.
Of course, thisholding aloof because others
are not doing right is not the thing; but is
there not a lesson for ministers and profess-
ing Christians to learn V .lust take a look at
friend Hunt's nice little garden, where he
has labored hours while nearly all the rest of
the village were asleep, and see the berries
and fruit he has watched and loved as only
an enthusiast can love such things. It
would seem that any minister should rec-
ognize tlie very great need of getting the
youth of our land interested in such rural
indtistries ; but to annoy one such, and to
discourage him by the depredations of chick-
ens—how will this do for a motto for minis-
ters and other people ?—
"If chickens make my brother to offend,
I will keep no chickens while the world
standeth."
In talking over industrial matters, friend
II. made the remark, that he once used to
spend a great deal of his time lounging in
the grocery. I guess tliat was before he got
married, for his wife says he now works so
many hours on his grounds she has to plead
with him to stop. He has raised 147 bushels
of strawberries from a single acre of ground.
Ferry's seed-garden is immense. Fields
almost as white as snow with the blossoms
of seed onions stretch far into the distance.
As our visit was made in tlie afternoon, but
few bees were on them. 'I he work is most-
40G
GLE AIRINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Aug.
ly done by women. The soil is beautiful,
and Ferry has paid for some of it, I Avas
told, as hi^h as $.5U0.00 per acre. The apia-
ry, kept on tlie grounds of Mr. Cottrell, an-
other yoimp: fruit-grower, is prospering most
hnely. As both are busy men, it was built
up priufipally by artilicial swarming. The
hives are all of friend Hunt's make, and pre-
.sent a line appearance ; almost every stock,
new and old, were at work in the boxes. As
we took a look at friend ("ottrelFs berry-
garden, both gentlemen spoke enthusiastic-
ally of the way the bees worked on the im-
proved red raspberries, when they were in
bloom. The sight of the well-kept rows of
bushes was a treatto me, and the wonderful-
ly large luscious fruit was aiiotlier treat.
Friend C. prefers the C'uthbert, and the ber-
ries we picked from little vines just started
were enough to set me in a raspberry fever,
if itdidn'ttherest of them. ^Vhoamongour
friends has the real ('uthl)ert raspb'erry-
])lants for saleV
Friend Cook, of the Agricultural College,
had written, urging me to be present at the
evening prayer-meeting of the college boys,
and I was therefore prevented from going'to
meeting with friend Hunt on Sunday. Well
may not only ^Michigan, but the whole T'nit-
ed States, be proud Of the college and the
college grounds. Sabbatli morning we at-
tended service in the city of Lansing, and the
words of the young minister who preached
from the text,"- ])lessed are the pure iu lieart,"
ring in my ears still. Their opening hymu
was one of my favorites, and as it welled
forth and rose under the tones of the grand
old organ, the words of the text at the
liead of my talk to-day came into my mind.
vVlmost a stranger in astrange citv, I thought
I could feel a little what David did when he
uttered it. I was especially pleased to hear
the pastor speak of tlieir pra>er-meeting,
teachers' meeting, Sabbath-school, and their
work during the week, in a way that indica-
ted his wliole heart and soul was in it. I
fell to wondering if he was not stirred to un-
usual powers, somewhat, by seeing the face
of such a man as friend Cook as one of his
audience. The bee-keepers of our land are
certainly of more than average intelligence,
and I know full well the help it gives a pas-
tor or S. S. superintendent to know that he
has the presence and sympathy of the best
men of the community. My friends, if you
were all present during the church services
of your tow'n and neighborhood, your minis-
ters would not only preach better, but I am
Tiot sure biit that they would lead better lives.
I can scarcely tell you how much I approve
of the spirit of the Agricultural College, es-
pecially that part of it that teaches the boys
to beautify and adorn their own homes on
the farm, with little labor and expense.
This department is under the charge of Prof.
Beal, and his floAver garden was to me " a
thing of beauty " I shall not soon forget, and ;
I presume the idea will bloom in many [
homes in our land, and prove a "a joy for I
ever" to more than one liome and its in- :
mates. His collection of clovers, from all '
over the world. Avas also to me a rare feast.
The apiary is pretty, but it seems to me it is
a little cramped and ciowded. Our own has ,
pleased us so much since we have abundant
room for it, that I am pretty strongly in fa-
vor of having the hives scattered. The hon-
ey-plants in bloom are alone worth quite a
little to any bee-keeper. .V held of raspbei'-
ries. raised by the students, still stands out
in my mind"s'eye, and I mean it shall stand
tlieve until I have one on our own grounds
that ])leases me as well. I may be a triHe
hard to please in such matters, but I was
many times "just suited"' in passing over
the college grounds.
.Vt about y o'clock ^londay nioniiug I was
to start home. But several things, since my
visit to friend Cook, had been suggested.
One was that perhaps I am laboring and
l>leading with the world at large so mucli
' that I am neglecting tliose whom I am relat-
ed to by tlesh'and blood ties : that it may be
I am better acquainted with the men in jail
who have committed crimes, than Avith my
own children, some of them. In my father's
family were seven children. The playmate
of my childhoo.d was a sister just a little
younger than myself. She now has seven
childi'en of her own. ami some of Ihein I
liave never seen. When I told friend C.
that she lived in Michigan, and I was going
back without even seeing her little family,
he declared I should let business go for at
least one day. and go and see them. An-
other thing: Our daugliter Maud, who is
now a great child, taller than her mother,
was at this very time on a visit to this sister.
As she had never been from home liefore,
when she started I playliiUy told her to re-
member that, .when liouble or sori'ow came
to her in her absence, to b(, sure to recollect
I said it would do her good. I thought she
might be homesick, and I wondered if the
sight of her papa away off there, so imex-
pectedly, might not do her good. The sta-
tion agent said I could just make Manistee
that night. Away I went, further from in-
stead of toward home. About 1 o'clock I
was told by the conductor they had just tak-
en off the noon train at Beed ('ity, and that,
instead of going right through, I would have
to lay over until toward s; o'clock at night,
seven or eight hours, amid utter strangers,
when every moment was so valuable. Should
I get cross, and tliink hard things of the
railroad otticers. or should I say that God
had so ordered it for some good and Avise
purpose? I soon chose the latter, and asked
liim to point out the way whereby I might
be of use. even away off among strangers in
the northern part of ^fichigan.
The minute the train stojjped. I sprung
off, and began scanning the grocery stores.
Soon my eye caught Avhat I wanted.
" Friend". Avill you be so kind as to tell me
who furnishes you this tine honey ? ''
'•It is i)roduced by a man over east, by
the name of Len Ileed."
" HoAvfar is it?"'
'• OhI perjiaps three or four miles."
'• Can you point me the Avay V"
He remonstrated about my going on foot :
but I had got tired of riding, and besides,
livery teams cost money. I crossed the bridge
by the mill, and was soon over the hills and
into the great pine Avoods. ]My feet slipped
into the sand, and the sand slijtped into my
1S81
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
4U7
low shoes, as I went up .and down the hills ;
but for all that, I was happj\ I was about
the Master's business, i did not know
Avhere. or what was to 1)6 done; but he did.
so why did it matter V I picked wild rasp-
berries, listened to the cowbells, and thought
of the sister I could not see until to-morrow,
and away back in years gone by, when we
used to have ;• cow that wore a bell too.
How the sound of those bells awoke old
memories I The houses were all passed, and
1 was following a crooked road out in and
through the woods. Was it possible I
should find a real progressive bee-man, away
off in these wilds? \\'heu I did find houses,
it hardly looked as if their owners could be
bee-men.
Is it possible I shall, in this wilderness,
find a man with an apiary of from fifty to a
hundred colonies, as tlie man at the grocery
store said? I certainly must be pretty near
there now. Over another hill, and, as sure
as you live, I came on a buckwheat field.
The plants stood all around among the
stumps, but I think I never saw a thriftier
growth, or a brighter green to the leaves. I
wonder if buckwheat don't do better on a
sandy soil. It was already beginning to
blossom a little. Over the hill again. Sure-
ly this must be the man, for there was a gar-
den, an orchard, and many evidences of just
about such homes as bee-men generally have.
'' Does yiv. Ueed, the bee-man, live'hereV"
'• Yes : he is out among the bees ; will you
not step inV
'•No: I think I will go out among the
bees and see him."
Did you ever! Here in the wilderness
was an ai)iary. sure enough. On a beautiful
grassy lawn, sloping to the south and east,
60 or bo hives, all jiaiuted red. To prevent
the sun making them too hot, each hive had
a light co^'er, or sun-shiide. made, if I am
correct, of split shingles. The gable ends
were open, so as to gi\e a free circulation of
air; but the roof boards projected so as to
make a very effectual screen from the sun.
His hives are of the Mitchell pattern. He
has a division- board at each end, and the
combs in the center. As all the hives we
opened had an empty space at each end, it
was very easy work lifting out the frames.
Basswood seemed just in its prime here, and
the bees were going across the valley to a
basswood forest beyond, in a way that, to
me at least, was entrancing. We opened
some of the hives, and found snowy-white
combs everywhere.
"I declare," said friend Reed, '• although
this is a new swarm that I lun e extracted
from twice, they seem to be entirely full
again, and ought to be extracted this very
day again.''
•'Let us do it,"" s;iid I ; '• I would like
above all things to help you extract.''
He got his comb-bucket, which was made
of wood instead of tin, and. turning back
the mat, he lifted out three combs, sealed al-
most from top to bottom ; and as the next
was a brood comb, he let the mat down, and,
moving the division-board at the opposite
end, he took two capped combs from that
side. Thus you see the brood combs were
not moved at all, nor were thev even uncov-
ered. The bees kept right on at work, for
they were not interrupted or hindered at all,
the entrance being in the middle of the side
of the hive, instead of at the end, as in our
old Standard liive. We took the five combs
into the extracting-rcou), which, by the way,
is a room built in the side of one of these
sand hills, and is a very nice, cool, and com-
fortable place to work in during a hot day.
Sure enough, there was the veritable Novice
honey-extractor, but it was not our make,
and had no honey-gate. I took the Bing-
ham honey-kuife, and went to uncapping.
It was the first time I ever used a Bingham
knife, and it certainlv is a very fine thing
for the purpose. Friend II. set a two-gallon
stone crock, with a piece of strainer cloth
tied over the top, under the tiuspout of the
extractor, l^efore all the combs had been
whirled, friend li. spoke,—
" Wtiy. I declare, if that crock isn't full
from just these five combs 1 ''
'• It is hardly possible, is it ':* '' said I.
But it was. After looking for a little
while at the thick crystal honev running on
the rtoor, our friend bethought him of an ex-
pedient as a substitute for honey-gates, and
he tipped the extractor back with a jerk, and
propped up the front edge. As we did our
uncapping on the top of a barrel, the honey
soon threatened to run from that on the floor
also. To save it. I very thoughtfully scraped
it up and put it into my mouth.
•• \Miy, friend Reed, this honey isn't bass-
wood, nor does it quite seem to be clover
either. ^VhatisitV"
•' Why," said he, •' I will tell you. You
see. after they clear off the pine woods, the
wild red raspberries spring up until there are
hundreds of acres of them, and this year our
bees have just brought in any amount of this
red-raspberry honey. Why. I have had honey
this whole spring and summer just as it is
coming now, and I don't rememljer a time
when I could not extract without ha\'ing a
bit of robbing."'
'■Then this is really rasi)berry honey!"'
And to make sure, I dipped and tasted the
honey from several of the stone crocks that
were full, like the one under the extractor-
spout. "How much do you get for honey
like this down at the grocery store where "l
saw it V"
" Fifteen cents for extracted honey, and
16 for comb."
The honey is very white and clear, and the
flavor is nearest to that of clover, with a
slight flavor that one can easily imagine is
like the raspberry fruit. Friend Reed win-
ters his bees on their summer stands, with
large boxes placed over them, and packed
with chaff in the usual way. He says he
has tried wintering them in that dry sandy
cellar, but it don't work well. He thinks
that it may be too dry. And this reminds
me that they have a stream of water rumiing
through the cellar they winter their bees in
at the college apiary.
The women folks then announced sup]jer
as being ready. I always like to go to sup-
per when I am visiting bee-keepers, and this .
afternoon the call had an especially pleasant
sound. Perhaps it was because of the miles
over the sandy hills I had come, and maybe
4(t8
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUllE.
Aug.
because the table looked very inviting where
it was placed almost in the open air. The
table was set on a platform of boards covered
with branches of trees, and as we partook of
the food I wondered several times to see such
a structure in such a backwoods place. No
blessing was asked before partaking, but I
have found this is no unusual thing, even
among professors of religion. I soon found,
however, that my friend and his wife used
to be members of a church, both of them ;
l)ut since they had moved into their new
home here in the woods, they had not united
with, nor, if I am correct," attended, very
much any church. The reason was, that
there was none of their own people near.
*■' But is there no other church near here V"
" Yes, sir : there is one within about two
miles."
" How long have you lived here V *'
" Thirteen years."
"And you have brought up this family of
boys andgirls without attending God's house
on the Sabbath, just because there are none
of the sect you prefer near you V "
As they bowed assent, it just then occurred
to me that God had stopped that train, and
sent me off here in the woods, perhaps just
on purpose to speak a word for his Avork and
his " tabernacles." Oh how I did wish that
my powers of persuasion were greater ! I
did the best I could, and assured tliem that 1
would at once unite myself with any church
that happened to be nearest and handiest,
where they would let me make myself use-
ful, if the one I preferred were out of the
(luestion ; and as I felt the time for me to go
had come, I could plainly feel God's approv-
ing voice for having tried to fulfill the com-
mission he had given me for that afternoon.
I was pleased to hear my friend tell his wife
that no man in the world, not even the Pres-
ident, would have been a more Avelcome vis-
itor. As I neared the door, somebody whis-
pered, " There comes the minister ! "
As I met him at the door I said, "My
friend, I take the liberty of introducing my-
self to any one who is a minister of the gos-
pel 1 love."
" 1 know you, Mr. Root, already," said he,
with a ]ileasant smile.
" And how do you know me V ''
" By th'? Home Papers."
I told him what I had been saying to these
friends, and that I hoped God had sent him
thus opportunely to second my efforts in the
cause. As I rode down to the station J
learned from my friend that thebootli under
which we took supper was built by his boys
for a dance on the Fourih of Jidy. May God's
blessing rest on that pretty little home and
apiary, and may he lead those boys and girls
to accept the call, —
Come, souls that are long-iiig' for pleasure.
Our Savior has pleasures lo give;
Come tincl iu his love the rare treasure
That makes every true pleasure live.
I reached Manistee the next morning, and
a warm welcome I received, I assure you.
Maud was homesick, sure enough, and very
glad indeed was she to see the face of her
papa so unexpectedly. I asked her if she
would like to go home with me, and she re-
plied in the negative ; but while she did so a
tear started and ran down one cheek, and
before it could be wiped away, another had
started down the other. Reader, were you
ever homesick V I very much wanted to stay
a whole day ; but 1 feared some of you
might, in my absence, say I was not living
up to my preaching, if your orders were neg-
lected, and so I started home again on the
afternoon boat. It was not much of a visit
I had with my sister, but still I had ^ood
reason to feel that God sent me nevertheless.
1 asked Maud, in starting, what I could do
to make itpleasanterforher, or what I could
tell them at home. She tried to answer in
an even voice ; but in spite of all she could
do her answer was, —
" Tell ma— I want to see her— and the chil-
dren—(«(;A(Z bad."
I waved my hat to her until the steamer
took us out of sight ; but her sad and sor-
rowful face followed me long after. This
was the trouble that had come, almost the
(irst she had ever known ; but I felt sure
God had sent it, and that it would, as I had
told her, do her good eventually. She will
love her home now as she never loved it be-
fore.
At Pentwater I stopi)ed over night with a
relative, and asked if Maud had been home-
sick when she was there.
"why, no; not thatl know of; and still,
since you mention it, I guess slie was."
" What did she do SundayV"
" Why. she said she wanted to go to all the
churches and Sunday-schools and prayer-
meetings she could, 'as she thought that
would please her papa ni* st if he knew what
she was doing."'
God bless thee, my daughter Maud, for
thinking so much of what your poor old papa
would wish to have you do, even though he
has hardly stopped his busy cares long enough
to get acquainted willi Jiis own daughter, at
an age when slie is just changing from a
child to a woman I May God forgive me if
1 have forgotten the home I should daily
thank God for, as well as yourself.
On the boat I was extremely pained by the
awful swearing of tlie pilot. As he came
near me once I ventured a slight remon-
strance. Either he did not hear me, or it
made him angry, for he seemed to swear
worse. It finally became so bad tliat I de-
cided 1 would make the best protest I was
capable of, whatever the consequences
might be. To prevent being .sea sick, I
was standing in the forward part of the little
boat. As there was quite a breeze ahead of
us, the waves were higher than I luul ever
seen before; and as the boat rose and fell,
sliding down the great waves lilic a boy's
sled in coasting down hill on llie snow, and
then suddenly climbing up anolher wave
right before it, the motion would have made
me sick, surely, were it not for the great
draughts of the cool lake bieeze that I drew
in at every breath. 1 held myself upright,
by the cai)stan, and I very soon began not
only to feel proudof my victory over sickness,
but a feeling of exhilaration "took its place,
and I soon began to enjoy ithugely. In fact,
as the waves weie on the rise, I soon began
to wish we might have a bigger one than
ever before, even if it did seem as if we were
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
409
sinking one minute, and going to the clouds
the next. It seemed like my old horse-back
riding, only tenfold more exhilarating. As
I enjoyed it, my heart rose to God in thank-
fulness. In this mood, you can imagine
somewhat my feelings wlien these loud, bit-
ter curses came constantly to my ear. 1
tried to think it was no business "of mine,
and that it would l)e out of place, and strange
and eccentric, for me to interrupt a man
who was running a boat. The conviction
came on me clear and sharp, that I must do
it. I thought of .Jonah, when God told him
to go and preach to the Ninevites. If I
evaded the duty,l knew, by past experience,
all this joy and happiness would be gone. It
was going already, while I dallied with temp-
tation. 1 made up my mind to do it. but the
dread was such that I trembled already. I
do not wish lo have people think I am crazy,
or a fanatic ; and above all do I fear weak-
ning my intiuence bydoing any thing unwise
or hasty. I told (iod I would do his bidding,
or, if you choose, I made up my mind to do
my best to stop the swearing. As I prepared
to take up my work, I prayed mentally, " O
Lord, my .Savior, thou who has helped thy
servant so many times in times past, under
similar trials, help me, I piay thee. now.
Thou who hast so many times before, in
answer to prayer, paved the way, and gone
before me. I beseech thee go with and before
me now. Thou knowest how I shrink from
harming thy cause by any course that shall
seem strange and eccentric : and now, I pray
tliee, open a way by which 1 may do thy will,
in a way pleasing in thy sight.'"
I have gone thus fully into details, my
friends, to show you how eagily God answers
prayer. .Just notice : I had for a moment
forgotten to regard the waves, but stood ab-
sently, as it were, taking in the delicious air
with mouth pretty well open, when a wave,
larger than any before, struck the boat and
went clear over it, giving me not only cool
air, but a whole mouthful of cool lake water
too. It went into my mouth, lilled my pock-
ets, and gave me such a drenching, that the
pilot and captain both burst into a loud
laugh.
" Stranger, why do you sta,nd there in the
wet V Wliv don't you go down into the cab-
in ? ''
" I fear I shall get sea sick unless I stand
in the wind,"' I said, as I smiled through my
wetness.
•' Why, bless you. you can have the air
without so much water ; come up here and
stand with us."
The man to whom I was going to talk ex-
tended his hand, and there God had placed
me, by the pilofs own invitation, at his very
shoulder. It seemed as if God had replied
to my prayer, '■ To be sure, I will help you,
my child. Did you doubt that I would make
the way plain and reasonable for you V There
you are, right by his side.''
But it was not so easy then. He had just
spoken so kindly to me. it seemed harder
still to "commence on him," as I might
term it.
I Avas not long undecided, howevei'. He
began to boast that he was never sea sick in
his life, and wound up by cursing God, and
defying him, because of his strength of con-
stitution, and brawny muscle. iTie minute
had come.
" My friend, if you will excuse the liberty,
I want to protest against such talk. The day
will surely come when God will lav you low
and helpless."
I can not remember what more I said to
him, but it seemed well chosen, for he gave
no unkind answer back; and although we
talked pleasantly on different matters, he
used nothing like an oath agaui that after-
noon. .Vs the vessel rounded to the wharf,
the captain came up.
'' I tell you, sir, 1 am glad you gave that
man that talking to ; he is one of the best
men I ever had. but that is his great fault.
AVhy, I have talked and talked—'' (Here I
gave him a surprised look, for I thought he
was a little that way himself;) "oh, yes! I
use some few words, but not like him ; and,
sir. it isn't right ; we'd better all stop. I am
airful glad you talked right up to him. Why,
he never swore a word after that, all the aft-
ernoon, and that is some thing I never knew
to happen before."'
Now, was it not wonderful V Instead of
getting a rebuff, I had got thanks from the
captain, and a promise— voluntary too — to do
better himself. Please do not think I have
told this boastingly, mv friends, but that
you might learn a lesson of trust in God, and
that we may all safely put in a plea against
this great national sin, and without much
danger of awakening any unkind feelings
either. I love thy tabernacles, O Lord, and
I do love to hear thy holy name spoken with
reverence and respect by the children of men.
ALBINO BEES, ETC.
Whex the friends have anj- thing- they wovild like
me to see and report on, 1 shall be most happy to re-
ceive it, and will report to the best of my ability;
but the fact of my having received a nice present, I
hope will in no way influence me in reporting for
the benefit of the public. Friend Valentine has
very kindly Pent me a nice nuclei of his so-called Al-
liino bees. With his letter advising us of their ship-
ment, conies his circular, from which we extract the
following:—
KKStKIITKiN <IK THK Al.BIXll BKKS.
As tti their markiii),', the diflereiKe hetwceu them and the
imie Itnhaii is very strikinjr. About the eves thev approach
nearei- a puiple than- that of the Italian. " Begirming at the
waist, they fii-st have three distinct yellow bands, then three
distinct white bands— the white is pu"re, not muddy and dirty;
the wings are finer and ol a bright silvery color, what makes
them so beautiful is, the coloi-s are bright — the white is white,
and the black is blaek, etc. Their shoulders and the under
part of the abdomen are verv thickly coated with white hair.
The queens are large and heautiftU . Thev are a bright reddish
yellow, and generally have the white hafr. as described, in the
workei-s. As to their breeding, I can say the queens are very
prohtic. S. V.ALEXTINE. Double Pipe Creek, Md. "
Now. I do not know but that the bees look to
friend V. just as he describes them; but I can not
agree that the difference between them and Italians
is very striking. They have the three yellow bands,
quite plainly, but the white bands are, as I have
said in the A B C, simply bands of whitish hair or
down. In socde species of hornets we see a clear
plain white band, but there is certainly nothing of
the kind on these. They arc nice, pretty Italian
bees, that strongly resemble the Hol.v-Land bees, on-
ly they are a trifle whiter and a trifle larger, perhaps.
Of course, they may be superior as honey-gatherers ;
but 1 can hardly see how selecting them for their
light down should make them any better, any more
than it would make hens any better layers by simp-
ly breeding from the white-feathered ones out of a
flock of all colors. It was once thought that fowls
with feathers on their legs were superior in other
respects, but I believe the fancy has been mostly
dropped. They are very pretty bees, and transmit
this white downy appearance to each generation, as I
proved by those I had of friend Pike a few years ago.
410
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Aug;
MK. MERRYBANKS' NEIIGHBOR.
ALSO SOME THING ABOUT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO
FEED THEIR BEES IN ONION VILLE THIS FALL.
JOHN'S father had a little piece of land,
Avhich he cultivated after a fashion,
when he had no otlier work on hand.
He had this year got it planted to corn, and
the corn was up so as to need cultivating.
To do this, he must borrow a horse ; but,
strangely, this year everybody wanted to use
their horses, or else they had not much sym-
pathy for a man who seemed to take life so
very easily, and so the corn was growing up
to weeds. His wife gently remonstrated;
but he replied that, as no horse was to be
had, he did not see how the matter could well
be helped, and so kept on smoking his pipe
quite complacently. This was very trying to
her, and even Jolui urged that they should
go at it and hoe the corn without cultivating.
" Why not buy ahorse, father ?"
Sure enough ; why not buy a horse, and be
independent of these pesky neighboi's, who
never cared whether they accommodated a
body or not. But where was the moneyV
He sauntered off, and before night returned
with the information that he nad found a
horse, and the man would give him time on
it, with one condition. 'I he condition was,
that their little home should be mortgaged
as security. John's mother had been pray-
ing for their little family, oh how earnestly !
but she could see no answer to prayer in all
this. Knowing her husband as she did, she
had little hope that the money would ever be
raised. Still, as John and his father both
talked of how they could get lots of work to
do, if they only had a horse, she finally con-
sented. The iiorse was purchased, and the
cultivator was started ; but, somehow or
other, before the field was half gone over,
even one way, the horse was turned out, and
our friend sat in the yard smoking his pipe
as in times past. It did not matter how busy
the birds were building their nests, nor how
eager the bees were in gathering the pollen
from the early sweet corn that was already
beginning to tassel, nor how busy the rest of
the town were in their gardens, cornfields,
and meadows, this man sat and smoked his
pipe all the same. His poor wife was trying
in vain to remember some passage in her lit-
tle l^ible that would give one comfort and
cheer in a time like this. She remembered
some passages in the Psalms that had al-
ways before seemed strange and unaccount-
able to her. Here was one of them:—
Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come un-
to thee. Hide not Iby face from me in the day when
I am in trouble: incline thine ear unto me; in the
day when 1 call, answer me speedily.— Ps. 102:1, 3.
Was it all this trouble that was beginning
to show her how David felt when he said,
''Hear my prayer," '•'hide not thy face,"
and "incline thine ear"? Was it ]jossible
that God knew all this trouble would result
in her own good, if she took it in a way that
sent her to him as her only refuge in the
time of trouble, with a faith that made her
prayer importunity V If so, O Lord, thy will,
not mine, oe done. And then she read the
following verses from the same chapter:—
But thou, O Lord, shalt endure for ever; and thy
remembrance unto all generations. He will regard
the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their
prayer.
After this she felt that in some way deliv-
erance was coming ; so she went on with her
work with a trust in that p) omise that he
would "regard the prayer of the destitute."
'.' I will do just the best I can, and be n(»t
troubled," she said to herself.
Just here the doctor drove u\} in his gig,
and, meeting friend Merrybanks, who was
going in the opposite direction, asked
him how he should feed his bees after
basswood had ceased. The doctor, the shoe-
maker, as well as John's father, had all in-
creased their bees in order to fill their emi)ty
hives, and save their combs from the moth.
They had also secured some comb honey,
but many of the colonies were weak in bees,
and almost all of them needed stores. As
the shoemaker did not live far off, he saw
the three talking, and came to hear what it
was all about ; so friend M. had an oppor-
tunity of talking to them all together.
MR. 3IERIIYBANKS TELLS HOW TO FEED
BEES THE FIRST OF AUGUST SO A.S TO
GET THEM IX THE BEST POSSIBLE
WINTERING TRIM.
" My friends, we must take into consider-
ation that, although we seldom have honey
enough after this' time for bees to build up
to the best advantage so as to be ready for
winter, we usually have some honey ; and
we do not want our feeding to stand in the
way of having the bees get all they can from
natural sources. 1 onc^ fed a weak nucleus
about 40 lbs. of honey i;i the fall, to build
them up to a strong colony, which I succeed-
ed in doing, but they stuck to the feeder all
day long, to the entire exclusion of going to
the fields ; and as the fall happened to be one
when bees worked on the second crop of red
clover, I had others that, during the same
time, built up of themselves, and even gave
us some honey in surplus boxes. The feed-
ing was not only an expensive operation, but
it was really a damage to them, for it got
them finally so they would not work at all,
unless it was to bring in the little pollen
they needed. If you want to make these col-
onies which are poor in bees and stores win-
ter, it will by no means answer to say we
will let them take their chances. Jf the
yield of honey stops for only two weeks, it
will cause the queens to cease laying, to a
great extent, and old queens will sometimes
stop almost entirely. The yield of honey is
most favorable for brood-rearing when it
comes just fast enough to cause the bees to
build a little snow-white comb along the
tops of the frames. You all know what this
is, when you see, by turning the mat back,
this thrifty white look on the combs, just
over the center of the brood-nest."
Here friend M. gathered up his reins, and
was about to go on ; but they almost with
one accord begged liim to tell them ivlutt they
should feed.
" You wish to use some thing that will be
the safest and best for winter stores, and no
mistake about it?"
" Yes, sir," said they almost all at once.
" Well, then, use granulated sugar, and
1S81
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
411
nothing else," and he prepared to start
again.
" But, hokl on a minute." said Jolin's
father; "/(Ofc shall Ave feed it V" You see,
he always had an eye out for the labor to be
performed, and wanted just the very easiest
way.
"Oh, yes I and I had almost forgotten to
say that I would feed only at evening, and
just so much as tliey woufd take up at night.
and no more. I never want to see bees liang-
ing around feeders during the day time.
Neither do I like to see feeders around in
sight in the day time to entice robber bees
and tlies to hang around them, attracted by
the scent of the sugar they had contained the
night before. I do not feel as much like ad-
vising candy as I flid a few years ago. on
several accounts. It is true, it is but little
trouble; but if the bees take it as fast as
they should, they have to be constantly
bringing water from somewhere. Besides,
it crumbles down, anfl grains of it get out
around the alighting-board to attract tlies
and robber bees as before. Worst of all, it
is pretty hard to so manage it that, when it
is all used up. the bees will not have a comb
built in its place. Frames having a little
piece of comb in them, to be bundled about
in the a"piary. are not what we want. The
small supply that the bees need, to enable
them to build up to the best advantage,
must be given regularly : if you miss even
one or two days, it will show a break in the
amount of eggs laid. You also wish to keep
so sharp an eye on the proceedings that,
should natural stores commence to come in
at any time, sufficient for the purpose, you
can stop right otf short, for we do not wish
to waste sugar unless it is absolutely neces-
sary. I think I would use a Simplicity feed-
er, and either place it on tbe outside of the
division-board, or on the top of the frames,
turning back the mat enough to let the bees
to it. If handier, just fill the feeder with
the granulated sugar, and then pour on wa-
ter from a coffee-pot whenever you wish to
feed them. The amount of water poured on
will determine the amount you wish to give
them. When you Avish to fix them for winter
I would put a division-l)oard in each side of
the hi^'e : this will leave room for (> or 7
brood-combs, and I would not attempt to
winter a colony that would not cover pretty
well at least six combs. Fix the combs as
you wish them to remain over the winter ;
see that tlie queen is laying, then cover
them with a mat, having a two-inch hole
cut through it right over where the center of
the brood-nest comes. This hole can be
quickly cut with a two-inch punch, such as
tinners use. In fact, you can cut quite a
number at once. Put on the mat, and set
your Simplicity feeder right beside this hole.
This should be arranged about the middle of
September. Now feed them until they get
every thing waxed up solid. Feed them so
that the swarm can not possibly get over to
any side of the hive where tiiere are no seal-
ed stores, for the brood-nest is in the center,
and sealed stores are all around them a solid
wall of food, and pure, wholesome food too.
If you leave the hole in the mat open all
winter, you will have about the same condi-
tions of those who leave sections on all win-
ter. If you think there should be some
thing in the upjier story to keei^ them warm-
er, lill it with forest-leaves. If you don't
like that way, put in your usual chaff cush-
ions. If you have got the bees in plenty, so
as to crowd out of the hive, nniess it is pretty
cool, and an abundance of pure sugar stores,
they will probably winter well almost any-
where. Git up, Dobbin ! I have stayed too
long already."
"• Just a minute more," said John's father.
'•About how much sugar will it take to fill
them all up in this way V ""
'^ If they have no stores to speak of August
first, but "good comljs, it will take from 20 to
•lo lbs., perhaps. (4it upl"
"Please, just one thing more : Can't we
get along without buying feeders V "
'• Why, come to think of it, I do not know
but that > ou can. Just spread the sugar all
around the auger-hole, and then drop on as
much water slowly as you can without hav-
ing it run down into the hive too much.
AVIien the bees have licked it dry, wet it
again. I once fed a colony thus for winter,
and they came through nicely. Git up. Dob-
bin!"
geiMn ^cUnijn.
CITY MARKETS.
Very little comb honey is yet ia the market, and
prices are not settled. It rnng-es about ISfT/ Mo for
light in sinj^le comb boxes. Old honey, large boxes,
and dark, from 1~ to ije. Extracted is more plenti-
fnl, and brings 7("Vtc readily.
Beeswax— l«(2'iUc for light, and 15@lTc for dark.
Alfred H. New.man.
Chicago, 111., July 22, 1881.
We quote honey in neat packages as follows: Best
white 1-11). sections, 'ZOffu'^Zc; do. 2-lb sections, ISfii'iOc:
best dark 1-lb sections, 13(§Jl5c; do. 2-lb. sections, 12
(g;13c; fair clover, 2-lb. sections, 14(r/ 16c. Large sec-
tions 2c per lb. less than above prices. Best white
extraSted, 10c; do. dark extracted, T@>8c. We have
received but few crates of new honey as yet. Above
prices will be our quotations for new goods.
Beeswax we quote at 23@i21c.
H. K. & F. B. Thurber & Co.
New York, July 23, 1881.
New honey is just beginning to arrive, and is sell-
ing at I8@20c for 1 lb. sections; lT@.Wc for 2-lb. un-
glasscd, and 12(§,12;oc for well-ripened e.xtracted in
tin cans of 3(3 to BO lbs. There is a fair prospect for
these prices to continue, as fruit is scarce; but of
course all prices are subject to supply and demand,
and not to the opinions of individuals; therefore
they may change somewhat, as they are not fully
settled. A. C. Kexdel.
Clevtland, O., July 20.1881.
New extracted honey comes in lively. Our com-
mission houses are well supplied, and prices de-
pressed consequently, as the demand for honey has
not yet sprung up. Extracted honey brings ~(nSc on
arrival; comb honey, 12@15c.
Beeswax 18@21c. Chas. F. Muth.
Cincinnati, O., July 22, 1881.
I have a barrel of good honey. Where can I seH
it? Muth don't wish to buy now. Who buys honey
in Indianapolis or Chicago? D. A. McCord.
Oxford, Butler Co., (>., July 14, 1881.
I have 6 bbls. of white-clover and linn honey, ex-
tracted. Any one wishing to buy, I will send sample
and prices. J. B. Mdrray.
Ada, Ohio, July 16, 1881.
412
GLEANINGS IX BEE CULTURE.
Aug.
CLEAKINGS ffl BEE CULTURE.
-A-. I- I^OOT,
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER,
MEDINA, O.
TERMS: $1.00 PER, YEAR, POST-PAID.
FOR CLUBBING RATES, SEE FIRST PAGE
OF BEADING MATTER.
iwxx;33x:n-..a., .A^-tJcsr. n, issx
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall sec
God.— Matt. 5:8.
Basswood closed here about the 10th.
Wk have to-day, July 29th, 4391 subscribers; a sain
of 307 since last month.
In my absence the cover to Gleanings was print-
ed with the price of wax unchanged. Please read 21
and 33c instead of 23 and 35.
The North-Eastern Bee Association of Maine will
meet at Grange Hall, Dexter, August 11, 1881.
The National Bee-Keepers' Convention will meet
at Lexington, Ky., Oct. 5, 6, 7, 1881.
I WOULD call especial attention to our two-quart
covered pails for honey. They were bought last fall,
before the advance on such goods, and at $7.00 per
hundred are a bargain. They have riveted ears,
raised cover, and hold exactly 6 lbs. of honey.
The new Clark smoker is so much more ellicient,
so much cheaper, simpler, and handier, that I think
it must eventually take the place, to a great extent,
of those of a higher price. We shall soon discontin-
ue making the Simplicities unless customers insist
on having them.
Do not send us any more blacks or hybrid ijueens.
We can at present use dollar queens at $60.00 per
hundred, but do not know how long we shall be able
to do so. We shall probably introduce the gf eater
part of them into our own apiary, and if too many
of them prove hybi'ids, we shall not be likely to
want more of the same party.
The preference for the thick-walled idn., running
from 5 to 6 feet to the pound, is this year greater
than ever. As it is much less trouble to roll this
kind than that with the thin light walls, we will, un-
til further notice, furnish it at 35c per lb. We have
a large lot of it piled up ready to fill orders, and
have over three tons of nice wax ready to "fall
back on." This kind of fdn. costs more per square
foot, of course, but it does not sag, and the bees
work it out much more readily than they do that
with the thin light walls.
The worst besetting sin that afflicts mankind, as
it looks to me to-day, is, that they do not fulfill their
promises. I am guilty with the rest of you, and the
consciousness of it so galls me at times that I think
I shall give up business and go out in the woods to
live, where I shall not have to make any promises
to anybody. I do not mean holding only to the let-
ter of the promise, but to the verii spirit of it. May
God in his infinite love and mercy help us not only
to be better in the future, but to make full and am-
ple amends for our sins in the past I
It will be observed that our friend Forncrook ad-
vertises having a patent that covers broadly "any
section made of one piece of wood, of whatever de-
scription." I presume, of course, the Patent Office
have granted him such a patent; but as sections
made of one piece of wood are a very old idea, I fear
he has wasted his money. Cook's Manual, even the
first small edition, described such sections, and il-
lustrates the plan of making them.
The rubber plates still fail to elicit satisfactory
words of approval from purchasers, although we
can not see where the trouble is, in using them
here. It is true, there is a difficulty as yet in
using them for making fdn. on wired frames. The
trouble is to avoid having surplus wax around the
outside of the frame, without going to the other ex-
treme and not having the sheet fill the frame com-
pletely. You see, we gauge the size of the sheet by
the quantity of melted wax that is poured on the
plate. Practice will doubtless remedy all this in
time.
As usual at this season, there is much trouble in
regard to delays in sending queens and bees. Per-
haps charity is needed on both sides. Delays often
cost purchasers money, I know ; but all who order
queens should remember that those who have them
for sale do not guarantee to send them at any spec-
ified time. I do not know how they can well do so.
Every dealer, however, should be prepared to return
the money instwitli/ when called for; if he does not
do this, he should be promptly advertised as a warn-
ing. Once more, my friends: There is no advertise-
ment in the world like sending queens and bees the
very day you receive the order.
EXPRESS companies AS PUBCHASING AGENCIES.
As the return charges on the money is an expen-
sive feature in the C. O. D. business, we have made
an arrangement with all the principal express com-
panies whereby our friends may simply hand the
money over to any express agent, desiring him to
purchase from us whatever is wanted. By this
means no money is sent at all, and therefore the ex-
pense of this is all saved. We get our pay here, just
as if you handed it to us personally. This is for
small purchases only, say a dollar or two; larger
amounts better be expressed directly to us in the
usual way.
A SMOKEK FOR STOPPING THE USE OF TOBACCO.
Some of the younger ones are asking for the high-
est-priced smokers, where they have used tobacco
but a very little while. Others ask for only the
smallest size, and offer to pay the postage besides.
I think, my friends, we had better have it this way:
Every habitual user of tobacco who will give me his
written promise to use no more tobacco until he
shall have paid for the smoker, can have one of our
50c ones, postpaid, or any other one, he paying the
difference in price. This will make it fair all
around. The new smoker is giving excellent satis-
faction, and we prefer them in our apiary to any
smoker made, at any price.
HERBERT A. BURCH.
Since our notice of last month, w*e have heard of
but two cases where the bees have been sent, and
one of them is mentioned in the Growlery. Friend
B. was very much displeased at ray notice, and I
asked him to give me a list of all orders he had filled,
1881
GLEA^IKGS IN BEE CULTURE.
41c
or money returned. None has been sent at this
date. The following came to hand in m3' absence,
and was replied to at once on my return, to the ef-
fect that we should of course be glad to publish any
thing from him.
LDiigcuntiinied overwork has so far impaired Mr. I'.Tirrh's
o.Vfsitrht, tluit he is unable to write to any one. Will you allow
us space in voiir Auj^st No. lor a reply to your strietures i>n
our business^ H. A. BlHin .V Co.
South Haven, Mich.. July 1."). ISSl.
To-day we get the following:
Your answer to our inquirv of .lulv l.ith ha.s just reached us.
We re^fret that vou did not replv at onee.as it is too late now to
prepare an .irtiele for the Au.nist No. Mr. B. is still unable to
do uiu.h writinir. HA. Bl'Rcii & Co.
South Haven, Mieh. .July 27. IS.Sl.
It don't look to rne as though we wanted a:i " arti-
cle," friend B. Your friends want their bees or
their money, and I do not see how ill health or any
thing else should prevent your wife or friends, or
the man who manages the apiary, from complying
with such simple acts of courtesy and justice. I
have been told Mr. B. has about 300 colonies, and, in
fact, he says so himself.
The foUowitig is a list of those who have sent hint
orders, and who have not, as far as I am informed,
received either bees or money, and they now get no
answers from him: —
Jan. 21, 1881, R. Bovlan, Ni Wot, Mich., 142.41.
May 4, J. M. Goodrich, S. Frankfort, Mich., $20.00.
"W. D. Wright, Knowersville, N. Y., $10.00.
June, 1880, A. H. Brown, Tustin City, Cal.. $:5..50.
Apr. 4, '81, Z. D. Paddock. Albany, J 11., $18.10.
P. L. Williams. Sharon. Pa., $37.50.
R.Johnson. Tiffin, la., .S40.00.
May 9, '81, R. H. Gagan, White Valley, Va.. $10. .50.
June, '81, Willet Dickerson. Ladoea, Ind.. $14.00.
Mav, '81, HenrvKnapp, Oxford, Mich., $5.U0.
D. R. Shaver. Stratford, Can., $14.u0.
Mch.. '81, B. T. Baldwin, Oskaloosa, Ia..59'/ilb. wa.x.
May 18, '81, H. S. Miller, Huntingdon, Pa., $18.00.
Same date, son of above, $3. .50.
H. Dickerson, West Lima, Wis., $2.00.
L. M. Shumaker, Danville, Va., $2.00.
Bvron Walker, Capac, Mich., $117.00.
May 1.5, '81, T. C. Davis, Pittsburg. Pa., $7.00.
June, '81, W. Dickerson, Ladoga, Ind., $14.00.
I agree to be responsible for my advertisers, and
if Mr. Burch, or any other one, fails to send the
goods, or return the money. I will pay back the
amount as soon as it is determined that it can not be
collected of such advertiser. It does not seem to
me that I should be responsible for damages result-
ing from delays in filling orders. I choose to do this,
because I think it will teach me to be careful from
whom I receive advertisements; ind our bee folks
should certainly have some protection against losing
their hard earnings in this way. With God's help, I
expect to be able to bear such burdens as I may
meet. Two individuals have written me, protesting
against my injustice to Mr. Burch. One of them
gave me some names from South Haven. If these
gentlemen will come forward and guarantee that
friend B. will make good the above amounts, they
will prove friends in need and friends indeed.
Recent Additions to the
COUNTER STORE.
FIVE-CENT COUNTER.
Postage. ] fPr.of 10, ot 100
2 , Blanket Pins, per paper of M doz | 40 | 3 50
.\lso good for shawl pins. They are like a eonimon brass pin,
hut 3 inches lonu. and lai'gre in proportion.
3 I Cake-cutters, fancy, 6 different pat'ns* | 30 | 2 .50
2 I Combs, Dressing, aood, clear horn I 45 | 4 00
10 I Clothes-Lines; 30 ft. long | 40 I 3 75
8 I Cups, 1 quart, exact {tor only five centu) | 48 | 4 50
3 I Fans, very pretty, to fold up, well-made | 45 i 4 25
I Jelly or Honey Tumblers, Vi lb. glass
cover I 48 I 4 50
4 I Pans or basins, extra deep, 1J4 pints
a very useful size* | 28 | 2 .50
7 I Pie-plates, Tin; just right for pump-
kin pies, two sizes, 9 and 10 inch* | 33 | 3 00
3 I Specracle-Cases; Leather; excellent.. | 33 | 3 00
4 I Tabl'^ts, Suitable for writing and coun-
ter-slips; on excellent writing paper 1 40 I 3 50
2 ; Thimbles, best German silver j 47 4 50
7 1 Tin Pot-Covers,with ringMi and 11 in. I 45 I 4 50
1 1 Tweezers and Ear-spoons | 40 | 3 50
•Three for a dime
O
TEN-CENT COUNTER.
3 I Carpenters" Compasses 4-in., steel 1 95 1 9 00
I Dressing for the shoes, 4-nz. bottles.. I 85 | 8 00
An excellent thiny- to make your shoes look ' ' new' ' when you
want them to look i>resentalile foi- Sunday-school, and have but
little time.
I Lamp hand, no burner or chimney. . . | 85 | 7 fo
j Match-safe, beautiful pattern, handy. | 75 | 7 00
Above is >;lass, after th.i "picket feuce" pattern so much now
in vofaie.
4 I Hose, Ladies', both white and colored;
excellent goods | 85 | 8 00
10 I Inkstands in bronze and glass; hand-
some and u.sef ul | 85 | 8 OO
8 I Pokers to stir the tire, tinned iron,
wood handle, nice | 75 | 7 00
10 I Wash Basins, 10 in., re-tinned | 85 | 8 00
5 I Testament, new revision i 95 | 9 00
Clear plain print, papei- rovei-.
FIFTEEN-CENT COUNTER.
12 I Coffee-pots, 2-quart | 1 10 | 10 00
24 I Dish Pans, 8 qt. with handles | 1 80 i 17 00
This is the pan used for our .iOe Wax p;xtractor. It also fonns
an excellent pan for mixing hreail, with the addition of a nice,
stronp, well tittinfr, slopinj; idver, which costs 10c more.
12 1 Oil Cans, 2 qt., real nice; well made i 1 25 1 12 00
12 I Pans, Milk 8 quart, a good large pan
and re -On lied | 1 25 I 12 00
28 I Wooden Bowls, 14 in. in diameter... I 1 25 1 13 00
GLASSWARE.
I Butter Dish. Albion pattern, no foot | 1 30 1 12 50
.\ very nice piece of work foi- the piice.
Twenty-Five Cent Counter.
15 I Coffee Pots. « qt., " Whopper" 1 2 10 | 20 00
25 I Pails, Tin 6 Quart, with cover. Plain | 3 00 1 18 00
3 I Spoons, Table. German Silver, Hall
& Elton's well-known make | 1 75 i 15 00
I Stew pan, <j azel stnne ware j 1 75 | 16 00
Can be set risrht on the stove without in,jurv. has a bail to lift
it by, a most useful utensil,
OLASSW 4.BE.
1 Honey or Butter Dish, Albion pat-
tern; new pattern, something like
a butterfly and wonderfully pretty | 1 75 | 15 00
I Lamp, Glass, Hand, complete | 3 25 | 33 00
Thirty-Five Cent Counter.
12 ; Balance, with Tin Dish | 2 75 | 25 00
Suspended hv 3 chains; -U lbs, Chatillou's make.
18 I Box Chisels | 3 00 : 28 00
A most handy tool for opening boxes, atid for taking apart
box hives in ti'ansferring.
17 I Coe's pattern Wrench, 8 in., wrought | 2 40 | 33 00
I Stew pan, glazed tttone ware, same as
(In 25c counter, but larger | 2 75 I 25 00
rirXT-CENT COUNTER.
i Coe's pattern Wrench, 12 in. wro't.. | 4 OO i 35 00
45 I Pails, tin, covered, per nest | 4 00 | 35 00
A nes;of five sizes, viz,, 1 i)t., 1 qt.,2 qt.,3 qt.,and 4 qt. These
pails have raised covers, and are very eneap and handv.
ONE -DOLLAR COUNTER.
5 I Labels, gummed, per 1000 | 5 00 ! 40 00
.\t this price they are to be one color, not to exceed 1x2 inch-
es in size, nor M words of matter, and not less than 1000.
A, I. ROOT, ITtediiia, Ohio.
At Kansas City, Mo.,
I breed pure J(aha?ibees for sale. I warrant my
"Dollar" queens to be mated by pure yellow drones,
and guarantee safe arrival and perfect satisfaction.
Tested Queens, $2 00
"Dollar" " 1 00
Please addres.^ all letters plainly to
6tfd E. M. HAYHURST. P. O. Box 1131.
HOLY -LAND & CYPRIAN QUEENS!
Raised in separate apiaries 5 miles apart. Untest-
ed Queens of either race this month, $1.50.
H. B. HARRIXGTON, Medina, O.
ONE-PIECE SECTIONS A SPECIALTY.
Pound and Prize size, $t.50 per 1000. Sample sec-
tion tree. BYRON WALKER,
Capac, St. Clair Co., Micb.
414
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Aro.
The best-informed bee-keepers in
the V. S. sav that our DOUBLE-DRAFT
airiNBY SMOEEE is decidedly the BEST
now made. Hetherin^ton discards all
others, and orders two dozen lor his
own use. Doolittle says it is not
equaled. So sav all who see aad i/sr it.
Price, by mail, if 1.50 and $1.75.
oxjFi book:
continues to grow in popularity, and
is the most practical work pub-
lished. Price, by mail, $1.50.
We sell every thingf used in ad-
vanced Bee Culture. Send for Illus-
trated Circular to
I^. C. ROOT A: BRO.,
Ttfd MoUawk, N. \.
HENRY ALLEY,
Wenham, Essex County, Mass.
4 RACES OF BEES. A
ITALIAN. HOLY-LAND, CYPRIAN AND HUNGARIAN. ^"
Read Aviiat my Customers say;
Please send me three queens: I do not like those
little queens sent me by other dealers. Those you
send me are a real improvement to mv apiarv.
DuQuoin, 111., 1881. Dr. \V. Arms.
I have one queen from H. AUe.v, that $25 would
not tempt me to sell, and she cost "me onlv $1.
Austin, Minn., May 6, 1881. F. A. Ticknor.
From American Bee Journal of May 2.5, 1881: My
bees are all Italians, and wintered without loss on
summer stands. Amanda. Parson.';.
I furnished this lady all the queens she has.
The queens you sent me arc the very best I ever
bought, and their worker progeny the nicest I ever
saw. J. H. Wallace.
Lucas, Ohio, August 10, 18S0.
1 have the finest swarms that can be found any-
where, from the queens you sent me this summer.
Cobleskill, N. Y., Sept. 2:;, 1880. B. VanWie.
Your queens are well thought of here; one of my
neighbors has one that he declares he would not sell
for ^150. Geo. D. Elderkin.
Chicago, 111., Sept. 27, 1880. . •
Queen received in fine shape, and as lively as a
cricket. She is the pretties-t queen I ever bought of
any dealer ; in fact she is as nicely marked as I ever
saw. W.M. H. Graves.
Duncan, III., Sept. 25, 1880.
Send for 20th circular and price list of Apiarian
Supplies. Warranted Queens of any race, $1 each:
Choice Queens, $1..50; Tested, $3 each — all by mail,
safe arrival guaranteed. Bees by the pound, and
Nuclei hives for sale in Langstroth frames.
HARKKESS' IMIODEL FEEDER
will enable you to feed your bees at any time of the
day or year without removing either frames or mat,
or causing the bees to rob. A sample, with full in-
.'itructions for u.sing, sent to any address, postage
paid, for 25 cents. J. W. HARKNESS,
8d Keeseville, Essex Co., N. Y.
FULL COLONIES
OF [
ITALIAN BEES & QUEENS FOR $1.50!
Our honey season closes Sept. 15th, and after that
I propose to dispose of some 200 colonies. Will guar-
antee delivery at above prices. Early correspond-
ence solicited. Address C. D. WRIGHT,
8-'.td Baxter Springs, Cherokee Co., Kan.
I_.BTTEFLS.
Oxford, O., June 29, 1881 .
ilicv.s).-;. BhHiham A Hcthci-
inatDU, Ahniiiia, Mk)i.
(!i)i'hmin .-—Your Uncap-
ping Knife has been well
tested in the apiary of Mr.
D McCord, my neighbor. In
his opiniim, and 1 agree with
him, it is far in advance of
any knife which he hasused.
Yours very truly,
L. L. LANGSxaoTn.
Sunny Side, Napa, Cal ,
June 10,1881.
7 F. Biiuihnm, Ahronia,
MhAK Sir:— Please send
by mail two Large, six
iLxtra, and four Standard
Binjiham smokers. Your
Jfour-years-old smoker is
still in use, and does good
'ser\ ice; the only trouble be-
ing, it 13 too small. I require the Large size. I
have a Large and Small Quinby: Small one con-
demned; the other 1 got along with by repairing
often. As far as I have tried them, I prefer yours
above all, and shall keep them in stock.
Yours truly, Jas. D. Enas.
Parties wishing to order, will please refer to July
No. Gleanings, page 302, for description, etc.
BINGHAM & HETHERINGTON,
Stfd Abronia, Allegan Co., Mich.
SECTIONS.
JAMES FORNCUOOKhas received his patent on
the " Boss" AU-In-One-Piece Section, heretofore
called the "Lewis " Section, dated June 28, 1881.
TAKE NOTICE.— The patent covers any section
made of one piece of woorl. of whatever description :
therefore, we hope manufacturers and dealers will
govern themselves accordinglv.
8tl JAMES FORNCROOK & CO.
Aug. 1, 1881. Watertown, Jeff. Co., Wis.
Cyprian Queens !
CYPRIANS ONLY!
GOOD ONES FROM FULL COLONIES,
BRED FOR BUSINESS, FOR PURITY.
From Jones' Importation. Safely delivered for $?
each and ready. DR. WM. M. ROG ERS.
8d . Shelby vi He, Shelby Co., Ky.
QUEENS. ITALIAN QUEENS.
Tested Queens §12.00
Untested Queens, in August 90
Untested Queens, in September 75
Safe arrival and satisfaction guaranteed.
Address GEORGE W. BAKER,
8 LewisAille, Henry Co., Ind.
r^lHOICE ITALIAN BEES AND QUEENS.-Bees
V. by the pound, $1.00; Dollar queens, 90c; Test-
ed, $2.00. Ten-frame colonies in Simplicity hives,
$5.00. Add price of queen wanted. Dunham Fdn.
35c per lb. Warranted pure. F. W. HOLMES,
8d Coopersville, Ottawa Co., Mich.
1881
GLEAXINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
4l!t
Contents of this Numbsr.
INDEX OF DEPARTMENTS.
Blnt'k List —
Bee Botaiiy <."i5
Bee Entomology 155
Blasted Hopes." - —
Cartoon —
Editorials 4M
Heads of tii-ain 44fi
Honey Colitmn Add
Humbujjrs and Swindles 1.">1
I Juvenile De|)artnient i:«
I KindAVords from Customersiai
I.adies' Department 42fi
I Lunch-R ' om —
! Notes and Queries 15.'.
Kcports Encoiu-aging —
SmileiT iX>
The Gronlery 441
I Toliaeco Cohiiiin 4.'iii
INDEX OF HEADS OF ORAIN, NOTES AND QUERIES,
AND OTHER SHOUT ARTICLES.
Honey -Dew 4.'iO. 454
How to jret Honev — and
Mimev 442
It.Tlianson lied Clovei' 435
huiimiilitr .Vddrp.ses; again 464
Lunirstroth Kr.inie 433
Lar:
A Review uf Havhmst's
Tea Party.." 4-i4
-V Report from C'anaila Vii
.V New tool foi- Bee- Keepers 425
.Vdding Extra Combs 43C,
Awkward Squad 4.511
-V K C Scholar in Trouble . .451
Apiaiy of 225 Colonics in
Bo-K Hives 45:! I Ml luf
.\inos I. Root 4fil
Bees, Savage 454
Bee-Keeper's Misliai)s 451
Bees, How to Winter 4.50
Bees Ta.xable 449
Bees on Onions 44X
Bees in Nebraska 443
Bees Stinging Hoi-se:
Marking I'aekage.s •. 429
Lost ill Mails 441
Molbe Heatli Plant t4T
Neighbor H . on Feeding
Bees 424
Nova Scotia 438
Novelty in Chatf Hives 451
Notes from Bamier Apiaiy. .423
I lur Medina Co. Bee-keei)e"rs46fi
n, Too nmch 447
liee-iaves in Texas 4.'i(i I Promptness and Uesiionsi-
Brooks' E.vperienee 440 ! bilitv 449
Bureh & Co 444 | Peet Cage 4.52
Basswood Honey and Snow- Questions from a l>ee-keeperl3(i
drifts 446 Queen-Rearing 445
Basswood, Daily yield from 454 Queen and 'i Jb. of P.ees 448
Combs mied with Clover Queen that Stings Workers 44X
Honey 429 ! Queens that won't Lav 465
Candy for Queen-Cages 434 Report of a Boginmr 446
California 435,149,454 Report of L. 11. Kinvon 419
Case's Bee-keeping 4.38 Sending Monev bv nuiil.
Chaff Hives 149. 450, 451 I w ithout Kegisteri
Cypriins for- Increase. . . 452 South .\i
i-llai-s or < lutdoor Packing
Conventions 460
Dark-baiiikd ltaliai\s IM
DoolittU 's Explanation 439
ine
Color of.
.447
Drones with Col'ireil Eyes . .448
Lxpericnce of a Novice 427
Kxt'<l Honi y Souring 453
Fancy Scitions for Hone.v.. 426
I letting Bees fixed for Win-
ter 430
Crape Sugar- not always
deadly '.432. «6
Hercules' Club 4.55
Honey in August 4."i3
Hungarian Bees 153
. ...165
437. 4.50
4;<9
446
.Statistics ol Losses..
Swarms Se)iarating. .
Straw or Cliatf 449
Spider-Plants and Hum-
ming Birds 4,52
Taking off Sections 446
Two Queens in ont- Cell 447
Transferring in July 454
I'ps and Downs ; . . .449. 1.50
Ventilation in "Winter .452
\ei-mont 447
AVater and Sugai- foi' Ship-
ping 442
AVashing Hives 448
5Vax-Extl-actor fo r 10c 451
Wateling-place for Bees 151
ICAX furnish Bees bj- the colony and pound.
Send tor special rates. H. NEWHAUS,
it-lOd Burlington, Kat-ine Co., "Wis.
LARGZ: CHAFF CUSkxOITS
For ■winter, without chaff, for Simplicity and Hoot
ehaft' hive, .«l;J.(HJ per 100. Two by mail, :?0c.
D. S. BASSETT,
i'd Farnumsville, Worcester Co., Mass.
50 STOCKS OF ITAUAN OR HYBRID
Bees for sale, either b.v the hive or pound, in any
quantity to suit purchasers. Address, for particii-
lars, J. J. KISEK, E. Des Moines, Iowa.
ITAltAM SSrf'-TnLK QUEENS
. ,__ .- i^.^j, each: tested, ¥2.00; Safe arrival auar-
FRED. G. MIELKE,
Windsor, Dane Co., Wis.
I ay in,
nnteeil
ftd
Recent A(l<litions to the
COUNTER STORE.
FIVE-CENT COUNTER.
Postage. 1 I Pr. of 10, of 100
;i I Book or Shawl Straps, vcrv hamly ; 35 | 3 25
a 1 l\ory Tooth picks, ;J-bladed | 3S | 3 ,50
(ILA.SSW.VRE.
7-| Salt Cellars, Frog- pattern | ■15 I 4 00
10 1 Mugs, brown, tiint fflass enameled. . . | 40 ' 3 50
I Bowls, brown. Hint g-lass enameled.
Splendid for bread and milk I 40 i 3 50
TEN-CENT COUNTER.
Feather Du^iter
Milk Strainers, pretty and useful ..
GLAgSWARE.
Bowls, brown, S-inch, flint glass en-
ameled
I 85
8 00
8 (KJ
7 00
T 00
'' I Pen, to write with Clear water |
Beautifull.v linished in .Jet and Niciiel. writes
beautifully. Ink i^upplies, same price, for a box of 3.
FIFTEEN-CENT COUNTER.
~ Lace cutter, a inusi handy tool for
cutting strings for lacing belts ! 1 '■>'> | 12 00
Twenty-Five Cent Counter.
50 I Washboard " O K" Double | 1 'o^ | 15 00
This is a nice, light, good washboard, and with
each one goes a very pretty and useful little receipt
book.
A. I. ROOT, Medina, Oltio.
Italian queens (untested) 80c: full colonics, ready
for winter (untested queens), $(5.00. Can ship immc-
diateLv, H. BARBER, Adrian, Len. Co., Mich. 9d
pr^^-N FINE COLONIES of Italian Bees, with
g ^V_V tested queens, at $7.00 each. Tested
queens, $2.00 each. A few colonies of good hybrids
with queens at $0.00. Address O. H. Townsexd,
9tfd Hubbardston, Ionia Co., Mich,
ITALIAN QUEENS!
Tested (|ueens, $2.00. T have a fine lot of untested
queens on hand, which I will send, by return mail,
tor To cts. each. All my queens .nre reared from
imported and home-bred queens. Send in your or-
ders to GEORGE W. BAKER,
M Lcwisvillf, Henry Co., Ind.
^LACK BEES, ~
SO cTSi. i*e:"?i. i»oxj3xriD i
From this date I will sell the abo\e bees at the
above low price. These bees are obtained of parties
who wintered their beea successfully. They are a
hardy strain. Black queen with the pound, $1.00:
or untested Italian queen, $1..50. Three-frame nu-
cleus with untested queen. Two for $5.00.
Address J. H. MARTIN, Hartford,
9d Wash.Co., N. Y.
THE BEST KNIFE MADE
For Farmers and Mechanics.
Jllr.dcs extra Ihirk, oil tempered, every
lie tt sled by file. Exchanged free if
Kft or flawy. Price postpaid, T5c, or
l-l'lade, £Cc. Medium 2-blade,
LCc, 1-blade, 2.""ic. Illustrated
list lice. Butcher Knife,
' (^t. I! in., ;tc: Sticliing
Knife, •iOc; Skinning
Knife, 7:5c, postpaid.
Please send for our
free list. Address
MAKER & GROSH,
:)4 N. Monroe St..
Toledo, Ohio.
420
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
SKrT,
Names of responsible parties ^111 be inserted In
any of the following departments, at a uniform
price of 20 cents each insertion, or $3,00 per j'ear.
$1.00 Queens.
Names inserted in this department the first time with-
out charge. After, 20c each iJisertion, or $2,00 per year.
Those whose names appear below agree to furnish
Italian queens for S1,00 each, under the following
conditions: No guarantee is to be assumed of purity,
or anythingof the kind, only that the queen be reared
from a choice, pure mother, and had commenced to
lay when they were shipped. They also agree to re-
turn the money at any time when customers become
impatient of such delay as may bo unavoidable.
Bear in mind that he who sends the best queens,
put up most neatly and most securely, will probably
receive the most orders. Special rates for warranted
and tested queens, furnisncd on application to any
of the parties. Names with *, use an imported queen
mother. If the queen arrives dead, notify us and
we will send you another. Probably none will be
sent for Sl.OO before July 1st, or after Nov. If want-
ed sooner, or later, see rates in price list.
*E. W. Hale, Newark, Wirt Co., W. Va. 2-1
*A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
*H. H. Brown, Light Street, Columbia Co.. Pa. 7tf
*E. M. Hayhurst, Kansas City, Mo. 1-12
*Paul L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La. 7ttd
*D. A. McCord, Oxford, Butler Co., O. M2
*S. F. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. Ttfd
*Chas. G. Dickinson, Sou' Oxford, Chen. Co. N. V . i-lO
*Wm. Ballantine. Sago, Musk. Co.. O. Ttfd
*W. H. Nesbit. Alpharetta, Milton Co., Ga. Ttfd
*J. O. Facey, New Hamburg, Ont., Can. 4-9
*H. Nicholas, Etters, York Co., Penn. i-W
*John Conser, Glenn, Johnson Co., Kans. 4-9
* Fischer & Stehle, Marietta, Wash. Co., O. 4-9
Mas. P. Sterritt, Sheakleyville, Mercer Co., Pa. 510
"V^. W. Keency, Shirland, Win. Co., 111. 6-9
*C. B. Curtis, Selma, Dallas Co., Ala. 6-11
*T. W. Dougherty, Mt. Vernon. Posey Co., Ind.T-13
*J. W. Keeran, Bloomington, McLean Co., 111. T-9
L. W. Vankirk, Box iTH, Washington, Wash. Co. Pa.
Ttfd
('. H. D3ane, Sr., Morlonsville, Woodford Co., Ky.
8ttd
Hive Manufacturers.
Who agree to make such hives, and at the prices
named, as those described on our circular.
A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, Iberville Par., La. Itfd
S. F. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. Itfd
J. F. Hart, Union Point, Greene Co., Ga. 4-3
Foundation Manufacturers.
Who agree to make such foundation, and at the
prices given, as described in our circular.
A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
Jas. A. Nelson, Wyandott, Wyandott Co., Kans. 4-9
Bees by the Pound.
Those whose names appear below agree to furnish
bees by the lb., and at the prices given in our circu-
lar.
T. L. Scofield, Chenango Bridge, Broome Co., N. Y.
S. C. Perry, Portland, Ionia Co., Mich.
J. P. Moore, Morgan, Pendleton Co., Ky.
W. R. Whitman, New Market, Madison Co., Ala.
Chas. Kingsley, Greenevilie, Greene Co., Tenn.
C. D. Wright, Baxter Springs, Cherokee Co., Kans.
H. B. Harrington, Medina, Medina Co., O.
W. St. Martz, Moonshine, Clark Co., Ills.
G. W. Gates, Bartlett, Shelby Co., Tenn.
W. S. Canthen, Pleasant Hill, Lancaster Co., S. C.
J. G. Taylor, Austin, Tra\is Co., Texas.
T. P. Andrews, Farina, Fa/. Co., 111.
Allan D. Laughlin, Courtland, Law. Co., Ala.
E. J. Atchlcy, Lancaster, Dallas Co., Texas.
D. McKenzie, Carrollton P. O., N. ()., La.
H. L. Griffith, Sumner, Law. Co., 111.
J. H. Martin, Hartford, Wash. Co., N. Y.
W. A. Pirtle, Cabot, Lonoke Co., Ark.
E. T. Flanagan, Belleville, St. Clair Co., 111.
J. K. Mayo, Stafford. Fort Bend Co., Texas.
J. F. Hurt, I'nion Point, Greene Co., Ga.
B. Chase, Earlville, Madison Co , N. Y.
S. P. Roddv, Mechanicstown, Fred. Co., Md.
W. J. Ellisim, Statesburg, Sumter Co., s. C.
R. A. Paschal, Geneva, Talbot Co., Ga.
A. Osbun, Spring Bluff, Adams Co., Wis.
H. D. Heath, Sherman, Grayson Co., Texas.
N. B. MoKee,careof D. &D. Inst., Indianapcilis, Ind.
J. 1!. R. Sherrick, Mt. Zion, Macon Co., 111.
Otto Kleinow, opp. Fort Wavne, Detroit, Mich.
J. C. & D. H. Tweedy, Smithfleld, Jeff. Co., O.
HEADQUARTERS IN THE SOUTH
For the Manufacture and Sale of
BEE-KEEPERS' SUPPLIES!
Italian (Queens and Bees, all bred from mothers of
my own importation. Dollar queens, $1.10. Tested
queens, 13.50; 4-trame Nucleus, J^i.OO. Safe arrival
and satisfaction guaranteed. Scad for my illustra-
ted catalogue.
PAl L li. VIAL-tON,
6tfd Bayou Goula, Iberville Par., La.
Untested queens, $1.00; Tested, $3.00; Selected,
$3 00; Pound of Bees, Italian, $100; 3Langstroth-
frame nuclei, $3 00; I! Langstroth-frame nuclei,
$3.00. For prices of Novice E.vtractors, Veils, Smo-
kers, Hives, &c.. &c., address
WM. B. COGGESHALL, Supt.
9 Hill Side Apiary, Summit, Union Co., N. J.
HEADQUARTERS FOR
&
Imported and home-bred; nuclei and full colo-
nies. For quality and purity, my stock of bees can
not be excelled in the United States. I make a
specialty of manufacturing the Dunham foundation.
Try it. If you wish to purchase Bees or Supplies,
send for my new circular. Address
Itfd DR. J. P. H. BROWN, Augusta, Ga.
CTOLM'S COMB rOUMTION MACHINE.
SEND FOU SAMPLE AND CIRCULAR.
5tfd C. Oli.^I, Fond du Lac, Wis.
j: m7^rooks & bro^
AMERICAN ITALIANS.
PURITY OF STOCK A SPECIALTY.
4-9 CIRCULARS FREE.
COLUMBUS, - B.\RTH. CO., - INDIANA.
18S1
ITALIAN (QUEENS! 1881
Tested Queens $1 50
^Varranted Queens.. 1 00
Cyprian Queens, untested 1 00
As most all the Dollar queens
I sold last year were pure, I
will warrant them this year.
» J. T. Wilson, Mortonsville,
8-9
Woodford Co., Ky.
At Kansas City, Mo.,
I breed piu-e Ttalian bees for sale. I warrant my
"Dollar" queens to be mated by pure yellow drones,
and guarantee safe arrival and perfect satisfaction.
Tested Queens, - - - - - - $2 00
"Dollar" " 1 00
Please address all letters plaial.v to
6tfd E. M. HAYHURST, P. O. Box 1131.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
421
Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! 100 WARRANTED ITALIAN QUEENSl
fl
M
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■-
XI
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CIS
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^
BINGHAM BEE SMOKER.
The first practical bellows bee smoker.
The first and original patent smoker.
'I'be first never-failing bee controller.
'I'he tlrst direct draft bellows smoker.
The first to burn stove-wood and not go out.
'I'he first durable bellows bee smoker.
The first to create a demand for smokers.
The first to meet the wants of bee-keepers.
The first cinder-proof bellows smoker.
The first twenty thousand now in use.
The first complaint yet to be received.
The first smoker yet to be returned. .3 ^
W ^
The first thing for bee-keepers to do, to save impo-
sition and money, and be happy and safe, is to semi
a card for testimonials, or half-dozen rates, to
BINGHAM & HETHERINGTON,
ACRONIA, MICH.
Blueberry Plants!
This fall I will furnish blueberry plants at $1.00
ppr dozen, by mail, or S3.U0 per 100 by express.
They are a good fruit, and ea«ily grown on high
ground, if mulched. DELOS STAPLES,
!i AVest Sebewa, Ionia Co., Mich.
BEES FOR SALE !
To reduce my stock, I will sell 100 colonies Italian
and hybrid bees in 8 and 10 frame regulai- L. hives,
well filled with bees, brood, and clover honey; 8-
frame new hive for S7.00 ; l(!-franip, $8.00, with Ital-
ian queens raised from iiupiirted mothers. Hybrids,
$1.00 less. Put up in good shipping order P.O. li.
Can send any time. Send cash with order.
!"d D. G. WEBSTER, Blaine, Boone Co., 111.
HITES! HITES!
I am now prepared to manufacture bee-hives,
wholesale and retail at the \ery lowest prices. Send
one dollar, to get one of D. A. Oones' celebrated
hives. Catalogue furnished on application.
<J-lld .lOHN M. KIXZIE, Doon, Ont., Can.
KIND RE.VDER ! Do you want to buy queensV
If so, give me a trial order. I am confident I
can please you. FINE: AVARRAKTED ITAL-
IAN QUEENS a specialt)). Prices: single queen,
$1.00; per ! i doz., $5.50. All queens bred from choice
imported and improved stock. Send for circular.
J. P. MOORE,
Stfd Box 3T, Morgan, Pendleton Co., Ky.
W. Z. HUTCHINSON,
Ronei'6villc, Geiie.>»ce Co., ITIiclii<iaii,
Makes a ><peciaHu of rearing fine Italian queens. All
queens bred from imported queens, and from the
purest and best lionie-bred queens; and the cells
built in full colonies. No black bees in the vicinity.
Single queen, $1.00; six queens for $5.00; twelve or
more, 75 cts. each. Tested queens, $3 GO each. Safe
arrival by mail guaranteed. Send money by draft,
registered letter, or by monev order drawn on
Flint, Mich. tltfd
)^~He has a stock of queens on hand, and can fill
orders promptln.
ITAlilAN QUEENS I I am prepared to furnish
pure queens at a low price. Untested, in May,
$L00; June, 90c; after, SOc. Send for circular.
CHARLES D. DUVALL,
4-9d Spencerville, Mont. Co., Md.
HOLT -LAND & CYPRIAN QUEENS!
Raised in separate apiaries 5 miles apart. Untest-
ed Queens of either race this month. $1..50.
H. B. HARRIXGTON, Medina, O.
From now until October 15th we will mail war-
ranted queens. Single queen, $1.00; 6 queens, $5.."i0;
12 queens, $10.00; 250 q icens. tested, at this date; 20
mismated. Our queens are meeting with fa\or in
all the States and Canadas.
HALL & JOHNSON,
f<l Kirby's Creek, Jackson Co., Ala.
Rlack and Hybrid Bees for sale, at $I.0i) per lb.,
with Simplicity frrtme of brood and honey to each
pound, and queen if 5 lbs. are taken.
C. H. BLYSTONE,
iUl Meadvillc, Crawford Co., Pa.
CHAFF HIVES!
Persons having hives using the Standard L. frame,
and wishing to winter in chaff, are requested to
write for our circular and price list of Chaff Hives.
\Vc offer 10 per cent discount from now until Jan.
Our hives arc similar to those made by A. 1. Hoot.
Address, S. C. & J. P. WATTS,
Od Lumber City, Clearfield Co., Pa.
MP WOBDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS.
The $10 watch is at hand. It's a perfect beauty.
W. D. LOVELANU.
Lawrence, Mich., July 15, 1881.
I received the dictionary on the 4th. It is worth
twice the money. E. Hotjlev.
Hemlock, Ont., Can., Aug. 5, 1881.
I received my queens iti splendid condition. The.y
look as though they hadn't been out of the hive anj-
time at all. You will hear from me again soon.
Owego, N. Y., Aug. 20, 1881. H. MORSE.
The lal)el3 came to hand a few days ago, and just
suit me. 1 must commend you for your despatch.
The other goods were all satisfactory.
Wm. Murn-RASMr.^SEN.
Independence, Inyo Co., Cal., Aug. 12, 1S81.
The cheirograph came to-day in good order. It
far exceeds my e.vpectations. At the first trial I
could take off copies ,iust as fast as I could wish to.
Accept thanks. CnAs. H. Kiniade.
Sterling, Ark., Aug. 10, 1881.
In closing my account for the year, I need not re-
mind .\ou of the pleasure your promptness and fair
dealing ha\'c attorded mc. 1 do not wonder at your
success in business. 15. S. Unuekhill.
Williamson, Wayne Co., N. Y., Aug. IT, 1881.
I think every number is worth almost the price of
.it for a year. I also admire your promptness in do-
ing "biz." The smoker (Clark's) ordered of you
came to hand two days sooner than I expected, and
works like a charm. J. S. C.\Rr.ir,E.
Chester, Morris Co., N. J., Aug. IT, 1881.
The package of goods you sent me by express is
at hand all right. The 24 lbs. "Favorite" scale is
splendid — .just the thing for weighing honey or any
thing else within its range; every farmer's wife
should have one for weigbiug butter, etc.
J. A. BOOKWALTEK.
Wabash, Ind., Aug. 18, 1881.
I can not get as good a knife here for less than 30
cents each, and the glass-cutters cost here about 35
cents each. How can you sell them so cheap? I do
not suppose yoii steal them. The knives are fine
steel-bladed, and what will you think if I tell you I
strapped one of them oti my boot a little, and actu-
ally got a good shave with it? See accompanying
orders for more goods. G. W. Young.
Lexington, Mo., Aug. 10, 1881.
[We don't steal them, friend Y.; but by buying
them by the gross we get them for a fraction less
than 9 cents each. We shall not get rich selling
them, you see, but a r/nod knife for an even dime is
quite an accommodation to the brethren.]
422
GLEA:^jmGS IN IMLE CULTURE.
Sept.
I received the magaetic tack hammer, and am them, an<l that is saying a great deal, considering
well pleased; sold it; CDUld not keep it. Please send j how much I fuss and look at them,
me two more. C. C. Wattehson. Willie H. Birney.
Live Oaks, Hastrop Co., Te.vas, July 7, IWl. . Nelson, Madison Co., N. V., June, 1»81.
I gave the Clark smoker a trial, and am convinced
that I would not give it for two ot any other kind.
Its convenience makes it preferable; besides. It is
better. Geo. Kinney.
Elkhart, Ind., July 23, 18SI.
Aftjr a fair trial we are pleased with the Water-
bury watch. We inclose $20.00, for which please
forward, at earliest convenience, 6 more.
Bentley & Young.
Columbia Mills, Columbia Co., Fla., July ,5, 1881.
Gleanings received. Please accept thanks. I
sat up and read until past midnight before I thought
it would be a month l)ef.>re I got aoother one.
D. S. Hall.
South C.ibot, Wash. Co., Vt., July 2S, 1881.
THE TEN-CENT SPECTACLES.
The 2 spectacles are received in good order. This
part of the country will shortly become good cus-
tomers for your spectacles as soon as they become
known. W.m. Wittfeld.
Georgiana, Brevard Co., Fla., May 34, 1881.
I ha%-e always been pleased with what I have
bought from you. May Tth I took 168 lbs. of new
honey: I'f w.ts /lac. Was sorry to see your name in
Blasted Hopes. I hope you won't be there long.
J. W. Thaylok.
Mt. Joy, Delta Co., Texas, May 31, 1881.
I received my three queens all right, also the other
goods. Every thing in good order. You will receive
my very kind thanks for your kindness. I think I
never s^vv any thing put up so nicely.
Edw.a^rd Tunnicliff.
Kewance, Henry Co., III., Julv U, 1881.
W.VTERBrUY WATCH.
The watch came to hand all right. I am well
pleased with it. I think it is the best watch I ever
saw for the money, and so think all my friends.
E. B. Skinner.
Fultonham, Muskingum Co., O., July 28, 18H1.
THE 50c. SMOKER.
That new smoker is just an old engine. I don't
see what any one wants to give Sl.,50 when he can
get such a one as that for 5cc. and postage.
V. W. Keeney.
Shirland, III., July 20, 18S1.
FIXING BOOKS TO MAIL SAFELY.
I received the ABC to-day. It came through the
mails In flrst-class condition. I think some of the
booksellers might take a lesson from the way you
tlx those wooden strips around the edge to keep the
cover from getting damaged. H. It. Duke.
Emsdale, Out., Can., Aug. 5, 1881.
the cards on PROFANITY.
Accept thanks for those cards. I hope that
through them I may lead some one to leave off this
most depraved habit, as well as to impress on the
minds of some of the little ones, that Jesus should
always direct our words as well as actions. Several
little girls who are in the habit of coming to my
place of work have learned the one, and are to re-
peat it to me this afternoon. Geo. F. Williams.
New Philadelphia, Tusc. Co., O., Aug. 1, IHSI.
I like my ABC book very much; at least I sup-
pose you will think so when I say that and (J lean-
ings have so occupied my evenings that I haven't
l)een to the store an evening for a month or more;
so you see it must possess very decided charms. I
have got one swarm of bees now; the hive is chock
full of bees and honey, so it is all I can do to lift it.
We got them for $5.50 in a box hive. They have
about filled a cap with honey. They are blacks, but
are very gentle. I have been stung only once by
Here is two dollars, for which you will please send
me a '" crate ot tive " of those extra smokers. I have
used one of your first make of them, and can recom-
mend them c >nscientiously. A. A. Parsons.
Plaintteld, Hendricks Co., End.. July 39, 1881.
Yom- clerk is a jewel to send my order by freight,
to thus save me expense. D. F. Hawley.
Alburgh Springs, Grand Isle Co., Yt., July 2:$, 1881.
[Why, friend H., it is ijnu who are the "jewel."
Wo have had more unkind words for disobeying
orders, as we did in your case, than for almost any
thing else. For instance, a man will order a thou-
sand sections by express. We find, by looking it up,
that the express charges alone would be about as
much as the sections are worth. Now, the man may
; be well aware of this, and prefers to pay it rather
1 than risk the delays on freight; or. what is most
] probable, he may have carelessly said by express,
■ not thinking how heavy a thousand sections really
arc. Shall we obey (H- disobey orders? If we should
wait until we could write him, the delay might cost
him more than the value of the sections. We have
found that we got the most thanks by taking it for
granted that our customer has been careless; but
sometimes we get a letter informing us that it is
fair to presume a man who pays his money knows
what he wants, and how he wants it. When we risk
sending them as ordered, they often refuse to take
them, and then we have a heavy express charge to
foot ourselves. So you see why kind words like
yours do us a great deal of good, friend H.]
! KIND WORD^ Tit OVIi CUSTOMERS.
My friends, there is one thing most sadly needed
in business, it is esp3cially needed by the boys and
1 girls and men and women who have not been much
in the habit of doing business, or who are just learn-
1 ing to do it. Our b jok-keeper says the best way she
can define it is to say that you need to learn to be
.s7/n)f (tnd c]c:ir. Many of our large business houses
are short, as we all know to our sorrovv, but they
are often any thing but clear. Our bee friends go
so much the other way that they often write a long
pleasant letter, but do not make the principal point
clear then. The trouble is worse than you have any
1 idea of. To illustrate : A man says, " Send me a
thousand sections, 5x8. Don't delay a moment."
1 This is short and clear, but it don't tell which of the
two dimensions is to have the openings in. to let in
i the bees. It won't do to guess, and so we write,
I " My friend, you failed to tell us which were the tops
j and bottoms, and which the sides of your sections;
I please tell at once." Now, would you suppose any-
body could fail to answer such a question':" But they
do, and quite often. Again, a man asked about some
i grooving-saws for making sections. We told him
we could get him a set of new ones for 90 much, or
that we would sell him a set that we had been using,
I at a much less price. He replied that we should
send him, at one', so many saws of such dimensions;
but nowhere in his letter was there anj' clew as to
I whether he wished older new. We sent the new,
and he was very much displeased, and charged us
with not holding to what we had agreed to do. An-
other orders a thousand frames at once. After hunt-
ing up all the facts we could to determine whether
he wanted all- wood or metal-corner frames, we send
the former. He replies that he plainly ordered the
latter, and thit the former are subject to our order,
as he can not use them. Nothing but sending back
to him his own letter will convince him of his mis-
take. D.1 you saj' that such mistakes will happen,
and we shall all have to bear withat least some such'?
Then by all means, friends, let us bear this in mind
when we are tempted to speak or write harshly. We
often get goods we think we did not order, but we do
not write abusively, or at least not until we have
found out what we did order. I'll tell you what
helps : after you make an order, read it over carefully
to see if you have told all that must he told.
ITAI IAN A XD A LBINO QUEENS,
Untested, bred from my choicest mothers. Italian
queens, 75 cts. each ; per half-doz., $U.50. Albino
queens, $1.00; per half-doz., f.5.00.
J. M. C. TAYLOR,
9d Lewiston, Fred'k Co., Md.
FOR SALE.
Address.
Od
,13 Colonies of pure Italian Bees
in improved Langstroth hives,
A. M. YORK,
428, 15th St., Detroit, Mich.
GLEANINGS
BEE CULTUI\E.
Devoted to Bees and Honey, and Home Interests.
Vol. IX.
SEPT. 1, 1881.
No. 9.
A. Z. ROOT, ]
Publisher and Proprietor, \
Medina, O. j
Published Monthly.
1 rates. Aoove a
EstaUished in 1873. [Z^^i..^^:^L
r TERMS: $1.00 PER ANNUM, IN ADVANCE;
I 2 Copies for $1.90; 3 for $2.75: 5 for $4.00; 10
I or more. 75 cts. each. Single Number. lO.ots.
-1 Additions to clubs may be made at club
rates. Above are all to be sent to one i>ost-
to different postofficcs, not
each.
NOTES FROITI THE BANNER APIARY.
NO.
WATER IN QUEEN -CAGES.
^fpULY 30,— Huw fcas^ibk- some things look on pa-
oTjl per, anrt how useless they prove in practice !
For instance, I told yon some time ago I In-
tenflcd to put up soft candy, something about like
thick mfilnsses, in the bottom of my queen-cages,
and then cover it with hnrder candj'. I have not
yet made it a success. I filled some cages in this
manner, and they looked all right until I began
throwing them across the shop to see how they
would stand rough treatment, when the soft candy
just "busted" out in every one of them. I filled
some more in the same manner, only I made the
coating of hard candy considerable thicker. I did
not "throw" these cages, but put some queens in
them, and had them all ready to ship, when some
thing detained me an hour or two, and, by that time,
the soft candy was running from the cages. 'Twas
lucky that they were not in the mail-bags, wasn't
it? Well, before I could send the queens, I had to
go and flu cages in the old-fashioned waj% making
the candy as soft as possible. I could not bear to
think of using those tin bottles that you furnished
last season, friend Koot, because so many bees
reached ihcir destination daubed and dead. I was
glad to see your explanation of the matter, in the
last Gleanings, as the subject had puzzled me
somewhat. Well, the ordinary candy, made very
soft, sccracd to answer every purpose until the hot
dry weather came, when postals began to arrive
that read about as follows: -
•• Those (lueens that vou :-ent the 15th came to hand the l»th.
and 1 am soriv to sav that, in two of the cages, both the queen
and bees were dead. Thev looked to me as though they had
died of thirst. How do vou expect bees to live without water
siu-h weather as this; Please send me two more tiueeiis :is soon
as possible, as I have two ([Ueenless colonies.''
I could see no escape from my troubles unless I
went back to the plan that I adopted the first sea'
son that I shipped queens, -that of putting into the
cagt a dram vial of water, and stopping its mouth
with a piece of spouge. I thrust a bit into the hole
through which the queen is put into the cage, and
bored a hole to the depth of half an inch, inside the
cage, in the direction of one corner of the cage. A
bottle of water was set into this hole, and a wire
nail driven down in front of its mouth. The candy
was now poured in around the bottle until just its
"nose" stuck out. To make sure that the bottle
would not be broken in the mails, I began throw iug
a cage across the shop. I threw it with all my
might, and continued throwing it until I split the
cage in two, but the bottle remained uninjured,
i^ou see, it is so imbedded into the candy that it can
not be broken. Come to think of it, friend Root,
just to show you how it is all arranged, I will send
you a cage containing an untested Italian queen.
Aucj. 3.— How dry and dusty it is ! not a drop of
honey do the bees seem to get; if this weather con-
tinues much longer, I shall certainly have to feed.
Gleanings came last evening, and I don't know
how many times Mrs. H. said, "Come, Will, don't
you know that it's after ten o'clock? " I declare, it
sometimes seems as though Gleanings is as inter-
esting as those old-tjme love-letters used to be. And
424
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
Sei'T.
so other breeders have gone to using water in their
<iueen-cages, have they? How we all do sometimes
fall into the same groove, don't we, and at just
about the same time too? Postal cards are now
coming in thick and fast, and the best of it is, they :
all i-ead as follows: —
■ ' yuffiis ciinu- til )iaii<l last Miglit in tine conilitinii Thanks
for prnmptuess.
Some of my customers object to the painted wire
cloth upon queen-cages : and, as our hardware men
keep no other, I Innti off the paint.
Akij- IJ.— a splendid raio.
-Ik;/. 10. — Bees are brinjiing in their first buck-
wheat honey.
-!((!/. 1;J. The apiary is just roaring every fore-
noon. I have just been up stairs, where I could
have the woods across the road as a background,
and I was astonished to see the mazy "criss-cross"
network that the bees made as they went aod came
from that two-and-a-half-mile-away forty-acre buck-
wheat field.
NL'CLKl O.N STILTS.
The nuclei in the Banner iipiary are all on "stilts,"
and you have no idea how much easier and quicker
they can be "tended." For the benefit of a lady
reader of Gleaxixgs, who asks in a private letter
if I do not think that there is danger that the nu-
cleus hives may be blown off their stands, I will
say, that the hi\ es are nailed fast.
EXTR.\-PUKE QUEENS.
Atiij. 15.-Mr. M. B. Warner, of Cardiff, Oiion. Co.,
N. Y., in a private letter to myself, says that friends
Doolittle and Bctsinger have, or have had, some
(luecns that were so pure that the queens reared
from their eggs would produce three-banded bees
whether they (the (lueens) had mated with Italian
or black drones. Mr. Warner says that he visited i
Doolittle a week or two ago, and friend D. told him i
that he (Doolittle) had two queens that he was reai-
iog queens from that would do this. Row is it,
friend D.? There is one thing about this matter
that puzzles me somewhat, and that is, liow we are j
to Inuiic how a queen has tnated, only as we judge by j
her progeny.
Aud. 15.— The water-bottle in the queen-cages is
working finely. By using- a twtvdram vial, I have
succeeded in sending queens to both Texas and Cal-
ifornia. It seems that bees need to drink during
(hesehot days, just the same as other "folks" do. '
W. Z. Hutchinson.
Jtogersville, Genesee Co., Mich.
Thanks, fiientl JI. : the queen came to
liaiid in line order. I am quite certain tha.t \
painted wire cloth is jnst as good as any.
A KEVIEAV OF HAYHIUST'S TEA-
PARTY.
AS REPORTED IN .\UGrST GLE.^NINGS.
^g^EFOKE brother Salisbury went to that party,
J*|ra he, it seems to me, had been reading the Dan-
bury News man's wrestle with a stovepipe, or
the Detroit Free Pirss' report of the police court,
and so he made himself merry at the expense of
Cyprian bees.
As I have had two years' experience with Cyprian
bees, and now have 90 colonies of them, I would like
to "speak my little piece."
The good points of the Cyprians are these: They
are very hardy, and stood the winter the best of an>
bees I had. They are very prolific, and will breed up
early in the spring; they are not inclined to rob, and
will not let other bees rob them. They are great
honey-gatherers; work well on red clover, and at
this present tinte are filling their combs with red-
clover honey and pollen; and, lastly, they are the
best-natured bees I ever worked with. They will
never attack any one when their hive has not been
disturbed, mind their own business, and will not
buzz around your head when you are working with
another hive. I h&\e hitched my horse under a
shade tree within VZ feet of a colonj- of full-blood
Cyprians, and I never knew a bee to touch her; but
if you kick over their hive, as friend Hayhurst did,
they would be apt to pay you for it. The Cyprians
have come to this country, and they have come to
stay, and " don't yau forget it." NEionnou H.
Medina, O., Aug. 2:J, 1881.
— -^•••^
NEIGHBOR H. 07i FEEDING BEES.
THE "TIN-PAN" FEEUER.
M, S September is the month when bees should be
Jl^\ fed, if they- need it, for winter, I will give my
' way, even if it is old, for winter feeding. I
dissolve 3 or 4 lbs. of granulated sugar in 2 lbs. of
water, and let it come to a boil ; if there is any scum,
take it off. Feed in the top of the hive, in a common
milk-pan, covered with a piece of chec^se cloth;
leave it loose enough so it will reach the bottom of
the pan when the bees take the syrup all out. Fix
it so the bees can not get under the cloth, and you
will not drown a bee. If j-ou boil j-our syrup, and
make it thick enough, the bees will seal it up the
same night they are fed; but if left thin, and dis-
solved in cold water, they will not seal it until the
water dries out in the hive.
I have, within the past few days, had them empty
a pan in 5 hours. Tin pans cost only a dime, if you
do not happen to have as many in the house as are
needed, and you can hardly get a good feeder for
any less. Neiohbok H.
Medina, ()., Aug. 2'2, 18S1.
A REPORT FROIVI f.lNAIIA. ,
ALSO SOME HOPEfUL WORIJS KUOM -V YOUNG
FRIEND OF OURS.
MjDlTOK (iLEANINGS:-You have ha<l no report
I from this part of Canada, to my knowledgei
aud as we intend to figure somewhat promi-
nently in the " bee-keeping" future, I will try to put
together a hurried report, to give you an idea of
what we are doing.
Last season was much the same here as in other
localities; "onlyabout half an average;" there was
a good flow of huney in the latter part, however, and
bees went into winter-quarters in good condition,
and came through with little loss. Our original bee-
keeper in this immciiiate vicinity (who has kept bees
in a "sort" of way for about 20 years) wintered 30
colonies th? past winter, and sold down to 20 in the
spring; has made about 20^0 lbs., about one-third
comb hone.\ , and the rest extracted honey, and in-
creased to 6) by natural swarming. Another neigh-
bor commenced the season with 13; increased to -15,
and made 1500 lbs. extracted. My father wintered 11
out of 12; sold 2 in the spring: increased to 28, and
extracted nOd lbs.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUliE.
425
And now for my own report:—
Til the spring of 1883, when my father's bees began
t) fly (he had bought a couple of colonies the au-
tumn previous), I became entranced with the little
fellows, and then and there became a bee-man. I
hardly knew a bee from a black fly. I knew nothing
of yourself and Gleanings, or any thing olse in the
bee line; but, bees I would have. I bought a colony
of blacks for ft). 00; had two swarms; bought anoth-
er first swarm, and made about 93 lbs. of honey
from all. I took another colony from my brother to
work on shares; wintered the five safely, and start-
ed out In April, 1881, to "make a business" of it.
Bees wore scarce, and very hard to get, and only
blacks at that. I bought 9 mo-e stocks, mostly in
box and straw hives, sonic very weak, and some
queenless. I transferred the whole "business" in-
to new hives; bought a lot of foundation, and equal-
ized them as well as possible, for clover bloom. 1
have bought, besides, IT first swarms (all blacks),
and now for results: I have extracted 1300 lbs. of
flrst-olass clover and basswood honey, and have to-
day 53 colonies,— 18 Italian, 11 Cj'prian, 8 Holy-Land;
the remainder will be "as the others" before the
season closes.
Clover and basswood bloom was splendid; but
since the latter closed, we have had little or no
honey, partly on account of the hot, dry weather.
My apiarv has been so mixed all through the season
that it's hard to give any flgures as to results per
colony; but I And, by a premature closing of my
books, that they will show a net gain of HOC percent
on net investment iu the spring.
Next season the business will probably be in the
hands of my brother (who is at present in your own
apiary), while I "go to prepare" myself for a posi-
tion in the social and apicultural world, which I
shall leave to yourself to picture.
Now, friend Koot, I can hear you say, " V cry good,
friend C; but, go carefully; go slowly at first till
you get experience." 1 promise you I will be care-
ful, for I guess 1 know what care it has taken to put
that little apiary in its present shape; yes, to build
it up from nothing in six months: but to go slowly,
never! I have a great many faithful advisers on
this point, and I would say to all such who may read
the?G lines, that with all duo respect for your good
wishes and greater experience, " Please, before you
say further, come right here and step into my
shoes." I have lived a quiet country life on my
father's farm for twenty years; but that life is at an
end now, and time is precious; time is monej', edu-
cation, influence, every thing, and time is short.
I keep bees, flrstl)', for the money that is in them;
secondly and mostly, from a profound love of the
great, the grand, and beautiful in nature and sci-
ence. 1 have said nothing on the thousand and one
ditfcrent points pertaining to the scientific culture
of the honey-bee, but I fear this little report is i-.l-
ready too long; and, wishing you every success in
your noble calling, I close for the present.
A. E. Calveut.
Keaboro, Ont., Can., Aug. It), 1881.
JMay God bless you, my younj; friend, in
your enthusiasm ; but still 1 can not but
think it best for you to scrape up a stock of
energy for the coming winter, so that, even
if you should lose every bee, you will keep
right on at work, all the same. I3y advising
to go slowly, I do not mean that you should
waste any time, by any means, but that you
should be slow about investing beyond your
means, or getting into debt. Go just as fast
as you can, by all means, if you have every
thing all paid up, and your colonies are gooll
and strong for winter. I do not believ-e it
will spoil your brotlier if I say a word about
liim, to encourage oilier young men to go
and do likewise. He is in'tlie apiary, busily
at work from daylight until dark, every day
in the week, and therefore has no time to
'' go up town," or lounge about anywhere.
Of course, he neither drinks, smokes, swears,
nor uses tobacco, and on the Sabbath he
helps in the mission school at Abbeyville.
Ilis voice is also heard in our young people's
prayer-meeting. It may be that, on account
of his quiet ways and "devotion to lus bees
that many in our town do not know of him ;
but nobody knows anything bad of him. If
I am right, the world will know of all such
young men in God's own time.
I presume the 140<J per cent was made by
commencing with a small capital, and not
counting your time, friend C.
A NEW TOOIi FOR BEE-KEEPERS.
SEND by this mail a sample press for perforat-
ing separators, subject to your alterations. I
can furnish them to you by the quantity for
75c per press, and I think every bee-keeper would
have one if ho knew the value of it. I made my sep-
arators out of old tomato-cans, and perforated all of
them; it will last a lifetime, if used rightly. I have
already furnished the bee-keepers around here with
one of my presses, and they all want me to have it
patented; but I tell them you would not handle it if
I did. Now, friend Koot, 1 want a good big order. I
know they will sell; and as well I would like to have
an order for more saw-mandrels. Wm. DeWortu.
Bordentown, N. J., Aug. l'^, 1881.
The machine is at hand, and we give you
an engraving of it below:
.MA( HINE FOU PERFORATING SEPARATORS.
It is a splendid piece of work, and if friend
D. will make such tools at the prices he
mentions, he will build u]) one of the largest
industries of our land. The machine culs a
circle of about -l-iG, but it would easily per-
forate a hole as large as V inch, iu tin. It
426
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
^El'T.
does the work rapidly and Avell. I presume
extra dies for different-sized round holes
could be furnished cheaply. The postage on
it will be about 2oc. This will make ic S 1.25,
postpaid. Orders may be sent us. or to
friend I). 1 presume he ought to have an
order for lUO, to make them at this price;
but I can hardly afford to order so many un-
til we know how many want them.
]adk§' §^f^iU^.
A THOrSAND TOSS OF HONEY.
^njpS»EAK FRIEND ROOT:^Your journal comes
JPjIJy) gliding iato the parsonage every month,
— awakening no little amount of interest. At
first I was disposed to lay them upon the shelf until
ihey had accumulated in suflicient numbers to make
a good lire some cold morning. That , hoivcvcr, was
nocrtixL I took up the first journal a few evenings
after it had been received, and glanced over its
pages. I became interested, and now look lor its
<!omiug as 1 would for a friend. May the Lord bless
you in .\our efforts to satisfy all the cravings t)f
your n\inierous readers! also to bear the burdens
which "Blasted Hopes" would place upon you
from month to month. You are doing a noble work,
and, I should judge, a self-sacriflcing one, if 1 may
judge from your liberality. I have just read the ac-
count of your visit to Detroit. Why did you not
come to the northwestern part of Michigan? You
have some very warm personal frisnds in this re-
gion. I have just returned from paying a visit to
one of .\our lady friends. On entering herhi.me she
said, " You nuist excuse the looks of things to-day,
for I ha\e been very busy, and could not attend to
my housework. Come, sec what I have been do-
ing."
She led mc into a room. On the table was a large
wash-tub, ontaining 1.50 lbs. of extracted honey.
She then led me into another room, in which was
honey in every kiml of conceivable vessel. The
crowning point to ail surprise was a statement, made
by the good lady, as follows: " I have extracted a
thousand tons of honey this season, lacking half a
pound." No wonder she had put honey ia every
conceivable vessel, from a broken tea-pot to an im-
mense wash-tub. She meant to say a thousand
pounds. I'lace her in the column of " IJright
Hopes," if you have such in your journal. She
oomnuinced with five hives; now they number fif-
teen, all healthy and strong. She proves to be one
of the most successful managers in bee culture in
this part of Michigan, an<l a very warm friend of A.
I. Hoot. James Davies.
Atwood, Antrim Co., Mich., Aug. IG, 1881.
Mr. Merrybanks and his neighbor is crowded out
this month by other matter.
SO-ME one of you has sent us a beautiful sample of
thin fdn, folded in a thin piece of dark paper. On
the paper is printed, with cheirograph, " Thin mold-
ed fdn. for comb honey, 50c per lb." The sample
has very nice side walls, on both sides. Who did it?
J. B. Lamo.ntag.n'E, of Montreal, sends us a bee
book in French. As we can onlj' review it by look-
ing at tlie pictures, about all we can say is, that it
seems fully up to the times. The engravings are
most of them from our modern bee-books, and the
book has 188 pages and 100 engraving?.
Our copper wire. No. 2.5, is exactly right for tele-
phones. Price per lb., 45 cents.
The Burch matter has occupied too much space
already. I hope you will excuse me for declining any
more (ii-ticUs on the matter.
Every thing is drying up here, as it is with almost
all of you, 1 suppose; but, strange to tell, the bees
are still getting all they consume, and we get on
with queen-rearing almost as well as we did at any
time, although the queens are slower in becoming
fertilized. I presume the honey comes from the
seed crop of the red clover.
FANCY SECTIONS FOR HONEY.
Has any one of you had good success in getting
these filled, and do they look nicely when filled? I
ask this because wo sell a good many, but I can not
remember that 1 ever had a report in regard to them;
and if they do not please. I wish to take them out of
our price bst.
The following is from the Cincinnati BvVctin : —
If n lice is )iiiii-hcil 1)\ voii. aiiil .'<tiiifrs vou 'Hi the lianil, ic-
niiivr till' stiiiir witli vcnii' lliiinih iiHil,:i;i;i siii^k tlic pluci- In-
twei-ii till' lips, and don't halloo '■Uiii-li!" liki- an idiot. .>r lie so
reckless as to tlxiust tlic same liand liaek amonj,' tlie hees im-
mediately.
I Should give the same advice, with the exception
of omitting the sucking. It takes time, and docs no
good that I can see.
It is a little amusing, nowadays, to have custom-
ers ask how soon we can send, a queen. Whj', my
friends, we have had queens by the hundred waiting
for customers, for the past.six weeks. In fact, the
clerks are standing ready to grasp each letter almost
the minute it is out of the envelope, pleased at the
chance of sending you by next train almost any arti-
cle mentioned in our price list. Any one who is be-
hind on orders in August or September ought to be
ashamed of himself.
The following from the Iiidknia Fainter is a little
suggestive, and, strikes at just about the real state
of the matter:
That the best honey iu the most marketable
shape will alwavs bring the best price, has never
been more fully exemplified than in a case which
was brought to our notice a few days since. W-hile
down street, within a stone's throw of the Fanmr
office, at a fancy grocer's, two lots of honey were
brought in. As for the honey, it was all very white
and nice, but one lot was in a "skip" which held
something over 20 lbs., and must be cut out and sold
in chunks. The other 25 lbs. in 1':; lb. sections, all
encased in a nice shipping-case. The latter brought
23 cents per pound, while the former lot brought
only 12! i cents, and the grocer could hardly be in-
ducc'l to take it at that price.
Our ingenious friend Scovell of Columbus, Kan., was
the one alluded to in our last number, who invented
the new way of grooving the Peet cages for the tins,
at the same time friend Foster did. It is, in reality,
the same thing as the cage I paid him S35.O0 for a few
years ago. Friend S. also sends us :i plan for wiring
frames, without the necessity of making any holes
for the wire. Take :i thin board, say Vi or "■» thick,
and saw grooves in it, as fai- apart as you want the
wires.- These grooves are to go just half through
the board. Now rip off strips from this board, and
you have places for the wires in each strip. The
strips are of such length that one may be tacked
under the top-bar, and over the bottom-bar of the
frame. It is ingenious, but I think rather more
work for us tb.p,n o\ir usual way.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
427
THE EXPERIENCE OF A NOVICE IN BEE
CU1.TITRE.
CHAPTER I.,
IN wniCII HE TELLS HOW HE FIRST CAME TO KEEP
BEES, ETC.
^Ijpl^EAR FRIEND NOVICE:— I have often thought
f\jyj of writing you a letter, telling- you of my suc-
cess as a bee-keeper, and how I CDmracnced.
I should have done so before, but thought to give
the field to those more learned and experienced in
the business. I was born and brought up upon a
small farm in the town of Berne, Albany Co., N. Y.
My parents were poor, and, living some way from
a schoolhouse, I got but a very little education.
When I was twelve j^ears old I left the paternal
rcrof and went out into the worlii to do for myself. I
worked out by the month for a few years, and so my
wages was not very high. I merely earned enough
to supply myself with the necessaries of life. When
I was ~1 I got married, and worked a small place of
about 60 acres of land for one-third, the owner find-
ing tools. This business I carried on for three years,
and at the end 1 was no better off than at the com-
mencement; but in reality 1 was money out of
pocket. At the end of three years I engaged to
work a large farm in Schoharie Co. (where I now re-
side), belonging to a cousin; and after working hard,
myself and wife, at the end of the year we were
really money out of pocket. I concluded that there
was n(j show for a poor man in the farming line, so
concluded to try some thing else.
In the spring of 1877, the same year that I com-
menced to work the last place above mentioned, I
saw an advertisement in some paper (I have forgot-
ten the name of the paper now, but I think it was
in the American Aoyicfd'uriiit;) the advertisement
read like the following:—
I>ear Friend;— If you are interested in Bees or Honey, we will
with pleabiiie send you a sample copy of (Jleaninus ix Bek
Cl'LTiRE. Siniplv solid your name, plainly written on a postal
card, to A. I. KOOT, Medina, Ohio.
Now, I had been interested in the little honey-bees
all my life. I used to watch them hour after hour
as they came, loaded down with wax and honey, as I
termed it then, for my brother-in-law, who used to
keep a few bees in box hives, informed me that it
was wax that they carried on their logs, and of
course I thought the same; how should I know bet-
ter then? but I know better now. Well, as I have
said before, I was interested, and so sent my name
to you, and in a few days received a copy of Glean-
ings. But I was much surprised when I got it; of
course, my first thoughts were, after reading about
frame hives and artificial combs, and machines to
extract the honey out of the combs without injury
to them, and about artificial swarming and queen-
rearing, and all of this and that, that it was a hum-
bug, and so I laid it aside; but every time I came
into the house my mind was drawn to that "hum-
bugging book," as I termed it, and the more I read
it the more uneasy I got; and at last I concluded to
purchase a colony of bees if I could. So in a few
days I had some business to attend to in the further
part of the town, and in coming home I noticed an
old man carrying bees out of his celljir. As he had
a good many swarms, I thought perhaps he might
sell me one or two colonies; and so in a few days I
had occasion to pass that way again. The old man
was out among his bees. I drove my horses up near
the fence, and, after fastening them, I opened a con-
versation with him in regard to his bees. After
passing a few remarks in regard to them, I asked
him if he would sell me a couple of swarms. He
said that he would. I asked him his price, and he
replied that he had some that he would sell for $4.00
a swarm, and some that he would not sell at all. I
asked him to show me some of his four-dollar
swarms. As the price through the country for
black bees in box hives was five dollars a swarm, I
thought perhaps here was a chance to get some bees
at a lower price. The old gentleman turned up his
hives, one after another, and I discovered at once
that they were the culls of his yard; for so I learned
afterward, that, in carrying them out of his cellar,
when he came to one that was moldy, or a young
swarm that had not the combs built down even to
the bottom, or was light in bees, he had carried them
all to this row. I told the old gentleman that the
bees did not suit me, and that I would rather pay a
larger price and get better bees. His reply was,
that if those bees were not good enough for me, I
might go without. So he finally left me, and went
about his work. After he had left me, I took the
privilege of examining some of his other colonies.
I found them to be full of bees, and good bright
combs, and looked as if they might be first-class
stocks, although I knew nothing about bees. I
looked at about all the rest of his colonies, and aft-
er making a careful examination I marked my name
on two hives, then went where he was, and told him
what I had done, and that I would give him eleven
dollars for these two stands of bees, providing he
would trust me for that amount until I could sell
some farm produce. He said he thought that I did
not want any bees, for thej' might sting me; sol
left him and went my way.
In the course of a week or so the old gentleman
sent word to me, that if I wanted those bees I might
have them, and that I must come and get them that
very day, or I should not have them at all; and at
the same time I must give him security for the
amount. As I wanted the bees very much, I of
course went and complied with the old man's re-
quest. After getting them put up and into the wag-
on, he gave me some instructions in regard to their
management. But, friend Novice, those instruc-
tions were never put in practice; for if they had, I
never would have been the happy fellow I now am,
for I found better instructions from a different
source. It was from that little pamphlet that came
from you — the one that I thought must be a hum-
bug. May God bless you, friend Root, for sending it
to mo !
Well, what was the result of my purchase, and
what did I do with the bees? Did I make bee-keep-
ing a failure, and should I be put into Blasted
Hopes? I will leave it for you to .iudge. I got my
bees safely home, and placed where they could be
seen by my wife while she was about her work, lor
she had to do the watching of them while I was
away in the field at work. The 38th day of May, one
of the colonies cast a large swarm, and in a few
da j's the other followed suit, and the old man of
whom I bought them did not have a swarm until the
6th of June; and in the fall I had 9 fine colonies in
good condition for winter, and eleven dollars' worth
of honey. So you see that my bees had not only paid
for themselves, but I had for my work 0 good colo-
nies of bees. The old gentleman now began to be a
frequent visitor at my house. He told the story of
my success to every one he met. He began to ask
me questions concerning bees, when, in fact, 1
428
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Sept.
should have been asking ?ii»i; for he had kept bees
all his life. Well, as winter came near, I began to
think how I was going to winter my little pets so as
to have them all alive in spring, for I <k)u1 1 not bear
to think of losing any of them. I was not much
posted in bee culture, for I had had no instructions
except what I had got from the one copy of Glean-
ings, and I was too poor to be a subscriber and re-
ceive it every month; and as for any other book or
paper pertaining to liee culture. I was as yet igno-
rant of it as a new-born babe: so when winter sat in
I carried my bees all upstairs into an unoccupied
part of the house — a room about 10 feet square,
lathed and plastered. Although I wintered them all
safely, I would never recommend any one to try to
winter bees upstairs in a building of any kind. They
seemed to do well until the warm days toward spring
began to come, and then the room would warm up
so as to make them uneasy; but, however, I win-
tered them all through, and commenced that spring
keeping bees as a business. I rented a small house
and about half an acre of land, and took up Ijee-
keepiug in earnest. Well, what is the result? To-
day it is this: With just the purchase of '2 more col-
onies that spring, I have supported mj- family,
which consists now of 6, one little girl 7 years old ;
one little boy 3, and a pair of twins, b'aby boys 8
months old. The little l>oy of ;j we have named
Novice, and I send you his picture. In the fall of
1H80 I had 00 full colonics and a few nuclei. With
the e.\eeption of the nuclei, I wintered all safely, and
think that I would have wintered lliem had I not
been prevented, by sickness in mj- family, from get-
ting them in shape lor winter. As it was, I had to
leave them out until cold weather, and then pack
them up and move them about four miles, when the
weather was so cold that I could put up only '2 colo-
nies, and my fingers would be so cold and numb that
I would have to go and warm them. As it is, I have
yet to lose the first lull colony of bees. I wintered
one nucleus on its summer stand with only three
frames of bees, without the loss of 50 bees. This I
can prove. They were closed tight in Iheir hive;
for 150 days, not a bee saw daylight.
I can not tell you just how many colonies I
have at present, for I am 300 miles from home in
the State of Vermont, runiug an apiary and queen-
yard for A. E. Manum, the man who makes the
white-poplar sections. I have been here since the
13th of May. My wife has charge of my apiary at
home, and, besides, takes care of four children; so
you see she has some thing to do — a family to look
after, and about lOO colonies of bees. The last letter
that she wrote she informed me that she had often
got swarms out of the highest apple-trees by piling
bee-hive caps on top of each other, and then setting
the ladder on top of those. You see, I am trying to
make bee-keeping pay in two ways, for I am anxious
to buy and pay for a small home.
As to wintering bees, I have no fear. 1 givo them
water every day in winter, and am not afraid to take
any one into my cellar at any time, and lift out the
frame and show you the bees. I am not afraid of
disturbing them in the least, for I can give you ex-
amples of fetching colonies from the back part of
my cellar out into the light, and showing the bees to
visitors in mid-winter; and further, let me tell you
that I can show you lots of young hatching bees in
my hives all through the winter. My bees have
water in winter as regularly as my family have their
meals. My bees came out so strong this last spring
that theycame very near cleaning out my neighbors'
bees that were in good condition; and, in fact, did
clean out a good many stocks of bees in the neigh-
borhood. I wintered my bees in 1879 and 1880 in a
ground depository that I built on purpose, with one
end of the building exposed to the weather; and
when one was inside, and the door shut, every hive
could be counted; in fact, I could see to read coarse
print; and from 50 colonies, not a four-quart meas-
ure full of bees were on the floor. la the spring
they came out strong, and in fine order.
I see a great deiil of writing in regard to wintering
bees, and the greater part of it docs not amount to
the paper it is written on. Some say that bees must
not breed in winter, as it will cause them to consume
more food, and it will result in dysentery. The past
winter, about the first of January I took out 8 col- .
onics from different parts of the cellar. Every one
of the 8 had two and three frames or sealed brood
and young bees hatching. In March, about the first,
I examined other stocks; tbe.\- were breeding largely.
Now this is no guess work, for I carried them out
of the cellar, and took out the frames. I am not
afraid to examine my bees, for I am one of the most
inquisitive fellows you ev«r saw. Perhaps other
bee-keepers have ditferont bees from those I have.
I am aware that bees want to be handled with judg-
ment and care, and I am also aware that a great
deal of bosh and trash is written in regard to them
by men who know but little about them, but who
think they know it all; for I have proof that some
of our most scientific and practical bee-men who
have the most to say (at least they claim to be scien-
tific and practical) have the pooi'est luck in winter-
ing, and are constantly losing their bees, and have
no better luck than those who do not claim to be so
scientific. Is it not so?
One thing I believe; that is, the destruction of
hundreds of colonies in winter is because the owners
did not know how to use the extractor, or else they
knew how to use it too much, and did not know
enough to stop. Let me give an illustration: A bee-
keeper of my acquaintance extracted the honey
from the center frames of his hives. As it was late
in the season, thej' did not have a chaucc to fill up.
There were two frames of honey at each side of the
hives; in the center the combs were empty, but the
owner supposed that the bees were all right; but
every one that was In this condition perished, while
those that were not extracted from came out all
alive. This is only one of many similar cases.
I think I have been quite successful so far with
bees, but I have done some hard work, and have lain
awake a good many nights planning and studying-
how to manage them, and the best way to do. Last
year I sent and got the ABC book, and got some
good information from it. I am now a regular sub-
scriber to Gleanings, and am very much interested
in it. I love to read the Home Pnpcrs, and only find
fault because you do not print them longer. Tell
W. Z. Hutchinson that he is not the only bee-keeper
who has a pair of twins to take care of; but I do not
think ours are so much trouble as his, for my wife
has taken care of them this summer, and a hundred
colonics of bees to boot. I hope to be with my fami-
ly soon, and takf some of the cares off my wife. I
expect to remain here in Vermont until the last of
September. My Tjees are doing well at home, so my
wife writes me, and I am glad to hear it. Is there
any other bee-keeper who takes Gle.a.nis(;s who has
loft his wife ^it)i tV'O little twins, and a hundred col-
1881
GLEA2^INGS I]S' JiEE CULTUKE.
429
onies of bees to take care of for five months as 1
have? If there is, I should be pleased to hear from
him.
The bees here in Vermont have done very well
considering the weather. Basswood Avas not a very
big crop; it lasted but a few days. The honey sea-
son closed hero about July :.'0. The most that any
one colony gathered was 2T5 lbs. of white honey; the
next best was 200. This was in the yard that I had
charge of. These colonies were not allowed to
swarm. If the basswood had been tirst class, as it is
some years, I would have secured 400 lbs. of white
honey from the best colonies, in 2-lb. sections. I use
all top-storing; no side-storing- for me. I had this
hive tiered up one foot higher than my head, and I
am 5 feet 8 inches with my shoes on. If any one can
give a larger yield from any one colony from the
first of Jime until the 20th of July, in sections, I
would be glad to hear from him. If any one should
wish to have my method in giving water to bees in
winter, and how I have managed to get 2T5 lbs. of
white honey in sections, I will give it in Gle.\nings
if the editor will give room.
In conclusion, I would say to those who intend to
make bee-keeping their business, to commence on a
small scale, and with the determination to make it a
success. Work hard, both with hands and brains.
and do not rely on forty different plans of manage-
ment, nor swallow every thing you read and hear,
but use your own good judgment, if you have any,
and good common sense; and if you are not possess-
ed with a good amount of these, you had better keep
out of the business.
I have seen many a dark day in battling with the
world. I have always tried to make some point, but
never succeeded in any thing until I began the bee
business; and if I had not happened to come across
your advertisement, and that copy of Gleanings,
perhaps I should have been struggling with the
world as I was in days gone by. I always liked to be
around bees, and often, when a boy, used to catch
bumble-bees and put them into k hollowed -out
pumpkin for a hive, but I never got a chance to have
bees, nor do I think I should have them now if I had
not learned of you in the way above mentioned.
Frank Boombroweh.
Gallupville, Schoharie Co., N. Y., August, issi.
May the Lord bless you for your kind let-
ter, so full of kind words, and energy and
zeal for our favorite industry ! May I sug-
gest here (as a caution), that it was ])robably
not because apiculture is a better business
than farming, but because your whole soul
Avas in it from the first? I know just how
you took that little pamphlet up and laid it
down again and again, for I have done the
same thing myself. To succeed in any thing,
there must be this thorough love for it.
Your idea of water in the cellar, only in-
dorses the idea of friend Simpson (see page
8, Jan.' No., 1880.) Again, your ability to
handle bees in the wiiater without injury
(and r have no doubt but that it can be done),
furnishes another link in the plan of raising
Ijees under glass, to till orders for bees by
the pound, in April and May. I have al-
ready succeeded in raising bees in at atmos-
phere protected by glass from the winds and
frosts ; and if we can keep the bees in good
health until they can be put permanently
outside, the problem is solved. But, friend
, B., how do you know j'ou won't lose all your
bees in a heap next spring, as so many oth-
ers have done, greatly to their astonishmentV
ITIAKKIIVG THE ^VEIGHT OF P.4.CKAGES
BEFORE CR.\TIIN<; HONEY FOR
MARKET.
A VERY IMPORTANT SUGGESTION.
'v:;jj5T5y^ILL you permit us to make a suggestion that
vI/tI will greatly facilitate the honey trade? It
^ is, to impress upon the fraternity the great
importance of marking the weight of the empty
packages, and particularly the shipping -crates,
plainly upon the crates before tilling. It is an easy
matter to And what a full crate weighs, but then we
have to guess at the tare, and the trade can not be
satisfactorilj- settled until the crate is returned,
thus greatly annoying dealers in not being able to
make returns for the honey until the tare is decided
upon. Besides this, there is almost always more or
less loose honey sticking to the crate when returned
empty, which adds to the original weight, and is a
loss to the producer. May we suggest, that you and
other manufacturers of crates weigh them when
finished, and stamp the weight with a rubber stamp
or stencil-plate upon the center of the top-bar, over
the glass, that it may show readily when stacked up
with glass side exposed to view. The crates would
not vary much in weight ; 3 or 4 dilTerent numbers
would suffice for each size. We wQuld not go into
fractions of ounces, but mark them the next highest
quarter, that they may be sure' to be correct. Per-
haps you would even say make it half instead of
quarters. Any way to suit the brethren ; but don't
forget to mark the tare. A. C. Kendel.
Cleveland, ()., Aug. li, 1881.
Why, friend K., you have struck upon a
giand thought. I liave got cross and scold-
ed several times, just because the boys al-
ways would forget to weigh and mark the
box before the honey was put in. It never
dawned on my understanding before, that
we could stamp everv case before it could be
used by anybody. We will set about It at
once, and every time 1 look on a case I will
remember to give you a mental vote of
thanks for saving us all a lot of annoyance.
COMBS FILLED WITH CLOVER HOIVEA',
INSTE.\I> OF COMBS FlLIiED WITH
POLLEN.
fN regard to wintering, I will speak from experi-
ence and observation. I have kept bees 14
'^^^ years, and have never seen bees die with dysen-
tery, or, in fact, any other way universally, except
i after seasons of abundance of fruit and scarcity of
honey in the fall. Now, then, we know that the
combs are full of brood to the exclusion of honey
and pollen, almost till fall; and if honey is scarce,
more pollen will he stored. Have you never noticed
' the. color of the fa?ces? I have often seen them
j drop it as clear as water; but when they had dysen-
! tery, it was always yellow. And did you ever know
i bees with dysentery when it was any other color
j than yellow? But I have seen it white when they
had no dysentery, and were fed with flour. What
1 does this argue? Now, from observation I have no-
! ticed that where bees were light in numbers in sum-
! mer, that 1 hey would fill their hives with abundance
430
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
Sept.
of earl3--clovcr honey, even to the exclusion of half
the brood; when fall came they would fill up the
rest with honey very easily, without mTich pollen,
even in a poor fall; and I have had the good fortune
to see that these colonies were the ones that win-
tered best in nine cases in ten, even when exposed
out of doors. Now, neighbor Fish has a bee-house.
At this time of year he feeds back his extracted
honey to get the bees to finish capping-, as there is
very little to gather here from July 30 to Aug. 15, on
an average. Of course, this is supplying them with
early honey to the condition of the light swarm spo-
ken of, more or less, and he always winters success-
fully, while neighbor Newman, of Norwalk, does
not do this as much, and has in his localily a poorer
fall, generally, than we have, and his bees came
very near ha\iug the dysentery last winter.
Here is the plan: Put 2 combs in with the sections,
and as soon as capped, put in 2 more, taking out the
first 2, and putting them away till you have enough
clear clover honey for winter, and then as the pas-
turage becomes scarce, put one of these combs be-
low, raising up a brood comb till the bees have nat-
urally ceased brood-rearing; but do not crowd them
to do so, and they can not get pollen into their win-
ter's supplies. I am of the opinion, that the warmth
of the repository giving the bees the preference of
food is where the secret is with them, mainly.
G. H. Mackey.
Milan, Eric Co., Ohio, Aug. 4, 1881.
QUESTIONS FROltl A ITOINO BEE-
KEEPER.
ONU WHO "WANTS TO KNOW, YOU KNOW."
S I am a young reader of your joiu-nal, there are
several questions I should like to ask, if they
are proper.
How many pounds of bees should there be in a hive
that is about two years old, or a young swarm just
hived? I mean, the average number of bees in each
box or hive, without honey-comb or box, or what
tare is allowed per box.
Can't well be answered definitely. Any-
where from 3 to 10 lbs. The combs, honey,
and pollen, may weigh anywhere from 1 lb.
up.
How many days after a queen is hatched out be-
fore she is impregnated, and does the one act of fer-
tilization with the drone do, if the queen should live
five years, or is she a "Mormon"? If not, what is
the use of keeping so many drones, if one answers
for that purpose?
The queen is fertilized only once, and the
large number of drones often kept in the
hive are only nature's method of securing
that once. I'hey also make it more certain
that any queen shall meet a drone from some
other hive than her own. Queens are fertil-
ized at from 6 to 10 days old, and begin to
lay in two days more.
Do the bees sleep or rest on the buslies at night, or
do they crowd into the hives these hot nights?
A single bee may occasionally stay out on
the bushes over night, when the nights are
very warm ; but as a rule, every Ijee is at
home before it is perfectly dark.
Can they see in their dark hive, or do they prefer
light? How far do they go after food, or do they
prefer having it at home?
Bees may see to some extent in the dark,
but it is my impression that comb-building,
nursing, and the rest of their work, is done
principally by the sense of touch, with their
antenna'. " (Queens lay their eggs by this
means, as you will notice they always put
their heads clear down into the cell before
depositing an egg. Who ever heard of a
queen tipping her head to one side, to squint
down to the bottom of a cell, to see if it con-
tained an egg ? I think that bees very like-
ly see the bees from a distance. — They often
fiy two miles or more ; seem to work more
profitably one mile or less.
If 50 hives were put into a room in the fall, with
plenty of windows for light, and a stove to keep up
the heat to about 40 or 50°, will they breed all win-
ter? or how would you ventilate a cellar fastened up
to keep out cold and frost, with 100 hives in it, sup-
posing each hi\e had, say, :i0,000 bees all in good
order put away in the fall, kept there for 4 months,
and how many bees would be in the same box when
taken out, if they did not breed in that time?
I think it is said, the life of a worker is three
months ; should the same care be taken of bees
that there is of cows and chickens?
By answering these questions jou will confer a
favor on a subscriber. Wm. Ingkam.
Telford, Bucks Co., Pa., Aug. (i, 1881.
Your last question, friend I., has taken
away my breath completely. Bees will fly
on a window every time, as soon as the room
is warm enough for them to fly. The life of
a working bee, during the icorking season, is
not as much as 40 days ; but during the win-
ter they may live a great deal longer than
that. At some seasons the bees require
fully as much care as cows and chickens ;
but there are several months during the fall,
winter, and spring, when they are better off
without care, if "they have been properly
cared for before starting into these cold
months. For ventilation of cellars, see Geo.
Grimm's articles on the subject. A hive of
young bees may be kept four months almost
without loss, if they raise no brood ; Ijut we
do not often reach that perfection in winter-
ing- ^
■ — » ♦ — •
IMPORTANCE OF GETTING THE BEES
Alil. FIXED FOB ^VINTER BEFOBE
FBOSTY AVEATHER.
AL8I) SOMETHING ABOUT GETTING OUT OF BLASTED
HOPES INTO THE SMILERY.
HAVE just received the Aug. No. of Gleanings,
and was so struck with the truth of a statement
made by W. D. Hinds, of Townsend, Mass., on
page 385, that I could not resist the temptation to
confirm the statement, and also contribute what lit-
tle information I may have from this section of
Iowa.
Bees weic almost uui\ersally handled too late last
fall. People had no idea winter would commence
for a reality, in its severest form, the middle of Oc-
tober. It was unlooked for, —-an unusual occur-
rence, as our falls are, with very few exceptions,
simplj' beautiful, mild, pleasant weather, until
Christmas; have considerable wind, and but little
snow. People here are unaccustomed to sleighing,
consequently they have no sleds; but during the
winter, every man, woman, or child, who could afford
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
431
a horse, and a dry-goods box, had a sled, and it was
certainly comical in the extreme to see so many
different ideas. But this is not bees.
Last fall I went into winter-quarters with 78
stocks— Italians, but not pure. I use the Champion
hive, frames lOxltJ, and Id frames in hive. I gave
them all on an average 50 lbs. of good new honey,
basswood and goldenrod, covered tops of frames
with two thicknesses of common cotton or domestic.
I drove two rows of stakes three feet apart, then
spread straw between, about six inches ileep, then
covered that with boards, nice, even, and level;
then set in my hives in a row, with their fronts al-
ternate, placing the hives about 3 inches apart, then
protected my entrances in order to keep out chaff,
and give bees an opportunity to fly when they chose
to. My next move was to place a board to the front
and to the back of bees, leaning against inside of
post. Now I commence to pack chaff ail around,
leave off my covers, add more 6-inch boards until
they are four high, then top off with coarse hay.
Thus you see they have one foot of chaff' in front
and behind, with :} inches -between.
You would almost venture to say they were free
from the sudden changes of even an unusually cold
winter; but such is not the case: my entire stock
all died but nine.
But now comes my confession. Just before I
packed awaj', I transferred 19 in cold weather, so
cold that mittens were comfortable. I gave them
their winter supplies in somewhat cool weather, and,
last of all, had to pack them away in just such
weather. Kept waiting for our nice warm days to
come, such as wo usually have; but, ;ilas! they never
came, and I was forced to put them away .iust then,
or leave them out, which I thought would be sure
death. Hundreds of my combs were handled, jar-
ring and breaking their cosy little homes for winter,
but no opportunity came to repair the <lamage done.
Cold winds and drafts penetrated, snow drifted in»
ice formed all over the combs, and the moment
a bee left the cluster, it had to crawl to a fro-
zen, icy comb, there only to meet its doom. The
combs were too close, not allowing enough bees to
cluster together to keep up the necessary amount
of heat. No holes were cut in order to give bees a
free passage to and from any comb. As it was, the
space between combs soon became clogged with
dead bees, and they died so rapidly that, in their
effort to remove them, they only clogged the en-
trance tighter and tighter (entrance about Sx'a in.)
The once prosperous swarm soon dwindled down to
nothing. The heat became less, and a mighty effort
was necessary to keep body and soul together; but
it was too much for the little fellows, so they buried
their heads in the cells, and gave up the ghost. Not
one mouthful of honey could they get, but just in
the next comb there was an abundance. I had
many stocks come out in just such shape, but some
others starved outright, and put away with .")0 lbs.
Had they been put away at an earlier season, and
allowed time to seal up with propolis, good and tight,
then removed gently to their winter location, I feel
confideHt they would have come out unscathed.
I will give you my reasons for thinking so.
My partner {then) wintered his Co stocks within 40
feet of mine, in just the same manner of packing.
His loss was about 18 or 20, but he packed them be-
fore mine a week or ten days, and had no jarring to
do, — simply to set his hives into ricks, and quietly
cover them up.
We have wintered in this manner for ten years,
and have always been successful. It's ray opinion
the majority of bee-keepers were a little careless
last fall in attending to their apiaries, and prepar-
ing for winter; liut they are somewhat justified, on
account of the. extremely cold weather which set in
so soon, taking every one by surprise, compelling
farmers to leave broad fields of yellow corn, to the
mercy of hungry, roving cattle. Bift in another
sense of the word, we are responsible for the loss of
almost every bee. I have reference to men who fol-
low apiculture as a profession. There is a shadow
of an excuse for men who are engaged in some oth-
er occupation, not depending on bees for their bread
and butter exclusively, but who keep them for fun,
I guess. Whatever we do. if we intend to make it
our business, let us do it ; don't leave one stone un-
turned; devote every spare moment to improve-
ments ; do whatever lies in your power to advance
your loved profession. Don't let any thing wait un-
til to-morrow; go at it with a determination to make
it win, come what will ; and above all things, have
faith, and don't give up. Hang on to the last, and if
you get on your back, lie there and kick. I feel so
glad over my victory this spring, that I can not help
speaking as I do.
Nino poor weak stocks, and I badly in debt! Nine
weak stocks.! could it be possible? could I ever face
my creditors, and feel that, when the time caine
around, I could pay them? I was on the point of
giving up, when a little advice given by a friend
turned the balance. I went to work with a will,
cleaned out my hives and combs, transferred my
dirty, sticky little fellows into a clean hive, con-
tracted the space in hivo and fed them. I soon dis-
covered pollen coming in from soft maple, and
from that time it has been a continuous boom. Not
one bit of robbing; all is well, and " the goose hangs
high." I soon started nuclei, raised my queens,
bought about 18 stocks, and now I have 70 rousing
stands, ready for our fall crop of goldenrod, which
is what we depend on almost entirely; no clover,
and no fruit-blossoms. Basswood, goldenrod, buck
brush, tanweed, sumac, and sunflowers, are our
honej'-plants. I have now a surplus of about 1000
lbs. of honey, and my 70 stocks. If we have an av-
erage crop of goldenrod we will gather 6000 lbs. easi-
ly. I raise none but extracted honey, as I can make
it pay much better.
When I think how blue every thing looked in
spring and now go out and see my yard full of lively
little fellows, each bringing in his sweetened bur-
den, working all day long so unselfishly for me,
my heai't goes out in tender gratefulness to Him
who is the giver of every good and perfect gift. I
am truly grateful for all I hnve received.
Ed. F. Christie.
Maple Landing, Monona Co., Iowa, Aug. 8, 1881.
It seems to me a little unkind for the A. B. J.
folks, ojiy of them, to intimate that our apiary, of
which they gave a fine picture a short time ago, was
more a picture than a reality. Four of the seven
apiaries are filled completely, and two of the re-
maining three are partly full. One man has entire
charge of it now, and if there is an apiary worked
more successfully for raising bees and queens on
the face of the earth, I should like to pay it a visit.
Come and see the bees and queens, and get some
grapes, friends, and then you won't think it is cdJ on
paper.
432
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Sept.
URAPr: SUGAR NOT ALAVAYS " DEAIJ-
L.V" FOR BEES.
ALSO SOJIE IDEAS ABOUT VENTILATION.
fllE writer of the following, while mak-
ing us u visit, remarked that he win-
— ■ tered 49 out of 50 colonies last winter,
and thatfthey were all fed on grape sugar
except one, and that one died. I asked him
to give it me for print, and here it is: —
FRIEND NOVICE:-W"e comply with your re-
quest, while visiting you lately (at the "Home of the
Honey-Bees"), to tell you all about how we fed
grape sugar to about 50 colonies of bees hist winter,
with loss of but ((Hc. W^ell, the facts are these: After
the burning of our farm house, .June 8, lS8t), we
found our apiary, which was located near the house,
reduced by the heat about one-half. In September
we procured a lot of grape sugar, and fed about 50
stocks. We fed onUj when the weather would per-
mit the bees to tiy firehj. Part <if our frames are
Gallup and American, but mostly L. The two for-
mer are closed-top. We put the chaff cushions right
on top the frames, and wintered on summer stands.
The apiary was located on low ground that was sub-
ject ;o overflow. The hives were put down on about
one foot of sawdust, and were in no manner dis-
turbed till March, when the weather opened up
some, and the bees took a good fly. At that time
we again "poked in" that "irrepressible" grape
sugar. The colony that "petered out" was in a box
hive, 21x13 inches; had plenty of thick pure honey
and pollen, and )io grape sugar; hole in top of hive,
-t.vi inches. The loss of that colony, we charge to
excess of "ventilation;" and right here I would
caution you to be careful how you "go off" on
"ventilation," for we once lost the best colony of
bees we ever had by allowing the slide to remain out
of an opening ixi in. umkr the brood chamber.
That mijlect killed that powerful 12 L. frame colony
by Christmas. We don't have any cold currents of
air up through the cluster a tcr we go into winter-
quarters, and not, on an average, half as much in
the summer as some bee-keepers we could name.
We believe that all fresh air necessary for any col-
ony of bees in winter can be got into the hive at a
3x"B inch entrance, and out of it through a good
thick chaff cushion, placed right on top of the
frames — u'i:?ioi(( any "round" or "square" hole in
its center.
As to your query, how our bees were prospering,
etc., I will say we about doubled our stocks by di-
visions and natural swarming. We have the strong-
est colonies, and healthiest-looking bees we ever
had.
Our crop of extracted and comb honey will foot
up well, as at this date our red-clover bees are bring-
ing in considerable surplus of finest quality, from
the after or second crop of red clover.
In concluding this hastily written article, I will
add that, for a radius of 4 miles from our apiary,
there is not one living colony of bees that came
through last winter. AVouldn't this be a splendid
place, friend Harrington, for those shy Holy-Land
virgins, that want to extend their wedding tours?
Next month all of our colonies that teay be found
in need of winter stores shall have plenty of good
pure grape sugar, while the weather is yet warm
enough for them to exercise well in the open air.
We feed it in the solid state over the frames, and
in body of hive; sometl flies moisten it a little. Fur-
ther inquiries will be cheerfully answered. Some
time we hope to be able to tell all about what we
learned during our visit to the " Home of the Honej'-
Bees." 1 return thanks for favors received.
Smithfleld, O., Aug. 15, 1881. D. H. Tweedy.
1 have ])nblished the above to show that
grape sugar is not necessarily the cause of
bees dying, even if those fed on it die, and
no others. A few months ago a f rieml wrote
that the queens we sold him last year were
certainly poor, for every colony where he in-
troduced them died, but none" of his others.
Was it the queens tliat killed themV To be
sure, not. It was the disturbing and stir-
ring up the colonies at a particular time in
the fall, in my opinion. We have often had
reports of colonies that died after being
moved in the fall, while the rest of the apiary
that was not all so moved, all lived. Again,
the moving seems to make no difference.
Friend T. thinks too much ventilation killed
j them. In view of what has been said about
j leaving sections over the hives all winter, I
I can hardly think this is so. AVhatever may
j be the truth in regard to so many conflicting
I reports, I think it stands out strong and
clear, that it is best to tix our bees all up be-
fore cold weather sets in. and then let them
alone until it is warm again. I think it is
also well decided that coffee or granulated
sugar is much safer than grape sugar, hon-
ey, or any thing else, providing you must
feed to give them the requisite stores.
AST fall my brother had 19 swarms; some of
I them were Italians, and some blacks. There
were 5 swarms which came and stopped in the
trees near the bee-yard. We put them into hives,
and gave them a place in the bee-yard. Through
last winter we lost all but 4. My brother has been
in poor health for 2 years, so he has taken a trip to
Lake Superior, and I take care of the bees. We take
Gleanings. Mother and father like to read the
Home Papers, and I like to read it, and look at the
pictures of Mr. Mcrrybanks. I will be 12 years of
age the 23d of December. Our bees are doing well.
Willie A. Young.
La Salle, La Salle Co., 111., July 18, 1881.
I am a little girl ll) years old. My pa keeps bees.
This is the first letter I ever wrote. I like the bees
pretty well when they don't sting. I go to Sunday-
school. I get a little paper every Sunday. I like to
go pretty well. My teacher's name is Alice Crady.
Elizabeth Leeper.
Dysart, Tama Co., Iowa, July 10, 1881.
Pretty well, Lizzie. Give my respects to
your teacher, and tell her I am glad she has
got a little girl in her class who can write
letters for print when she is onlv ten years
old.
I am a little girl ten years old. We live on a farm
in the country, seven miles from town. I don't get
to go to Sunday-school, but I would like to. We live
too far from any. Pa has had bees several years,
but we never get much honey. Last year pa sent
and got one of your books, and made some hives ac-
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
432
cording to your directions, and transferred the bees
to them but they all died last winter but two. Pa
says he is not going' to give it up yet. You won't
have to give pa a smoker to quit using tobacco. He
don't use it, nor whisky either. I like to read the
letters in Gleanings the little girls write, and Mr.
Merrybanks' bee-pail. Loijetta T'tley.
Farmersville, Posey Co., Ind.
May God bless both you and your papa,
Loretta I I am very glad lie doesn't smoke,
nor drink whisky. How many little girls
who read this can say as much V But I want
you to go to Sunday-school; aitd will you
please tell your papa' that he must take you
and go too. If tiiere is not one near enough,
tell him to stir the people up and start one.
^\i\\ you tell him so, Loretta V AVhat makes
them call your county " Posey " V Is it be-
cause you have so many posies V If so, I
should "like to go and seeyou.
June 6th. A swarm came out Sunday, June 13th,
and alighted on the body of a maple-tree below the
limbs. I helped hive it, and did not get stung. Papa
could not get the bees to go up into the hiving-box,
and at last he took a liall'-bushcl basket and brushed
the bees off into it, and they filled the basket almost
full.
I have read Gleanings, and see that you like to
have boys and girls write to you, so thought I would
write you a letter. I like to read about Mr. Merry-
banks, the Juvenile Department, and cartoons. 1
go to school, but we have vacation now. I have
been promoted to the grammar department.
Willie H. Pond.
Fo.xboro, Norfolk Co., Mass., July 25, ISSl.
Although but 12 years old, I take an interest in
reading your journal, particularly the Juvenile De-
partment. I have two brothers who keep bees.
They began last year with one colony, which came
through winter all right; they packed it with chaff
in a box, which was fi inches larger each way than
the hive. They connected a ventilator with the en-
trance, then covered the box with straw. The bees
were l.">0 days without flight. The winter was very
cold; sometimes 30° i)Plow zero. My brothers take
Gleanings, and by the way they read it I should
judge they thought some thing of it at least.
By the way, I must tell you my experiment with
the big bee — not Mr. Benton's bambera, but the
bumble-bee. I made a small hive for practice, size
fi by 4 inches, and (i inches high. One day I found a
bee's-nest, and after putting on veil and gloves I
transferred them into my hive, and removed them
to a new stand. Afterward I found two more nests
and gave them the honey and brood. What do you
think of that, Mr. Hoot?
I attend school, which my sister teaches. There
are a number of bee-men in our vicinity. I live but
a few miles from the noted tec-keeper L. C. Boot. I
send you 13 cents for which please send me a pocket
letter-balance. Georgik W. Jones.
Frankfort, N. Y., August 8, 1881.
I suppose, Georgie, that those bees packed
in chaff wintered all right, although you do
not say so. I, too, once had a pet hive with
bumble-bees in it. but all the protit I got
from them was to see visitors run whenever
I opened that hive. I really wish you would
pay friend Root a visit, and tell us some
thing about what you saw there. If you
will make such a visit, and write us a lettei-
about it. r will pay you one dollar for it.
I am a little boy 11 years old. My pai)a keeps bees,
and has begun this year to take Gleanings. He
has kept bees for several years, but he has not been
at home much till this summer, and coulil not take
care of them. He is now at home much of the time,
and so can look after his bees now. He used to keep
20 or more stocks. He has only 7 now. They are in
Langstroth and American hives. He likes the Lang-
stroth better; he says he shall use the Simplicity
next year. I am not afraid of bees now, but used
to be. When bees light on me now I stand still, and
they fly away and don't sting me. My papa showed
me a queen-cell to-day in a swarm that was hived
I am a little girl 11 years old. I saw so many let-
ters in Gleanings, which my father takes, that I
thought that I would try it. This is the first time 1
ever wrote. My pa has 12 colonies of bees. I like to
help when they swarm. I am not a Viit afraid of
them. I have not got one sting this summer. 1
have 5 brothers and ;J sisters. Lizzie Johnston.
Danforth, Iroquois Co., HI., July 12, 1881.
Perhaps the reason why you are not afraid,
friend Lizzie, is because you have not been
stung ; are you sure you will be as brave
when you do get stun^'V AVhy, there are al-
most enough of you to have a Sunday-school
there at home, without anybody else. May
God bless you, and all those brothers and
sisters! "
In my last letter I made a mistake. I said I was
11 years old. Pa says I am only 10. Pa bought the
watch for me because I had epilepsy. He told me I
must not run and get excited, and that I should take
my medicine regularly so I can get cured. I don't
have any spells if I do, but sometimes I forget my-
self, and run too much in playing and don't take my
medicine, and then I get a little spell.
Pa had 9 swarms last fall, and he wintered (i of
them. Now they have increased to IT, and he says
we will soon get lots of honey; yet he says if I am
well he will give me one swarm. I like to go to Sun-
day-school every Sunday, and I don't forget to take
my watch along either. Charles Peters.
Kogersville, Tusc. Co., O., July is, 1881.
May God grant, friend Charlie, that you
may become perfectly cured of that dread-
ful malady. Last summer a little girl was
taken with a spell of it, right in Sunday-
school. Tell your pa to look out for next
winter with those 17 swarms.
THE Li.lNGSTROTH FRAIUC:.
|o]UIEND BOOT : —On page C6J, August No. of
Jiril "' 1880 of Gleanings, in an article headed "Which
^^ Frame is the Best?" and signed Chas. Dadant
& Son, I find these words : " You know, as well as we
do, that the Langstroth frame is not fit for outdoor
wintering." Now, is the above remark true? It is,
of course, intended as an effort to disparage the Sim-
plicity hive, and may have some weight with those
who know nothing of the practical working of the
so-called "Langstroth Standard Frame." So far as
I know, everybody admits that the L. frame is the
most convenient form and shape for easy operation ;
and if the only objection found to it is its wintering
qualities — out of doors — and it can be shown that
that objection is incorrect, then why do we not have
434
gj.e^vj^ings in bee culture.
Sept.
in the L. frame the bost p;>ssil>le form that can bo
devised or used?
Let me give a bit of my own personal experience.
In the year LSTl, I put a new swarm of bees into a
Standard L. hive, with the simple triangular guides
on which to start the comb. In the fall of that year
this hive was prepai-ed for winter, by cutting winter
passages through the combs, putting on a hone.\-
board with six I'l-inch holes through it over the
frames, with wire cloth over these holes, and 4 or 5
thicknesses of old carpet over that, then putting on
the cap and contracting the entrance blocks to
about 1 inch. From that time until the fall of 1880,
nothing was done to this hive, except to take off the
wire cloth and put on surplus boxes, and in the fall
of 1880 the surplus boxes even were not taken off,
nor entrance contracted. This last spring I opened
this hive for the first time in 10 years, and found the
comb dry and in good shape — this same hive having
given out a swarm every year, and j-ielded from '10
to 30 lbs. of surplus honey per year. Now, it strikes
me that a hive made of 7s -inch lumber, that will go
through the seasons that the above hive has, and
come out in goo<l shape, !•-< Jit for out-door wintering,
and I must be excused for not accepting the say-so
to the contrary of Chas. Dadant & Son.
In the same article they say further: "The ques-
tion is not, ' Is the Langstroth frame good?' but, ' Is
it the best?'" Now, in answer to that, I will say
that I have kept bees more or less for fifteen years,
using both deep and shallow frames, and as far as
my e.vperience goes, the L. frame is the best, and
tor the reason, that it is the most convenient form
to handle, and its wintering qualities, as shown in
this article, speak for themselves.
Foxboro, Mass., Aug. 10, '81. J. E. Pond, Jr.
CANDY FOR QUEEN-CAGES.
W SENT you two hybrid queens Saturday, and sup-
Ji|[ pose you have them now. I sent them, not be-
— cause you wanted them, but for the following
reason: Those cages were made 13 or H months ago,
and provided with candy made by dampening coffee
A sugar with a little cold water, and put into the
cages to harden. I studied up that tin bottle, and,
as you see, it serves the purpose of a water-bottle,
and also closes the hole and can be taken out and re-
lilled. I notice of late much said about candy to
supply queen-cages. I wondered at this, because I
had an idea that on candy, made of pure standard A
sugar and water (I never boil or heat it) there could
be no improvement made. All the queens I sold this
season were put up in such cages as I sent you, can-
dy over a year old, and the tin bottle tilled with
water. Up to this writing, not a single one has been
reported dead. Now, if those I sent you came
through alive, there would not be a single loss. I
shipped them on Saturday, so they would lay over
Sunday. I did not send these queens to sell them
for money; I only wanted to show that now fresh
candy is not an absolute necessity. Old cages need
not be refilled if the old candy be pure. In regard
to honey, I would say, it is the worst food that ever
came under my observation in queen-cages, because
all the queens and bees I received, soiled the cage
and themselves when provided with it. If there is
any thing in the simple way of providing bees with
water in my cages, I shall be much pleased to have
you make use of it. I told you of them a year ago,
but thovight it not worth the trouble to send j-ou a
sample while there were so many excellent cages in
use. K. Stehlk.
Marietta, Ohio, Aug. 8, 1881.
It does seem to me, friend S., since you
spealv of it, that somebody lias mentioned
maliiiifi,' candy of notliing but sugar and
water, without boiling. The candy in the
cages you send us is almost as hard as Hint.
I could not cut or pry a piece out with my
knife, just to taste it. As you say, the cage
could surely be used just as long as there
was any candy left, by simi)ly rei)lenishing
the bottle with water. I will explain to the
friends, that this cage is simply a block of
wood 2ixo inches, and 1^ inches'thick. A 2-
in. hole is bored nearly through, and covered
with wii'B cloth as usual. In one side is the
hole to put the bees in, ll-K; in. in diameter,
and to be closed by the water-bottle. This
water-bottle is simply a tin tube tlie size of
the liole, and U in. long. One end is closed
by a round cap, U in. in diameter. The
other end is simply corked up, with the
usual notch in the cork. Tlie large cap
makes it easy to pull the water-bottle out,
and it can't slip in too far. If it were not for
the feature of the Peet cage for getting the
bees on the comb, I really believe I would
adopt this. AVhere we use water-bottles, we
can, of course, adopt this candy ; and, by the
way, what a very clieap way this is for mak-
ing candy to feed bees! Just wet up sugar
and water, and pour it into a frame, tray,
box, or whatever else you choose, and set it
away to dry, and you have the nicest and
purest candy that can be made, at an expense
for making — whew! I wonder if there is
anybody present who remembers what was
written in tlie first volume and first No. of
Gleanings in 1873. See : —
PROBLEMS FOB THE GENIUS OF OUR YANKEE DEE-
KEEPERS.
1. Some plan by which coffee sugar can be made
inio solid candy, as cheaply as we can make it into
syrup; so that we can have it in cakes or bars to be
laid on top of the frames under the quilt. The most
careless bee-keeper could then supply destitute col-
onies with a more wholesome food than honey, and
see when they were out by simply raising the quilt.
Perhaps our Southern friends could make us some
such sugar, if dampened up with water, and dried,
the " little chaps lug it off" out of the hive, when it
crumbles down, one grain at a time.
Now, the sugar in the cages of friend
Stehle will not crumble dovvn,i can tell you.
Do you see how near I was to the discovery
eight years agoy Will friend Stehle tell us
just how lie wet up the sugar? Was it
stirred any length of time? Can not blocks
of it be made in a paper box? It don't seem
to me anybody need to buy candy any more.
DARK-BANDED ITALIANS.
Some bees are sent us, said to be from an import-
ed queen bought of Dadant, with the darkest leath-
er-colored bands of any I have seen. Almost any
one would pronounce them black bees, by the looks;
but when filled with honey, and placed on the win-
dow, they are plainly Italians. I presume that, in
working qualities and gentleness, they will be like
any imported stock, and are likely just as good for
all practical purposes. I would not be surprised if
the second generation were just as yellow ae any
Italians.
1881
GLE^VNINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
43;
CALIFORNIA.
OUR OLD FRIEND GALLUP ALMOST I.V BLASTED
HOPES.
MpITOJt GLEA-XINGS:— Ishiill pive your read-
I ers an insight into the t'-ials and tribulations
of California bee-keeping for the season of
1881; anil to besrin, I will give my niemorandiioi just
as I And it in my pocket diary.
I started the seasan with 103 stocks; 3 of them
were queenless, and one drone-layer. On the olst of
Mai'ch I had 54 new swarms; swarming was all done
up on the 19th of April, and I had Hi new swarms,
part artificial but mostly natural; yet I suppressed
swarming as much as possible. But swarm they
would, and swarm they did. April 17th and 18th,
quite heavy rain. April was extra cool and foggy
up to the "^tth; young swarms all had to be fed, and
supplied with fdn., as they could build no comb.
They began to gather honey quite freely on the 23th
of April; began to extract from brood-chamber to
give room for the queens to lay. May came in quite
cool and foggy. Buck brush, liutton, and white
sage in bloom; 6th and Tth, quite good honey weath-
er; 9th to 12th, ver>- cool; slight frost in some
places; 14th, weather some better; Ifith, light show-
ers, accompanied with some thunder on the moun-
tains; May 19th, excellent honey weather; 20th, hot
and windy; too much so for honey; 28th, excellent
honey day; 29th, too windy again; June 25th, finished
up for the season ; had 3000 lbs. extracted honey ;
could scarcely succeed in getting young queens fer-
tilized. My final increase amounted to about 50 per
cent. AVhen they failed the second ti nie, I com-
menced breaking up and doubling. The coast breeze
would come up every day about 10 o'clock a. m., and
blow until 3 and 4 p. m., a perfect gale. Young
queens would tly out and never return, and the
workers were swept away by the thousands. I at-
tribute the swarming mania to the stock from my
imported queens, as m.v bees and Mr. Dudley's, who
had the use of my imported queens, were the only
ones that swarmed to amount to any thing in the
whole country, so far as I heard. Many apiaries
did not have a single swarm. I never saw a more
profuse bloom anywhere in my life. Some apiaries
have done better in surplus than I have done, and
some have neither swarms nor surplus. A great
deal has depended upon locality. Some apiaries
were located where the range was protected from
the coast winds.
My plan to get surplus is this: I never put on a
super until every one of the 10 combs is full of
brood, and my fdn. combs are full indeed. They
would average 6000 bees to the comb, and many of
them 6800, and as straight and true as a board. I do
not always wait for the queen to flU every comb in
that manner, but 1 want to know that I have a good
prolific queen, and then exchange or draw combs
from other stocks, and till up, and then on goes the
super. Now, a stock prepared in that manner will
store honey if there is any to be had; and if I had
200 stocks of bees, and could get only 100 in the right
condition for supers, I think I get more honey than
I would to put supers 011 the whole 200 hap hazard.
Of course, those that I draw brood from I build up
to good strong stocks for wintering. I left the bees
in good condition, and I may say splendid condition,
but have not heard from them lately.
The season has been a very deceptiA c one. There
was abundance of rain, and abundance of bloom and
bees; bee-keepers bought lumber, made hives, and
made or purchased cans, and then waited for swarms
and honey that did not come, and there is a blue set
of bee-keepers in Southern California to-day. I
have come out with more than a whole skin. When
my bees were swarming I was accused of feeding to
stimulate; but I did not feed a single oil stock in
the apiary, for all had an abundance, and the most
of them had more than was necessary, and I took
honey from them to feed my new swarms. 1 had
about 1000 frames filled with new comb, mostly from
fdn. Here in Los Angeles Co., bees have not done
as well as they did in N'entura Co.; some have
moved their bees down into the valley to prevent
starvation; still, those that kept them in the moun-
tains have tilled up well from California sumach.
Elisha Galu p.
Santa Ana, Los .\ngcles Co , Cal., July 19, l,s«l.
ITALIANS WORKING ON RED CLOVER.
f' WAS reading in your May No., 1881, about red-
clover bees. I would like to inquire what va-
— ' riety of bees these are. I supposed the Italians
woidddo that, but I have them, and I have never
yet seen a honey-bee of any kind on red clover. I
went out to-day into a field close by that was in full
' bloom, second crop: it was swarming with bumble-
bees, but "nary " a honey-bee. I have 9 swarms of
bees, mostly Italians, and only one among the lot
that has stored any surplus comb honey. 1 came
1 home disgusted with my bees. The only thing they
are doing at present is gathering a little pollen from
corn-tassels. Put me in Blasted Hopes, for T guess
that is where I belong. There was lots of white
clover here this season, but the bees could do noth-
ing but swarm during its staj'. If you have got a
strain ol bees that you can guarantee to work on
red clover, I would like to try them. I have one
' swarm of hybrids in chaff hive that I will put the
red-clover queen irilofor a trial if \ou can supply
me. L. '!. Heed.
Kent, O., July 31, 1881.
; What v.e termed our '• red-clover queen '"
; was the queen of a single colony out of
i over 300, that gathered more stores than any
of the rest when the seed crop of red clover
was m bloom, and we supposed the honey
■ came from red clover because the working
liees all had a small load of the dark-green
pollen that comes from red clover, and sel-
dom from any other plant. The queen died
last winter, but we have several of her grand-
' daughters in our apiary. Sometimes red
clover yields iKmey in the" fall, and sometimes
it does not; so you must not blame your
bees if you do not always iind them on it.
In our locality we can "almost always hnd
Italians at work on clover-fields in August,
I and I have shown them to a great many Avho
I Avere skeptical. If you have only a few
I hives, and there are large lields of clover, the
i bees would be so scattered tliat >ou might
not see them ; but go to your hives and see
if you do not find laden bees coming in with
the dark pollen on their legs, as I have men-
. tioned. .Vbout one season in four, our bees
gather honey enough from red clover to
build some combs. At such times common
I bees will do little but rob and bother, while
I the Italians are diligently at work. I can
4;{(i
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUIIE.
Sept.
not give you a strain of bees tliat I will war-
rant to work on red clover in the fall, friend
11., nor do I think anybody else can furnish
you bees that will do it "invariably. Last
fall I saw a field in Summit Co. where the
Italians roared on it in August as they do
on white clover in -Tune.
ADDING KXTRA COITIBS IN BUILDIING
IP STOCKS.
^y INCE I have been a readpr of Gleanings I have
^k been looking for some thing- from some of the
' veterans in regard to the manner of adding
combs for surplus, but I have found nothing more
explicit in all my reading of bee literature than
"give more room as it is needed." Doolittle did an
excellent service for the ABC cLiss when he told us
in such a clear and explicit style his method of
building up colonies in the spring (see April No.) If
ho would tell us in the same explicit manner how he
adds surplus combs he would still further merit our
thanks.
In the hope of calling out some thing on this sub-
ject, I will give the method which I have followed
the present season. If it is faulty, will you or some
other veteran please tell me wherein it Is so, and ex-
plain in detail a better way?
I build up my colonies according to Doolittle's
plan till I have the lower story full of frames which
are crowded with brood and honey. Then, if the
bees are gathering honey freely, I take out three or
four frames which contain honej' and sealed brood
and pJace them in an upper story, putting a couple
of frames of fdn. in the middle of the lower story
with a division-board at the side. I put a division-
board in the upper story so that it may come direct-
ly over the one in the lower story, and fill up the
vacant space with empty combs. As the queen
needs more room below, I add frames of fdn. ; and as
more storing room is needed above, I add empty
combs.
BEES E.\TING HOLES IN DUCK.
Can you tell me how to prevent the bees from eat-
ing holes in the duck of chaff division-boards?
Would painting the cloth, or coating it with tallow,
work well? J.\mes McNiell.
Hudson, N. Y., Aug. 1, 1881.
I confess, friend ISL, that I should never
have thought of giving directions for so sim-
ple a matter as giving the bees more room
as they need it, when one is so fortunate as
to have the empty combs right at hand. I
think I should wait until the bees and queen
have occupied fully every comb with eggs
and stores, and then I would give them one
comb right in the center of the brood-nest.
If I intended to use the extractor, I would
wait until they are pretty closely crowded
below, and then give them access to the
whole upper story, if I had empty combs to
till it. If not, I think I would niove a cou-
ple of combs up from below, putting sheets
of fdn. in their stead, and then fill the rest of
the upper story with fdn. If I am correct,
Doolittle does not use an upper story with
his shape "of frames.— I do not think vou will
find any thing that will keep the bees from
gnawing the sheets placed over them. Duck-
ing, pretty well saturated with linseed oil,
has been recommended, and very likely the
oil might have the effect to make them let
the fabric alone. The wooden mats have
the durability Avanted. but they are not as
nice as cloth to handle, and are more apt to
kill bees unless one is very careful.
•^•^•<
BEE-TAVES IN TEXAS.
^srs| KOM a recent number of the The Fnuf/i'.s Ciim-
J'f* panimi I copy the foU.iwing:
' "Four of us, my ranch partner Alfred Dins-
more, and myself, with a young fierman house-car-
penter named Wert Anspach, and a c.ilored boy
called Grant, had set out that day for a load of honey.
" A load of honey will sound oddly, perhaps, to
readers East, but that is the way we get it here. Wild
honey, rich stores of it, is laid up by the native bees.
The settlers often have resort to a bee-tree when
their stock of sugar and molasses runs low. The
honey is. drained from the comb, and put away in
jars; and the wax makes excellent candles.
"Twelve or thirteen miles north of our locatioii,
in the canon of Lipan Creek (headquarters of Wich-
ita River), there is a bees'-nest, which has supplied
us and the families of three other Stockmen for the
last four years.
" This enormous bee-hive is in the cliff on the
north side of the canon, fronting south. The en-
trance to it is up some forty feet above the creek-
bed, where there is a horizontal crack eight or ten
inches wide, running along the face of the precipice
for four or five hundred feet. This crack opens
back into recesses in the shattered crags behind; and
here the bees, colony on colony, have their nests,
and have laid up honey for many years. By going
around and operating from the top of the cliff, we
have at odd times dislodged considerable portions of
the rock with blasts of gunpowder and crowbars —
suthcient to secure many hogsheads of comb. Still
deeper down, in great holes and pits, there seem to
be vast deposits of old, thick, black candied honey,
which has been drained from the combs above, year
after year. Lower down the face of the cliff, espe-
cially on very hot days, the honey weeps and oozes
out at little cracks and seams of the fissured sand-
stone — so much so that the creek-bank is there com-
pletely honey-soaked, and the water for a mile or
two below will at times be perceptibly sweetened.
Much of this escaping honey the bees themselves
carry up the cliff.
" On a pleasant June day, in the canon and high
above It, the air will be darkened by the incoming
and outgoing bees, millions on millions of them,
along the whole length of the crevice. The ordinary
drowsy hum of a hive is here intensified to a deep,
solemn roar, distinctly audible a mile below.
"To go honey-gathering here on a summer day
might be a perilous business. We have always made
our raids on the nest during cold weather, generally
on some chill? daj' toward Christmas, when the btes
are lying torpid, and a winter silence has fallen up-
on this whole vast apiary."
The writer then goes on Lo tell how a " norther"
came down on them, before they had quite reached
the bee-cave, and they were obliged to seek the shel-
ter of a friendly cliff, where they built a fire which
drove some bears from their den among the rocks.
They were fortunate enough to kill the bears, which
were very fat; and the writer remarks, that "their
llesh had a noticeablj- sweet taste, which we attribu-
ted to their getting so much honey hereabouts."
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
437
I have written to the publishcra of the Companion ,
asking them for the writer's address; and if I can
learn any further particulars! willscndthemto j-ou.
W. Z. Hutchinson.
Rogersville, Genesee Co., Mich.
The above reads very mucli with an air of
truth ; but so large a part of what we Unci
in papers of the above class is rather on the
adventure line, I Avould be a little cautious
about accepting it; and if anj' of our Texas
correspondents can tell us whether such a
place really exists there or anywhere on the
face of the earth, we will be ever so mucli
obliged. AVc have more than one among
oiir number, I oi»ine, who would go down
and develop such a tract at once. So far as
I can see, there is nothing impossible in the
statement, unless it be hearing the bees a
mile away; and even this is quite likely, if
the line of liight were right from the cave
over the hearer's head.
A LETTER FROM SOUIH AITIERICA.
ALSO nOOD NEWS FROM THE STINGI-ESS ItEES; I'UI!
THER PEVELOPMENTS.
^N hopes that j-oii may have receixed my list lot-
Jt||_ tor, inclosing- a correspondence in German with
Prof. Dr. Burmeister, I must toll you to-day
that I got letters from Paraguay, and they offered
me on sale several hives with stingless bees. What
they call a hive is, I suppose, a piece of box, or
trunk. My friend in Paraguay has been in Brazil,
and writes me ia regard to the stingless bees as fol-
lows:—
"The bees I could get for you are the following:
1. Pirocco or (ciroccn), a black bee as big as our com-
mon bees; gives plenty of honey (on Brazilian Ku-
ril pit.)
"2. Tapcvixi, or Tapitcoa (Brazilian, Kurupu chico),
half as big as No. 1, but gives same quantities of
honey.
"3. Tah'i, a very small but rather long yellow bee.
Those hives Are well peopled. I have seen hives of
these bees, which gave 3 bottles of honey. This
honey is the best of all, clear like crystal.
" I found three hives, whose owner has, for 3 or 4
years, made his profit from them. He asks S3.00 for
each, Init I believe that, by taking all three, I might
get them a little cheaper."
That is what my friend writes me, and I am sure
he will do his best to procure them well at Asunc-
cion, where they might be shipped to here.
Let me know, Mr. Boot, if you think it worth the
trouble, the expenses, and the risk, to send these
bees to the United States. The best thing would be,
I think, to buy them, and transfer them here in
Buenos Ayres in good (movable) small hives, and
study them about a year before sending to New
York.
Can I do some thing for you in this business? I
shall do it with the greatest pleasure; only let me
know. Yes, I am \ery willing- to do it, as I feel, by
your way of acting and writing, that you are an hon-
est and at the same time an active and smait busi-
ness man. I read your Gleanings with the great-
est interest, and would like it ten times more if they
did not contain those confounded Home Papers, and
now lately the Tobacco Column. By what right and
reason, please tell me, are you going to make peo-
ple believe tobacco-smoking is a sin? The same sin
would be coffee and tea drinking. Our clergymen
and schoolmasters at home in Germany smoke near-
ly all like pipe-stoves, and you find really splendid
men among them, able to spend their last drop of
blood to help their neighbor; and a good fine Ha-
vana cigar is indeed a blessed gift of God. Try it
only; and for a poor workman, what a delight it is to
him to smoke his pipe after his heavy journey's
work I I think it rather heartless to make these
people believe thej^ are doing wrong in smoking.
If I should live among people who vowed not to
smoke, not to dance, and not to drink, I should pre-
fer to die. My advice is, to enjoy this life as much
as we can in an honest and proper way. A man who
does not know how to govero himself and to be mas-
ter of his passions is to me less than an animal.
On the next page yju will find ray orders, and I
ask you to send me the things as soon as possible.
The cold-blast smoker is very good. The Bingham
smoker (I got one from Mr. Gravenhorst, Germany),
burns the f uellbetter, but brings ashes and dirt on
the combs. With the best and driest fuel I took, I
could never make the cold-blast smoker burn it to
the lust. It burns in the front part, but not behind.
I had to open the machine and turn the fuel around.
Could not a small "rust" be put under the fireplace?
Of all I ask for, send me only the best quality.
Don't you know a good recipe to make honey-wine
and good vinegar? Our bees here are real devils in
summer time, and if I could get a bee somewhat
less wild I should be glad. I don't fear stings, but
in the month of December or .Tanuary it is impossi-
ble to work without gloves.
Do you think it possible an Italian queen would
reach Buenos Ayres alive? If you do, send me one
at my expense, but give her sufiicient bees and
sugar and water. Look out for a soft and good-
natured one.
I leave it to you to choose me a good and simple
hive.
In thanking you previously for all your trouble, I
give you my best respects.
Yours truly, J. Noeltino.
Buenos Ayres, S. A., May 18, 1881.
Friend X., I am very much obliged for
what you have done, and I will gladly pay
all the expense of giving those bees a test
where you are. I think that will be far the
better way. From what you say of the bees
you have already, I presume you know all
about stings. The point is, a&^ you are well
aware, to get a good honey-bee that can't
sting. Of course, we do not know whether
it be possible ; but we are anxious to know
how nearly we may come to it. Advise me
at any tinde in regard to the expense, and I
will remit at once.
I appreciate your kindness in speaking out
your criticisms in regard to those Home Pa-
pers. May I suggest, that yon look at these
things a little differently from what we do,
as customs with you are so widely different?
I have been told by a friend who has been in
South America, that drunkenness with you
is almost unknown. With us it is different.
We have a large,— yes, I am sorry to say a
rerij large per cent of our people.— who have
not the self-will or care for themselves to
keep them from going to excesses. You
say you would rather die than forego the
pleasures of certain things you mention. Do
43S
GJ.EANINGS IN BEE CUJ.TURt:.
Sept.
yon not see that an intemperate man might
easily say, I»y carrying yonr ligure only a lit-
tle t'luthei-, that he would prefer a drnnk-
ard's grave to being deprived of his daily
drinks that are sending him there V As a
servant of the I^ord Jesus Christ, I feel
myself commissioned to try to save all man-
kind from the consequences of their sins.
Now, when I give a man a smoker forgiving
up tobacco, it is expressly understood that
he can dissolve the contract at any time by
simply handing over to me the price of the
smoker. Do you think a man is under very
much bondage, or that I am very cruel, when
the price of his freedom and honorable dis-
charge is only a dollar or less V Tobacco
s(tothes a man's spirits and trials, it is true ;
and I have sometimes thought it might
soothe him into idleness when, his honest
debts were remaining impaid. If tobacco
has this effect, would he not be better and
hap])ier in the end without it V I would
most assuredly advise the giving-up of tea
and coffee, or any thing else, wlien we dis-
cover it becomes a task to get along without
it. I w^ould teach our hoys to be free in
every sense of the word, from every appetite
or habit, and bow in obedience to God and
none else. 1 am sure, friend N., you approve
of the frnits of my work, if you do not of the
ways in which 1 arrive at it, for you have
said as much in the fore part of your letter.
I am really sorry tt) appear disobliging to
so kind a friend as you have been, friend
N. ; but from what I have heard of honey-
wine and metheglin, I have thought it best
not to have recipes given for making them,
just because some of our bee-men might
drink too much. Some of the smartest tal-
ent we have had in our ranks has gone down
into obscurity on account of intemperance,
and nothing else.
I think I can send a queen to you, but it
will have to be very carefully done up, and
it may not be possible to get it through by
mail. I will make the trial, however, and if
she reaches you alive, there will be no charge.
Y'our letter was 41 days in coming to us.
A LETTER FROM NOVA SCOTIA.
ALSO SOME THING ABOUT HUCKLEBERRIES.
easily when berries are ripe. What do you think?
I woiiltl have to move them on a wagon.
How do yon get your sections of honey without
having the cappings gnawed otf by bees tilling them-
selves? A. L. Etherinqton.
Milton, Queens Co., N. S., July 21, 1881.
I would by all means move some bees
over to that berry tract, friend E. I think
our l»ee-men many times miss it by trying to
raise ])lants for bees, when by carrying the
bees a few miles they might iind the honey-
farm already in full blast, prepared by the
bountiful hand of dame Nature.— Take off
each section as soon as sealed, and you will
not have the bees in that greedy state that
causes them to uncap their sealed stores
when disturbed. If you wait until the hon-
ey-yield has passed, and have blacks or hy-
brids, I do not know how you will obviate
this difficulty, unless you open the hive very
quickly and then scramble for the hlled sec-
tions before the bees can get the cells open.
Full-blood Italians are much less prone to
this kind of mischief.
FRIEND CASE AND HIS BEE-KEEPING.
HOW HE DOES IT.
SF I were an old bee-keeper, and could get off a
pretty interesting and instructive letter from a
' Nova Scotia apiary, I would have written; but
this is only my foiu-th year. I wintered 64 colonics—
42 in bee-house, 22 on summer stands, packed
with sawdust 3 inches on all sides; entrance through
the outside case to permit them to tly when weather
permitted. Those wintered on summer stands win-
tered well. The 42 in bec-honse came out without
losing one. There were several needed feeding (5 or
(i), and one queenless, and considerable signs of dys-
entery, while the 21 on summer stands had no signs
of dysentery. Out of 64, 1 didn't lose a hi\e in win-
tering. Up to datel ha\ e lOOhivcs. The season was
a fortnight later than last year.
The sample huckleberry honey W.P. Wcmyss sent
you (page 334) set me thinking whether it would pay
to move bees 16 miles where there are miles of bar-
ren covered with blueberry blossoms so abundantly
that an ordinary picker can pick 10 quarts an hour
S' SEE in l:ist Gleaninc^ j'ou have the
RASPBERRY FEVER.*
' As a honej-plant it is hard to beat. I have a
row about ten rods long; when they were in blow
the bees just swarmed on them from sunrise to sun-
set, and now we have picked about 200 quarts of the
largest, finest berries I ever saw; and as they are
what is called an ever-bearing varietj", the new
gr.iwth is just beginning to ripen its fruit. Per-
haps I ought to say that my row is nearly three feet
thick, and as dense as a hedge, for they withstand
the deep snows best when grown in this way.
You inquire about theCuthbert raspberry. It is
kHown by this name, and also as the "Queen of the
Market," and " Conover," too. It is, a very fine
berry -firm, and good for shipping.
Well, the honey season is past, and a very poor one
it has been in Lewis County. I had more honey in
18T8 from 45 colonies than I have since had from 100.
TENT FOR WORKING WITH BEES.
Last season I saw your description of the frame
covered with mosquito netting that you use to work
at your bees with after the honey season is past. 1
w?.nted one, but I thought the one you described
would not be largo enough to use when taking off
honey, as I use a box to put the sections in, a basket
with unused ones, and waiited room for unfinished
sections, etc. ; then, too, if I wanted to extract a few
frames, or take a frame of brood, it would let the
robbers in to raise the frame of netting, as I would
have to when I went for the frame of foundation to
replace it with. Well, I made one 5'/2 feet in height,
4 feet wide, and 6 feet long. I find this not too
large, and in one end I have a door 3 feet wide, cov-
ered with netting, and easily fastened shut, outside
or in. I find it works well with this. lean take off
honey all day long, and bid defiance to all the rob-
bers in Christendom.
HOW I EXTRACT, FEED, ETC.
About the first of August, as I am taking off the
white honey, I look the brood chamber over, and if I
1881
gleajJ«i:ngs in bee culture.
439
find over 8 or 10 lbs. of honey, I extract it down to
about that. This I do, both to give room for the
queen and for dark crop of honey later. If this is
done, I think the first frost will find the bees in
much better condition for winter; as, if left undone,
many queens will not lay to aniomit to any thing af-
ter this, and it is the young bees we want for winter,
and plenty of them too. As soon as we have a gen-
eral frost over the country for i or .5 miles around,
I take ofif the boxes, and when I do this I look over
the brood-nest once more, and this is the last time
for the season. Now, I put <in the quilt and mark
each hive that needs feeding, the number of pounds
that, in my judgment, it will want.
now TO FEED.
Give time for the brood to hatch, and then take
the best granulated sugar, and to ~ pails of sugar
put -:, of a pail of hot water. 1 put it right in my ex-
tractor, and turn until it is dissolved. Now I can
draw it off as I want it. I take six-quart tin pans, as
large a number as I want 'to feed in one day, and
over the top put a piece of cheese-cloth bandage;
fasten this with a string on the outside, just below
the wire; give the bandage slack enough to reach
the bottom of the pan, and pl.ice a small stone in
the pan and on the cloth to hold it down. Set this
on the frames, over the brood-nest; fill it, and daub
a little on the outside, if they do not come up with-
out. A strong stock will carry a pailful down in one
night, and then if you want to feed more to the
same stock, all you have to do is to till it up again
until they have enough; and let me say this whenyou
are feeding: Don't stop when you think they have
enough feed, until you /r/ioir they can not starve;
then set them in a frost-proof and quiet cellar when
winter has set in in good earnest, and not before,
and next season you will not be beeless.
N. F. Case.
Glensdalc, Lewis Co., N. Y., Aug. 2, 1881.
A FE%V WORDS OF E\Pl^ANATION.
fROM A. I. Root's comments on my article on
page 3T6 of Gleanings, all would infer that I
^^^ had reared all the queens I sent out with the
"unnatural" "tinkering" way. The careful reader
of my article will sec, if they will re-read it, that I
reared queens only by the transpusition process, to
supply the lack arising from not having but three
queens I cared to breed from, so when these could
not be kept swarming I reared by the transposition
process. Again: In m}' circular I say queens shall
be reared by natural swarming, " as far as passible,"
and that is just what I have tried to do. I may
have failed to word my advertisement just as I
should in July Gleanings; but if so, I think noth-
ing serious will result therefrom, for I believe that
four orders is the total that I have received from
that source. Friend Root also says 1 have "criti-
cised the way friend Hutchinson, and the rest of us
who have raised queens, quite a little." I did criti-
cise Novice's way of using old bees for queen-rear-
ing, and 1 do so still ; but I believe I never criticised
friend Hutchinson. Friend H. took me to task for
what I wrote in A. B. J. about Nellis' ad\ice (after
Aug. 30) that then was the time to rear good queens;
from which there sprung a friendly discussion about
late queen-rearing between H. and myself, in which
the very important fact came out, which was, that H.
fed bis bees plentifully, while qucen-rcaring in the
fall, which made a very favorable showing for him
over many of our queen-breeders-.
Once more: The caution mentioned, about the
bees throwing out the transposed larvfe and using
their own, don't apply to the mode which I gave in
my article. Where the caution is needed is when
there is no queen in the hive; but with the queen
just laying in queen-cells the case is different; for
if larvtp are removed, the royal jelly is removed al-
so, the cell cleared (lut, and the queen lays in it
again. There is no need of bees changing larva^
with a 1 lying queen in the hive, and, as far as my
observation goes, they never do it. If any one has
known where such a thing has been done, will they
please report? From close observation for a num-
ber of years, I have found that no food is ever
placed in a cell till the larvae have -emerged from
the egg; that in case of a larva in a worker cell, it is
usually fed as a worker for from one to two days
before the cell is enlarged for a queen-cell, and that
the cell is never enlarged clear down to the base,
but that a small portion of the worker cell remains
out, of which the larva is floated with royal jelly
about the third day. where bees rear queens from
eggs deposited in worker cells. Where an egg
(placed in a queen-cell) is designed for a queen, it
has no food placed around it till it hatches, when it
is fed sparingly (so to speak) for 4 or .5 hours, after
which an abundance of food is given till sealed
over; and that the cell is broad and large from the
time the egg is laid till the queen hatches. Now, if
what we have observed is correct, and we take from
a queen-cell a larva from two to four hours old,
reared in natural swarming, and place therein an-
other larva of the same age, what is the difference
in favor of the former larva? I see none. On the
other hand, if we force a stock to rear a queen at
times when the swarming impulse don't demand a
queen, will it be as apt to be reared with as favor-
able conditions as when the instinct implanted in
the bees by the Creator of all things tells them to
multiply and replenish the earth? Again: Will old
bees, which return to their old stand to find brood,
queen, and nurse-bees all gone by removal, and a
frame of eggs in its place, have the same instinct to
rear a queen, the same stomach to prepare royal
jelly, and the same large roomy queen-cells for the
perfection of the embryo that a J^tock does under
the impulse of natural swarming? I only throw out
these points in a friendly way for discussion or
thought, that we may gain light nn this very impor-
tant branch of our industry.
G. M. DOOLITTLE.
Borodino, N. Y., Aug. 4, 18^1.
STATISTICS IN REGARD TO Ol R WIN-
TERINO LOSSES.
flllF. American Bee Journal for July -0
contains a valuable statistical table
— ' ill regartl to the losses of bees. If I am
correct, this shows that the losses of bees
kept in the L. frame are less than in any
other, or, in fact, all others, in spite of the
plea that has so often been urged against its
shallowness. It also shows that box hives
stand no chance at all. compared with frame
hives, in point of losses. On this point, I
would suggest that putting frames into the
hives may not have any particular advan-
tage in wintering, so much as the fact that
bee-keepers having frame hives give their
440
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Sept.
bees a much more intelligent management,
rrotection by means of chaff, leaves, etc., is
also far ahead of no protection, as the most
careless observer has doubtless gatliered ere
this, from the reports we have been having
for months past. Cellar wintering, for last
winter. Avas far ahead of all ; and were win-
ters to be all like that, we should know
pretty well what to do. ^Vhether tliese re-
ports were taken so as to include the losses
through April, does not appear ; and, in fact,
it would be hard to get at this, from reports
sent in at many different times. As many
of the great losses occurred through April,
this is a very important point. The losses
in the cellar sum up to 32 per cent; outdoors,
with no protection, run i.p to 85 per cent.
The item in bee-houses I do not quite under-
stand, from the fact that wehave bee-houses
made only for wintering, house apiaries, and
wintering-houses partly under ground, par-
taking greatly of the nature of cellars or
caves. 1 should suppose that it at least in-
cluded the latter, as the per cent of loss is on-
ly '21. In regard to the kind of hive used, I
copy the summary as given:
NO. IN DEAU IN LOSS,
FALIi. SPRING. PEK CT.
Box hives 311,7:« 187,705 .8ii
All-frame hhcs 309,498 U:.',807 .W
Langstroth 19.5,957 83,965 A'Z
Other frames 113,541 58,34:i .51
Our thanks are due the editor of the .1. B.
J. for the labor he has spent in compiling
this very valuable showing.
FRIEIVD BROOKS, AND HIS £^ PEIII-
E>CE IN MINTEKING.
SINGLE-WALLED HIVES.
Jq|KlEND ROOT:-! will give you my report of
P'' last winter's losses before 1 am too late. Fall
— ' is again upon us, and we should now begin to
prepare our bees for the coming winter. Last fall
found me with 53 colonies, made during the summer
by dividing, which I overdid, considering the poor
season that followed ; besides having a good demand
for all the queens I can rear, I spread them a little
on that account. They were rather strong in bees,
but the majority of them needed feeding. Think-
ing perhaps they might fill up from fall bloom, I
waited ; but it failed. I then commenced to feed
sugar syrup about the last of September. Had the
weather continued as warm as we usually ha\e it,
all would have been well; but you know what hap-
pened. Winter set in earlier than usual, and of
course the bees did not have time to seal up their
stores. We had our iirst snow Oct. 17th, and on the
19th another, 2 inches deep. It kept gradually get-
ting colder, with deep snows, when, on the 19th of
Nov., the temperatiu-e fell to 10° below zero, and on
the 22d, to 12° below. Dec. 3d, the weather being
warm and pleasant, the bees had a good fly. It com-
menced to turn cold on the 6th, when I put 47 colo-
nies in the cellar. Of the 6 left out, 5 were in hives
packed — one with fine charcoal, two with sawdust,
one with chaff, and one with turning shavings. One
colony I prepared as an experiment to winter out
on a summer stand in a singlc-walled hive, and onlj-
wish now that my whole 53 colonics had been " ex-
perimental " ones. Sunday, Jan. 30th, the tempera-
ture being at 50° in the shade, I set the bees out of
the cellar. They had a good fly; found 6 colonies
dead. Feb. 1st the temperature fell to 6° below
freezing when I put them in the cellar again, and on
the 22d, the day being warm, we set them o\it for a
fly, and found 6 more colonies dead. Returned them
to cellar the 23d. The 28th 1 let them fly again, and
returned them on the 28th. March 10th being warm
(52° in the shade), I set them out, and noticed young
bees flying from a few of the strongest colonies.
As the rest of the month was rather pleasant, 1 left
them out. They commenced to breed nicely, when
along came that April snap, and away went 6 colo-
nies more, taking one of those in the sawdust-
packed hives, and reducing almost all the others to a
mere handful. Had I put them all back into the cel-
lar at that time, it would have been well; but the
weather had been so pleasant, I thought it would
soon change for warm; but was disappcjinted. I
had a ijcunhir case of spring dwindling on my hands.
The 4 remaining packed colonies were in moderate
condition only, having lost fearfully in bees, like
the rest. They built up so slowly after settled
weather came, that I finally set the bees out into
single-walled hives, and let the sun strike them,
which seemed to help them, as they would fly with
the rest. The packing being so thick, the sun did
not warm them. The experimental colony was a
division like the rest, and reared their queen from a
cell given them. After testing her I did not open
the hive until ready to fl.v them for winter, when,
to my surprise, they had their combs full of scaled
honey from top to bottom, except the 4 central
combs, which had a little brood next the bottom-
bars. If there ever was a case of " bees crowding
the (lueen," this was one, as the colony was rather
weaker than I liked to risk on the summer stand.
However, I lifted their colony with 5 of their combs,
placing them in the center of a sinolc-uaUrd 15-frame
hive, having a large portico to shed rain and snow;
faced the hive south, and put in two tight-fitting
rubber-bound division-boards, leaving them up '»
in. from the bottom. I then hung the extra combs
in the ends close to the divisions, so the bees could
take out the honey if needed. On top of the frames
I spread a iinr clean woolen cloth, and a 4-inch thick
chaff cushion on that; contracted the entrance to
about one inch, and they were ready, let come what
would; but after I felt the cold that did come, I felt
a little uneasy alinut them, but concluded to let
them alone. I did not open that colony until spring.
The result was, that they had lost less bees, and
were in better con<lition, than any other colony I
had. They did not dwindle down in spring, but went
straight ahead increasing, until they had filled the
whole hive of 15 combs, and was the first one to
swarm, which was no small one, from a hive of that
size.
Now, after all the reports and causes assigned for
our losses last winter, have we found the true cause?
Although I had only one eolonn to winter sti((esi<fKn>j,
I think I have learned irJiy it did so, and will give the
causes of success, the reverse of which I believe was
the cause of failure and loss. First, this colony had
only what combs they eculd cover, nf nice sealed
honey. Next, the divisions were plain, simple
boards, which did not ahsurh and retain dampness, as
chaff cushions or divisions are apt to do. Next, the
cloth or quilt covering the bees was new and clean,
allowing the chaff cushion on top to draw dampness
from them, which enameled cloth, and propolized
quilts would not allow (1 examined my dead colonies,
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
441
and found them as wet as if a bucket of water had
been poured on them; the quilts being covered with
propolis, no moisture could pass otf at the top, but
seemed to condense and drop down on the bees).
Next, the hive facing south, and being single-walled,
the bees received the full benefli of the sun, and
would often be seen flying at noon, when those in
packed hives were still. Next, the dead-air spaces
at the ends of the hive, 1 believe, are as warm as if
packed, and a great deal dryer. This cc l)ny never
showed any signs of dysentery that I could notice,
either in the hive or out, while aV. the rest had it
badl3'.
The present season has been any thing but favora-
ble. Bees had the full benefit of fruit-bloom, which
helped them greatly. The white clover, what little
we ha\e left (after severe droughts each summer),
yielded well; but our usual drought cut it short
again; and ui less it rains soon I fear our fall har-
vest will amount to nothing, and very likely the
bees will have to be fed for winter.
Jos. M. Brooke.
Columbus, Ind., Aug. 9, 1881.
I am inclined to think, if you had fixed all
j'our bees as you did that one, friend B., they
would not have wintered as it did.
|/j^ '%mMmi'
This department is to be kept for the benefit of those who are
dlssatisfled ; and when anythins is amiss. 1 hope you will • • talk
right out. " As a rule, we will omit names and addresses, to
avoid being too personal.
MOSEY LOST IN THE MAILS.
XSENT you some money for some articles that
you have advertised In your price list of imple-
— ' ments in bee culture. It has been nearly a
month since I sent it. 1 would like to hear from
you, whether you have received itor not, or whether
there was any mistake about it. If there was, please
send what articles it will pay for, and oblige—
H. L. Phlegar.
Pembrook. Giles Co., Va., June 26, 1881.
You Avill notice, from the above, that our
friend gives plain directions what to do in
case there uy/.s some mistake in the order,
but none in case the order was never reccired,
which would seem to imply, a very little,
that he is pretty sure we got it. We wrote
him we were very sorry to say his letter had
never reached us, and asked particulars as
to how he sent it, etc. Here is his reply:—
I inclosed the money in an envelop, just as I have
been sending to other firms, and received goods
promptly. H. L. Phlegar.
Pembrook, Glle? Co., Va., June 22, 1881.
Friend P.. your reply is certainly unkind,
and it seems to me, just a little uncivil. Sup-
pose vou have sent to other firms, and re-
ceived your goods promptly, does it follow,
necessarily, that we have received your
monev and won't send the goods? I admit
that bur mail facilities are excellent, and
that perhaps not one letter in a thousand is
lost; vet, where a hou.':e gets 100 or more
letters a day, as we do, there would be one
lost every week or ten days. There has got
to be a first time with everybody ; and be-
cause you never have had a letter lost or
stolen, have you a right to say you do not
think this one was lost? To put the matter
where you can see it squarely on both sides,
I wish you to answer this on "your honor, as a
man : If you were in my place, would you
send out goods you were selling at a very
close })roht, without ever having received a
copper for them of anybody V 1 know how
it vexes one to have his money lost ; but,
my friends, after reading what I have put
in our price lists about sending money, do
you not take the risk upoit yourselves, when
you voluntarily decide to send without reg-
istering or postal order? T gave this much
space, because this seems to be one of the
most trying things in business to adjust. I
would willingly and gladly bear half of such
losses, but I am in danger of doing harm,
even in this, as you see in our price list.
You have been sending you journal, Gleanixgs
IN Bee Culture, to Chester Kobbins. To-day he
was here and refused to take one out of the office.
He says they are not worth the paper that they are
wrote on. Do not send any more, as we don't want
it around the office. He is very much displeased
with you for sending them. H. Savers, P. M.
Sherwood, Branch Co., Mich., June tj, 1881.
Well, now, I declare, friend S..it is too bad
that anybody has been annoyed by sending
them some thing they did not want. ]\Ir.
Bobbins certainly subscribed and paid for
Gleanings in January, unless we have
made a great mistake somewhere. Had he
written us himself, we would have stopped
it most cheerfully, and returned the balance
of the money that was due him too. " Not
worth the paper they are • wrote 'on!"' Why,
that's a regular -'stunner'' on our humble
efforts. Now, friends. I just tell you what ;
you who have scolded because we stopped
Gleanings wdien the time expired, please
consider that we don't know but you think
just like friend Kobbins ; and it would be
the height of ill manners to keep sending it
in that case. "No: worth the paper— I"
whew! I guess, friend B., we shall have to
wake up and make it better, if that's so.
The girls in our office have the autdgmph fever at
present, in its most "striking" form; btit, unlike
most phases of the disease, they have vetoed "quo-
tations " all together, and strictly insist on original-
ity. Some of the productions are very good in-
deed, and I have taken the liberty of borrowing a
couple, without their knowledge.
The first is Lu's, which, though hastly written, is
pretty 'cute, and contains names familiar to many
of you: —
Ah. well: some "jolly "" hours we've known
Amid the hum of business and of bees,
For bets and b\i^ii\ess here are one,
Thi>' himev iMinies by slow degrees.
Tho' we've nn drones to drive away.
We have a " Kood queen, Bess, ' '
And many a roAal prank we play:
lint some — we won't confess.
Even Ellen M.. and 'Wally, too.
And Carrie the demure.
Join in the fun, while ' ' Boss ' ' looks on
( I>oes he wish that we were fewer.' i
Then .Vddie and Ida. Stella and 1.
Geo. Washington, Man', and Cherry.
And Ten, who's growing towaixl the sky,—
How can we be aught but meri-y !
The next one is Carrie's.
May vou ti-ace in the book of life, my frieirl.
Deeds noble and good ajul trae;
Be every page to the vei-y end
Spotle'ss, and fair to view;
And when the mighty volume is closed.
And vou stand bv the great white throne.
May you hear the voice of the King of kings,
Saying, "Faithful sciTantl— well done!" '
A\-2
GJ.EANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Sett,
^V ATE 16 ANI> SUC5AU, FOR SHIPPING
OEGS.
THE ()I,I) liOTTLE gUEEN-CAGE, AFTEK ALL.
ST would seem that my old idea of a bottle
of water, and pure sugar, for l)ees dur-
— ' iug the intense heat of summer, or for
long shipments, is to be the old stand-by,
after all. I noticed that the Cyprian and
iloly-Laud (jueens sent us by friend Jones
last year came with sugar and water, and an
abundance, too, of both. In the Ccnadidn
F((r]iin\ot August o, friend Jones tells how
lie i)repares bees for shipment from these
foreign ports: —
It is a very difficult matter to import them to this
country. Those colonies I bought in Palestine I had
sent down to the coast, and had them forwai-ded by
steamer to Cyprus. There they were transferred
I'rom the cylinders into movable-frame hives. I
then made a bo.\ about 4.\r>.x6 inches, out of pine
lumber. I put a screen on the bottom and one in
in the top, each about three inches square, to let the
air pass tiirough. In one end of the li>ox I fixed
a bottle filled with water, and having- a cork
through which a cutting was made for a wiclc.
Through this cutting 1 drew a cotton wick, and by
capillarj' attraction this wick is kept wet with the
water, and the bees drink and then c-.it some granu-
lated sugar, which I fastened upon the other end of
the box b.v pouring it in hot and allowing it to coo).
Between the bottle and the sugar I had a comb with
a little syrup in it. There was a queen, and from
ItjO to :300 bees in this box. I had a crate made to
hold 27 of these bo.xes. and they were separated from
each other by about an inch and a half, S!> that a cur-
rent of air always passed around every bo.v. I have
Some bees that were kept six weeks in that way,
and during the whole time they were tlown only
once ; that was when I arrived in London. Some o'f
the bees appeared to need this, and others did not.
The water was very bad, and I have given instruc-
tions that in future consignments the water should
be boiled before being put into the bottle ; this will
purify it.
The A'iallon candy answered admirably
until the great heat' and drought of July,
and then we found 11 queens out of 21 dead,
in a single shipment from Viallon himself.
They Avere about 5 days on the way ; but
when the air is so very dry. and the weather
so very hot, water seems an absolute neces-
sity. "Besides, with the water-bottle, if any
error or delay happens, the bees are ordin-
arily safe for at least two weeks. This is,
of course, where the water and sugar are
separate, so there can be no daubing and
stickiness, and no fermentation of the water
and sugar.
^^ «e« w
HO^V TO GET HONEY— AND MONEY.
KV A TEXAN FRIEND.
MOW to prevent an increase of stocks, and at
the same time keep the bees working vigoi'-
^^^^ ously during the swarming season, and
cause them to store honey instead of spending their
time and energy during a honey yield in attempts at
reproduction, is a problem that interests bee-keep-
ers who find more profit in raising honey than from
the sale of bees and queens. Ever.v bee-keeper has
noticed that a swarm of bees placed in a new hive,
and given a new location, will do more work in a
given time than will the same number of bees in al-
most any other condition. It is also known that,
during the swarming season, the flowers yield honey
in great profusion. Now, how to preserve the col-
ony intact, and get the benefit of the business en-
ergy peculiar to a new swarm out of the whole thing
by causing them to store honey instead of raising
queens and bees, is the question. I hai'dly think any
plan will (tJuaijs succeed; but I will give y^u the
most successful one I have ever tried.
Try to prevent swarming by giving the bees all the
room they will profitably use; but, if they are not
satisfied, and swarm out anyhow, capture the swarm
in a box or empty hive; place them in a cool shaded
place in the dark, with bi)X slightly raised to give
them air. The shade of a tree or house will do, and
a stick undci- the edge of the hive will give them
air, while a thick blanket or bed-quilt spread over
the box, and allowed to come in close contact with
the ground all around, will produce the darkness
needed to keep them quiet. Place an empty hive
where you wish to locate your new colony— any
place away from the old stand will do— and, after
sunset, when the bees are all in, bring the hive that
cast the swarm, and the box containing the swarm,
alongside your new hive; shake the bees from one
or two combs near the entrance to the new hi\ e,
and, after removing the queen-cells, place the combs
in also. Now sh.ike your swarm down with the oth-
er bees, and let all go in together. AVhile the
swarm is going into the new hive, take the other
combs from the old one, shake ott the bees with the
others, remove the queen-cells, and place them (the
frames) in also. Add another story, if necessary,
with your surplus arrangements, and lean a board
in front of the entrance for a day or two.
If you have done the work properly, and removed
nil the queen-cells, you have furnished all the con-
ditions the instinct of a new swarm requires, and
preserved the united strength of the parent colony
and the swarm intact, and the reunited colony will
work as vigorously as a swarm hived separately
from the parent stock. " To sum it all up," the bees
have started queen-cells under the swarming im-
pulse; thev have swarmed out from the old hive
with the queen, and forsaken their old location.
You have given them a new home,a new location, and
plenty of room, and their reproductive instinct is
satisfied— at least until they have filled the space
you have given them; and if they are judiciously
managed, by removing the stores before they arc
too much crowded, they will, nine times in ten, re-
main satisfied throughout the season.
I do not expect you, and others who are more in-
terested in the sale of queens and bees than in the
production of honey, to feel any interest in what I
have written; but we who can get more cash out of
honey than from the sale of bees, or who, from va-
rious causes, find our supply of hives running short
when it is impossible to obtain more in proper time,
will ever feel an interest in any plan that may save
our bees and direct their energj' at this particular
time to the production of that which will bring us
the most solid comfort— cash.
While writing this, I have tried to keep one of the
babies quiet by holding him on my knee, and another
by talking to it and petting it in various ways,
while the "madam" and the other seven young
"Texans" are out for a stroll. If my ideas have
been poorly and disconnectedly expressed, I plead
the circumstances an excuse. J. J. Taylok.
Hichland Springs, Tex., July 20, 1881.
Xow, you do me nijustice, friend T., for I
am interested in comb honey ; in fact, I
have done just what you mention, and know
it will work- 1 am really afraid I am inter-
1881
GLEANINGS IN i3EE CULTUKE.
443
ested almost as much in the nine young
'' Texaus " you mention incidentally, as I
am in the honey. Give them my love, and
make your best bow to the •' madam," for me,
and give her my respects. I should dearly
love to just go and make you all a visit.
BEES STINGING A TEAM OF HORSES,
AND SOME OTHER MATTERS.
FROM OUR WISCOKSIN "A U ( CHILD."
srag^EE.S arc doing- well now, woiking hard on see-
J^S ond crop of red clover. I examined some,
— and found the tubes nearly full of honey. I
wintered 24 colonies on summer stands; lost one in
glass hive. My bees have been swarming- every day
since May ix. 1 have trebled my number, but I use
lull sheets of fdu. I have been obliged to enlarge
my hives (Langstroth) to 10 frames, and space combs
IVi in. from center to center. Basswood did not
yield a drop, although it bloomed freely. The sea-
son is not as good here as last year so far. I ha\e
returned swarms to keep them in boxes, or else
should have had no surplus. As it is, I have TOO lbs.
white comb, and .500 or 600 lbs. extr-icted, with line
prospects ahead for fall yield. I have 3 Cyprian
queens. They are very prolific, and go into boxes
readily.
Now, friend Root, I for one protest against your
paying for money sent H. A. Burch & Co., as they
advertise quite as much in A. B. J. as in Gleanings.
Several here sent him money one, two, and three
years ago, and heard nothing from it except prom-
ises, from time to time. These all took the A. B. J.,
not Gleanings.
BEES ON A RAMPAGE.
I read in A B C of bees on a rampage. Well, we
had just such a case here yesterday. My father-in-
law, living 3 miles away, has 13 swarms of bees, and
as the team passed them with a load of oats (where
they had been drhiug the whole season without any
molestation), they became enraged, and sallied out
rii inmific upon the horses and driver. So sudden
was the attack, and in such great numbers, .-lU
bristling with venom, that, instead of an immediate
runaway, the team just stood fl.xed, pawed, and
fairly screamed aloud like wild beasts. Three men
were on hand, and did all in their power to get them
away, but no g;>. Th(,' swarm increased until their
heads, necks, and chops, were covered, the men all
the time rubbing them off, killing them by thous-
ands. One horse fell exhausted; its life is despaired
of ; the other is slightly better, while the men fared
little better, one of them fainting before the horses
were cared for. The women folks, too, have their
eyes shut. A calf was nearly killed. I hastened to
the scene, and found the horses rolling ia agony on
the barn floor. We gave brandy, and applied am-
monia, and covered them with mud; but they still
refuse to eat, and their eyes remain shut. Their
ears hang down like junk bottles. The folks are
suffering intensely. I picked 103 stings out of one
horse's ear. What could have caused the attack?
There was at the time a fine honej' How from 5 acres
of buckwheat, not 203 yards distant. It was at 8-
,v.M., when they were busiest gathering. The bees
are from my stock, and reared from gentle Italians.
The 13 swarms are the increase of 3 wintered — one
strong, 2 weak, in spring ; the third swarm fill an 8
frame L. hive, and 3 cases of sections at a time, and
have given 30 lbs. surplus, while llrst swarms have
given 100 lbs. He refused $10.00 for the queen of the
best hive (reared last season;; she tilled 30 L. frames
with brood befori^ swarming; her hive swarmed 4
times, and all were large swarms. If the horses die,
I will let you know. The men are unable to stand
up yet, being stung- mostly in the head and face.
Do you want any queens or bees? I can send you
some choice Cyprians, mated Italian drones. I can
send you 40 bushels of bees at SOc per lb. if you wish.
E. A. MORGAN.
Arcadia, Wis., Aug. 5, 1881.
Friend ^I., I can hardly explain the ram-
page you describe, but by supposing that the
bees had some way got to robbing, unless
the queen you mention had met one of your
Cyprian drones, and it was the taint of a' for-
eign blood, somewhat akin to the Egyptian
strain. How near was the team to this hive?
It may be a good lesson to us. to be a little
careful how we drive horses too near hives
of bees. I presume the horses were in a pro-
fuse perspiration.— I have answered about
Burch ill another column.— Have plenty of
bees now.
BEES IN NEBRASKA.
HAVE been watching Gleanings for some time
past for reports of bee-keepers in Southern Ne-
braska. Up to this time I have seen only those
of friend Miles, of Pawnee City, and Mrs. Martin, of
Tecumseh. Even these reports w(;re not full enough
to give us any idea of the condition bees were in, In
their respective neighborhoods.
I am an ABC student, and as a matter of fact, I
should like to hear of tener from friends, just how
the precious bees pulled through the long cold win-
ter. In this section, the winter of 1830 will never be
forgotten by any class ; no difference what the avoca-
tion was, it fell on all alike. At the same time, I am
of the opinion that our brothers in bee culture suf-
fered most; and among- them here I will give the
names of Jerome Wiltsc, of Rulo, Neb., and George
Schock, of Falls City. Mr. W. lost all his apiar>',
which numbered about SOOtirst-class colonies, except
some 7 or 8, which pulled through in very Ijad con-
dition. Mr. S. came out a shade better, with per-
haps one-half. Through the country generally,
there were a great many bees; but so far as I have
made inquiry, nine-tenths died during the winter,
and, as a matter of course, the people are consider-
ably discouraged, and will hardly embark again
very soon in bee culture. .Just here, friend R., let
me ask you, if the secret or success of raising bees,
especially in the North-west, doesn't depend mainly
on the way they are wintered. It seems to mc that
the heaviest losses last winter were among those
who have been keeping bees for a great many years;
and still, from some cause or other, the " amateur "
met with as good results as those Avho have expend-
ed thousands of dollars in ways and means by which
they could give to the world the true principles on
which we could rest with entire confidence, that,
after the labor of summer was over, and the harvest
gathered in, our purses replenished, and our hearts
thankful to a kind heavenly Father for his goodness
in the past we could feel that, when we had careful-
ly packed our bees for winter, with an abundance of
stores, they would come out in good condition in the
spring.
It has been extremely hot here for the last five
444
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
.Sept.
weeks, Imrning every thing up, and one would
naturally suppose bees are doing no good. From the
15th of May to the 13th of July they did remarkably
well for this section, raising brood in abundance,
and storing considerable honey in the broodncst.
But to-day their storehouse is as barren as the des-
ert; have no pjllen either. The only h'pes T have
arc in feeding them until it commences to rain. If
it don't rain very soon they can not gather any
stores for winter; and hence, feeding is the only
salvation. AV. C. Havely.
Falls City, Nebr., July ^'5, 1881.
H. A. BURCH & CO
KHIKNI) HEDDON S REVIEW OF THE M.VTTEJl.
fRIEND ROOT: -As one who has no ill will
against any one, and a lively interest in uni-
— ■ versal justice, 1 wish to remonstrate against
the practice of vicarious financial atonement, as
proposed by you in case Mr. Burch should fail to
satisfy those who have sent him money for bee-
keepers' supplies. Because Mr. B. advertised with
you, is that any reason why you should become re-
sponsible for his good luck, good .iudgment, good
management, good health, or good intentions, any
or all of which, the whereof might cause Mr. B. to
fail? You have given a list of some of those who
complain of loss. Before you can consistently pay
these men, you must first have positive proof re-
garding the transaction. ]f a man ordered bees
last April, and Mr. B. ships them this fall, there is
certainly a loss, which might amount to as much, or
more, than all the money sent. How much are you
going to pay in such cases? How d) you determine
that the purchaser ever patronized or even looked
into your Gleanings? How do j'ouknow but that he
saw Mr. B.'s ad. in some other paper? Are you not
a little reckless in proposing such a performance?
If you continue to make such proposals, had j'ounot
better carcfuUn consult a reporter who liiinca the
standing of each one who proposes to advertise, be-
fore you accept the advertisement? Would it not
be still better, when an ad. is proffered, to get (un-
known to the dealer) a report of bis stability, and
insert It with the ad., and then let us take our
chances? We then know as much about the matter
as you do, or can. I hardly think that many of
these complainants would desire your interests sac-
rificed to theirs, in a matter in whose financial in-
terests you play so minor a part. I am sure I would
not ha"\'e the stain on my memory of taking a cent
from you. Your agreeing to become responsible,
makes no difference as to the justice in the matter.
In my opinion, martyrdom never paid a dividend, on
the investment to any of the parties concerned.
Never!
In regard to this failure of Mr. Burch, numerous
parties have written to me to find out what I kuow
about the firm, stating that they saw my " recom-
mend" in his circular, and knowing I Jived in an ad-
joining county. Will you give me space to say to
such inquirers, that in the fall of 1880 I visited Mr.
B.'s apiary, and found not only system and order,
but as fine-looking and active bees as I ever saw
anywhere. These cclonies had been carefully fed
during that season, under the skillful management
of Mr. King, of South Haven, as directed by Mr.
Burch. I never visited an apiary which was more
universally "(/ircr-bfOifkfZ." I made these remarks
to Mr. B., and during the winter he asked me if I
was willing to state this truth to the public through
his circular? Notwithstanding he was selling full
colonies at loss price than I could afford to (thus
making my recommend of his bees work against my
own interest), I could not crawl into so small a place
as to refuse my signature to a fuc-t, and gave it. I
recommended the bees only.
In regard to the financial standing of Mr. B., I
know nothing. I make it a point to trust men with
great caution till I do. What business of trust I
have over had with Mr. B., has always been fully
and promptly discharged. I ne\er heard of his fail-
ure to fill orders received till within the last sixty
days. I know no more of the jcisok why he fails to
ship, than any other man. I do not even know who
"Co." is. From my aequiintance with Mr. B , 1 am
inclined to think he intends to ship his orders to the
best of his ability. I think his mistake has been in
overestimating his ability to supply, or underesti-
mating the demand at the prices he ([uotcd bees—
probably both.
Such stock as Mr. B. advertised was worth mc re,
and cost more, than the price he put upon them.
Eager to avail themselves of a good bargain, orders
and money came in,/ar in rjccexs of Mr. B.'s ability
to supply, after the winter had reduced his fine large
apiary to fifteen surviving colonies, which, 1 am
credibly informed, was the case. I want to say here,
that those who have had no experience have but a
faint idea of the amount ot cash, cost, and labor, in-
volved in a season's dealing in supplies. AVithout
great rati ion, as well as gccd judgment, one is
very apt to far overestimate his ability to fill all
these odd-sized and coniplicafed orders with prompt-
ness. To do so requires ni) MiKill capital. The man
who expects to use his remittance money to carry
stock with, will run a short race in the business, and
wind up covered with blame. ]f tact is required to
successfully produce honey, the cssrnrc of it is
demanded to successfully "supply producers, and
give satisfaction to the reasonable," to say noth-
ing of the growls of that cbiss who are totally bereft
of that grandest of all God's gifts. I think there
are few men among our ranks who will willfully bc-
traj' the confidence of him who sends his money
confidingly to a stranger. AVhen one that pl.ices all
the power in you, can you but do cnrij thiuu within
the bounds of reason and justice to satisfy him? In
my judgment, more failures and consequent losses
aiise from too much hope and too little caution, than
from all other sources. Hope may be called mental
ease; cautinn, mental energy.
We all sincerely hope that the next 30 days will put
a brighter look upon the face of this first failure in
the ranks of reputable dealers in our goods. How-
ever luiable any of us may have been to do so in the
past, let us all strive to do exact justice to each
other in the future. James Hh-Udon.
Dowagiac, Mich., Aug. 5, 18S1.
Many thanks, friend II., for so kindly tak-
ing iny part. 1 do not propose, as I have
already said, making good the losses of my
advertisers l)y delays in shipping, etc., but!
do propose to payback tlie money any one
may lose l)y sending it to some one who
makes no returns for the money sent. In
doing this, I only try to do as t wonltl be
done by. If I go into the store of some one
I know and rely upon, and some person in
that store takes my money and returns me
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUliE.
445
110 equivalent, I should expect the proprie-
tor to make good the amount lost, lie must
learn not to Keep such on his premises. It
is true, I do not know who saw the adver-
tisement in Gleanings; but 1 believe they
will tell me pretty nearly the truth when I
get ready to ask them. You would, friend
lleddon, wouldn't you? 1 do know all who
advertise Avith me, pretty Avell, and if I lose
in this case, I shall iiave to conclude it will
be better to keep a little tighter rein on
some of you than I have done. I think
friend IJurch is going to fix it all up him-
self, excepting perhaps the damage to his
customers, resulting from the delay. lie
can regain confidence another seasoii, if he
chooses, by advertising that the cash need
not be sent until the bees are received.
QirjBEN-REARING.
QUEENS GETTING, LOST ON THEIR WEDDING TRIP;
CAUSE AND REMEDY.
^1, OME of the friends speak of heiivy losses from
^%> yoving queens failing to return to their re-
^""^ spcctive hives after their wedding- tour, and
are solicitous to ascertain the cause and remedy.
Much can be done by the apiarian to save these
losses. I am not of the opinion that many queens
are carried away by birds; some may be, but the
greater nuEtbcr of queens lost is occasioned by en-
tering the wrong hive on their return. The number
of losses may be diminished very much by doing
away with the systematic arrangement of the queen-
rearing colonies. Even if the hives arc 13 or 15 feet
apart in rows, and there is much similarity of ap-
pearance of the hives, often queens, as well as bees,
will make a mistake and enter the hive at either
side in front or in rear of the hive in which they be-
long. If this is the arrangement of your apiary, and
on account of appearance, or for want of room, you
must continue to have it so, you will And it a great
aid to your queens in returning to their own hive,
if you will take the precaution to cut some grv^en
bushes or weeds, and place them over and about the
hives in such a way as to give a diveryity of appear-
ances to those hives having queens nearly old enough
to fly out. This is a great aid to them in marking
their place. Mere color of hives will not do. It
is not a good plan to be among the hives, opening
and changing the appearance of them where queens
of proper age might bo on the wing, especially from
13 to 3 o'clock r.M.
After the usual hours have passed for queens to
liy, and you are aware that you have had some
queens that have flown from their hives, it is well
to look into these hives, and if the queen is not
there (usually the bees, on disturbing them, will
manifest the absence of the queen by that peculiar
doleful sound made by fanning their wings; some
colonies manifest their loss with greater intensity
of emotion than others), it is well to make an effort
to lind her, and when j-ou do find her, especially
when you are behind with " orders for queens," you
will feel better than you would had you gotten a
small fortune. But you say, "Where shall I look
for her? if she has got into some other hive it won't
pay to open the 'whole business' to find one queen,
and then, may be, she is not in any hive, so I'll let
her 'go to the dickens.' " But generally there is a
pretty sure indication of the whereabouts of the
lost queen if she is in the wrong pew. When a
strange queen enters a colony already supplied with
a piece of furniture of this kind, the bees will ball
the strange queen to give themselves time to look
into matters; and either the bees, in their eagerness
to kill the queen, -^ting each other, or else the queen,
in trying to free herself, stings the bees, I am not yet
sure which; at all events, shortly after a queen
is balled, if the colonies so retaining her has a queen
of their own, the indication of a strange queen is in
the fact of a number of bees just stung and carried
out. Now, when this is seen, it is at all times (if no
robbing or fighting has been going on), better to
open the hi\ e; and if the queen has not been balled
too long she will be found all right, and she must
then be caged a few hours among her own bees be-
fore liberating her, being sure to have food access-
ible to the queen, as bees will not always feed an
unfertile caged queen. As a general thing, queens
that are lost from their own hive will be found in
the hive at either side, or the hive immediately in
front or rear of the hive in which she belongs, and
these may be looked into - examining all the combs
and sides of hive for the ball of bees, before the
"sign," dead beos, are thrown out of the hive. I
have saved a great many queens by this timely at-
tention. But nearly all of this trouble and loss of
queens may be saved by scattering the queen-rear-
ing colonies about through your orchard, among
bushes and weeds, and facing their entrances in dif-
ferent directions. It takes more time to "go the
rounds," but it will pay in dollars and cents.
This has been a pretty fair season with us. I had
only 16 stands to begin with, and they were so weak
they did not start brooding until sometime in April,
and there was not one young bee hatched until the
8th of May; yet I have increased them from 16 weak
things to TO, all in prime order for winter. Of course,
I had all my combs saved " to go and come on," and,
as friend Hutchinson says, these empty combs are
a great " institution."
The queens of these old colonics were so forced
and overworked by giving them so much comb to
fill with eggs, they were nearly all completely ex-
hausted by the close of the honey harvest, which
ended with us the 12th of July. I have now a young-
laying queen in each of my hives, artificially reared,
but that don't scare me a bit, as thev will average
as prolific as any other 70 naturally reared queens
in this country. Where is the use of so much talk
about natural and artificial queens, when it is so
small a matter to transfer larva- just hatched, from
any stock into cells containing royal jelly, and have
them receive as much, or more, royal food than they
get by the natural process? J. A. Buchanan.
Huutsville, Logan Co., O., Aug., 1881.
Many thanks for your excellent hints,
friend 13., right where I am sure they will
help. Our hives are pretty near, but as the
entrances face all points of the compass, we
have very little trouble from young queens
getting into the wrong hives. A queen,
while being introduced, often takes wing,
and I have several times found the boys
sorely troubled, when 1 would be able to
find the queen almost every time, by just the
plan you have given, and the boys were just
about as glad to find her as you have ex-
pressed it^ A queen that gets lost by fiying
away, under almost any circumstances, can
usually be found by one who understands
them. They almost, if not quite, invariably
come back to where they started off, and a
glance at the hives in the vicinity will often
tell where they have gone in, or attempted
to enter. It is wonderful, how one's wits
may be sharpened for such work, if he set
right resolutely to it.
446
GLEiVKIKGS IN BEE CULTUUE.
Skpt,
From Different Fields.
REPORT FROM A 16-yEAB-Ol.D BEE-KEEPEK.
F,A has 69 colonies of bees, including- a few nu-
clei. The most of them are strong. AVe have
— ■ fed nearly a barrel of grape sugar. It is a
great help to the apiary. This has been a good sea-
son for bees. AVe have several colonies of four-
banded bees; the fourth band is easily seen as they
crawl over the combs. My brother David introduc-
ed an old laying queen from a strong swarm to a
swarm of young bees. She stopped laying a week or
more, and then she laid a few drone eggs; then she
stopped laying for a ^veck or so. To try an experi-
ment, he transferred her to a nucleus hi^•c, when she
immediately began to lay as Avell as ever, and is
still at it. The Spider plant is a perfect beauty.
The bees swarm on them in the evening. The Simp-
sons will not bloom much this year. There are five
or six hundred plants of both kinds. The bees work
on the catnip as much as on any other plant. Our
grapes have never been injured by the bees. AVe
expect a good honey-tlow this fall. I am 16 years of
age. The bees are mostly in my care, and I have a
good many other chores. AVe are adopting the L.
hive. My brother made out the spring report.
James A\'. Kirk.
Columbus, Cherokee Co., Kan., July, 1?81.
BASSWOOU HONEV AND SNOWDRIFTS.
The Italians 1 got of you aredoing" just splendid."
I have 52 colonies: 7 of them Italians, and one Cy-
prian; the rest blacks. I never saw such a tlood of
basswood honey as we are having this year. The
branches of the trees are actually bending down un-
der the weight of the— I was going to say honey,
but will say blossoms.
I wintered lit colonies last winter, and they all
came out strong. 1 winter in a snowdrift. 1 think
it is one of the best bee-hTjjes I oull had. Of
course, the bees were sui rounded by 4 inches of
buckwheat chaff.
AV. B. Cochrane and James Craft are the two great
bee-masters of this locality, although James, at one
time last spring, would have made a good picture
for your Blasted Hopes. But he is on his "pegs "
again, "chock full" of " beeology;" in fact, what
Jim don't know about bees isn't worth knowing.
Your ABC book is just " bully." It saved me three
times the cost of it this very afternoon in finding a
drone-laying queen. AVm. C.vims.
Itockland. Sullivan Co., N. Y., July 26, 1881.
Glad to hear it. friend C. ; and Ave are also
glad to make the acquaintance of your bee-
friends, Messrs. Cochrane and Craft. '• IIoav
d'ye do, gentlemen V glad to see you both in
a hopeful frame of miiid, and on your ' pegs'
again."
GOOD FOR A BEGINNER.
Since I received specimen copy of your paper, 1
bought one hive of bees, strongly marked Italians,
for $7..50. In early June I divided them. Last week
I got two hiVi.ir swarms, same day, one cf/y large, the
other larger. I did not see the lirst coming out; they
had settled when I saw them first. An old bee-keep-
er, who helped me with bi)th, Capt. Hill, says he
never saw two as large swarms come from one, and
never knew two from one the same day, and insists
that the first is a "stray." But the only evidence is,
that the bees of one swarm are cross, while the
< (thers are not. I can scarcely go near the stand now,
while before I could handle them with impunity.
Besides the three new swarms, I have taken off 11
lbs. of honey, and another box almost ready to re-
move, so that I do not want to see my name in
Blasted Hopes. A. Kilpatrick.
Valencia, Butler Co., Pa.
It is scarcely probable that one colony
should send off tAvo strong swarms the same
day. 1 think Capt. Hill is right, and that
the one you mention came to yi)u to help
build up"^ your apiary. Accept it as a gift
from God, friend K., and care for it accor-
dingly.
GRAPE SUGAIt.
1 wish to add my testimony to the soundness of
your instructions respecting the use of grape sugar
for building up, etc. (Oct. No., 1879, p. ;i84.) I am
now realizing, from such building up, having my
bees strong, and bringing in honey so fast that I am
puzzled how to stow it away. The sugar, honestly
used, is a great help. I should have been sorry last
fall if you had said, "Don't use it;" so when you
promise to discard such advice, out of deference to
special friends, remember your ABC class.
George Adams.
Haledon, Passaic, Co., N. J., July 15, 1881.
SWAR.MS SEPARATING.
I had Ij swarms of bees this spring; lost 8 last win-
ter. I ha\ e i;3 now. July 5th I had a swarm come
out, and it alighted on a willow, and there was an-
other swarm just two feet from the one that alight-
ed on the limb between clislors; now, can you tell
me the reason why they alighted so near'? I hived
them; one stayed, and the other swarmed again, and
I hived it, and it stayed. They are doing well. One
would have thought they were one swarm.
A. S. MVERS.
West AVocdstoek, Windham Co., Ct., July 12, 1881.
I think they Avere all one swarm, friend
M. They often sep'-uate in that Avay ; but
the queenless one will not stay long, unless
hived on a comb of brood. I should hive
them separately, and then if each part had a
queen, both Avould be saved. If one i)art
Avas (pieenless, it could be united Avitli the
other after it had started queen-cells.
TAKING OFF SECTIONS.
I find (//r;ff difliculty with the sections o:i Uip of
frames. My hive holds 24 on top and 6 on each side;
they get Avaxc'l to the top-bar; and when we open
our hi\es often, the secti(jns break when wc try to
lift them off. How would several wires stretched
tight across the bottom of the section-case to keep
them from direct contact with top-bars do? How
do you manage to get the sections off that are fin-
iiihal, without breaking a great many? for mine are
waxed to the tin separators and top-bars, and it is
almost an impossibility to take out }iavt of them
and insert empty ones in their place.
AVe have the best honey season here I ever knew.
AVm. M. Young.
Nevada, AVyandot Co., O., July 16, 1881.
Your first ditticulty, my friend, seems to
be that you have permitted the bees access
to the bottoms of the sections, Avhich should
never be. The sections should stand on a
piece of Avood supported about i inch a))ove
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
447
the tops of the brood-combs. If you will
examine our arrangements for surplus, you
will find this provision always made, either
in the wide frames or crate to set over the
brood-nest. If you lind the combs attached
to tin separators. 1 think your section boxes
are too large. These troubles usually come
where beginners adopt some arrangement of
their own. Our standard goods have been
made with a view of remedying all these de-
fects. ^
TWO QUEENS IN ONE CEI.Tj, ETC.
I began the season with three colonies; increased
to seven. I have been hatching queens in lamp nur-
sery for my own use, and have met with two rather
unvisual occurrences (to me at least.) First, after
having one hive quecnless about three days, I found
they had started qiiecn-cells on new comb that con-
tained no brood or ejrgs, but had made no effort to
raise a queen from young larva'. They accepted
the new queen on second trial. Second, in opening
one of the queen-ct lis that failed to hatch, 1 found
it contained two queens, nearly j-eady to hatch, hav-
ing their heads in opposite directions.
Chari.es Lee.
Stonersvillo. Berks Co., Pa., July 15, 1881.
Bees often start queen-cells in the way
you mention, but 1 think you would find
they had eventually carried larvie over to
those cells, for tliey often do this.— If I am
correct, you have given us the tirst positive
proof of two queens from a single queen-cell.
MOLLIE HEATH HONEV-PLANT.
My one plant of the MoUie Heath seed I raised has
been in bloom some two months. I think it will do
well with me. I love to visit it early In the morning,
and see my pets come and fall into the flowers and
fill themselves, and then sail for home, often leaving
enough for a second load. Geo. S. LEorsoNE.
Lake City, Col. Co., Fla., June 4, 18S1.
We have never succeeded in getting a
blossom from this plant, although we had a
beautiful plant growing in the garden last
season. From the description above, it
would seem that it bears honey like the
Spider plant. Have others succeeded in get-
ting blossoms?
A OOOD KEPORT FROM VERMONT.
1 Started in bee culture List summer with one
swarm; increased to th.ee, and got 33 lbs. surplus.
Bought one in the fall, wintered the four in cellar
in Nellis Simplicity bee-hives, with plenty of top
ventilation bj' opening the flap to quilt, but not tak-
ing the quilts off, but T had thecaps off entirely. On-
ly one was troubled with dysentery, and that a very
little. In the spring I bought two in Kidder hives;
transferred them in May with good success; in-
creased the 6 to 12. I ran only 1 to extracted honey,
and that a young swarm that tried to abscond; it
has given 95 lbs. nice clover honey, as bass wood is
just in bloom. I have extracted 50 lbs. from frames
that I was obliged to empty; have taken out about
50 lbs. of box honey and some 200 lbs. almost ready
to come off. (Remember, I doubled my swarms.) I
think the L. frame supei-ior to all I have tried yet. I
gave my young swarms a frame of brood as given in
ABC, but in spite of that I had two swarms try to
abscond, and would have gone as sure as fate if I
had not been on hand, and the queen's wings been
clipped; in fact, one went almost to the woods, and
came back only because they were forced to; they
had been in the hive some 48 hours; the other, only a
little while; the hives were painted in April, so
don't lay it to that. So, now, please alter A B C a
little, and say that you have heard of their trying to
abscond. Bees wintered very well right around here ;
but off 10 or 20 miles 1 hear of .50 out of e^'ery 100 per-
ishing, and some lose all. I hop? you will have bet-
ter luck next winter wintering, as I think some of
the ABC class have beaten you. F. M. Wright.
Enosburgh, Vt., July 27, 1881.
. I think I have changed it in the A B C on
the point you mention ; but in our own api-
ary it is so rare an occurrence to have bees
leave unsealed brood, that we set it down as
about as sure a thing as any rule with bees.
Your point, that the bees wintered safely
around a small point, and did not outside of
this tract, would seem to indicate that it is
not always all the fault of the way they were
prepared for winter.
COLOR OF DRONES.
I wish to ask you in i-egard to the color of drones.
I thought 1 could find my answer in back Nos. of
Gleanings, but ha\e been searching and failed, I
have bought queens from a haif-dozenor more of the
most prominent importers and breeders in theU. S.,
including one selected tested queen from you, but
have failed to raise drones the color I think they
ought to be, or as yellow as my neighbor bee-keeper
O. Field. They all raise nice three-banded workers,
but the drones, a great part of them, you could hard-
ly tell from the black drones. Now, how is that? Why
can't I raise some nice yellow drones? Can you fur-
nish a queen that will raise them? I have hybrid
drones that show more yellow than from the pure
stocks. Does a hybrid queen raise pure drones or
not? I see some think they do and some think they
don't. I think I have a superior strain of bees; have
a number of queens whose colonies stored 200 lbs. of
section honey last season, and some went over that ;
and as our hives are small, only about 12 inches
square on the inside, and 11 inches deep, I conclude
I have a prettj' good strain of bees; don't you?
O. E. COON.
Le Moore, Tulare Co., Cal., July 3, 1831.
I do indeed, friend C. ; and I think, if I
were you. I should let the drones alone, or,
at least, I would not mind what cAor they
are. I believe it was pretty well agreed,
long ago, that little, if any, dependence is
to be placed on the color of drones. Those
from Italian queens usually show some sort
of a ragged yellow band : but very often, if
placed side by side with common drones,
there is not enough ditference to be notice-
able. Occasionally a queen will produce
drones having a great deal of yellow on them;
but I believe these are valuable only as a cu-
riosity, and nothing more. The drones of
Italy are, of course, just the same, very di-
verse in their markings.
TOO MUCH POLLEN.
What would you do with combs filled with pollen?
I have a lot of such, and as I know they will not do
to winter upon, I am at a loss. Can I get shut of
the pollen by any possible process but destroying
the combs? My bees gather little but pollen, and
they have cramped the queens badly by it; in fact,
some hives are full of pollen, so to speak. I had
thought of sending for some of your one-piece sec-
448
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Sept.
tions as samples, and to have filled for our fairs;
but I suppose j'ou could not send many by mail, and
express is unhandy for us. I would like to see some;
none were ever used in this countv.
H. A. Davis.
Moretz Mills, N. C , July 2, 1881.
I am not sure that I can answer the ques-
tion for you, friend B. ; but I would tal^e
care of the pollen, if it were my case, by get-
ting bees enough to work it all "up into brood.
We rarely, if ever, have a surplus of pollen
here ; but for all that, our bees do not seem
to winter better than other localities. If you
keep them rearing brood right along through
dull and dry seasons, by sugar feeding, would
they not use it up in raising young iDees ? —
Sections can he sent by mail ; but as it costs
about one cent eacli for postage it is rather
expensive, unless for only a few for some
particular purpose.
close it again until they will. When you
find them bringing in loads of pollen, you
may be pretty well assured that every thing
is all right. The two combs you give them
should have but very little unsealed brood,
or it will likely be lost.
WASHING HIVES BEFORE PlTTTINfJ IN A SWARM.
In reply to bees leaving- after swarming, most
likely you washed yoiu' hives before putting them
into it. I have seen hives washed, and never knew
them to stay in them. If Mr. N. L. Wood washes
his hives, I do not think the bees will stay in them.
One of my neighbors washed a hive, and called me
to help him, and the bees refused to go into it; and
I asked him if he washed it, and he said he did. It
is a good idea to sprinkle them with water to make
them go into the hives at such times.
Claremont, Ont., Can. E. Birrell.
Friend B., it seems tome this whole busi-
ness of washing is rather behind the times.
I can remember when my motlier used to
send for some hickory leaves, with which to
wash out the hive, so the bees would stay ;
but I do not know that I have heard of any-
body doing the like since, unless it was to
wash out the hive with honey and water,
which would be just the thing to start rob-
bing, if any were so disposed at the time.
We hive hundreds of new sAvarms, divide
them into several parts, set them ip the sun,
and do any thing we want to with them, but
we always have that frame of luisealed brood
we have said so much about, with every
colony, no matter whether it is a handful or
a half-bushel ; and I have never had one so
prepared go off, that I now recollect.
WHAT TO DO WITH A QUEEN AND J4 Lli. OF BEES.
I have received the queen and ?.i lb. of bees. I
have had a great deal of trouble with robbers, hav-
ing taken a frame of brood from one of my other
hives with sealed honey at the top, and the hive I
took it from carried the honey all back to their own
hive. The queen is a fine one, and my neighbors
say so too. C. W. Callear.
Pittston, Pa., July 31, 1881.
If you should get a queen with only i lb.
of bees at a time when the bees are getting
so little honey they are disposed to rob, you
will have to be a little careful. First pro-
cure about two combs of brood, having
young bees just gnawing out of their cells.
Let the bees and queen loose on these. If
robbers are buzzing about, I would close the
hive a few hoitrs. Now open it so only one
bee can come out at a time. If the bees
cluster about the entrance and defend it
from robbers, all right ; but if they do not,
drones with colored eyes.
I send you by to-day's mail a curiosity in the shape
of a drone with yellow eyes, from a mismated Ital-
ian queen. J. M. Hyne.
StowartsviUe, Posey Co., Ind., July 33, 1881.
I have l)efore mentioned having a colony
of bees whose drones always all of them had
eyes of a cherry-red color. The one friend
II. sends us as above has eyes of a beeswax
yellow ; in fact, it is hard to think his eyes
are not lumps of bright yellow wax. Others
have reported drones with white or pink
eyes. From all these facts we would infer
that nature seems to have a special propen-
sity to sport on the eyes of drones. Do you
not remember that friend Hasty said corn is
inclined to sport in the construction of the
tassel, but not in the ear? There seems to
be a strange feature here, giving a glimpse,
as it were, behind the curtain, of the won-
derful processes by which God has builded
np these wonderful creations. JMany thanks,
friend H., for the curiosity. As tlie odd-
looking insect seemed lively, we introduced
him to a hive in the apiary.
A yUEEN that STINOS WORKERS.
Queen to hand all right; bees all dead; think she
must have killed them, as there was but little of the
candy used. When I opened the cage she ran her
sting out and frisked aboiit as if she meant business.
I introduced her the same evening as directed.
T. (J. H. JONES.
Nicolaus, Cal., July 38, 1881.
We have occasionally found a queen that
would pounce upon and sting workers, and
I have sometimes thought if we could de-
velop a race of queens tierce enough to make
her way into any hive of bees, it might be
quite a relief in introducing. I remember
one friend who took the broad platform
that a queen that could not take care of her-
self when let out among any bees, was not
worth having.
HEES ON ONIONS.
Talk about bees working, you ought to see them
on the onion flowers which I have out for seed.
They work from daylight until dark. I do not find
any flavor of onions in the honey as yet; they also
work on carrots, parsley, and radish. It has been so
di-y that they have not worked on white clover
of any account, but I have taken off a fine lot of
white honey. J. H. Mvers.
Saratoga Springs, N. Y., July 26, 1881.
Thanks, friend M.; it would seem, from
the above, that even onions do not yield
honey alike in all localities. When at Fer-
ry's seed gardens, we found the bees quite
cross, just at the close of basswood, although
acres upon acres of onions were in bloom.
This was much owing to their being hybrids.
I presume, however. With an apiai-y all of
pure Italians, you will usually get honey, and
not stings, even if basswood has just failed.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
449
ABE BEES TAXABLE rROPEISTY, ETC.
Will you please to settle an argument between me
and a lawyer? I wish to know if lioes can be taxed
in this or any other of the rnited States; and also if
they are attachable for debts of any kind. Please to
tell us, if you know, and oblige us both.
I have 18 colonies of bees, all black, this spring;
but I have Italianized them all now. I have in-
creased from 7, and taken 110 lbs, of extracted clover
honey. While the young queens were ^ettmg to
laying I sent to a firm for $3.00 worth of fdn., and he
sent me 3 lbs and 2 cz. of Uat-brittomcd comb, 10 ft.
to the pound, and very uneven at that, and the bees
draw it unevenly. I think ho must have made some
mistake in filling my order. A. W. MEBRiLt,.
Parkman, Mo., July IS, IS^l.
I do not know law very much, liiend M.;
but I have always paid taxes on my bees,
and always expect to, no matter what the
law is. 1 am sine that bees are, nowadays
at least, taxable property, in the true spirit
of the law, and as a citizen of the United
States 1 want to do my part toward keeping
np the institutions of our country.— By all
means, write to the firm you allude to and
give them a chance of correcting the mistake.
If they do not do it, nor give any satisfactoiy
explanation, have them •' shown np" for the
good of others.
MY EXPEKIENCE.
I have kept bees for four years. I went into the
winter of 1880 almost discouraged with bees, hiving
little or no success, not even paying my expenses.
My bees were all packed in chaff, and so I thought
were in very good condition to winter through.
When April oame, about half had starved, and the
rest dwindled away until I reduced them to three
weak swarms. Then you see 1 was about ready to
go into Blasted Hopes. It happened that father
bought enough more bees to make my number 8.
I then determined to make the 8 swarms pay, if I
did not get any increase. I now have about 800 lbs.
of honey, mostly extracted, which I am selling for
Vili cts. per lb., and 15 swarms in the Roop hive.
Some swarms I tier up three stories high. I expect
my report will be small by the side of some, but it is
through the blessing of the Lord I have got what I
have. L. B. Ken yon.
Lyons, Ionia Co., Mich., Aug. 2, 1881.
PROMPTNESS AND RESPONSIBILITY ARE ESSENTIAL
TO A BEE-KEEPEH.
You no doubt begin to think that you will not get
the money for the beautiful queen you sent me; but
It is all right; and here let mo suggest an idea that
is quite a consolation to me as regards losses to a
bee-culturist: If a man is so low and mean as to
try to cheat one out of a queen or other appliances
necessarj' to successful results, he is not fit to own
and handle bees, and will not prosper in the busi-
ness. A successful bee-keeper must be a reliable
man te start with. I was very successful in intro-
ducing her, but she seemed to be quite exhausted
on her arrival, and it took her more than a week to
recruit, and now she is nearly double the size when
first I saw her, and she has young bees now at work,
and they are perfect beauties, and very industrious.
1 find bee culture in Nebraska quite dififei-ent from
that of York State or Wisconsin. The Italians are
far superior to the black bees here. This is a good
honey country, but bees must be strong and vigor-
ous to stand the wind and sudden storms. I have
never lost a swarm in fifteen years, and have win-
tered as many as 73 swarms at once.
T. L. WiirTBECK.
VVahoo, Saunders Co., Neb., July 18, 1881.
CALIFOUNIA.
The honey season will be a total failure in this sec-
tion of 1 he State this year. 1 have not extracted a
pound of honey this season, nor do I expect to;
neither have I heard of an}' one who has. One of my
neighbors has some bees near Santa Monica; he was
looking through them, a few days ago, and many of
them had "not a drop " of honey in the hives. There
are plenty of flowers, sage, wild buckwheat, sumac,
and lovevine; but-no honey. Bees on the scales
rt/)U')i to 65 lbs. " It's a foul wind that blows no one
any good." I shall need no hives for another year.
This is my second year, and both have been failures.
Rather hard for a novice, is it not? Cause of fail-
ure of honey this year, weather too cold and cloudy.
W. W. Bliss.
Los Angeles, Cal., July 7, 1881.
UPS .\ND DOWNS, BUT NOT BLASTED HOPES, AFTER
ALL.
I commenced bee-keeping in 1878, with two stands;
increased to 5 first summer; gave 1 away, leaving 4;
increased to 9 in 1879; 1 died wintering, leaving 8 in
1880; increased to 10, and now have only 3 weak
swarms left. From the start they have paid ex-
penses, and paid for !f20.00 worth of carpenter tools,
be^^ides paying for hives. I have 15 extra boxes, and
100 combs, so I have not lost any thing by them so
far, I have wintered in cellar every year, and I
think my losses have been from my own neglect.
Samuel Lister.
Newton, Jasper Co., Iowa, June 1, 1881.
STRAW OR CHAFF PACKING IN CELLAR, ETC.
Nov. 9th, 1880, I put 35 swarms into my cellar, with
a bridge over all the frames, a common sheet of
duck over bridge, and top of hive packed full of
straw. April 13th, 1881, I set out 34 swarms, one dy-
ing queenless. After I set them out, one got robbed,
and 1 hey were queenles?; but I did not know it, then
I put three in one hive, to try to build it up, and it
is the smallest one I have now. To-day I have 57
swarms and one nucleus, all heavy except 3 or 4,
and have taken up to-day very nearlj' 600 lbs. of
honey in lU andl lb. sections; and If I had an ex-
tractor I could take -500 more from two outside
frames in each hive, and let them fill up with buck-
wheat, fireweed, and goldenrod.
R. P. LOVETOY.
Grtig, Lewis Co., N. Y., July :24, 1881.
CHAFF HIVES, ETC.
Bees are in splendid condition. I am surprised at
the great loss of bees, especially in chaff hives. Af-
ter passing through two severe winters, and never
losing but one colonj^ in the whole time, I am a flim
believer that there is no better or safer way to win-
ter bees than on Summer stands in chaff hives. I
have always started in winter with plenty of bees,
good stores, and tucked up with division-boards. I
may bo wrong; but if everybody would start in win-
ter in as good shape, and chaff packing, they would
never have occasion fcr a space in Blasted Hopes.
D. White.
New London, Ohio, May 7, 18ol.
450
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Sept.
CHAFF HIVES, BLACK BEES, ETC.
I Started last fall with 54 stocks— 51 in Langstroth
chaff hives, and 3 in box hives; lost 4 in chaff, and 1
in liox hive, and doubled up one, which left 48,
mostly in good condition. Increased to 83 bynatural
and artificial swarming; have taken 8'>U lbs. from
one swarm, of nice clover honey in .sections, and
black bees at that. Three-fourths of the bees died
in these parts last winter. My bees are doing better
than ever before. I wintered in chaff hives, with a
piece of carpet over the frames, and 6 inches of
loose chaff on top of that, which 1 think is about
right. I make and use the V'andervort foundation.
It beats any I ever saw. I have put heavy swarms
on full sheets, and have not had any break-down. I
use full-size sheets in sections; 10 square feet to the
pound. c. J. Hakjht.
Rush, Susq. Co., Pa., July 11, 1881.
UPS AND DOWNS.
Bees have done remarkably well here this season.
Here where, for two years past, they have scarcel.v
made a living,— in fact, nearly all have perished, in
consequence, principally, of the poor seasons,— this
year they gi ve an average of 60 to 70 lbs. of choice
honey, all sealed. Italians have been about the only
ones to survive the two past seasons. Three years
ago in my neighborhood we numbered nearly 300
colonies. Spring found us with only 30, and all
weak ; 10 scarcely able to build up.
Americus, Mo., July 8, 1881. L. A. ANDEBi=0\.
Why, friend A., tliat reads something like
what the man said about his clock. Some-
body suggested it was out of repair. ''Oh,
no!" he replied; "it is only because but
few people understand it. Yon see, when
it strikes 12 the hands point to half-past two ;
and I know then it's just half-past seven."
SOUTH AMERICA.
Please send me two sample copies of your maga-
zine, with price lists for improved appliances, etc. I
desire, through a friend in South America, to use
our best endeavors to introduce this industry on a
large scale there, and of course must be well inform-
ed of the requisites for such work. The field, I
think, is a good one, and requires only energy and
push to open up to a considerable extent. The cli-
mate is nearly similar to that of California, and I sec
no reason to think the project at all a doubtful one.
Any information you can supply me with I shall be
obliged for; and in the event of any business result-
ing, I shall be pleased to buy of you the necessary
articles. J. H. Snyder,
Vicc-Cu)isul Arocnti))e ncimhUc.
■ 128 Pearl St., N. Y., July 33, 1881.
We gladly send the samples, friend S., and
we shall be most happy to assist in any way
in our power in opening up bee culture in
the southern half of our continent. You
will observe, from another column, that we
already have one customer and correspond-
ent in your country.
HOW TO winter bees.
As wintering of bees must be a subject of much
interest to you, I will send in my report for the
past winter. At the beginning of winter I had 98
swarms in about 8 different kinds of hives. Three
swarms starved, 2 lost their queens, and 3 getting
weak in the spring, on account of having old queens
(as I thought), were put in with others, lessening
them 8 from 98. I could not ask for better success
in wintering in any winter. I have been experi-
menting on wintering bees for the last five years,
and I now think I know the right, way to prepare
them. I have a hive that cost less than $1.00 that I
think would be just the thing for the timid portion
of your A H C class. I could insin-e them to winter
bees that are in reasonably good condition for 25 cts.
a swarm (no patent, no hives to sell.) And if you
will visit me I think it possible that you might see
or hear something that would be of benefit to yon in
wintering bees.
Swarming commenced early in June; over 100
swarms issued. I have been selling new swarms
that weighed 6 to 8 lbs. for $3.00. They have stored
a good quantity of bo.\ honey. F. C. White.
Euclid, Cuyahosa Co., Ohio, Jnly 16, 1881.
Well, isn't that a little cool, friend W., to
tell us you have got the great secret, and
then keep us all w^aiting until I can pay you
a visit y Can't you give us at least a brief
outline of what is to be done V I will try to
come and see you, however, before a great
while.
HONEY-DEW.
We have not had a very large flow of honey this
season, though the season seems favorable, and was
early in the spring. We had lots of honey-dew for
several weeks, but I did not see a single bee gather-
ing it, or paying any attention to it. Please tell us
if such cases are common, where bees remain poor
while honey-dew drops from the leaves in rich
abundance. S. L. Greer.
Friendsville, Blount Co., Tenn., July 26, 1881.
I never heard of such a case before, friend
G. Was the honey-dew good? it must
have been of very bad quality indeed if the
bees would not eat it.
EXPERIENCE OF ONE OF THE "AWKWARD SQUAD."
The queen I got of you was well received and in-
troduced, and a week after was laying all right, but
in two weeks more was gone, and a lot of queen-cells
capped. What became of her? 1 had a large box
hive in the spring so full of crooked comb and honey
that I did not like to transfer it, so I took off the top
and put on a Simplicity hive. They soon tilled it
with brood and honey, sent off' a swarm of at least
half a bushel of bees, and still seem to be full of
both bees and brood. What shall I do with them? I
see in Gleanings how friend Miller uses honey to
prevent foundation from stick ing to the lever of his
fastener. I put a piece of paper on top of the foun-
dation. This can be pulled off without trouble after
it is fastened, and makes no daubing of honey. To
fasten foimdation in the L. frame, lay the sheet of
it on the comb-guide; take a hot iron (a stove-lid
lifter will do), and draw it along the upper edge so
it will touch both the wood and the edge of the fdn.,
and it is done.
One of the ABC Class.
Bedford, Westchester Co., N. Y., July 25, 1881.
It is hard to guess what became of your
queen. Any queen is liable to be found luiss-
ing at any time. I presume they die occa-
sionally of other ailments than old age, in
common with the rest of mortals.— Take oti
your Simplicity hive, and set it on the stand
of the old one now, and I think you will have
all the bees and nearly all the brood, so you
can jnstAvork up the old crooked combs into
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
451
wax.— Your plan of using a piece of paper,
friend, is novel ; but it seems to me it would
take too much time, the way our girls work.
The hot-iron plan is a very old ope. but is
still used by some.
HOW TO MAKE A WAX-EXTRACTOR FOB TEN CEiNTS.
Take your wife's dish-pan, and cut a piece of wire
cloth a little larger than the top; bend it down a
couple of inches inside, and bend the corners down
outside to keep it in place ; put a little water in the
pan, and cover the wir(} eUith with old combs; set in
the oven with a moderate tire, and let it bake about
15 minutes, and the wax will all be on top, the water
and dirt on top the wire cloth. Repeat as long- as
the comb htlds out. Cheap and good; try it.
X. Y. Z.
Madisonvillc, Ham. Co., O., July 27, 1881.
Why, friend Z., yours is exactly our 30-
cent wax-extractor, only you take wire cloth
instead of the sieve, and steal your wife's
disli-pan instead of Iniying one. I should
not be surprised if the latter part of it cost
you more than 10c of itself, unless y<nu- wife
is a — jewel.
BEE KEEPERS' MISHAPS.
As it is the fashion for bee-men to report, I must
give in my mite. I am one of the ABC class. I have
C colonies in chaff hives; they arc doing finely now,
but we don't know what the song will be next
spring. We must hope and trust. I noticed in
Gleanings of friend Good's report from Nappanee
concerning Holy-Land bees. All very well; we don't
doubt it a bit concerning the Holy-Land bees, but we
are s^rry about Amos Blosser's smoker burning up
buggy and harness. It was bad luck, but nobody
was killed after all. Friend Blosserhasanew buggy
and harness, and drives around as happy as a robin
in June. So it's not very much worse than friend
Good caging a queen on salt, the result of which
Avas— a dead queen. Jacob Coble.
South West, Elkhart Co., Ind., Aug. 4, 1881.
So it seems, friend Good, that you tried
feeding your queen salt instead of sugar, and
that you did not tell us about that part of it
when you told about tlie buggy and har-
ness. .
an ABC SCHOLAR IN TROUBLE.
Having only two bo.x hives of black bees since
last fall, I am completely at a loss what to do with
them, although I have read your ABC and Glean-
ings ever since. I wintered them In my cellar; one
has come out all right, and the other had dysentery,
and was very weak, I being obliged to feed them. A
friend of mine has lost 14 out of 22, cellar wintering.
I took them out on the 13th of April. They have
been working since, and I have been expecting to
see them swarming every day since July, as they
were hanging in front of the hive; but they have
not swarmed yet. I was surprised to see them start-
ing foundation outside of the hive. I did not like to
force them to go in, as they seem very strong. I
suppose it is too late to swarm now. I have sown
some Spider and Simpson honey-plants; they are
about 15 inches high. P. A. Bourget.
Lauzon, Canada, Aug., 1881.
Why, friend B., did you not transfer your
bees V I fear you have read A B C and
Gleanings to little purpose, if you expect-
ed to prosper in bee culture with your bees
still remaining in box hives. Spider and
Simpson plants I Why, your bees have their
hives so full of honey already, from the
plants that grow of themselves, that they
probably could not get inside if they would.
No wonder tlle^ are " starting foundations "
on the outside of the hives. Perhaps it may
be as well now to let them remain until next
spring before transferring, but you have lost
one year.
a novelty in "chaff hives," and abundant
ventilation for winter.
I send you the following, which I cut out of one of
our county papers. It illustrates a freak of the
bees, to say the least ; and they are not supposed to
be the " Apis dorsata " cither. I. D. Pierce.
Kirksville, Mo., Aug. 8, 1881.
Vbout loui- or livf wccUs ;iyi) Mr J J Shott hived a swann of
btts The next, the hees left the hive ;iiul Mr. Shott supposed
thev had troiie entirely. Last Satnrdav he discovered tlie tru-
ants abmic I.'> ft. fi-onrtlie tree, wliere they liad drawn the tall
frass to^'etlur and were working very industriously. They ev-
identlv meant to niaUe a home m their strange quarters, for
they had stored alic.ut 1.") Ihs. ol excellent honey, the combs of
whi.-h weje .utarhed to the weeds and grass.
Jlr. Shott has lett them in their chosen home: he says he will
not he responsible for any debts contra<-ted by said bees, as they
liave left his I'are, and entered life upon their own respon-
.sibility.
Tell the A B C class, in order to get rid of the pol-
len in the fall, feed the bees after they are done stor-
ing till they use it up, then they will have a nice
lot of young bees, and no pollen to cause dysentery.
.\ nice watering-place for bees,
this hot August weather, is to place a keg, with one
head out, in some suitable place, tilled with water,
and cotton cloths folded, with one end in the water,
and the other hanging out. We have ours close by
the well, and when we are drinking, throw what re-
mains in the keg. The cloths keep soaked, and the
bees have the nicest place for getting water I ever
saw. Ila Mishener.
Low Banks, Ont, Can., Aug. i;i, 1881.
Started to winter six swarms: lost three; increased
this summer to eleven; got UOO lbs. extracted honey,
and expect to get more this season. Inclosed you
will find one dollar. Send along Gleanings.
J. Gou^.n.
Woodstock, Ontario, Can., July 22, 1881.
Why, friend G., if you were in Blasted
Hopes, it does not seem to me you stayed
there long. I should think you belonged in
Smilery now.
ten thousand pounds of honey, etc.
I inclose you draft for $14.00, for which please
send me 200 of those two-quart tin pails, to which
you call attention in August Gleanings. If they
are all gone, please indorse the draft to my order,
and return it. Ship by freight to me at Levanna.
N. Y.
I have taken about 10,000 lbs. of honey, instead of
7000, as I wiote you a few days ago, and could have
taken a few hundred more, but it began to be col-
ored by buckwheat. I think this is a pretty good
yield for 78 swarms in the spring (many of them
weak), to say nothing of the 130 new swarms.
1 am one of Burch's victims. I sent to him in May
for one best tested queen, $3..50; in a nucleus. *3..50;
and a B. & H. honey-knife, f 1.2.5. Total $7.2.5. In
ease he does not return the money, I will not receive
it from you, as I do not think you ought to pay it.
My loss would have l>een much greater, but I live
within about 25 miles of Mr. Doolittle, and so when
I got ready to use some brood for queen-rearing I
452
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Sept.
went to him and bought some. I also maile anothei-
trip later. In this way I succeeded in raising about
70 very nice queens. F. B. Chapman.
Scipioville, Cay. Co., N. Y., Aug. 4, 1881.
Our friends will notice, from the way in
which the above order is given, that friend
V. feels a little sore, lie does not relisli tlie
idea of sending for pails, and then having to
wait nntil they can lie made, or ordered from
New York. There is a good moral there,
and I don"t blame him a bit ; I like to get
orders in just that way. When one has
10,000 lbs. of honey on his hands, he doesn't
want any bothers or delays if it can be
avoided.
I am very much oblif;ed indeed, friend C.,
for your kind words and kind offer, but I
trust jSIr. Burch is going to fix up all his
matters so nobody will lose. I heartily com-
mend the neighborly way in which you and
friend Doolittle help each other.
CYPRIANS FOR INCREASE.
The North-Eastern Bee Association ol' Maiae met
at Grange Hall, Dexter, Aug. 11, 1881. Three coun-
ties were represented, and i'rom all localities it ap-
peared that bees had done unusually well. Presi-
dent Additon reported one swarm of Cyprians that
had increased, by natural swarming, to tweh e. Mr.
Crocker, of St. Albans, had a swarm of Cyprians
that sent out ten swarms. Nearly all of the bees
here are blacks and hybrids. The hybrids are spo-
ken highly of as honey-gatherers. The next meet-
ing will be held at (irange Hall, Nov. 10, 1881. The
topics for discussion will be, "The different Kaces of
Bees," Wm. Hoyt ; " How to Manage Bees for Box
Honey," L. French; "Are Natural Queens better
than Artificial?" S. R. Bodge.
Ripley, Me., Aug. 13, 1881. Wm. Hovt, Sec.
PEET CAGE.
The two queens came Friday the 5th; were put in-
to hives Saturday, and Monday I went to let them
go, and one had eaten through; the other had crawled
under the side of the cage, so they were both at lib-
erty, and seemed perfectly at home. The tin points
don't hold the cage firmly; it would be better to
have two on each side, then they would hold both
corners up to the comb alike. The slide should work
more easily, and in shipping, put in a small tack to
keep from falling out. Every thing is drying up.
Mercury up to 107^ in shade. W>[. Browne v.
Garden Grove, Iowa, Aug. 9, 1881.
Our queens very often get out themselves,
but as they are seldom killed, we think it
don't matter much. There is hardly room
on the cage for four tins, and as we now
make them long enough so the points can be
bent, or clinched over, the cage seldom gets
loose. Draw the slide out as far as you can
before putting it on the comb, and you can
then get it out easily. "We try to make them
all work easily, but sometimes the shrinkage
of the wood, or a little candy on the tin, will
make them start hard. 1 think queens have*
been introduced this past season with less
loss than ever a season before. Thanks to
friends Feet and Nellis.
large swarms.
I can't resist the temptation to add a few lines to
ray already too long letter. Since writing it I have
been reading in the Aug. No. of Gleanings, which
I received yesterday, where you say that the largest
natural swarm that you bought last year weighed 7
lbs., and that you had this year bought one that
weighed ll^i lbs. I had one the Uth of June that
weighed 7'i lbs., and I thought, as I laid down my
book and started for the harvest field, "If my big
bo.x hive had only swarmed, perhaps I should have
had a still larger one." I had had time to bind only
3 doz. bundles of grain when I heard my farm-bell
ring. I saiil, "That surely means visitors, for my
bees got through swarming a month ago." I hur-
ried to the house to see what was the matter. Thr
bitj box hicc had ftwaimed! 1 have just succeeded in
crowding them into a good large frame hive. The
bees alone just balance 11 lbs. on my Fairbanks
scales, so I am only 12 ounces behind your neighbor
Clark. I am j»)(».i/ well satisfied. I have often been
advised to double my late swarms. Bj' "doubling,"
I mean putting two or three togethei-; but T don't
believe this one needs doubling.
My neighbor Arnold had a big swarm, also, to-day.
He thinks it was as lar^e, or larger, than mine, but
could not or did not stop to weigh it. The bees clus-
tered in four places, and lie thinks they had 4 queens.
He had only one hive reatly when his grain was fit to
draw in, so he put them all together, shut the hive
up tight, or nearly so, and put them in his cellar,
when he thought he would keep them safe till they
killed ofiE their surplus queens. Early this evening
he opened the hive and found dead bees i inches
deep on the bottom-board. He thinks there may be
enough alive still to make a good colony. Do you
think that if they had more than one queen they
would have killed all but one, and afterward been
all right if he had given them more air':"
J. W. Haiikxess.
Keeseville, Essex Co., N. V., Aug. 5, 1881.
Yes, sir ; but I am quite sure they had but
one queen.
ventilation in winter.
As the veterans, young and old, are pointing in
the rear to the lamp of experience which may serve
as a guide in the future, I beg to put in my infinit-
esimal. Years ago, when 1 had bees in box hives, I
inverted them in their cellar winter-quarters, piling
one abo^•e another. They wintered well with a loss
of about two per cent. When we moved into Lang-
stroth hives we loft open the holes in old honey-
boards, and placed strips of shingles half-inch wide
between hives so as not to close these holes in hon-
ey-board. The winter loss was about two per cent.
Last winter my bees were put in cellar without this
precaution ! We had 90 stands in each of the two
cellars. Dysentery commenced in the best stands
early in winter, and after raking out dead bees in
wet, offensive masses, for several weeks, I took oflf
honey-boards, shoving them forward about - inches,
and then replied the hi%'es. Tin's Sdou ended the di/neii-
terii. Bee-bread may have excited the disease, but
ventilation ended it with me. Jesse Oben.
La Porte City; Black Hawk Co., Iowa, Aug. 5, 1881.
spider plants .VNU nUM.MING-BlRDS.
I like the Spider plant very much, with those big
drops oi; honey, but I don't get to see them very oft-
en, except when I cover them up. I got about 300
to grow from the one package of seed I got from
j'ou. But I don't like the humming-bird you sent
with them; they come by the thousands, just at sun-
set, and take the last drop of honey, and then come
to my bee-feeders like a little swarm of bees, and
1881
GLEA2{INGS IN BEE CULTURE.
453
nlight on them and sip np all of the sugar. I will
have to quit feeding- at the entrance, and feed inside
of the hi%-e. I would send you a couple of the in-
sects if I did not think you sent them. I wish, while
you were making me a present, that you had sent
me a nice Italian queen. I would have liked it
much better. You may think this is a big- tale to
tell: but, sir, I never saw the like in all my life, nor
anybody else in my neighborhood.
Can you tell me how to make sugar out of cane?
George Thorn.
Willmoths, Barbour Co., W. Va., Aug. 15, 1881.
I have seen the huminiii8;-birds too, friend
T., but not in such numbers as you men-
tion. In the night time we also have great
moths that greedily suck up the precious
nectar. Where these honey-plants are raised
on a large scale, these bird and insect ene-
mies might get to be quite a drawback.
Probably the humming-birds were attracted
from quite a distance, and that is why you
found so many of them. Can you not trap
them, and sell them as curiosities, and make
a speculation out' of them?
In our book list, you will tind a book that
tells all about making sugar from Early
Amber and other canes.
EXTRACTED HONEY SOURING.
I have two barrels of honey that were gathered dur-
ing a rainy spell, that, as soon as disturbed, com-
mence to ferment. 1 am afraid to ship them, as I
fear they will burst. What would you advise me to
do with them? Is there nothing that I can put into
them to stop fermentation, that will not injure the
honey? W. S. Hart.
New Smyrna, Volusia Co., Fla , Aug. 16, 1881.
If the honey has not got so as to taste bad,
which I think likely it has not, you can ripen
it by putting it in open vessels co\'ered with
cheese cloth. It is very likely that the fer-
mentation is only in the thin honey that has
risen to the top. ^>ry often it will be found
all right, after dipping off the surface. The
honey that tastes a little bad, or slightly
sour, can be improved, and the fermenta-
tion stopped, by slightly scalding ; but it is
seldom of as fine a color or flavor after scald-
ing. I would by no meaits put anything in-
to it. It is because of just stichwork as you
have now on hand, that I have in the ^V 13 C
cautioned so much about extracting the
honey before it was nearly all capped over.
HUNGARIAN BEES, ETC.
Y ou ask where I got the Hungarian bees. I im-
ported them 3 years ago. I do not think much of
them as a race, but their good qualities consist in
the crossing. As a race they will swarm themselves
to death. I have no such trouble when they are
crossed with other races. I am now testing the
Holy-Land queens for laying. I have some that are
very prolfic, very handsome, and as large as any
Italians I ever saw. Generally, queens of this race
are small and not verj' handsome. I have selected,
for breeding queens, some very fine Hungarian
queens, and'I expect to raise some very bright ones,
thus breeding up a race of bees that will go ahead
of all others. H. Alley.
Wenham, Mass., Aug. 19, 1881.
$d^^ and ^iiwkh
G. W. MARSHALL, DAVENPORT, lOAVA.
I DREW on (1. W. Marshall for the pay for his ad-
vertisement, and he repudiated it, and we drop
his card; and if any one has lost money by
reason of Itis (t<l. in our .journal, we arc ready to
make it good. E. M. Harrison.
Lebanon, Laclede Co., Mo., Aug. 16, 1881.
[That is business, friend Harrison, and here is our
hand on it. Let us suffer long, and be kind : but
when a man repudiates his honest debts, ho should
be held up at once, as a warning.]
Some of the old veterans had. better look out for
their laurels in the queen business this year; and
honey too. L. W. Vankirk.
Washington, Pa.*, Aug. 1, 1881.
I put 54 swarms in cellar; took out about 30,
which died to about 1~, worth, may be, 5 good
swarms. H. B. Alger.
Edgewood, Clayton Co., la., July 5, 1881.
I had 130 stands of bees when last winter set in,
and saved only 13. I have had 3 swarms this season.
Total, 16. H. W. White.
Broad Hun Sta., Fauquier Co., Va.
I have had a splendid How of honey. I extracted
1700 lbs. from )iQ colonies from July 4th to the 30th.
I never saw basswood so full. W. S. Saltford.
Po'keepsie, N. Y., July 29, 1881.
I have taken 1460 lbs. of honey from 49 hives, one-
third sections, two-lhirds extracted, all very light-
colored, and fine flavored. Stacy Pettit.
Ft. Smith, Ark., Aug. 1, 1881.
This neighborhood will have to report another
poor crop of clover honey. I received more locust
honey in 5 days than clover honey in as many weeks.
Cincinnati, ()., July 11, 1881. Chas. F. Muth.
Prospects of honey are good. Extracted so far
3000 lbs., and taken off 300 lbs. comb honey. Have
now 250 colonies. O, W. Blanton.
Greenville, Wash. Co., Miss., June 3, 1881.
I went Into winter-quarters with 15 colonies; all
came through right. I now have 37 colonies, all do-
ing well. I wintered on summer stands.
Thomas H. Jansen.
Breesport, Chemung Co., N. Y., Aug. 17, 1881.
"Her Majesty" arrived yesterday in good condi-
tion, and coronal services were at once performed;
and, there being nf) Nihilists, a quiet and peaceful
reign is expected. A. W. Hempleman.
Richmond, Ind., Aug. 18, 1881.
honey in august.
I never knew, for the last fifteen years, the bees to
gather any honey in this month till this year, not-
withstanding the protracted drought. The early
blossoming of smartweed may perhaps account for
the same. A. X. Illinski.
East St. Louis, St. Clair Co., 111., Aug. 18, 1881.
AN apiary of 325 colonies in box hives.
I am in the bee business, and have been for the
last 8 years. I have an apiary at Blakeley, Baldwin
Co., Ala., which is, I think, the best place for honey
in the State. From 335 gums, I have, in a good hon-
ey season, turned out 6000 lbs. of capped honey; but
the last three years the bees have failed and done
but little. I have been using the old-fashioned box
gum, but intend to try the frames.
Bromley, Ala., Aug. 6, 1881. C. F. Williams.
454
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Sept.
VERY ACCOMMODATING.
If any more queens come without any name, send
them all to me. I will take care of them.
A. F. EiIjENBErgzr.
Laddsburg, Bradford Co., Pa., June 9, 1881.
T started the season with 78 swarms, many of them
weak (I lost 71 in wintering:) have increased to 210,
and taken, with what is ready to take, about 70001bs.
of extracted honey. F. B. Chapman.
Scipioville, Cayuga Co., N. Y., July 21, 1881.
I lost one swarm just by not having the A B C to
tell me what to do. I should have moved it before
the scouts returned and took it to the woods. I
have 8 swarms (one in the woods.) F. M. Cheney.
South Sutton, Merrimack Co., N. H.
I see you have got our convention wrongly locat-
ed. It was first voted to Berlin but was reconsidered
in the presence of the Berlin delegates and carried
to Pewaukee, Wis. I was secret arypc* ^^oi. Please
correct. H. P. Sayi.es.
Hartford, Wis., Aug. 3, 1881.
Erratum.— Between us (the type-setter and my-
self) there has been a mistake made which I would
like corrected. Page 348, July GLEAxixas, " ISO nat-
ural swarms May 12," should read, "1881 (the present
year), natural swarms Maj' 12, which is a month ear-
lier than 1880." Ed. Ladd, Jr.
Beverly, Mo., July 19, 1881.
HONEY-DEW BLACK IN t'OI.OIi.
My bees are gathering honey-dew as black as ink,
and building up strong.
CH.\FF packing.
The weakest colony I have was not packed for win-
ter. The strongest I have was packed in a chaff
hive, and cast a natural swarm on the 26th. Give me
chaff hives for such a winter as the last in this lati-
tude. Jas. A. Nelson.
Wyandotte, Kan., May 30, 1881.
cellars, or OUTDOOR PACKING.
I wintered 32 swarms of bees last winter, 13 in cel-
lar, and 0 out of doors, packed in boxes and
stuffed with meadow hay. All wintered, until, in
April, 4 died without stores. I can not tell which are
the best on an average, those wintered in the cellar,
or those out of doors. They are gathering honey
well at this time. L. E. Bemis.
Athol, Worcester Co., Mass., June 3, 1881.
transferring in .JULY; HOW IT WORKS IF YOU
don't LOOK OUT.
After I received the queens, I had two box hives
that I purchased, and concluded to transfer one of
them and capture the old queen, and release the
Italian; but the robbers poured in, and killed queen,
workers, and all ; so, you see, nobody is to blame but
myself. W. E. Shekrey.
Olmstead, Logan Co., Ky., Aug. 1, 1881.
DAILY yield from B.4iSSWOOD.
Seeing that some were reporting how much honey
a single swarm of bees had broiight in in a day, I
thought I would report too. I had a swarm so I
could weigh them this year. July 4th they gained
13}i lbs.; July 5th, 13?J lbs., and July 6th, 11' i lbs.,
making 3814 lbs. in three days. That is about as well
as I have seen any report of bees doing in this part
of Michigan. They were at work on basswood.
Bees are doing well here now on buckwheat.
T. P. Butcher.
Spring Arbor, Mich., Aug. 14, 1881.
[Do you wonder I planted a basswood orchard,
friend B.?]
We commenced the season proper with 123 colonies
(that is, after we had done selling). We have now 226,
all full of bees but 3 or 4, and on the 12th and 13th we
went over the whole and took out all the frames, the
sections in which were all 111 led out, and no others;
and we took off 276 one-pound sections, well filled;
all clover honey, and nearly every colony has com-
menced in the second story. How is that for July 12?
Mauston, Wis., July 15, 188J. H. V. Train.
CALIFORNIA.
We will have but little honey this season— one-
fifth of a crop. I served an apprenticeship of three
years with Mr. J. S. Harbison, and have an apiary of
about 200 stands of bees now on my own account,
but find I will have to connect the bee business with
fruit and vines, as the hon;\v crop is uncertain. I
have just got out 1000 raisin grapes, 100 orange-
trees, and 100 olives. J. P. M. Rainbow.
Fall Brook, San Diego Co., Cal., July 18, 1881.
.>^av.a.ge bees.
Please inform me what I can do with the most sav-
age bees that ever lived. My hand is so swollen
from their effects that I can scarcely write. Please
do give information. Mrs. Wm. Pate.
Atwood, Antrim Co., Mich.
[If it is a sudden freak of theirs to be savage, it is
probably because the honey yield has suddenly
stopped. In that case, feed them liberally and reg-
ularly, and I think they will turn out decent and
civil bees again. If they are always cross, kill the
queen or sell her to somebody who don't mind cross
bees, telling him, of course, exactly why you sell
her. You can by this means secure bees just as
gentle as you choose, in every hive in your apiary;
Do you keep a good smoker, and never let your bees
have the upper hand':* It is a very bad plan to let
your bees get the habit of stinging. It is like let-
ting a high-mettled horse get loose and run away a
few times.]
rerlaiiiing: to JBec Culture.
\Vc respectfully solicit the aid of our friends in conducting
this department, and would consider it a favor to have them
send us all circulars that have a deceptive appearance. The
trieatest care will be at all times maintained to jn event injustice
hein« done any one.
S REGISTERED N. C. Mitchell an order of $16.00
for five nucleus swarms in February, 1880, and
was to have the bees by the 10th of May. He
went to Smithfield, and said that he couldn't make
shipping arrangements to me to suit, and that he
would send me two queens for each nucleus ordered,
and if I lost any in introducing, that he would make
them good. Now, in the first place I ordered five nu-
clei with trtitcd queens. He mailed 15 queens; one
came through dead; 4 I lost in introducing, which
leaves 10. All proved hybrids. Fourteen, at 50 cts.
each, would make $7.00; that would leave $9.00 in my
favor, or th.at I have not got any thing for. Now, I
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
4.>5
want you to give him a show in youi- Humbug col-
umn. H. Dickson.
West Lima, Richland Co., Wis., July IS, 1881.
Why. friend I)., if you got fifteen liybrid
queens tor tlie SlH.oo, I should say you had
done "amazing" well compared with what
others have had. I really can not under-
stand why ^Mitchell should single you from
all the rest and send you any thing. .Vny
way, I am very glad indeed to" know that he
has some especial friends to whom he some-
times sends even hybrid ([ueens for their
money. If yours were the only complaint. I
should by no means think of putting him in
Ilumlnigs and Swindles at all.
^k "imtm
This depai'tnient ^^as sugprested by one of the clerks, as an op-
position to the Urowlery. I think I shall ventnre to give names
in full here.
f||HREE swarms on a limb all at once, and more
coming-. Boos are doing- finely now; I have
!•' strong (breech-loaders;) don't get time to
eat my dinner in erood shapp. The cry is, more sec-
tions; foundation and chafl' hives almost all gone,
and bees just piling in the clover honey. It makes
me almost feel ashamed to take off 21 nice sections
all capped, and so nic?, from one hive; but I will try
to endure it. D. G. Webster.
Blaine, Bjonc Co., III., July, 1881.
This is Pijrncoithe mum pilosiun, & species of basil,
or mountain mint, of which there are over a dozen
east of the Mississippi Kiver, and all good bee-
plants. Several others have been sent me at differ-
ent times by bee-men. Prof. W. J. Be.vl,.
Lansing, Mich., July, 1881.
I mail you some honey-plants. Please give the
name of each, and oblige. The honey-harvest is
over with us, and I am ready to ship bees at 7.5 cts.
per lb. The little fellows have done me good service
this season -120 sections from one hive ; the others
averaged 80 each. Chas. Kinosley.
Greeneville, Tenn., July 7, 1S81.
Answer by Prof. Beal:
No. 1 Is Axclriiia!^ tuh'^nisa, a beautiful species,
with Howers varying from dark orange to light lem-
on color. It is well worth cultivating for ornament.
No. 2 is Plantaijii lanccolata, ribbed grass, a common
weed introduced into l-:iwn3 with grass seed from
the east. w. J. Beai,.
Agricultural College, Lansing, Mich.
I went into Avinter-quarters with 20 swarms only;
lost one, dysentery; flying colors, heads up, tails
sharp, honey flowing. Likely to get 4000 lbs., spe-
ciflc gravitv HO degrees by hydrometer, rain water
being 100. Thus it is tO percent heavier than water.
Queen business brisk. A new shop, engine, and 2
acres of Early Amber cane, " heads up."
New Hamburg, Ont., Can., July 25, 1881.
H. Smith.
■^5'
OR HONEY PUNTS TO BE NAMED.
FjLEASE name the inclosed plant. It would not
be of any special importance if it were not
' for the fact, that it yields honey during July,
when there is almost nothing else. It furnishes
honey all day, wet or drj-. It grow.s from 12 to 18
inches high, and is found mostly on the unbroken
praiiies. C. B. Thwixg.
Hamilton. Mo., July U, 1881.
Answer by Prof. Beal:—
The plant is Pijcnantliemuin Lini'olUuii. It is a
sort of will basil. They belong to the mint family.
Michigan Agricultural College. W. J. Beal.
Inclosed is the specimen spoken of in my letter of
yesterday, and which I forgot to put into said letter.
M. J. Harris.
Calhoun, Richland Co., IlL, July 23, 1881.
The plant looks to us very much like pen-
nyroyal, and it also tastes very much like it,
only it has a little more of a sort of camphor
flavor. Friend J3eal, however, doesn't call
it pennyroyal at all, as you see above : —
HERCULES' CLUIi.
Find inclosed blossom and leaves of a honey-pro-
ducing shrub Avhich I saw for the first time yester-
day. The gentleman at whose place I found it, Mr.
Chris. ]{uggles, Ashland Co., O., knew no name for
it ; says it remains some time in bloom, and is " alive
with bees all day long." It puts out one stem of
blossoms the first j'car, and increases each year un-
til it reaches 20 or ;J0 feet in height, when it dies and
others take its place from the root; does not sprout
badly from root, but is reproduced in that way very
easilj-. The.se blossoms bear berries, which he says
resemble "spignet;" also resemble comfrey ber-
ries. It smells very sweetly, and when I saw it
(about noon) was covered with bees, which he said
were kept a mile from the place. Do you know the
name, and is it of value as a honey-producerV Please
answer through Gleanings. These blossoms are
all grown upon this year's growth of stalk, which
looks like the stsilk of cotiunon elder.
H. W. MliNNS.
New London, Ohio, Aug. 1, 1881.
I thought the plant seemed familiar, but
could not locate it, until friend I^eal named
it as below.
This is Hercules' Club, Angelica-tree (Amlia npi-
noga), a shrub found from Ohio to Florida, also in
cultivation. Phof. W. J. Beal.
We have a few of the trees growing in our
town, and every year they call forth ex-
clamations, when in bloom, from the great
swarm of bees constantly hovering over
them. I will at once take steps to have
some of the trees on our grounds.
Or Enemies'of Bees Among JInsect Tribes.
SEND you to-day by mail an insect that destroys
bees. They catch the bee and insert their bill
in his body. I caught this one with a bee, and
"waxed" it. What is it? E.M.Wallace.
Wheatland, Ind., Aug. 2, 1881.
It is the celebrated Asilus Missouriensis,
mentioned in A B C and Cook's Manual.
4.5H
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
Sept.
TOBACCO COI^UIWN.
jp HAVE not made use of the weed since I ob-
served your offer. Now, if you will send me
the smolier 1 will be very much obliged;
though, s^moker or no smoker, with God's help I
never expect to use the weed again. I am an orphan
boy, having no home of my own. I live \vith my
cousin. I have saved a few dollars, and am trying-
to start bee-keeping. Last year I bought mc one
stand of blacks; did not know there was any other
sort of bees until I chanced to s'i't a copy of Glean-
ings this spring. I bought a nucleus of J. P. H.
Brown, Augusta, Ga. They have built up to a
strong colony. I want to buy more as soon as I can
get the money. W. H. T. Collins.
A.\er3%'illc, Ga., June 5, 1881.
You are on the right track, friend C, in
declaring you will stop. Hold on, and you
will certainly, with (iod's help, come out
all right any waij.
I am an old smoker; will try to quit. Send smoker,
and I will either pay for it or quit smoking.
Kelloggsville, O.. July 15, 1881. J. Shave.
You will perhaps recognize me as one of the free-
smoker club. I would say, that I am still sound on
it, and bound to win. E. A. E.mmons.
Tampico, Whitesides Co., III., July 4, 1881.
Tf you arc going to give all of your subscribers
that smoke tobacco a smoker provided they will quit
smoking, you may put me down for one.
Neosho, Mo., July 5, 18S1. K. P. Liles.
T isee your smoker offer in Gleanings. I think I
must take the advantage of it, so I agree to quit the
use of tobacco from this date, if the Lord will be my
helper, and use it no more. So send to me a good
smoker. W. C. Witt.
Gordon, Wilkinson Co., Ga., July 15, 1881.
1 have been reading the Tobacco Column in Gle.\n-
INGS with interest ever since it was originated. Now
you may put mc there. I have used tobacco for 25
years and now I have quit for 25 days, and I think I
can tight it through; so you may send me a smoker
if it pleases you to do so one like you show on
page 322, July Gleanings. I have asmall Bingham,
but it is very inconvenient to light, and too email.
I am in the same boat with friend Cook, on page 358,
July No. J. II. Eby.
North Robinson, Crawford Co., ()., July 28, 1881.
The smoker is received, and is O. K. Vou say, in
Gleanings, that you think my case a rather bad
one. I gave mj' pipe and tobacco to my wife, and
told her to burn them in the stove; also, $1.50 to
send you the first time I was caught smoking.
D. S. Burbank.
Reinbeck, Iowa, August 6, 1881.
I beg pardon, friend B. I know you will
keep your promise. But it seemed a little
as if you meant you would keep on with the
pipe unless I sent you a smoker, and I
should feel, perhaps, that I was making a
mistake if you did that.
I see you are having quite an expensive thing of
your tobacco and whisky and swearing matters. I
hope you will accomplish good by it. But another
idea: lam in my evth year; have never smoked a
cigar or a pipe in my life ; have not taken .n dram of
liquor of any kind for more than 50 j-ears ; never
swore in my life, only when two or three years old,
and that in " Dutch." Now, sir, would I not be en-
titled to a smoker, say a Clark breach-loader,—
".iest?" I intended twitting you about sleeping in
church, but will let it pass for the i)resent.
PniLLIP Eahhart.
Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa, July 30, 1881.
Please send me one of your cold-blast Simplicity
smokers. I propose never to use any more tobacco,
but I don't propose to take a smoker for that. Am
doing nicely (I think) with my bees so far.
Dr. George A. Deming.
Amboy, Lee Co., 111., Aug. 1, 1881.
May the Lord bless you in the determina-
tion,'friend I). When the doctors of our
land shall, as a class, discontinue tobacco,
we may with propriety expect their patients
to do the same.
I have one of your Simplicity smokers, used three
years, and it is good yet. You can put me on your
list of reformed tobacco-users. I have used it for 26
years, but have <iuit for the lust three months and
forever. Dr. C. E. Bulison.
Flushing, Gen. Co., Mich., July 26, 1881.
Well, that is a good report, friend B. We
would like to send you a smoker free, just to
kind of remind you that you have shut down
on tobacco for good and all. Can we not do
so, doctor? If we can get tlie doctors all to
" f.<!chewing " tobacco, we shall be ready to
commence with the lawyers next. EhV '
Come to think of it, I quit using tobacco 5 weeks
last Sunday; have been usinu- ir, for IT years, some-
times using as much as 10 cents' worth a day. Now,
it seems to me I ought to send you a smoker for
fair play, as It has alrcad.v saved mc more than two
smokers would cost, and you have, through your
agency of offering a smoker, caused mc to try to
quit the us-^ of it, and T am hnppy to say I have suc-
ceeded, and hope to continue to do so; but since it is
your rule to send a smoker to all who quit the use of
tobacco, I suppose you had better put me down as
one who will take the smoker as a pledge not to use
any more tobacco. Rohert M. Teats.
Globe Mills Snyder Co., Pa., July 27, 1881.
Seeing your offer of a smoker to all who would
quit the use of tobacco, I have concluded to sa.v, I
have one more cigar, and when that is gone I'll
agree to the contract for a smoker.
J. H. Lee.
Lake Jessnp, Orange Co., Fit., July 18, 183L
I am glad to have you fi,ive it up this way,
rather than not at all, friend L.; but I think
your plan a little dangerous. As soon as
you are satistied a thing is wrong, stop it
that instant; for every moment you pro-
crastinate, is dallying with sin: and anv
such course weakens one's powers of self-
control to a gi'eater or less extent If it were
a point as to whether you would or wonld not
become a Christian, a still worse danger
would be in the way, for you may never live
until that last cigar is smoked, and you be
summoned to meet your Maker with a de-
liberate purpose to sin still held in your
heart. Do you remember liow Christ put
itV If thy right hand olfend thee, cut it off
and cast ft from thee.
1881
GLEANmGS IN BEE CULTUliE.
4.57
i^UV %i)lV^*
He that doeth righteousness, is righteous.—
I. John 3:7.
'ERY iQiple and easy, is it not, friends?
To be sure, he tluit doeth righteous-
ness, is righteous. What should call
forth any such asseveration, and why should
anyone think of disv)uting such a self-evi-
dent proiJOsitionV AVell, you know I said
considerable last month in regard to the im-
portance of not only attending churcl^, but
of uniting yourself with the nearest Christian
congregation. Now, I bv no means meant
that the simple fact of your attending church,
or even uniting with a Christian congrega-
tion, was going to make you a Christian. If
you are at all consistent and honest, it would
surelv have a strong tendency toward better
lives." but the uniting with a church should
certainlv be rather the effect of some thing
l»ehind "it. .Suppose a man. after having
wronged a neighbor in a Ijargain. should say
to himself. " Well, that was almost too bad.
I declare. I think, to make up for it, I will
go to praver-meeting this afternoon, and
take a part, and help the meeting along, the
best I know how.-' What would you think
of such a fashion of religion? What do
you suppose the wronged neighl)or might
think of it, if he were present?
In one of my letters a few days ago. the
following occurred:—
My neighlDoi', just across the street, is a professing
Christian also. This man was requested to resign
membership with our little Schoolhouse Methodist
Church, and save expulsion. It was alleged, that
he had been compelled to settle for timber cut on
land belonging to other parties. He has been at
camp meeting for the last three days, and we all
.ioin in the wish that his good wife expressed in the
words, "I hope he will return home a better man."
Xow. if the effect of the three days at camp
meeting is to make him come out"before the
people and confesshissin fully, without try-
ing to soften or screen himself, everybody,
skeptics and church-members, would pro-
nounce theciimpiueetingagreat institution:
but if he only went there and exhorted other
people to give up their sins, or talked ex-
cellently without following it up with actions,
the world's people would have little faith in
camp meetings, and very likely little dispo-
sition to look into the matter to see whether
it was a good thing or not. They would
have very much more charity for the man if
he made" good his deliiKiuencies by honest,
square day's work during week days, and
then passed the Sabbath in the Avay indicat-
ed by the liible. I by no means wish to say
that camp meetings are necessarily out of
the way, but it does seem to me that those
who go should be very sure that they have
the time to spare, without making any' broth-
er feel that they would serve the cause of
Christ more by attending faithfully to their
week-day woik. There are times when I
should feel that I had no kind of a right to
go to a camp meeting, and my conscience
would censure me as sorely from being away
from the post of duty, where God has placed
me, as it would if I w^ere taking money, in-
stead of time, that was not my own. I like
religious zeal and enthusiasm when it takes
the'shape of straightening up crookedness
in one's past life.
Behold, to obey is better than sacriflce.
Humanity is very much the same now that
it was when Samuel si)oke the above words
to Saul, and men Hnd it very much easier to
rtui off into some kind of a semblance of a
zeal for righteousness, than to take up the
stern nard work of that kind of righteous-
ness which means going right to work to
make wrong things right.
Xow, there are different opinions in regard
to right and wrong, and people's ideas of
what a Christian ought and ought not to do
vary greatly. To illustrate this, I will give
an extract from another letter, recently at
hand : —
When my wife says you must be a Christian, I look
at her and dare not saj- a word; but I think what in-
consistency you display in the Aug. No., as on pages
391 and 382, about Mitchell; and on page 40" you talk
again in his favor. Can a man slander another as
you do, and be pure in heart/ "What is the use, any-
way, to publish Humbugs and Swindles about Mitch-
ell? We all have our faults. J. D.
As our friend sees it, I have slandered
^litchell by ])ublishing letters from those
who have sent him money and never got any
returns. He also thinks it inconsistent be-
cause I spoke of the Mitchell hive as being
pretty, and quite convenient for extracting,
as used by friend Reed. I do not believe I
have any ill will toward Mitchell, for I should
think it a real pleasure to take him by the
hand, at any time ; but I should give him the
severest talking-to he probably ever got, for
taking people's money as he does, and con-
tinuatly advertising "to get more. Jiesides
tlie talking-to. if he did not seem inclined to
give up those di.shonest ways, I. would use
all the influence I could bring to bear, to get
him shut up where he could not defraud our
bee-men any more as lie has in the years
past. Well." how do I know that I could be
a Christian in so doing, and that the friend
who writes the above is wrong? AVe all have
our faults, and what is the use of having a
Humbug and Swindle column? JSTy answer
is, that I feel God's approving voice in the
Humbug and Swindle department, very
much as I do in this one, especially when I
try to keep out all malice and ill will in con-
ducting it. The feeling is still more strength-
ened by the approving voice of the great
multitude of you, my friends, in the past
years that these letters have been published.
There is also a happy thought connected
with it, and it is that of those who have been
published for getting money in this way, all
have ceased, and, so far as I know, are doing
a straight business, with the exception of
Mitchell. Eor this I can honestly say, God
be praised ; and while I pitblish letters of
complaint against Mitchell, I can honestly
pray that they may teach him that such acts
come to lignt so quickly through the press,
that he can not long get enough to pay his
printing expenses. Friend J. D. , I feel" that
God has called me to take up this work, and
it is my prayer that, when I am gone, he
458
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Sei't.
may raise some one else up to do it, and that,
while Gleanings is loved by all who "do
righteousness." it may. at the same time, al-
ways be like the law, a terror to ('i-!l-doers.
In the two above illustrations of righteous-
ness, the average mind would answer readily
what was right and what was wrong ; but I
am now going to cite you to some cases
where it is not so clear, i choose these plain,
practical questions, because it comes right
home to a great many of you, and I wish to
see how nearly we can agree on manv things
where, at present, there are wide differences
of opinion and much hard feelings, not to
mention the unkind words that come now
and then. As pretty much all of our readers
either buy or sell queens, often both, you
can all enter into the spirit of the case.
Now, Mr. K., I have some thing to say about buy-
ing- queens. I commenced writing t*^ four or Ave
different parties for queens the first of May, seeing
our bees were malting ready for swarming. At last
I picked up an old Glkanings, and looked for the
star-marked names, and settled on •. I
wrote him, and he said he would send mc si.x in June
for $5.00. I sent him the money, and he said he
would send Italians in a few days. The Cyprians he
could not send yet. So in about a week after that
I commenced " tending olHcc," having three miles
to travel on foot. After traveling .srcciif// miles I re-
ceived three queens, mailed July I'.l. The other three
are yet to be traveled for. Edmunu Estey.
Clarence, Shelby Co., Mo., Aug. 10, 1,S81.
This is really too bad. Why, it is '' awful "
to travel 70 miles on foot for three dollar
((ueens, after they have been paid for. Ihit
the worst of it is, that friend E. is not the
only one who has traveled for his queens.
We who sell (( ueens, by our advertisements
agree only to deliver them safely to the post-
office. If they lay there il day or two, I
Avould not like to lie held responsible for
them if found dead.
No wonder hard feelings come up, and
that hard letters are sometimes written.
Those who send the queens out, know that
it is bad ; but they say they do the best they
can, and that it is i"mi)ossil)le to tell just
when they can be sent. One looks at it from
one standpoint, and the other from another.
IIow dilTerently we do see things in this
world! A few days ago, a young man was
unpacking a dozen barrels and boxes filled
with glassware. They were new goods, new
patterns, at lower rates than we had ever
seen any thing of the kind before, and I was
so eager to see them, as they came out nice
and clean, without a single one broken, that
I could hardly attend to my regular duties.
"Well, to the young man whose duty it was
to attend to this, there was no such attrac-
tion at all. It seemetl to him drudgery, and
when some of the hands asked to go "on an
excursion, the minute I gave permission he
was off without even taking care of his in-
voice, or putting a single thing away. Why,
I should have been happier in unpacking
and arranging those goods nicely on the
shelves, than in going to the greatest ex-
cursion that was ever gotten up. -' You see,
we are unlike in our tastes, and look differ-
ently at things. Well, the one who sells
queens, and the one who buys, are jierhaps
not quite so unlike in their tastes, but they
see the transaction differently. What caii
be done to make them see alike, that they
may have more charity for each other? Of
course, the great obstacle in the way is self-
ishness, and thinking only of one's own
comfort and needs, to the exclusion of others.
Jesus, you know, i)leased not himself; and
if we can get a little of this Christ-like spirit
in humanity, we liavegot along a great way.
I would say to the Ijrother who rears the
queens, " l)o not advertise, until you have
quite a number of queens laying, or nearly
ready to lay. It is far better to have a few
ready to send out before you have applicants,
than to have it the other way. Cultivate
such a zeal for promptness, that you would
set up half the night, leave a good hive
queenless, or even sell a tested queen for a
dollar one, rather than disappoint one, as
you h'-ive friend E."
To friend Estey I would say, "Do not
place so much dependence on getting your
(|ueens promptly ; but when you send the
order, start some (lueen-cells also, so if they
do not come, you will be only a little behind.
AVhy, the labor you expended in walking
woiild have reared a dozen queens, at a low
estimate, and almost every bee-man has at
least one queen that will do very well to start
cells from. If you get your queens right off,
you will be agi-eeably disappointed." You
see, we wish to —
Look not every man on his own things, but every
man also on the things of others. Let this mind he
in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.— Phil. »•: i, .').
■Wliile each should Irve a broad charity
for the other, let each a so endeavor to do
better. I would not have you. my friends,
imagine I do not find a Christ-like and self-
sacrificing spirit among your letters, for I do
find a great deal of it; and vvhile it cheers
and lightens my pathway, it gives me faith
in God, and faith in mv fellow-men. Before
dropping the above illustration, I wish to
say, that we really ought to have some pen-
alty agreed upon for those wlio are slow in
filling orders. Who will put in an advertise-
ment closing some thing like tliis : "I will
forfeit one per cent per day, for each day the
order remains unfilled after the money is
placed in my hands"? If you held the order
lUO days, you would have to send back the
money and the goods too, which indeed you
ought to do.
About going to the postoHice : Do not
people usually either go or send to the post-
otlice about once a day, any wayV and is it
really fair, to say all tliese" trips were made
solely for the sake of the queens they ex-
pected':* And, by the way, I do believe a
great many of you buy far mora queens than
you need to. liaise your own. I do not be-
lieve so very much in extra stock. Almost
every bee-keeper can raise for himself just
as good (pieens as he can buy, and without
half the bother, risk, or expense either.
I told you some time ago T did not believe in pray-
er as you do. I confess I do not read the Bible as
much as I ought to, and I am a very poor scholar.
One thing that bothers me is the preachers who are
always telling how we should go, and then do not go
themselves. M:iy be this will hit you; if so, T can't
1881
GLEANINGS IN J3EE CULTURE.
450
help it. The most of them arc too lazy to work, and
want big pay. If a man preaches, let him work too.
And another thing is the strife between the church-
es. They arc all striving for one place. What will
they do when they get there? The preachers keep
croquet for their children to play, and the superin-
ten<lent of the Sal)bath school docs so too. They
play Sabbath afternoons. 1 would just as soon play
cards. 1 don't play any of tiiem. I try to treat all
mankind as I like to be treatid. 1 oiai/ become a
praying man some day. Well, about the bees. You
said that the bee-keepers ought all to set aside one
stand and its increase for the support of the Lord's
work. I have eleven stands, and have one of them
set aside for that purpose. L. N. Coijpeh.
Tehama, Cherokee Co., Kansas.
Friend ('., it does not take miicb educa-
tion to read the P>ible, enouf>;li to lead one to
eternal life, and I have sometimes been led
to think that an especial blessing- rested on
those who were compelled to stnHy it slowly
and laborionsly. It is the '•'unrighteous''
lives of the preachers that bother you, is it y
^V^ell, as I do not know those near you, I
can not say but that yon arc right ; but, my
friend, Avhatever may be flicir faidts, I am
sure there is a grievous one of uncharitable-
ness in your own heart. The ministers of
our town are among the most earnest and
hard-working class I know of, and it is a
kind of work ifon prol)al)ly could not be hired
to do either. ' Teaching school is a wearing
kind of labor, because of the responsibilities
of looking after so many; but a faithful
minister has the whole community on his
shoulders. The dear Iriend who preaches to
us every Sabbath, I am happy to say is an
intimate friend of mine; and rknow,as per-
haps but few do, of some of the cares and
trials he has to endure. It took iiim years
to ht him for the place he holds, and I fear
many of us forget how safely and wisely he
advises us through the most peri)lexing and
diHicult phases of human life. Go and get
acquainted with your ministers, friend C.,
and see if you do not tell me you were mis-
taken. And so you feel sorry to see the
strife between the churches, do you V Well,
here is my hand on that, and you and I will
let the world see that we two, at least, are
above this kind of weakness. Divide the
proceeds of that hive I'round among them,
and then let the world know you are inter-
ested in the prosperity and purity of every
Churchill your vicinity. If God has given
you a clearer perception of right and wrong
than he has your neighbors, you can give
them a pure upright life for an example. If
yoiu' conscience tells you it is wrong to play
cro.luet, by no means do it; but be careful
how you lay down lines for the conduct of
other people. If you would have that con-
science become a real guide and friend in
life, by all means become a praying man,
and in the solitude of your closet ask God to
let the voice of conscience guide you in all
doubtful or difiicull matters. Listen to our
next friend : —
I did not expect to write you again so soon, but
reading Our Homes in June Gi.eamnc.s has brought
up thoughts that I luust try to express, as I under-
stand you; that is, what and who is honest. I try
to live by the rule, " Judge j'e for yourselves if these
things be so;" but as the years roll on I feel less and
less competent to judge as to what is strictly right
or wrong, and the only way I know is to more care-
fully heed " the ^•oice of God within me;" and if the
Bible doctrine of "ministering angels" be true,
then on the principle that " like attracts like," the
better our thoughts and actions, the better will be
the angels that minister to us; lor John says, "Not
a» the spirits are of God," and adds this: "Prove the
.spirits, and see if they be of God."
One Bible student has written, "Through intideii-
ty, is to come an intelligent belief in the Bible," and
I believe he was right; at least, in my case; not that
I profess to understand the Bible, only this: once 1
had a "blind belief," then no belief; now I am con-
tinually finding (to me) new truths. I read the Bi-
ble just as you listen to ministers, and judge for mj--
self ; and what I can not use or undcstand or ajjply,
I just leave without comment until I am able to use
it. I frcl that there is a wise ov-er-ruling power, and
that there may be ministering angel?, agents of this
power, who strive to help and guide us.
J. U. Bt.MlS.
Los Angeles, Cal., July 1, 188L
The following is from a friend who lias
written me letters about some points in
doctrine, as nearly as I can understand : —
You object to the Bible truths I tried to impress
upon your memory, in a manner pooh-poohing them
as if they were of no importance; besides, you pre-
fer the teachings that emanated from the 7-hilled
city to the teachings of the Bible. The apostle de-
clares that Jesus Christ was the minister of the cir-
cumcision, to confirm the promises of God to the
fathers. Where in the Bible does it teach the exis-
tence and translation of immortal souls to trans-
ckyana at death? Oh that Root would root deep in-
to that book, and find the hidden treasure, for he
has not yet foimd it :
You (liu'st not publish this in Gle.anings.
New Hamburg, Ont., Can. H. Smith.
Friend S., I do not know but that I am
about like the boy who, when he came home
dripping wet, accounted for it to his mother
by saying that the boys dared him to jump
into the creek, and he wasn't going to be
(laved by anybody. As your letter is not
very long, it does not take up much room ;
but I hope you will forgive me if I say I
don't even now get a glimmering of what it
means, ttnless you allude to some thing I
have heard about the sleep of the dead. Are
you sui'e you are not in error in trying to
point out to me my duty? Suppose I should
take your letter along with me and read it to
the boys in jail; do you think it would have
the same effect in restraining them from
crime that it would if I opened the JJible
and read —
He hath shewed thee, () man, what is good; and
what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly,
and to li)vemercj% and to walkhumbly with thy God?
— MiCAH. 6 : 8.
Friend S., there are quite a number of you
who complain of the way I teach here in the
Home Papers, and beg space to give their
own peculiar views ; but do you think the
Home Papers would have the hold on the
hearts of the people they now have if I al-
h)wed them to be filled up with views on
doctrine? See the following from away off
in China : —
4(50
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Sept,
I want to thank you for sending me a copy of your
excellent GLE\MKf;s. Four numbers ha^■e reached
me, and have been read with increasinj^ interest.
There are no domesticated bee:? in North China.
There is a dark kind of strained honey, so there
must be bees of some kind. I have not been able to
find any honey-comb. They say that it 1=1 always
<lirly. When I obtain some accounts and useful in-
formation I shall be very f l-.id to c: mmunicatc with
you.
I also desire to assure you of my Christian appre-
ciation and sympathy in your wisely directed etforts
to honor ( 'brist, and proclaim his salvation in every
business relation, and in all editorial work. I verily
believe that you have been taught a secret which
gray-haired ministers have failed to acquire: that
men need to be talked with ratherthan preached to.
May God bless you in your business with prosperity,
but more abundantly bless your words and work
for the advancement of his kingdom 1
O. W. WlLI-lTP.
Pekin, China. June 27, 18S1.
I have tried, my friends, in my own hum-
ble Avay, to point to '' the Lamb of God.wlio
taketli away the sin of the world:'' and after
I have seen any brother or sister jio to God
in prayer, and to the Bible, in the time of
trouble. I feel much safer about them than
if they were constantly coming' to me for ad-
vice. I have no fears but that God will
guide them safely, and take care of them,
even in points of doctrine, if they make it
their rule in life to come to him. tf you are
striving", day by day. to be •' pure in heart,''
you have the promise that you siiall ''see
God." and seeing him, you shall certainly
be told, if you are making any great mistake
or blunder. You are plainly told again,
•' Whoso Cometh to me, I will in no wise
cast out;"' therefore we need not be troubled,
nor be afraid, even if all the world shall as-
sail our Christianity, and say we " have not
yet found it." _^______J
In Gle.\xings I see that you kindly answer ques-
tions from in<iuiring friends. I will ask a few. Do
you think that it is a sin to ask God to take one out
of this world of trials and troubles? Is it a sin to want
to go to that heaven abo\e. where all ispcace and joy
and love, to receive thoee great blessings which the
Lord has promised to them that lo\e and serve him,
when you arc so tired? I am \ery desirous to live a
Christian life, but find it \ cry hard to under my
present circumstances. First, my husband has no
such desire -Rhatcver. He will rot talk on the sub-
ject; does not go to church, nor care to have me;
says it is all nonsense; and as we live in the country,
a good way from church, it makes it hard for me to
get there, and then I get discouraged, and think
if it would please the Lord to take me, how gladly I
would go.
Again, my husband has been trying to pay lor a
farm for 20 years, and we are obliged to live very
economically, denying ourselvfs almost every lux-
ury of life. Our home is very inconvenient, having
but two rooms and no fence around the yard, and
all things in like order. My husband being one of
those indifferent kind of men in regard to how he
lives, thinking it expedient not to spend any money
on repairs until he is out of debt, which 1 think
sometimes will never be, that I wish I could go to a
world where money is not needed. 1 see you have
great faith in prayer; now, if you had prayed for
the Lord to help you financially, and things seemed
to be getting worse, would not that weaken your
faith just a little? or if, on a certain Sabbath, you
had asked to have a way to go to church, still, when
the day came you had to stay at homt? Now, we are
told to ask, and we shnll receive. How are we to
ask, and what for? 1 ask an interest in your prayers.
Hoping to hear from you, and that you will excuse
my long letter, 1 remain,— X . V. Z.
July 22, 1881.
It certainly is wrong, ray friend, to wisli
to leave the world, one moment sooner than
God's own appointed time. He. and he only,
has therightto limityourspan of life. These
thoughts come from Satan, .and they will
only make you miserable and wicked by
harboring them. Are they not sellish
thoughts, to say tlieleast':' Arc you not think-
ing of pleasing only yourself, 'when you get
in these moods? Jesus, yon know, pleased
not himself. Have you really tried making
others happyV and "has it occurred to you
that God wishes you to till your appointed
]>lace in this world in doing good to others?
A Christian especially, should live for the
good of his fellow-men. I'aidon the liberty
1 take, my friend ; but if your life were one
of real nearness to God, I can not but think
that your husband would feel differently.
You won him once, and I feel pretty sure
that yon can win him again, not only to
yourself, but, what is a thousand times
more important, to the Lamb of Cod who
taketh away the sin of the world. If you do
your duty, your husband ought to be con-
verted. I shouldnot bn writing these Home
Papers now, and exhortiig men to cease to
do evil, were it not for a woman's love and
patience, when it would seem that patience
had long, long ceased to be a virtue. Do
you wonder 1 am hopeful -and thankful?
Suppose your farm is not jiaid for. and that
you are obliged to economize. For a few
weeks past I have been thinking (you do not
know how longingly i of a little log house
back in the woods ; and I do not believe 1
would mind being in debt for it too, if I
could only have freedom from care, and re-
lief from so many responsibilities. I. too,
am tiled. I want t(j make garden and keep
bees, as the rest of you do, with my time all
my own ; but God says to me plainly,—
Not now, my ■■hil<l,— a little iimrc Ku^h to^sini^,
A little loiifrcf on the billows' fnaiii:
A lew more .ibuineyiiiffs in the desert dai kness.
Ami then the sunshine of thy Father's Home I
Not now: lor I have wamlerers in the distance.
And thou mnst call Iheni in with patient love;
Not now. for I have sheeji upon the mountains.
And th< 11 must follow them where'er they rove
Not now; lor I have loved ones sad :iiid wearv;
Wilt thon not cheer them with a kinilly smile;
Sick ones, who nied thee in their lonelv sorrow;
Wilt thou not lend them yet a little while?
"Will it not be better for both you and I to—
(e. with the name (d' .lesus, to the dyin^^.
And speak that N.Tme in all its liviiifr ]rwer;
Whv shrink! thy faintinjr heart prrow ehill and wearj ;
Canst thon not watch with Me one little hi urf
--(io^pel It^nnns, No. 47.
My friend, when God dt)es not see lit to
give me what I ask for, I try to see his lov-
ing hand in the very act of withholding it
from me. To illustrate : 1 loaned one of
our reformed boys some money a few
months ago. I did it a good deal against
my better judgment, but as the case seemed
very urgent, I yielded. It did him great
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUIiE.
461
harm. lie has agreed with me, within a few
days, that it was a mistaken kindness to
him, although I did it with the kindest of
motives. Is it not possilde that God k)io\vs
that wliat you and I are both i)raying for
now would in the end dc us harmV I have
thanked God a great many times for with-
holding money from me, after I could loolc
back and see where it would have done
harm. Can we not both thank him now for
withliolding tliat which he in his great wis-
dom sees will not be best? Children are
sometimes stubborn, and refuse to be taught:
shall we be of that class? },ly dear friend in
trial, you and I both liave on'e great precious
gift tliat man> of the world know not of. It
occurs to me .lUst now, that we might with
consistencv even slimit for joy at the bare
thought of it. Shall I t^ll you what it is?
.V little verse that I have been singing for a
few weeks past, at odd times, tells it.
1 am tliiiic. Ol.i.Kl. I 111
Anil it tolil thv li'>vi- ti
I'.ut 1 long- tn rise in lli.
Anil liucliiserilr.uvii i
vrliiiiiil til.
mv:
anus of rail
'• And it told thy love to me." Poor, un-
worthy, rebellious"///' . There is no mistak-
ing it. We have both heard that voice, even
if we do not hear it so plainly now. That
love is not gone, unless we have driven it j
away by '' unrighteousness." I want to pay |
all iny just debts, even to the uttermost j
farthing (in fact. I would rather pay some
things it seems to me I do not justly owe.
than to make ajiy mistake about it), and then
all the i-est may gt). ( iive me that love, and
all the world's "possessions are as nothing to
me. Still, if God wants me to hold them
and wield them for the good of you all, all
right. If 1 do not get enough kind words
along the way t(^ make me happy anyhow. I
Avill just remember that love that was spok-
en '• to me " away back on the night when I
lirst told my Savior, on bended knee, that I
wanted him to lead and I would follow.
AMOS If. ROOT.
^ N the July luiinber nl' tiLKANiNGs appeared au
W article characteristic of the abo\ e persouage,
c-ai but not very compliiiK'ntary to ourselves. It
was characteristic of Mr. Koot for iiiauy rea-
sous, among the number being the falsehooils it con-
tained, and the evident desire to injure a competitor
in business. Mr. Koot copied an extract from one of
our advertisements, and S9>s that it appeared in the
May and June numbers of his Gi.kamngs: yet the
pages of this same Glkanimjs disproves the asser-
tion. Tlie advertisement referred to by Mr. K. was
written in the mouth of March last, and was changed
Ijyus as soon as practicable after we had ascertained
the loss of <iur bees. It may have been our duty to
have known each day the exact condition of our
bees; but as we are not accustomed to their daily
inanipulation during the winter season (and April
waf, tor the most part, a winter month here), espe-
cially when located Jive miles from home, possibly
we are excusable for not knowing, at the time, that
our bees were starving to death.
Early in May we received a letter from the pub-
lisher of Gleanings, stating that he was informed
by our neighbors that we were advertising a hardy
strain of bees, when, iji fact, they were all dead. In
reply to our inquiry, Mr. Itoot admitted that he was
unable to furnish the names of those parties who
knew so much more about our business than we did
ourselves; yet, Mr. Root had the audacity to publish
this statement, which he could not verify, in July
Gleanings.
After making several other untruthful statements
regarding us and our business, Mr. Root winds up his
July strictures with the ever-convenient exhorta-
tion, calling upon us to confess our great sin. With
the July number of Gleanings came a note from
Mr. Koot, requesting us to furnish him a list of those
customers whose orders we had filled or returned
their money. To this we replied as follows:—
SoiTII Havkx. Mil II , July 4, 1881.
Ml! A. 1. liiiiiT. Muilina. ().: Dear Sir.--
V. Ills ,,r .luiif.'W. tnfri'thiT with .Jnlv I ;i.ka.n-ini;s. r-niiJulv i.
In 111.- attilnilf Villi silk til plan- iis, tlii-ri- is vnv ;titk- ihn"ni-<-
fill- ns to ii-iily. Oni- I'lli.vts tn prm iiri- Miitalili' "assist.inci.- are
iloiilitli-ss already kmiwii to ymi, lirnci- no cxiilanati'iii is neces-
sary. So far as imy iriiin- is lonieineil. whieii yon ehiir(,'e tiiioii
lis witli sneli eviilent ilelitrlit. we eaii only snv. that we stand Ijv
every word of every line we Iiave written. We meant just what
niir advertisenunts said at the time they were written. We
mean it now. We have nothing to take liaek. We have never
lieen aeenstoined to make thoufrlitless assertions, expeetiiifr with
the same lireath to reiall them. " t'onsisteiiiy is a jewel.' ' U
has heen onr lonstaiit aim and endeavm to do a straitrhtfor-
ward. lesritimate linsiniss; to p.iv our lionest debts, and he just
to all. We arefalliliie. and doulitless liave made mistakes.' In
the hurry and bustle id business, with its eonstant demands up-
on IIS for the ))ast few months, it eoulil not well be otherwise;
but we ever stand ready to rectify them, so far as lies in onr
liower.
With resrard to letuiiiiiiyrnione.v when deni.anded. we can inily
say. we have done so as fast as we conld possilily. The motive
lor tills attack upon lis seeins to be. • His prices were also lower
than others'.' ' When a man becomes a .strontr competitor in
business, stamp liini out. No more favorable opjjoitunlty
could of coui-se be selected, than when he is laboring under
linaiiiial cnibarrassmcut. This, then, is the inle of action.
When American liee-kcepei's shall know the facts ill tliis case, as
they sonic time may, we shall rest content, williutr to abide by
their decision.
To notice in detail the iiiitinthfnl assertions conceriungr us in
last Gi.E.vxiNGs would reiiuire more time than we have at onr
command. In fact, we have already written more than than we
intended. In concmsion, will only say. )ilease discontinue our
advertiseiuiut in 111 KAMM.s. Send us yuiir bill for same. AVe
will )iay it jnst as sion as we can do s,',. We expeit that your
etfoi Is to '• help ■ ' us will materially delay the payment of some
of our bills. With malic,' toward none, aiul charity tor all, anil
a ilcti rmiiiation to do all in our power lo satisfy every just dc-
iiianil made upon ns. we are Yours, etc., H. .\. BlKi II iV Co.
Mr. Root, have you corrected the many untruths
.vou have published in regard to us'r Did you even
print this letter in the last number of Gleanings'/
Let the pages of Gleanings answer. Instead of
'• trying to help us pull through," do they not unmis-
tak.ibly show a determination to do all in your pow-
er to not only crush our suppl.v trade, but to blast
our reputation for honesty and integrity as well?
in August fJLEANiNGS you say you have heard of
but two cases where we have shipped bees this sea-
son. Mr. Root, is that the truth? Did you not know
you were writing au untruth when you penned those
words? If we are not mistaken, more than the num-
ber of " cases" you mentioned had been brought to
your attention. If you had desired the truth in this
matter, could you not have easily ascertained wheth-
er we were shipping bees or not?
It is true, that you asked us for the names of our
customers to whom we had sliippcd bees or returned
money. That was indeed a very clever move on your
part; in fact, your life work is full of .iust such ma-
neuvers; but did you expect we were so green as to
"give awa.^ " our business to a rival in the trade?
You know very well, friend Amos I., that a line di-
rected to our express agent would have develope<1
the fact whether wc were shipping bees or not.
Since you did not care to ascertain the truth in this
respect, we may be pardoned for stating, in this
conneetion, that the " Out-trip Book " of the Ameri-
can Express Co. here shows forty-two consignments
of bees from us, embracing nearly 150 full colonies
alone.
Now a word or two more about the August No. of
Gleanings. You gave a list of names, with alleged
amounts of money sent us for liees, stating that
said parties could obtain neither bees nor mone}',
nor even hear from us in reg-ird to the same. Now,
Mr. Koot, you knew that the first man named in the
list ordered other supplies than bees, and that his or-
der had been filled. We say you l.ncw it, because we
had had correspondence with you personally in re-
gard to the matter. Y''our list also contained the
names of other parties to whom we did not then, nor
do we now, owe a single penny, and the name of at
lea&t one man from. whom we have never received
a dollar for any thing. \'et, in your eager desire to
make the matter as bad as possible, you pile them all
in together, regardless of the truth. Perhaps you
will not object to publishing the following extract
from a letter in regard to this same list, received
from one of your clerks:—
The correspondence of those who eomplailied of you was put
all toffether. anil Mr. W. 's card, ou which lie stated that he
would settle with you for SlO. 00. among them. Thinkintr that
he h.ad sent yon that amount of money at some time, 1 added It
to the list.
We gi\e this extract, simply to show American
462
GLEANINGS IN BEE CUJ.TUilE.
Skpt.
bee-keepers your method of dealing with one wliom
,\ou did not lilsc, and whom you wished to destroy if
possible.
In reply to this letter, we. sent the following. We
omit the lady's name, as she may dislike so much
publicity.
So. HavKN. Auk' I',. ISSl.
YoTirsof tlK' loth iiist. Willi I'xplanatiDii, <'ai!ic duly to liniid.
yi> far, so Kood. But how about the othors in the list, to which
von iTfev. wlio never sent us a dollar forbees, or, in 'art. forany
thiUK else; We suppose of eourse vo)i a<'te(l under Jtr. Root's
instiiietious. and it seeins that he was anxio\i Un make the list
as lar^e as possible. We ean anive at no other eonelusion. sini'e
.Mr. lioot has not seen lit to eorreet the inisstatenuMits eoneei'u-
iufJTUs in .July i;i.EVNiNos. even alter his attention was ilireeted
to the same." We do not blame you at all feu- youi jiart in this
matter, anil only reuret that Mr. ISoot should have adopted the
plan he has outlined in tin- last two nuuibei-s of (;i.r..*XiXGs; for
one who makes the professions of Mr. A . 1. Root, to willfully and
nuilieiously attempt to blast the reputation of a brother, and
seek to destroy his business, is |iast our understandinK. We
shall, durintftlie present week, preliare and forward Mr. Root
an artiele for ))ublleation in Septendier (iLE.\NlNu<.
Yours very reipertfiilly, H. A. Kviaii & i.'n.
The only reply received to the above was, that
space had been reserved for an article from us in
Sept. Gleanings. Now, Mr. Hoot, you have repeat-
edly stated that you were doing all you coul 1 to as-
sist us; but does not what you have done look like a
queer sort of assistancfV If inquiries of parties
here, whether the sum of $.100 could he collected of
us, professing that you wished the information for
our best good, insisting that you were doing and liad
(/OHc your best to aid us; if advising our customers
to sue and collect the amounts sent u^, if possible;
if publicly misrepresenting us and our business c.in
be called assistance, then indeed you are a " friend
that sticketh closer than a brother." Then, and in
that case, your efforts are deserving of unbounded
praise, and should ever be held in grateful remem-
brance. In fact, such an instance of unselfish devo-
tion, so rarely met in the varied walics of life, is
worthy the attention of a Shakespeare, a Byron, or
a Milton, and should be immortalized in enchanting
story and classic verse, tmd the name of the bene-
factor inscribed high on the scroll of fame.
Both in July Gle.\nings and in j'our letters to us,
you insist that it was but little, if any, short of a
crime for us to continue doing business after we had
lost a portion of our bees. In other words, because
we had met with flnaneial misfortune, we should re-
tire from business, leaving the field to yourself and
our creditors to take care of themselves. Perhaps
we should have done so. Perhaps we were wrong, in
the belief that our family had a .iust demand upon
us: an obligation that required the best efforts of
both body and mind to discharge.
Since you have called in question the quality of
our strain of Italians, perhaps we may be pardoned
for a brief allusion thereto. For many years past,
we have earnestly labored to perfect the best traits
of the Italian race, and to weed out their objection-
able features; in short, to produce the best bees ob-
tainable. We have been assured, by scores of our
brother bee-keepers who have purchased queens
from our stock, that r,ur elforts in this direction
have not been devoiil of success. That we have had
an abundant stock of bees that dUl survive the rig-
ors of last winter's cold-the most disastrous on rec-
ord—is well known here; and although we have
shipped largely during the past two months, our
yard to-day contains more than '~oo colonies, which
for practical, desirable qualities, we are willing to
compare with any apiary in this or any other coun-
try.
In regard to filling orders, we have done all that it
was possible for us to do, working constantly 18 to
:iO hours per day, until, from sheer exhaii-tion, we
were forced to desist. That we did our best to pro-
cure suitable assistance is evidenced by the fact,
that we offered as high its $50 per month and board,
for help; which, at even that high figure, could not
be obtained. Early in the season we wrote you,
stating that we wei-e short of help, and asking you
if you could not inform us of some one whom we
could employ to work in our apiary; and although
we have been informed that Mr. Koot had more ap-
plicants than he could furnish employment, he did
not ffive us the desired information. About the 10th
of June we succeeded in ol>taining one hand who
would work with bees. Could we have had two more
equally as good, we should not have been behind our
orders to-day. Having done all in our power to do
to fill our orders, and as it was evident to us that Mr.
Koot was determined to annoy and hinder us, and
secure our trade if possible, we sent out the follow-
ing, printed on a postal card, to the larger part of
our customers whose orders were unfilled:-
SoiTii Haven, ilteii,, Au«. l.'i, 1881.
Notwithst.andiuH' that we have labored earnestly and constant -
Iv the present season to till all cmr orders, our books show many
that ai'e yet imtilled, youis being anioUK' the nnmlier. In view
of what Mr. A. I. KoiJt, of Medina, (I., has seen lit to say about
us and our bu .incss in the .hUv and .\u^'ust numbers of his
liLEANINiis, we reipu'st vmi to make out n strtti'mcut of your ac-
ecmnt with us, and nuul him at once for payment, which he will
do as per aKreemeat. We will settle with him for the same In
case he reluscs to do this, pleise rejiort it to us at once, our
reasons for takinfi' Mr. Koi>t at his woi d will he given to you all
iK'fore many months. Youis truly, H A . BfKcu & (.'o.
In view of all the facts in this cise as narrated
above, we leave it for those who peruse this article
to .iudge whether it was .iust or otherwise for us to
take Mr. Koot at bis word.
Now a few words to you. Mr. U )of, and we are
done. Can jou honestly and truthfully say that you
have not desired to injure us; ihatyou would not re-
joice to see us driven from the apiarian -supply
trade? If you wished us well, why did you publish
an absolute" fnlsehood regarding us in your Glean-
ings of N"v.. IfeTti? That you did so, we positively
alhrm; and also that it has nevtr yet been corrected.
If you desired to be just and iinpiuMial, why did you
puijlish si.v untruthful statements in your Glean-
ings for July, l«81,-stiitements which you could not
verify? If. in your every ac'ioii, you are imbued
with "the spirit (if charity and love, why did you pub-
lish statements concerning us in the list issue of
Gleanings, which you can not substantiate? Per-
haps you can also tell us why you failed to publish
the letter of a brother bee-keeper, after you had
agreed to do s i. when you found it was favorable to
ourselves. On the other hand, does not your Glean-
ings plainly show that your action was conceived in
malic^e, and consummated in hatred; that, while j'ou
boastingly fiaunt the motto, " Peace on earth, good
will toward men," you have so shaped your course,
hoping to destroy us without incurring the displea-
sure of those who possess a spirit of justice and fair
plav ?
We are aware that, with a bee j lurnal to back you,
the advantage is all upon your side; and when, by an
unsparing use of the whip, you have accomplished
the long-desired result, we trust you may be in a fit-
ting frame of mind to sweetly discourse on the sub-
ject of charity; that charity that is kind, that behav-
eth itself not unseemly, ih it =s not puffed up, and
seeketh not her own.
Your efforts to injure us may prove a benefit to
others; for, as ti sequel to this unfortunate state of
affairs which you have forced upon us, we venture
the prediction, that the bee-keepers of the United
States will purchase their supplies during the com-
ing season cheaper than ever before.
llEltUEIlT A. BUItCH.
South Haven, Mich., Aug. 19, 1881.
I really must beg pardon of our readers for
thus occupying the reading pages of our
journal in ihis manner. Mr. Ikirch asked
ifor space in the journal, and I told him it
would be gladly given, if it were' not- too
long, and that t would reply, or jiublish it
without comment, as he should decide. I
can only make the simple statement, that I
have felt no prejudice or jealousy in the
least toward Mr. Ihirch. I do not "want the
trade in bees, as I have told our friends all
along, and I have put my prices high, that
they might buy of our advertisers rather than
us. I liave also given free advertisements to
all who would sell bees by tlie pound. Errors
and mistakes will probably be found in all
the work 1 have ever done, and Mr. 15. has
gone over the whole, and heajied up all he
could probably find by a good deal of study.
I iiresume tiur friends know, without my
telling them, that not one of these was in-
tentional. JJrierty : The ^fay No. of (Clean-
ings contains exactly the words I tjuoted ;
but I now notice, for the lirst time, tliat the
wording of tlie advertisement was changed
in the June No. If I am correct, I only re-
fused to give the names of the neighbors. I
may be stupid, but it never occurred to me
once that the letter of July 4th was intended
for an article in (tLEANinos. Neither difi \
1881
GLEANIKGS IN BEE CULTURE.
403
unrleistand the letter he refers to was iu-
teiided for print. I am sure they were in no
waj" marked as such. Our friends all know
my practice of publishing almost any thing
against myself. Of course, I can not say
how many bees were shipped in the month
of July ; but as I had asked all who had
complained, that I might, if possible, make
abetter report for Burch, and all had re-
plied they had received nothing, I so stated
It. I do not think I have made any mistake,
for I watched every letter carefully, in my
anxiety to see that you iccre filling your
orders, friend Jkirch. It never occurred to
me to write to your express agent, and I
confess I do not think 1 should have taken
the trouble if it had. I made inquiries at
your bank, as I do of all my advertisers who
do very much business. When so many let-
ters of complaint about you began to come
in, I asked one of the girls to lay them out,
that we might mak-e a sort of summing-up
of them, before the journal went out. Of
course, these parties wished the letters pub-
lished, denouncing you as a humbug and
swindler. I thought I was very lenient in
making only the brief notice I did. Tlease
remember, friends, I do not open my letters
or answer them ; it is impossible, with our
business. I asked the clerk who had the
heap of letters, to give me names and
amounts of those who had sent for bees and
goods, and received nothing. It now ap-
Itears that the first man on the list was one
who had received his goods, or a portion of
them, but complained to us that the goods
were not at all what he ordered. This letter
Avas badly mixed up, and the clerk was
somewhat excusable for not noticing that it
did not belong in' the list. One other was a
claim for damages on goods he had received.
Some of the writers sent us receipts for the
money, and some did not. In the remainder
of the letter nuoted, the lady explains it all.
and assimies all blame. It is true, we did
have correspondence in regard to the first
name in the list, but with the sea of names
before us daily, we have little chance to re-
member names at all. I am sure 1 have
never refused to correct any thing that ever
appeared in Gleanings, and this is the first
I remember of any complaint of the matter
referred to. 1 shall be very glad indeed to
see supplies sold cheai)er, and I am sure I
have not the sliglitest wish to monopolize
any thing.
Dear friends, I am sorry to have l)een
obliged to waste so much space on a matter
of so trisial a nature, when the reallv sad
fact stands before us. that about 100 bee-
keepers, altogether, have sent money to Mr.
Burch in sums of from one up to one hun-
dred dollars and over,— money amounting,
in the aggregate, to over one ihousand seven
hundred dolhirfi* The money has been sent
by young and old women and children, and
gray-haired men. ^lany times the money
was borrowed, with no other way to get it
back except by the honey crop of "this season.
The greater part of it was from those who
had lost their bees in the spring, and were
*This is up to Aug. 2Tth, ami mnre complaints aro
coming every mail.
well nigh broken up in spirit as well as
pocket. It is true, there ma)/ be some who
claim they sent him money who did not;
but as by far the greater part of them re-
ceived the postal card given, stating that I
would pay his debts, there can not be anv
very great mistake in the amount. These
same postals were sent to parties who never
took Gleaninos, and hardly know of its
existence. Several asked if I was tlie com-
pany in the firm. Of course, no one expects
I am to pay (in case Mr. H. does not) all the
debts he owes in the world, just because he
had a card in Gleanings. Several who
saw his advertisement in Gleanings have
written it would be a great favor if I would
pay back the money in case he had secured
me, but that if it was to come out of my
pocket, they would never touch a copper of
it. May the Lord bless these friends ! Oth-
ers have written very bitterly because I
would not at once hand over the money be-
fore it had been proven whether it could be
collected or not. I have advised that it
should be collected by law, exactly as T ad-
vised that the young man who robbed our
mails a year or two ago should be sent to
the State prison. , I do not know but that he,
too, thought I lacked charity because I
would not save him from his fearful doom.
You know, the most of you, that I am free
to use money when I think it will do good.
Lest you think I have ample means. I will
tell you that I am paying interest on over
$7,000.00 now, while my property does not
invoice at much more than four times that
sum. There is abundant need of my using
economy. When I advertised to be respons-
ible for my advertisers, I simply intended to
make good any loss that should result from
a bad man getting in by mistake, or that,
when our customers saw bees advertised
very low, as they do now, they would not
need to send strings of postals, asking if
they could depend on the advertiser. Mr.
Burch was a responsible man when his ad-
vertisement was inserted. He did not ad-
vertise bees in Gleanings at a very low
sum. All these low offers were made "in his
circular, which he sent out in great quanti-
ties. The money was sent him in response
to offers in this circular. It is a tangled-up
matter in any case, and I should assuredly
be in error if I commenced paying these bills
before it is ascertained that it can not be re-
covered by law from ^Mr. Burch. ^\.fter this
is determined, I will abide by the decision of
any intelligent committee that may be chos-
en. My niind often reverts to friend Cook,
in these times. He helped us when in
trouble about sending queens by mail, and I
have a sort of feeling he might help us now.
For my part, I would gladly abide by bis
decision in the matter, if he will tell the
friends what they have a right to demand of
me, and what I ought to do.
Again: This state of affairs, if it be drop-
ped without any action, will be a bad prece-
dent. The idea of receiving money and pay-
ing it out, when you have not the wherewith
to fill the order, and no means of getting it
back to return it. is a fearful one. There is
quite a good deal of it in our midst. It
threatens a danger to the whole interchange
464
GLEANmGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Sept.
of supplies that has made us acquainted with
so many friends, and helped us all so much.
I am heavily cejisured because I did not send
out the note of warninp; socmer, and yet
Burch accuses nie of wisliin^ to break up his
Inisiness l)ecause I did wiien I did. My
friends, wh:it rule do you wish me to go l)y?
How prompt do you wisii me to be when one
does iu>t fullill his iiromisesV IJy the way.
liere is (me more card from Mr. Burch:—
S(iriii Haven, Mich.. Awfi. 20. 1881,
Oni- publislii'il oui-ds iiuMii .jvist wh.-it llie.v say. Wi> had tliciii
111 vifw wln-ii xvc winti' yim. lo sci' if vcm wniild iii>t set in I'ifilil
liiloie tin- publir. and lint ruiii|jel us to tnkf tile step. \Ve stand
really to sliip l>ees to tliose wlio waul tliein; tliose who insist on
money, we lia\e directed to vou. .sini'O we liave rettiined all we
eo\ild'. ' H. A. HiKciI A- Co.
During the present month of August,
I have had notice of just four shipments he
has made ; to two persons, four colonies of
bees each ; to another, some queens, or a
a queen, and some foundation to another.
The following, from the paper published
in his own town, the South Haven Sentinel,
of Aug. 20, shows what his own townsmen
think of the present aspect of the matter:—
Too much stress should not he put on the state-
ment of H. A. Bnreh, thtit he is working eighteen
hours per day to tiU orders, or tiny other excuse ho
makes. In our next issue we will give a case where
he has had money since June, 18"!i, two yca/v; and two
iHDHths, for which the remitter has not received his
goods, Mr. Burch making this "eighteen hours a
(\a.y" pleii in. Tub/ of hi^tyrdf. We presume the Ber
Jotirnal and the Gleanings hope his partner, (?) the
"Co." part of the firm, will return with wealth to
make good the claims of apiarists in different por-
tions of the country. \'our excuses are too thin,
master Herbert; your oul.\' excuse to be made is
tltoroiKjli restitution of the monen, or an acknowledg-
ment that you really arc what so many people con-
sider you.
Just after the above was set up, the fol-
lowing came to hand, which has somewhat
the appearance of putting a better light on
the matter:—
I see by August Gleanings, in speaking of H. A.
Burch, you say there are two parties who have
written to you in his favor. It may be that I am In-
cluded In that list. I will say that I spent two days
with Mr. Burch about the first of July last, and
bought bees and collected mone.\' of him that had
been sent, in all to the amount of $36:3.00. I have no
reason to complain of the way in which he dealt
with me. If Burch is financially in a tight place, as
he says he is, and has returned all the money he can
at present, would it not be better to give him a lit-
tle chance to get out of the difficulty, than to come
out every month with him in the Humbug and
Swindle column? When I was at South Haven I saw
liim send back money several times on orders for
fdn., because he did not have time to put it up for
shipping, when he had the goods just as it came
from the mill, then on hand. It is asking a good
deal of a man to hold him up in such a public place
and then expect him to do more than he could do un-
der more favorable circumstances.
G. W. Stanley.
Wyoming, N. Y., August 34, 1881.
Triend S., if you Avill look you will see
that Mr. Burch has never been put in the
Humbug and Swindle department. It
Avould be quite inconvenient for our friends
to all go after their goods, as you did yours.
Mr. Byron Walker went twice after his, bor-
rowing money to make the trips: but he
says he could get nothing. Mr. Burch is re-
ported worth from $1000 to $1500. Between
January and July, $1700 lias been sent him
in cash, for which he has made no returns.
Customers have waited patiently, and will
wait, almost any reasonable length of time,
if Mr. Burcli will secure them. Xo report
has reached us of liis having returned money
to anybody.
GUEAWINGS m BEE CULTUBE.
EDITOR AND FUBLISHEB,
MEDINA, O.
TERMS: irl.CO PER VEAR, POST-PAID.
FOR CLUBBING RATES^, SEE FIRST PAGE
OF READING MATTER.
]V[X3XDX3Nru^, iS3E::F>'X'. 1, X88X.
Evildoers shtill be cut off; but those that wait up-
on the T.ord, they shall inherit the earth. Ps. '.VH-.'X
Fkiem) Faris sends us a specimen of fdn. with
excellent high walls, made by dipping, with copper
plates instead of plaster. He says his only trouble
now is to get his plates to match so the sheets will
be thin enough.
It has been our custom to make some discount on
orders received in Sep., for goods to be used another
year; but owing to the great advances on lumber, it
is all we can do to hold to catalogue prices. The
probiibility is, that prices will have to go up by an-
other spring, so it will be a good investment to
order now, if j-ou think you wilj need the goods.
Still no favorable reports from the rubber plates-
The complaint seems to be that the wax sticks to
them. We try every pair before sending them out,
but after thoroughly soaking them in soft water,
the wax sheets come otf as easily as we could ask; in
fact, after the plates have been used awhile, they al-
most drop olT. Has no one who purcliasedthem suc-
ceeded as well?
It is always a i)leasure to me to find people who
excel in an >■ accomplishment; and every time I see
any of the handwriting of our friend M. B. Moore, of
Morgan, Ky., it gives me a feeling of pleasure. If
you want to see some of it, .iust send him an order.
He puts up queens for mailing almost as neatly as
he writes a postal card. Very, likely he will soon
have so much business he will get to scrawling like
the rest of us. _
INCOMPLETE ADDRESSES, AGAI.V.
I CAN not be responsible for goods that go wrong-
where the writer of the order dees not give plainly
the town, county, and State. If you can not have
your address printed on your stationery, you will
have to take the consequences of forgetting to put
it on. Two letters are now before me from friends
whom I fear feel hard toward me because I allow
them to suffer the loss of a couple of dollars for so
trifling a matter as the omission of their county. I
know that I would be doing wrong to bear the con-
sequences of your carelessness in these little thin.gs
any more, as I have been doing. We have plenty of
postal guides, but they often fail in -what ijoii alouf
can give.
18,S1
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUBE.
465
Labels within 2i hours after the order is received
seems to be a welcome noveltj-, and many are the
kind words we have received from our customers in
regard to them. Such a trade has sprung up sud-
denly in them, that we have once or twice been de-
layed a little on label paper. Our friend "M." has
charge of the department now, and you may feel,
when you send an order, that jou are helping one
who is fighting his way towaid heaven. His wife
works at a case by his tide, on Our Homes, Part
Second, which will doubtless be out in a month or
two.
In the dillicult and perplexing matters that come
up in regfird to what is right or wrong, I can only
promise you to lie governed by the dictates of what
my conscience tells me to do; and if my course
seems to you inconsislcnt, I do not very well see
how I can help it. If it were only the needs of a
single individual that I was obliged to consider, it
would often be a very simple thing to decide on,
compared to what it is iiow. Intimating that I am
not a Christian, unless I act as you tbink I should,
will not help jour cause; and I pray to God that it
may not make me stubborn. I do not mean to say
by the above that I do not want friendly counsel, for
I need it now perhaps more than lever did before.
It has happened several times this season that
same one would order bees, and, after receiving them
all dead, they would conclude they did not wany any,
and order the money returned. So far as I know,
the money has always been returned; but, my
friends, after one has done the best he could, and
had such a loss, is he not entitled to the privilege of
trying again? Turn it around both ways, and see
how j/iH would like it. If the order is delayed until
the honey season is passed, this makes another
thing of it ; bvit suppose one orders bees or queens,
and the shipment goes promptly, but they come
through dead, is he not entitled to the privilege of
replacing them? How would you like to send off a
colony of your best bees, prepared with great pains
and troublvj, and receive no sort of equivalent to
cover your loss? It is ^"e^J' seldom indeed that two
successive shipments fail, so the shipper, after send-
ing the feecond lot, receives half price for his goods,
and the prices on bees and queens are necessarily so
high that half price is not a dead loss.
the mails, or have any possible chance of handling
them, except educated, cultured, and intelligent
clerks, who are as much above suspicion as ymt put-
.si'/z/y can hr, friend F. Every reader of Gle.\nings
knows how 1 have borne these burdens for you all,
until the chief of the P. O. D. protested against my
doing so any more, as you will see by our price list.
The following is said to have been passed as a law,
by the State of Michigan.
No person shall mi.xany glucose or grape sugar in-
tended for human food, or any oleomargarine, suine,
beef fat, lard, or any other foreign substance, with
any butter or cheese intended for human food, or
shall mix or niinale any glucose or grape sugar or
oleomargarine with any article of food, without dis-
tinctly marking, stiimping, or labeling the article,
or package containing the same, with the true and
appropriate name of such article, and the percent-
age in which glucose or grape sugar, oleomargarine
or suine, enters into its composition; nor shall any
person sell, or offer for sale, or order, or permit to be
sold, or offered for sale, any such article of food, in-
to the composition of which glucose or grape sugar
or oleomargarine or suine has entered, without at
the same time informing the buyer of the fact, and
the proportions in which such glucose or grape su-
gar, oleomargaine or suine, has entered into its com-
position.
Any person convicted of violatingany provision of
any of the foregoing sections of this act shall, for the
first offf use, be fined not less than ten dollars nor
more than fifty dollars. For the second offense they
shall be fined not less than twenty-tive dollars nor
more than one hundred dollars, fir confined in the
county .iail not less than one month nor more than
six months, or both, at the discretion of the court ;
and for the third ami all subsequent offenses the.v
shall be fined not less than two hundred and not
more than one thousand dollai-s, and imprisonment
in the State prison not less than one year nor more
than five years.
Good for Michigan ; and may her citizens see that
the above is enforced to the very letter, no matter
whom it hits.
SENDING MONEY BY MAIL WITHOUT REUISTERING.
My friends, it seems to me as if I was having an
unusual number of burdens to bear this fall, and
one of the hardest of them to bear patiently, is let-
ters like the following:—
Lansingvili.K, N. Y , Aug. 10. 1881.
I have sent you the nay for tlio.-^f plyers twice, and do not
think it light lor me to fiay again I think the letters both
reached tlieir destination, or I would have received them baek
through tlie Dead-Letter tlftiee. D. W. Fletchkii.
Friend F., ,vou surely know that mails are some-
times burned up, to say nothing of robberies. Every
once in a while we get a letter from the department
like the following, which came almost at the same
time of your complaint: —
POSTOFFl(-'E UKI'ARTMEN'T, /
t)FFICE OF TniRD ASSISTANT I'oSTM.l.STEU (iENEKAI,,
Division of Dkah Letters. I
The enclosed letter was I'ouiul with the contents of a mail
~ pouch stolen and litlecl at Milford Centre, Ohio. April 2:i, ISSl.
Now, friend r.,have you any right to say yoa thinh
the money reached Medina, just because it don't
come back from the Dead-Letter Office? I had just
about as soon you would say you think I have stolen
it, as to say you think my clerks did. None handle
QUEENS THAT WON'T LAY.
I HAVE many times told you, that once in a while a
queen would refuse to lay after a trip through the
mails. I wish the friends would remember this
when inclined to be uncharitable with each other.
See the following:—
Your Holy-Land (lueen did not lay before the ilth day. Her
trii> here was not over a 2-ilays' one, and I don't believe she
was a fertile one when she left your apiai-y, which, if tiue. is
not fair work. S. W. .Morrison.
Oxford, Chester Co., Pa.. Aug. G, 1881.
T replied, remonstrating against such assertions,
which brought the following:—
I did not say or Ihinlc von intentionally tent me a non-ferlile
Holy Land queen, but I do think such an accident might happen
occasionally, or some whom yon employ might do such a thing
knowingly." as vou will admit. AVe are getting more hone.v
from re<l clover Uiis siasoii than we did from white. This
makes the li.uicv scasmi line a success. S. W. MouRISoX.
Oxford, Chcsti-r ('.!., I'a . Aug. 12. 1881.
But, friend M., I do nut admit that I have a hand
who handles bees who would send out a queen, un-
der any circumstances, before she had commenced
to laj'. We ha\'e always been in the habit of will-
ingly replacing all queens that refused to lay, or
everyone producing only drone eggs; but, please
do not make our burden harder, by intimations that
we are dishonest— (Hii/c/ w.s. As soonas friend Doolit-
tle advertised queens, I sen.tf or one raised under the
natural-swarming impulse; but, although she was a
three-dollar queen, she had not laid an egg when ten
days old. A few days more, and she was lost. Shall
I say, or even think, that ho sent me an unfertile for
a tested quTcn? Hil "" manner of means, for I laioit'
he did not. Would nan do such a thing, friend M., or
would you even keep in your employ a boy or man
who )7ii(/7if do it?
466
GLEANIKGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Sept.
We have to-day, Aug. 29th, 4410 subscribers.
Nellis' "O.K." double washboard is tiptop lor
business, and my sister, Mrs. Gray, says sJic likes it
because it isn't so heavy to carry up ami down stairs
as her old one.
As we go to press, the additional complaints of
Burch swell the amount to vfery nearly $2000. Here
is a sample of them. The writer is not one of our
subscribers:—
I received a canl from H. A. Burch & Cn., of South
Haven, Mich., telling me to send you the amount he
owes me. He said you would pay it. I first sent him
30 cents for a bee-feeder, and for bees and supplies,
$164.30. and to pay express on bees, *;2.o; making, in
all, $189.60. I have been waiting for the money ever
since last spring, for I lost my team in a few days
after I sent them the money; and to make it worse
for me, two weeks ago last Saturday my wheat-ricks
caught fire and burned all up, and it leaves me with-
out bread, or any wheat for seed, and the corn crop
is almost a failure here, and the money that I sent
Mr. Burch was all that I had left me to live on. ]f
you think these lines untrue, write to the postmaster
at this place, and find out for yourself; so, please
help me out at once, for I am in need of it very
much. Chas. Leavitt.
Horace, Edgar Co., 111., Aug. 26, 1881.
tomu '§clutffn.
CITY MARKETS.
Chicago. -New honey is coming in freely, and the
demand is good. Prices for light comb honey, in 1
and 2 lb. bo.xes, are quotable at 18T/20c., and lor lar-
ger boxes, dark and old honey, anywhere from 10®
15c. Extracted honey is worth VfT/ 8c.
J{ rsira.r.— 18@20c for light, and 15(01170 for dark.
Aug. 2.2, 1881. Alfred H. Newman.
Clevel.and.— Choice white honey in unglassed 1-
Ib. sections Is in excellent dcnand at 19@20c; 2-lb.
sections, lV(5>19e. Glassed sections would sell a few
cents less per lb. Extracted honey is in light de-
mand at 12c., but must be in 311 to 50 lb. tin cans.
Large pkgs. as bbla. are not in demand.
C(:fsira.r.-20.r/<22c.
Aug. 23, 1881. A. C. Kendef..
OUR MEDINA COUNTY BEE-KEEPERS.
Neighbor Dean has secured only about three or
four hundred pounds from about 60 colonies, as
nearly as I can get at it. Neighbor Blakeslee about
the same, or perhaps a little better. Neighbor Itice
raised bees for me, instead of selling honey, and I
believe we have paid him about $500. He had, as
you may recollect, about 100 colonies in the spring,
and will probably winter about as many more.
Neighbor Clark has sold me about $200 worth of bees
and queens, that I think he secured from about a
dozen colonies. Neighbor Thompson has sold us
new swarms, mostly blacks and hybrids, by the
pound, to the amount of over $100, and I think he
had only about 30 colonies in the spring, and has
about the same number now. Neighbor Shane,
whom I told you wintered about I'/O, with a loss not
much exceeding 10 per cent, has the enormous crop
of 50C0 lbs., about 2CC0 lbs. of which is comb honey,
the remainder extracted. As he is offered a good
price already, he has made a good season's work of it.
It seems a little strange that one man should get
such an immense crop of honey when his neighbors
all around him call the season a poor one. Neigh-
bor H. has sold queens only, to the amount of about
$800. Although he had a less number to commence
with than Mr. Shane, he will probably realize about
as much clean cash, but possibly with a little more
labor. It is not very bad business, Irienils, where
attended to with industry and zeal. We have per-
haps paid out about a thousand dollars for bees, and
may be as much more for queens. When the season
is over, I will tell you how much I have received for
bees and queens.
New York.— Keplying to your postal of the 20th
inst., permit us to quote new crop comb honey as
follows: Best white ciover or basswood. in 1-lb. sec-
tions, about 25c; do crated, 20(?>21c; the same in 2 lb.
sections, T8@20c. ; Fair, I or 2 lb. sections, 16@17c.;
Buckwheat, 1 or 2 lb. sections, 13(?> 14c. Large boxes,
2c. per lb. less than above prices. We also make a
discount on all bills of 10 crates, Ic. per lb. from
above prices. Best white extracted, in 15')-lb. kegs,
10@llc.; Buckwhci.t, 8@9c.
Bcrxuar is selling at 23 and 24'/4c.
Aug. 22, 1881. H. K. & F. B. Thurber & CO.
Cincinnati.— Demand for extracted honey is very
good. Offerings fair. We pay on arrival from 7®
10c. Comb honey brings on arrival ]4@16c., but I
have bought a lot of 2000 lbs. strictly choice, in
frames 51^x6 at 17c. This honey is raised by friend
King Cramer, without separators, and is very likely
not excelled by any other lot of comb honey in
America.
Aug. 22, 18-1. Chas. F. Muth.
Detroit.— Not enough honey has yet changed
bands to establish prices. Those who have it are
noping for good prices in view of a short crop caused
by severity of last winter. Dealers are buying onlv
when they see a cheap lot. One man has bouarht 2
tons of good clover honey in 1-lb. sections for 15 cts.
It is now retailing at 20 cts. A tirst-class article in
small lots would bring ab-Mit 16 cts.
Beeswax is worth from 2r@25c.
Aug. 23, 1881. A. B. Weed.
I have about 20,10 lbs. choice extracted hones',
from red cliver and basswood, and 9(Mt lbs. very
choice in I'i-lb. sections, to be sold to the highest
bidder. O. H. Townsend.
Hul)bardston, Mich.
ienUnUeni.
CONVENTION DIRECTORY.
Wanted — Comb and Extracted honey; give lowest
prices. .1. A. Buchanan.
Holliday's Cove, W. Va., Aug. 11, 1881.
I want to buy a barrel of good well-ripened white-
clover honev. For such honey I will pay 10 cts. per
lb., delivered at ray station (which is New Holland,
Pa.) I. G. Martin.
Reidenbach's Store, Lan. Co., Pa., Aug. 21, 1881.
Wanted, on commission, at once, almost any quan-
tity nice extracted honey. Can guarantee money in
60 days after arrival. Good reference given. Will
insure OOc. or $1.00 per gallon. E. .1. Atcblev.
1345 Elm St., Dallas, Tex., Aug. 12, 1881.
1881
Sept. 16,
TIME AND PLACE OV MEETING.
Nebraska State Bee-Keepers' Af sociation,
at Omaha, Friday night.
Oct. 4.— Eastern Michigan Bee-Keeper.s' Association,
at Detroit, in \' . M. C. A. Hall.
Oct. 5.— South-Eastern Michigan Bee-Keepers' As-
sociation, at Ann Arbor, Mich.
Oct. 5, 6, 7.— National Convention of the N. A. Bee-
Keepers' S<'ciety, at Lexington, Ky.
I have about 100 gallons extracted honey for sale;
probably 1200 lbs. of box. The extracted is white
i clover and basswood mixed. The box is clover.
I basswood, and buckwheat. J. P. Hoi.f.owav.
Monctova, O., Aug. 20, 1881.
; I have 300O lbs. of extracted honey, clover and
i basswood, mostly clover, for which I will take 10! ^c.
! per lb. in barrels holding from 325 to .50:i lbs., or 11
I cts. per lb. in kegs holding from 112 to 129 lbs.; bar-
I rels and kegs waxed, and thrown in.
1 shellsburg, Iowa, Aug. r2, 1881. Uobt. Quixn.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
471
Contents of this Numbsr.
INDEX OF DEPARTMENTS.
Black List —
Bee Botany 510
Bee Entomology —
Blasted Hopes —
Cartoon —
Editorials 51<> ,
Heads of Grain -IHS Smileiy
Honey Column 474 | The Gi'owlery
Hiunbugs and Swindles 50.')
Juvenile Department 4S4
KiiiilWorils from Customers4?2
L;u1li-s' liepartment 483
Luiu-h-K'oiii —
Notes and queries 505
Reports Kncouraging
486
tobacco Column 505
INDEX OF HEADS OF GRAIN, NOTES AND QUERIES,
AND OTHER SHORT ARTICLES.
ABC Scholar in Louisiana 403
ABC Scholar in Canada — Txi-;
Ant -Lions 4',IS
Bees, Capabilities of 481
Bee Culture down South 488
Butter- Weed 50r.
Buckwheat 506
Banner Apiary 475
Bee-feeder, Another 477
Bee Poison as Medicine 477
Burch Matters 516
Bees to be Killed 517
Bee-men of Canada 516
California 490
Cyprians 496
Carrying Bees three Miles.. 499
Candy tor Cages .501)
Comb Cupboard, A Cheap.. 50;f
Churchill's Letter 504
Doolittle's Items 48a
Deceptive Looks of Queens. 506
Grape Sugar for Winter 481
Grimm's Letter 476
Hunt's Horse-Power 487
Harkness' Letter 488
Hunt's Plans 489
Honey-Boards, Chaff Cush-
ions, etc 490
Hives, Patent 498
Honev from Corn 499
Hurrah for York State! 477
Inserting ( ells when Queen
is removed 501
Int. by Frames of Hatching
Brood 501
Jones's Bee Islands 494
L. Frame .Wi
Locust Honey 503, 504
Labels 517
Machine to Pierce Top and
Bottom Bars 479
Mistakes of Postmasters. . ..Ml
>laijle Sugar for Winter .'lOS
Muideil Foundation .504
Merrybanks 507
Non-hatching Eggs 506
Our Own Apiary 478
Pollen, is it at Fault? 4Ua
Pollen, to Remove from the
Combs .5o:i
Premiums 517
Questions by Young Hand. .495
Queens, Three in a Hive 498
Queens Fighting in Air 500
Queens. Young. Inducing to
take Bridal Trip 500
Queen-Cells and Queenless-
ness 505
R.amble No. 7 491
Returning Queens sent by
Mail ; .. 50-3
Raspberries for Bees 480
Red Clover 517
Sections on all Winter. .479, 503
Success not always in Num-
ber 487
Sending Queens a Distance. 495
Si)anish Needles 498
Stings and Rlieumatism 500,504
Separators or Not 518
State Fair 517
Tbermometers 499
Thev Swarmed and they
Swarmed 500
Unsealed Brood for New
Swarms 499
Utah 499
Ups and Downs in Wis 501
Ventilation, Upward 497
Vankirk's Record 505
Wintering 491
Experience Tells.
If you desire such supplies as wc have used the
present season in securing the laru:est yield of honey
on record, send for our illustrated circular. We fur-
nish the very best Smoker made for $1..50 by mail.
Our new book, containing iTd pages and 100 illustra-
tions, gives our system of management, and is
known to be the most practical work published.
Price by mail, $1.50. We furnish everything used
in advanced bee-keeping.
L. C. ROOT & BRO., Mohawk, N. Y.
A DellDorth 3-Horse Engine.
Price SlOO, 10 per cent off for 30 days. For particu-
lars address JtEV. J. S. Woodbdkn.
Livermore, Westmoreland Co., Pa.
ATKansas City, Mo.,
I breed pure Italian bees for sale. I warrant my
"Dollar" queens to be mated by pure yellow drones,
and guarantee safe arrival and perfect satisfflction.
Tested Queens, $3 GO
"Dollar" " 1 00
Please address all letters plainly to
6tfd E. M. HAYHURST, P. 0. Box 1131.
C. OLM'S COMB FOUNDATION MACfflNE.
SEND FOR SAMPLE AND CIRCULAR.
5tfd C. OliM, Fond du Lac, Wis.
HOLY -LAND & CYPRIAN QUEENS!
Raised in separate apiaries 5 miles apart. Untest-
ed Queens of either race this month, S;i..50.
H. B. HARRINGTON, Medina, O.
^en^euUemi
CONVENTION mRJCCTORY.
TIME -iND PLACE OF MEETING.
1881
Oct. 4. —Eastern Michigan Bee-Keepers' Association,
at Detroit, in Y . M. C. A. Hall.
Oct. 5.— South-Eastern Michigan Bee-Keepers' As-
sociation, at Ann Arbor, Mich.
Oct. 5, 6, 7.— National Convention of the N. A. Bee-
Keepers' Society, at Lexington, Ky.
Full particulars in regard to the deductions made on
the different railroad lines, cost of board in the city,
cost of going to Mammoth Cave, etc., are given in a
recent number of the Prairie Farmer, of date Sept.
14th, if I am not mistaken, but the paper has been
mislaid.
Coml) - Foimdatioii Machines.
from one dollar to five. Comb fdn. from 3:^ to 40 cts
per pound. JOHN FAKIS.
Chilhowie, Smyth Co., Va.
ITALIAN BEES^FOR SALE!
Sixty colonies, in 8 and 10-frame hives, Langstroth
frame. Write for prices. I will sell cheap, for I in-
tend to close out. THOS. W. DOUGHERTY,
Mount Vernon, Posey Co., Ind.
rrr X""^ fine colonies of Italian Bees, with
e_>L,_J tested queens, at $7.00 each. Tested
queens, $3.00 each. A few colonies of good hybrids
with queens at $6.00. Address O. H. Townsend,
9tfd Hubbardston, Ionia Co., Mich.
I CAN furnish Bees by the colony and pound.
Send for special rates. H. NEWHAUS,
!)-10d Burlington, Racine Co., Wis.
50 STOCKS OF ITALIAN OR HYBRID
Bees for sale, either by the hive or pound, in any
quantity to suit purchasers. Address, for particu-
lirs, li-lOd J. J. KISER, E. Des Moines, Iowa.
THE BEST KNIFE MADE
ForFarmers and Mechanics.
Blades extrat hirk, oil tempered, every
one tested bvlile. Exchanged free if
toft or flawy. Price postpaid, 75c, or
1- blade, 5(c. Medium 2-blade,
tc, l-l)lade, 25c. Illustrated
list irte. Bulcher Knife,
lot. 0 in.. tCc; Sticking
Knife, fiOc; Skinning
Knife, 7.5c, postpaid.
Please send for our
free list. Address
MAHER & GROSH,
34 N. Monroe St.,
Toledo, Ohio.
472
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Oct.
Names of responsible parties will be Inserted in
any of the following departments, at a uniform
price of 20 cents each insertion, or $3,00 per year.
$1.00 Queens.
Names inserted in this department the first time with-
out charge. After, 20c each insertion^ or $2,00 per year.
Those whose names appear below agree to furnish
Italian queens for $1,00 each, under the following:
conditions: No guarantee is to be assumed of purity,
or anything of the kind, only that the queen be reared
from a choice, pure mother, and had commenced to
lay when they were shipped. They also agree to re-
turn the money at any time when customers become
impatient of such delay as may be unavoidable.
Bear in mind that he who sends the best queens,
put up most neatly and most securely, will probably
receive the most orders. Special rates for warranted
and tested queens, furnisned on application to any
of the parties. Names with *, use an imported queen
mother. If the queen arrives dead, notify us and
we will send you another. Probably none will be
sent for $1.00 before July 1st, or after Nov. If want-
ed sooner, or later, see rates in price list.
*E. W. Hale, Newark, Wirt Co., W. Va. 2-1
*A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
*H. H. Brown, Light Street, Columbia Co., Pa. 7tf
*E. M. Hayhurst, Kansas City, Mo. 1-12
*Paul L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La. 7ttd
*D. A. McCord, Oxford, Butler Co., O. 1-12
*S. F. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. 7tfd
*Chas. G. Dickinson, Sou* Oxford, Chen. Co. N. V . 1-10
*Wm. Ballantine. Sago, Musk. Co.. O. Vtfd
*W. H. Nesbit, Alpharetta, Milton Co., Ga. Ttfd
*H. Nicholas, Btters, York Co., Penn. 4-10
Mas. P. Sterritt, Sheaklevville, Mercer Co., Pa. 5-10
*C. B. Curtis, Selma, Dallas Co., Ala. C-11
*T. W. Dougherty, Mt. Vernon, Posey Co., Ind. 7-12
C. H. Deane, Sr., Mortonsville, "Woodford Co., Ky.
8tfd
Hive Manufacturers.
Who agree to make such hives, and at the prices
named, as those described on our circular.
A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, Iberville Par., La. Itfd
S. F. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. Itfd
J. F. Hart, Union Point, Greene Co., Ga. 4-3
Foundation Manufacturers.
Who agree to make such foundation, and at the
prices given, as described in our circular.
A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
Bees by the Pound.
Those whose names appear below agree to furnish
bees by the lb., and at the prices given in our circu-
lar.
I. L. Scofield. Chenango Bridge, Broome Co., N. Y.
S. C. Perry, Portland, Ionia Co., Mich.
J. P. Moore, Morgan, Pendleton Co., Ky.
W. R. Whitman, New Market, Madison Co., Ala.
Chas. Kingsley, GreeneviUe, Greene Co., Tenn.
C. D. Wright, Baxter Springs, Cherokee Co., Kans.
H. B. Harrington, Medina, Medina Co., O. .
W. St. Martz, Moonshine, Clark Co., Ills.
G. W. Gates, Bartlett, Shelby Co., Tenn.
W. S. Canthen, Pleasant Hill, Lancaster Co., S. C.
J. G. Taylor, Austin, Travis Co., Texas.
T. P. Andrews, Farina, Fay. Co., 111.
Allan D. Laughlin, Courtland; Law. Co., Ala.
E. J. Atchley, Lancaster, Dallas Co., Texas.
D. McKcnzie, CarroHton P. O., N. O., La.
H. L. Griffith, Sumner, Law. Co., 111.
J. H. Martin, Hartford, Wash. Co., N, Y.
W. A. Pirtle, Cabot, Lonoke Co., Ark.
E. T. Flanagan, Belle\-ille, St. Clair Co., 111.
J. K. Mayo, Stafford, Fort Bend Co., Texas.
J. F. Hart. Union Point, Greene Co., Ga.
B. Chase, Earlville, Madison Co., N. Y.
S. P. Roddy, Mechanicstown, Fred. Co., Md.
W. J. Ellison, Statesburg, Sumter Co., S. C.
R. A. Paschal, Geneva, Talbot Co., Ga.
A. Osbun, Spring Bluff, Adams Co., Wis.
H. D. Heath, Sherman, Grayson Co.. Texas.
N.B. McKee,careof D. &D. Inst., Fndiannpolis, Ind.
J. B. R. Sherrick, Mt. Zion, Maeon Co., 111.
Otto Kleinow, opp. Fort AVavne, Detroit, Mich.
J. C. & D. H. Tweedy, Smithfleld, Jeff. Co., O.
KIP WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS.
The Waterbury watch is a wonder for the money.
A. R. ROUTON.
Magdalena, Merriwether Co., Ga.,yept. 11, 1881.
The smokf r came all right. It came in good time,
and it beats all the smokers. H. F. Pitman.
Williams, Lawrence Co., Ind., Sept. ('>, 1881.
I received the T5c plane, and was completely satis-
tied with it. It cuts like a razor, and is very durable.
Eminence, Henry Co., Ky. Lewis T. Dk.\ne.
It has paid me to advertise in Gleanings, and I
have tried to give satisfaction, as I said I would, and
I think I have done it. H. Nicholas.
Etters, York Co., Pa., Sept. 5, 1881.
Both numbers of Gleanings are at hand, clean
and nice. They read so natural! Send it along the
coming year. Allen Coaxes.
Centreville, Crawford Co., Pa., July 13, 1881.
The Waterbury watch purchased of you sometime
since has now been running about two months, and
gives entire satisfaction as a timepiece.
Alb^red Is.-vacs.
Tarkington Prairie, Tex., Sept. 2, 1881.
The watch was a little slow. After setting the
regulator about the sixteenth part of an inch for-
ward it kept as good time as any timepiece I ever
saw, ()/ (uiij pricr or quality. Alfred Isaacs.
Tarkington Prairie, Liberty Co., Tex., Aug. 13, '81.
I know where to send when wanting things in a
hurry. It took only 3'i days to send from Michigan
to Ohio and back and get a queen, and have her ac-
cepted. W. D. HiGDON.
.Jackson, Mich., Sept. 13, 1881.
I send you my Waterbury watch, which has kept
time nicely for a year past. I injured it by the worst
kind of carelessness, or it would be running now.
W. D. Loveland.
Lawrence, Mich., July 20 1881.
I received your queen on the 21st of July, and I
followed your directions out. I put the queen into
my gum, and the tenth day I went to see how she
was doing, and I raised one of my racks and it was
full of sealed brood. J. P. Bell ah.
Rouge, Texas, Aug. 10, 1881.
I received the 3 dozen pencils, at 10c a dozen, and
they are .iust splendid for the monej'. I would have
to pay 5c for one at our country store. I shall send
to you for all of the little things hereafter. Here is
the 8e to pay postage on them. Wm. H. Pue.
New Berlin, Tex., Sept. 3, 1881.
The knife sent me came to hand all right. I am
more than pleased with it. I have foiind it the best
of metal. I was surprised to find it only 35 cts. I
have compared it with knives of the same grade
here, and could not buy them for less than 75 cts.
Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 4, 1881. A. S. Smith.
My little Emilie received her toy piano all right,
and is very much pleased with it, and sends thanks
for the nice book you sent. Walter (my son) also re-
ceived his saw and plane, and is deliM'hted with them.
E. C. Moseley.
Oyster Creek Station, Brazoria Co., Tex., Sept., '81.
The extractor came to hand all O. K. It is a beau-
ty, and I think the price is low; and the knife, why !
I .iust think it Is too nice to soil up with honey and
wax; but I guess I'll have to use it. Much obliged
for your promptness in filling all my little orders.
You" have my best wishes for future success.
W. H. Ferguson.
Bloomdale, Ohio, Sept. 11, 1881.
1881
GLEA^IKGS m BEE CULTUBE.
473
THE TEN-CENT SPECTACLES. I of praise. They say it is all rig-ht. The honey Pea-
The specs you mailed me May 2d, came safely to | son has been extra g-ood in this section, with but
hand. lam much pleased with them. It is a real ] ff>7^^?.*lM° ?5i^?5-„A!!L' y';u.it_ looked lonesome
pleasure to do business with such a man. ' '^ "" *
Martin J. Brown.
Hemphill, Sabine Co., Texas, May 10, 1881.
I was much surprised, on g-oing'to the postoffice, to
find the ABC. I am delighted with it, and am un-
der great obligations to j on. Since receiving- it I
have neglected David Copperlield and every thing-
else. 1 think 1 have the bee fever badly.
James Roberts.
Cobourg, Ont., Can., Sept. 32, 1881.
Please discontinue my advertisement in (October
Gleanings. Not because it is not a good advertis-
ing medium, but because it is too good. I want to
keep a few queens for my own use, you know. I
have had to sell too close se\eral times, trying to fill
orders promptly. Success to g-ood old Gleanings.
J. P. Moore.
Morgan, Pendleton Co., Kv., Sept. 8, 1881.
You have credited me with eightj* cents on loss of
bees; now, you just cancel the credit, and then it
will be all right. The bees were dead, came as stated,
but I even then got more bees than I expected, as
you sent me more for the money than I looked for.
S. C. Lybargek.
Ganges, O., August 2.5, 1881.
LMay God bless you for your kindness, friend L. ; T
am sure it does me much good to gst such a message.]
The tested queen ordered from you in June was
received and placed in a queenless swarm on the
31st of June. To-day I have a superior colony of
Italians. Six frames of the golden-striped workers.
They are quiet, and I can handle them with so much
satisfaction. I have 4 other colonies, all strong
blacks, and cross as bees usually are, and I must
give them Italian queens too. H. A. Eastman.
Ashtabula, O., Sept. U, 1881.
an improvement in watch-pockets.
The last watch came, and is doing finely; the in-
structions are an improvement. Let mo suggest
that every one have- a button-hole or a slit put into
the bottom of the watch-pocket to let out the dvist.
I. B. RUMFORD.
Bakersfleld, Cal., Aug. 18, 1881.
LAn excellent suggestion, friend R. ; but it would
never do to put money into such a pocket, or it
would lose out even faster than it does now. For
that matter, nothing should ever ba carried in the
same pocket with the watch, any way.
DOLLAR queens ALL PURE.
The fine queens j'ou sent me came all right, and I
introduced them all without any trouble; two of
them were very nice yellow ones; the other three
are very dark; their brood is just hatching now,
and I think thev are all pure. E. A. Emmons.
Tampico, 111., Aug. 34, 1881.
[We find, by referring to our books, that the above
were all purchased of our friend E. T. Flanagan. I
am very glad to give this report, for friend F. has
had some bad luck, and this may encourage him a
little.]
Bees have done so poorly for the past three years
I feel too poor to afford a journal. 1 know you have
kindly offered to share my loss in the mails, but if
you should try to share everybody's losses, you
would soon be lost financially yourself. I wintered
on summer stands the past winter, 90 colonies out of
0,5. Now have 150 in good condition for winter.
M. T. IlOWE.
Grain Valley, Mo., Sept 13, 1881.
[Many thanks for your kind words about the losses,
friend R. ; but I do not think that my friends will let
me bear all the losses, even if I wanted to. It don't
seem to me a man is so rtri/ pnnr, with 1.50 good col-
onies. Aren't you borrowing trouble a little?]
I have worked the bees for honey this season, and
not lor increase, and, must say there's money in it.
Thanks to knowledge gained from ABC and Glean-
ings. I would not be without them. They should
be in the hands of every intelligent man and woman
who loves bees. I have lent the book to several
men who own bees, and they give itthc biggest kind
without them this season. Acres of white clover,
and fields of buckwheat honey wasting, and no bees
to gather it. \V. C. UuiTni.
Jordan, Out., Can., Sept. 4, 1881.
BEES AND BEE-STINGS FOR " SICK FOLKS," AGAIN.
I have had a hard time in the bee business this
summer, but it seems as if it is formy good, afterall.
I have had poor health for si.v years past, and
thought that I would go into the bee business for a
living; but since 1 have had all the honey that 1
could eat, and all the stings that I could stand, my
health has improved wonderfully; so much so that I
have done the most work in the shortest time this
summer that 1 ever did in my life; and I can say to
you, that you will please accept my greatest thanks
for the kind advice you gave me last winter. I now
have 22 colonies. I hived 4 swarms this afterHOon in
one hive, which made one pretty good colony. I
have had 7 buckwheat swarms. Bees arc suffering
now for want of attention, but I can't leave the
shop, as I have so much work to do. They are fill-
ing the porticos in front of the hives with nice while
comb, but I have no time to take the surplus honey
now. I have taken .59 Simplicity section boxes from
my chaff hive, and there are 73 in it now ready to
come off as soon as 1 get the crate, which I am going
to set right down on top of the brood frames. I
think in two years more I shall give up every thing
else and attend to my bees If I have good luck with
them. I have not lost a swarm this season.
Tim Calver.
I'nion Mills, Ohio, Sept. 4, 1881.
The Imported queen came the next dayaftfcr being
shipped. She was in fine shape, and 1 introduced
her the next day, only requiring from mijriiing un-
til night to preform the job. 1 will send you a photo.,
and I presume I will get a scolding when I tell you
that I am a bachelor, almost 30 years old: but I trust
that you will have a little mercy on us old "baches,"
for you know that the women are almost all afraid
of bees. We are trying to find one that isn't. If I
find one I will send you her picture too. so you can
see how we compare. Jesse (J. Thompson.
Pierpont, Ashtabula Co., O., Aug. 17, 1881.
[Friend T.,I am very much obliged for the picture;
but allow me to observe that the other sex are not
all afraid of bees. Still, If such were the case I
should hardly feel like advising them all to learn
to handle bees just because they might stand a bet-
ter chance of getting married. Both boys and girls
should get acquainted, not only with bees, but with
cattle and horses as well, that they may be useful in
any emergency; and then when they become useful
members of society, there is always some one of
the opposite sex who will need their help. I have
sometimes been tempted to say, that the reason
some people can never find any thing to do, is be-
cause they were good for nothing; but it can't be
that that rule would account for your not being a
married man, can it, friend T.? Is it because the
other sex are afraid of bees, or that you are afraid
of the other sex?]
THOU SHALL NOT T.\KE THE NAME OF THE LORD
IN VAIN ; FOR THE LORD WILL NOT HOLD HIM
GU^TLESS THAT TAKETH HIS NAME IN VAIN.— EXO-
DUS 20:4.
Every single time I have sent to you for things
you have sent them promptly, and often some little
thing as a present; then how very unkind of me, in
sending the order, to write the weather was " hotter
than ." Friend Root. I am one of the worst men
to swear in the United States, having never heard
but one man as bad to swear. It was 106° in the
shade when I wrote, and what I wrote was nothing
to what I thought; so here are many thanks for
your kind reproof, and a promise not to write to any
person such language again. No change until last
night,— a good rain. Robert Reynolds.
Utica, Lasalle, Co., 111., Sept. 8, 1881.
[You see, I wrote a rcmonstance to friend R. for
his profanity in a letter; but as you will observe, it
did not make him angry either. Now, friend (or
friends if you choose), profane swearing is an awful
thing; It is a sin against God that can not be over-
looked unless repented of; and, if I am right, it is
one that seldom goes unpunished in this world. I am
very glad you have promised to put no more such
4t4
GLEANINGS IK BEE CULTUllE.
Oct.
words on paper; and, in fact, friend R., I thanlc God
for that. But can you not take one step more, and
say that no one shall ever again licar you utter such
words? Somehow I seem to feel that you will take
this step, and the next one after that will be to re-
solve, with God's help, you will not even tolerate
such thoughts. Thovights arg the source from which
actions spring; and if you keep it all in, after a lit-
tle while the tliougJits will not keep coming in. Are
you not thankful for that little rain you speak of?
Folks who complain wben things don't come, cer-
tainly ouKht to give thanks when they do come.
When going to Columbus a few days ago, a man was
swearing most bitterly because the train was behind
and failed to connect as he wished it to. I thought
he was complaining prematurely, and pretty soon a
friend spoke and told him his train had not gone,
after all, for there it was right before his eyes, wait-
ing for him to get aboard. I watched him to see the
change come over him, and to see if his face would
not soften down into at least a smile of thanks. Do
you think it did? I am sorry and sad to say that he
received the good news with only another string of
curses against God and the railroad men. Now,
boys, seriously, what do you think of such an atti-
tude of heart? What «aVi God do with such awful
ingratitude? Where does such a man really deserve
to go?]
EECENT ADDITIONS, CHANGES, AND IM-
PROVEMENTS, IN OUR COUNTER STORE.
A NEW circular of our Counter Store goods only, is
ready to mail on application.
Our Coimter Store was again taken over to our
fair grounds, and nearly $300.00 worth of goods were
sold from it in the two days.
We have succeeded in getting Mason's 1-qt. fruit
cans OH our 10c Counter. We can ship them from
the factory for $13.50 per gross. Pint jars, $13.00
To go with our Waterbury watches, we have a
little nickel alarm clock, called the Fairy Queen.
The Fairy Queen is not only a little beauty, but it is
a gem of a timepiece. Price $3.00, or $3.35 if sent by
mail. Like the watches, the little clocks are care-
fully regulated by us before they are sent out.
AN IMPROVEMENT IN OUR COE'S PATTERN
■WRENCHES.
Our Coe's pattern wrenches are now all made of
Wrouoht Instead of malleable iron, as heretofore, and
are a moat beautiful strong wrench. Three sizes,
35, 50, and 75c.
We have just succeeded in making a beautiful
confectionery of maple sugar. Somebody has said
that the craving for candy among children is right
and proper, for it is nature's demand for the sugar
they need. Well, if it is all pure maple sugar, and
nothing else, we are sure it is wholesome. It is per-
fectly dry to the touch, yet dissolves easily in the
mouth, like cream candy. Price 30c per lb. We
have it in little gauze bags on the five-cent counter.
Besides the Waterbury watches in nickel-plated
cases, we now have them in cases made of celluloid.
They are put up in three colors — pure black and
pure white, and in a mottled celluloid, called mala-
chite, from its resemblance to that stone. The pric-
es in the celluloid eases are jvist one-half more than
the ordinary nickel cases. We are now selling our
seventh gross of Waterbury watches. Considerable
improvements have l)een made in them of late, and
the factorynow have a system of repairing all watch-
es at a uniform price of 50 cents each, no matter if
you should drop your watch and step on it.
THE FIVE AND TEN CENT HONEY-PAILS.
I AM sorry to say, that those pretty little covered
tin pails we have been selling so many of have ad-
vanced in price, so that we will hereafter have to
charge $4.35 ana $8.00 per hundred for the 1!4 pint
and 3-quart respectively. Even at the present prices
it seems a wonder how they can be made for any
such money. Within a year we have purchased 35
gross — or something like 5000 of them. Do j'ou
wonder that manufacturers give us low prices? In
selling your honey, almost anybody will give 5 and
10c for the pretty little pails; and at these prices
you make a safe little profit. Where bee-men have
a stock on hand, they can generally retail a good
many to the neighbors, in the course of n year. We
can send you samples by mail, if you wish to see
them: bur where ordered in lots, they must go by
freight. Where you are so far off that freights eat
up the margin, j'ou will have to add freight to the
prices.
Underthishead will be inserted, free of charge, the names of
all those having honey to sell, as well as those wanting to buy.
Please mention how much, what kind, and prices, as far as pos-
sible. As a general thing, I would not advise you to send your
honey away to be sold on commission. If near home, wnere
you can looK after it, it is often a very good way. By all means,
aevelop your home market. For 25 cents we can furnish little
boards to hang up in your dooryara, with the words, ' ' Honey
tor Sale, " neatly painted. If wanted by mail, 10 cents extra for
postage. Boards saying "Bees and Queens for Sale," same
P'ice.
CITY MARKETS.
Chicago.— 77(mci/.— The honey market is brisk,
and the prices stead.y. I have just bought 30,000 lbs.
extracted at the prices quoted. Light comb, in 1
and 3 lb. boxes, 18@:Wc; in larger boxes, 3c less. Ex-
tracted, 8(5i'c.
Beeswax, ]8@31c. Alfred H. Newman.
a73 West Madison St., Chicago, Sept. 22, 1881.
Cleveland.— Ho)(('j/.— We quote a slight improve"
raent in comb honey. One-pound sections are ready
sale at 31c for white, and 3 lbs. 19@30c. Extracted
continues dull at 10@.I3c.
Bt'csuvi.r.— 30@,33. A. C. Ke.sdel.
Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 30, 1881.
Detroit.— JTodciy.— The honey market is not very
firm, owing to the difference of opinion between
buyers and sellers. The former are reluctant to pa.v
more than they have done in other years, and the
latter believe that prices will be high before spring,
and wish to get the benefit. A good article ia salable
shape brings readily from lT(?iil8 cents
Bcrsica.r.— 30@35 cents.
Detroit, Sept. 31, 1881. A. B. Weed.
Cincinnati.— Jfoiiei/.— There is a good demand for
extracted honey, which brings readily 7@10c on ar-
rival. Arrivals of and demand for comb honey is
rather indifferent. It brings 14(5il7c on arrival.
Bec.xu'a,r.— 30@33 cents. Chas. F. Muth.
Cincinnati, Sept. 33, 1881.
New York.— Hcwifj/.— In reply to your postal of
the 30 inst., permit us to quote hone.v as follows : —
Best white, in 1 and 3-lb. sections, 18(?J,30; fair white,
in 1 and 3 lb. sections, 15@.17; mixed and dark, in 1
and 3-lb. sections, 13® 14. Large boxes. 3c per lb. less
than above prices. Best white, or linden extracted,
lOf^ll; dark extracted, 7(y 8.
Bcfsit'a.r.— 33@35c. from prime to vellow.
H. K. & F. B. Thurber & Co.
New York, Sept. 33, 1881.
ItiO lbs. of honey, in 1-lb section boxes, for sale by
J. Luther Bcwers, Beri-yville, Va.
We want one or two barrels of choice white-clover
honey. State price delivered here.
B. Salisbury & Co.
Battle Creek, Mich., Sept., 1881.
I have for sale two barrels of linn honey, 400 lbs.
each. Will take 9c per lb. delivered on board cars
here. Honey is extra good.
J. B. Murray, Ada, Ohio.
I would like to buv one barrel of good extracted
honey, at the rate of ten cents a pound; and, if suit-
ed, will take several barrels more. Any person hav-
ing such, please address Charles Leynis.
Morgauville, Monmouth Co., N. J.
I have about 6000 lbs. of extracted honey, put up
in kegs holding from .^O to 130 or 130 lbs. Will sell
the white at 10c, and the dark at 8c per lb., delivered
on board cars at Durand, kegs thrown in.
C. H. Stordock.
Durand, 111., Sept. 30, 1881.
GLEANINGS
IN
BEE CULTUI\E.
Devoted to Bees and Honey, and Home interests.
Vol. IX.
OCT. 1, 1881.
No. 10.
A. I. ROOT,
Publisher and Proprietor, \
IVIediiia, O.
Published Monthly.
f TERMS: Si. 00 Per Annum, in Advance;
i 2 Copies for 31.90; 3 for $2.75; .5 for $4.00; 10
I or more, 7.5 ets. each. Single Number, 10 cts.
-j Additions to clubs may be made at club
rates. Above are all to be sent to one post-
Established in 1873A'l7^,7ii.n^^L'e^^'''''''^°''''^''''
NOT
NOTES FROM THE BANNER APIARY.
No. 2^.
A CHEAP OBSERVATORY HIVE.
fDO not know whether jou would call it an ob-
servatory hive or a house apiary on a small
' scale; but this is how it came about. One hot
day last August, two nice queens hatched out in the
lamp nursery, and there were no nuclei upon which
Ihe pin in the registeiing card pointed to "missing;"
neither were there any more empty hives in which to
start nuclei, and, as I disliked to kill the queens, I
stood for a moment wondering what I khmihl do with
them, when my eyes alighted upon a light shipping-
box in which friend Nellis had sent me a full colony
containing an imported queen. Whj- not fix up that
box for a hive? thought I; yes, and fasten it up in
one corner of the shop, and have a house apiary,
was the next thought. In just half an hour the bees
were flying from two holes in the sides of the shop.
These two holes wore the entrances to the two nu-
clei that occupied the shipping-box. A piece six
inches square was cut out from one side of the box;
this piece was then hung for a door by means of
leather hinges, and it was kept closed by means of a
little latch made from a pin. The inside of the open-
ing was covered with a piece of glass, and, by watch-
ing here a few minutes, I saw that one of the young
queens had been accepted, and was walking about
quite at her ease. I presume that some of you can
imagine the pleasure that I have experienced in
"fishing " nice yellow queens out of this impromptu
hive. How I do love to fix up nuclei in some such
out-of-the-way place, in hives that cost almost next
to nothing, and then once in about ten days find
them occupied by nice laying queens.
EXPERIMENTS IN WINTERING.
I am now making some experiments with a view
to help solve the wintering problem. Of course, the
few experiments that I can make will not amount
to a great deal; but if one hundred bee-keepers
would make the same experiments for several
years in succession, they would certainly prove
sometlting. The statistical table so carefully pre-
pared by friend Newman, for which he certainly de-
serves a vote of thanks, shows that the care we give
our bees in preparing them for winter is not entire-
ly wasted— we have at least made some progress;
but until the percentage of losses in wintering is
considerably less than it has been for the past few
years, our beloved occupation will not take a place
in the front rank of agricultural pursuits. I hope
to live to see honey plenty and cheap (because of
no loss in wintering bees;) to see it used upon every
table, just as much as butter now is, and if I lose a
colony during the winter, I wish to be able to give
the reason with at least as much certainty as a ve-
terinary surgeon can tell what caused the death of a
horse or cow. I admire friend Heddon's course; he
does not know what is the trouble, and candidly
says so; but he is going to "cut and try" until he
finds out what it is. I say, let others do likewise;
let us all put our shoulders to the wheel, and never
stop until this one great difficulty is surmounted.
Until we can winter our bees with uniform success,
winter after winter, wo are unworthy the name of
bee-keepers. We can control the number of bees
that there arc to be in a colony, and, by our being
476
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Oct.
able to do this, our bees need not perish for want of
numbers; we cau control the kind and amount of
food that they shall have during the winter; and if
sugar is better than honey for winter stores, we can
give it to them; but it bees are wintered out of
doors we can not control the tempcratuir : while if
they are in cellars or special repositories, we can
control the temperature. The uniform success that
George Grimm and L. C. Koot and others have had
in wintering large numbers of colonies in cellars,
helps to confirm me in the belief that indoor winter-
ing, proprrly mnnagcd, is the best for our northern
climate.
But I fear that I am wandering, speculating and
theorizing a little too much; the experiments that I
am making are to leave some of my colonies out of
doors, protecting most oi them with chaff cushions,
to put some of them in the cellar, and to put some
of them in clamps on a dry sandy knoll. Somf of
them are furnished entirely with white sugar, others
in part, and some arc given early-gathered honey,
and others not. Part of those in the cellars will be
given a fly, if the weather permits, and the re-
mainder will not be fi-.ken from the cellars until
they can gather honey. I have not the space to en-
ter into all of the particulars now, but next spring I
will tell you how they all wintered.
W. z. Hutchinson.
Hogcrsvillc, Genesee Co., Mich., Sept., 1881.
FRIEND UKIilIM'S METHOD OF FEED-
ING FOK ^VINTEK.
ANJ) ALSO mS METHOD OV VENTILATING IN CEL-
LAR S.
^f^ UIEND KOOT:-
B'«1 4
sr' Gleanings did
-Your gentle reminder in Aug.
. did not escape my notice, but I did
^^ not have time to write anything for Septem-
ber number. Though somewhat late in the season,
a few words on the subject of feeding may not be
amiss. I shall not get around to feeding any before
October myself, and if I tell you how I do it I sup-
pose it will be sufficient. For my part, I desire rath-
er to hear practice than theory; and, to some ex-
tent, others can be judged by one's self.
As soon as I can get time I will go to each of my
outside apiaries (Ave) and examine every colony,
and weigh them. Those that have sufficient honey,
a good queen, are strong in bees, etc., I do not dis-
turb till the time comes to haul them home or to the
cellars in which I winter them. All those that ai-e
not in proper shape, I haul to my home apiary so as
to have them handy for treatment. After uniting
all that is necessary, I supply them partly with
combs of honey, and feed sulHcient sugar syrup to
give them a good supply for the winter. If I had
extracted honey on hand I would feed that ; but as I
did npt raise any this year, I will feed syrup made
of the best white coffee sugar. I feed this by means
of a tin can, about the size of a jvetach can, through
ahole in the houey-board. The can has a piece of
perforated tin about V'z inches square on the bot-
tom, arid a rim of tin around the edge, -J^ of an inch
wide. It is filled on the same side through a small
can-screw cap, and turned over by a quick move-
ment. I suppose it is on the principle of your pep-
per-box feeder. The honey that bees gathered this
fall is good, and I shall therefore feed only those
that have not enough for the winter.
I am getting so many inquiries about how I venti-
late in the cellar, that it is getting troublesome to
answer them for a 3-cent stamp. Allow me, there-
fore, to state in Gleanings exactly what I do. I use
the 8-frame Langstroth portico hive, with honey-
board, exclusively. When I put them in the cellar I
set them in rows, six high, the rear one an inch
higher than the front; and this is the ventilation:
The entrance, 34 inch high, and as wide as the hive,
is left open and kept clear of dead bees during the
winter, and the honey-board is slid forward so as to
give an opening of 14 inch in the rear. That is all,
and it is enough. It permits the circulation of air
through the hive. Vapors arising from the bees arc
either carried off, or condensed and run out of the
frontof the hive— the latter very rarely, however.
Nearly all my hives are painted on the inside, so
the moisture will not soak into the wood. Once in a
while a hive is found where a few outside combs are
molded some, but the cases are few. Almost all
have as bright, dry combs in the spring as in the
fall; and bear in mind, too, that I leave cM the combs
in the hives through the winter, and do not take the
trouble to crowd the bees together by means of a
division-board : the cold has always done that most
effectually. If I removed the spare combs, I do not
think that I would have a single moldy comb in the
apiary.
In reference to winter passages through the
combs, I would say that I never made them and
never needed them. The bees pass under the honey-
board and over the frames from comb to comb.
The above method of ventilation serves the purpose
of absorbents in the shape of chaff and the like, ad-
mirably; and mutilation of the combs is unneces-
sary. Of this I am certain, that there must cither be
ventilation similar to this, or absorbents of moisture
must be used in its stead, as nearly always, when
through carelessness the cover had liecn slipped
back in lifting another hive on top, the colony was
either dead in the spring, or had moldy combs.
Next winter I shall have a large tank of water, hold-
ing about 5 barrels, in one of my cellars; and I think
it will materially help to purify the air, and secure
an even temperature. During warm weather lean
cool the water with ice. Geo. Gkimm.
Jefferson, Wis., Sept., 1881.
I expect HOW, friend Grimm, some of the
boys will want to know how you make the
syrup; Avhether it is boiled, or only stirred
up cold, my favorite way. We are very glad
you have told us so plainly about the venti-
lation in the cellar. You see, friends, he
has it every bit as open as we have talked
about, when sections were left over the
frames for outdoor wintering, and, very
likely, a little more so. Just think of it ! A
i-inch slot the width of the hive, at both
entrance and highest point. I should think
the Simplicity hives would be real handy to
put into the cellar, for we could let the bees
wax down the enameled sheets as tightly as
they pleased ; and as they were put in the cel-
lars, just roll back the tin on the back end
of the enameled sheet, to make this space.
These sheets are usually kept above the
frames enough for a good bee passage, by
nttle pillars of wax. \V^hen the bees are put
out in the spring, the end of the sheet can
quickly be turned back in place again, and
they are snug and tig-ht for brood-rearing.
1881
glea^'i:ngs in bee culture.
477
Neighbor Deaa wintered his last winter,
part in cellar, part in his old sawdust-packed
bee-house, and one out of doors in chaff
packing. The one out of doors was about
the best, but he said it was such an awful
job to Hx them up that way. h.; greatly pre-
ferred to set them in the cellar, and the cel-
lar, did much better than the bee-house last
winter. John and I think it le':s trouble to
put them in chaff hives, and then we have
the chaff hives ready for the cool weather
next spring. Xeighfjor II. also says, '"Chaff
hives by all means,-' although he has a dry
cellar right close to his apiary.
STILL ANOTHER BEE-FEEDER.
*|^Y to-day's mail I send you a model of a boe-
JjQBft feeder. The full size of feeders I use is six
inches square, made of inch lumber. I put
as many circles '>i inch wide as I can get in, with a
center Vi inches in diameter.
DE WORTH BEE-FEEDER.
Now, friend Root, please accept this idea from me
as a token of respect, knowing that you have and
will labor hard to promote bee culture, and also
that you will give it cheerfully to the bee-keeping
fraternity. Wm. De Worth.
Bordentown, N. J., May 15, 188].
The novel feature of this feeder is, that it
is all made Avhile the block is in a lathe ; and
with a proper gang of chisels, the grooves
can all be cut almost in an instant. A cover
is put on, as shown in the cut, and when the
feeder is pushed up against the entrance,
none but the bees of the hive can get into it.
It is filled tiirough the hole in the cover,
which should be then covered with a piece
of glass, or something of the kind, to keep
out meddlesome noses. No bees can drown
in this, and there is no opening of hives to
replenish it.
^ igi «^
HURRAH FOR VORK STATE ONCE
ITIORE!
OVER 180 l.BS. TO THE COLONY, FROM AN APIARY
OF 108 STOCKS IN THE SPRING.
f|HE spring found me with 108 colonies, or hives,
that had bees in ; you all know how weak bees
' were this spring. Well, about 50 were all
right. I used that 150 lbs. of fdn. I got of you, with
good success. It worked nicelj' with two wires across
a Langstroth frame, or lengthwise, and imbedded in
the fdn. with button-hO(jk. Now for what I have
dune all alone: I increased to 308 in good condition,
and have taken 15,100 lbs. of extracted honey and
4500 lbs. box honey. One colony, with its increase,
gave me ^0 lbs. of box honey. The increase was 4
artiflcal swarms, with plenty of honey. How is that
for|lti years' experience iP
I sold my white box honey for 16c, and the dark
for 12c.
Will you please answer one question?
WILL MOTH-WORMS LIVE ON PURE WAX?
Will a moth-worm live and come to maturity on
new comb that has had no brood in, if they have had
no bee bread or pollen or dead bees to eat?
W. L. COGGSHALL.
West Groton, Tomp. Co., N. Y., Sept. 19, 1881.
Why, friend C, your great achievement
for this year has so nearly taken my breath
away I can hardly come down to such sim-
ple things as moth-worms and beeswax ; but
on the spur of the moment I should say that
moth- worms could not live on clean empty
combs alone, for we never find them on
sheets of fdn., before they have been put
into a hive. Now, we want you to give us a
full account of your summer's work, and tell
us all about how you did this. 1 presume
you had a great tlow of honey ; but even if
you did, it is not every one who has the
•• gumption " to take careof such a lot when
it does "rain porridge.'' Did your neigh-
l)ors do as well V what kind of boxes do you
use, side or top storing V how did you ex-
tract ? how many hands did you have to
help V Why, sakes alive I I have almost a
mind to take my automatic pencil, and a
blank book, and go down to see you. Are
folks " friendly like " down in your parts?
and do they keep any dogs that will bite V
THE POISON OF THE BEE AS A REKE'
DIAL. AGENT.
MORE FAVORABLE TESTI.MONIALS.
WANT to tell you about bees as a medicine.
June 9th, Mr. George Wilson came to me for 20
bees; said he wanted them for a medicine Dr.
Allen, of White River Junction, had advised him to
try. He was very sick with dropsy; had not walked
any for four years: his limbs were swollen so badly
that they cracked open and discharg-cd terribly, and
his clothes would not reach around him by a foot.
After taking medicine one week he could button
them with ease. He had no faith in it at first, but
"drowning men grasp at straws." I furnished him
two lots of bees, 20 each, during the summer; last
Thursday morning, Aug. 25, he called on rae for more
bees to prepare a bottle of medicine to take home
with him ; his home is in New York, where he is in
business. He says he is completely cured; can walk
all over the village of Bellows Falls ; would not have
been alive now, if it had not been for hccs. Medi-
cine, how prepared ; Put 5 drops of alcohol in a bot-
tle, then put in 20 bees; let them stand 20 or 30 min-
utes, or until they sting each other to death; then
add 4 oz. alcohol. Dose, 5 drops every hour. Mr.
Wilson wants every one to know of his wonderful
cure. GcY Clark.
Bellows Falls, Vt., Aug. 31, 1881.
It has often seemed to me as if such an
active agent as the bee-sting might by some
means be utilized in medicine. It is sure,
and goes right to the spot, as we all know,
and I have wondered if it might not rival
powerful liniments for neuralgia, tooth-
ache, and the like. It would doubtless ex-
tinguish any toothache, if it only worked
against it ; but if it should happen to add to
478
GLEANINGS IN I3EE CULTUEE.
Oct.
the pain, wouldn't there be a "row in the
camp"? Well, it seems the poor fellow-
sufferer above found it just the thing ; but T
have, in spite of myself, been wondering if
lie would not have got well any way, or if it
did not so work on his imagination, that he
stirred around more and thus got wliere na-
ture could work to better advantage. You
see, I have great faith in getting people to
wake up and stir aroiuid, even if they m-c
sick some ; and the sight of the doctor, visi-
tors, or even a light shock of electricity, of-
ten does wonders in that way. Never mind;
let us get at the truth, liee-sting medicine
could be put up cheap where they are going
to brimstone their bees this fall, like the
friend mentioned in our editorials.
OUR OWN APIARY AND HONEY FARM.
IT is now the 2Sth of September, and the
severe drought has stopped the How of
— ' honey from almost every plant, not
even excepting the Simpson. The Spider
plant still blossoms, yet but few of the
Jjlossoms produce honey. During the past
few days, however, we have had long soak-
ing rains ; and if frost keeps off, we shall
have some honey yet, perhaps.
NEIGHBOR II. "S EXPERIMENT.
Do you remember what Neighbor II. said
last month about feeding with a tin pan V By
the way, I guess I will tell you of an experi-
ment of his. It was, I think, about the 15th
of May that he brought a pound of bees and
queen, to be shipped to a customer. It had
been jolted in the buggy, or something, and
as the day was very siiltry, it was evident,
from the dampness of the bees, and from the
way in which they tumbled helplessly from
one end of the cage to the other, they would
not live many minutes, unless speedily tak-
en care of. 1 offered to look after them, but
he said he was going to take them for an ex-
periment, to see what a pound of bees
would do, with a good queen, started the
middle of May. Accordingly they were let
out on a few empty combs, and one of
Neighbor II. 's long, black, IIoly-Land
queens introduced to them. They soon re-
vived, and the queen went right to laying.
As soon as honey failed, they were treated to
pans full of the sugar syrup he told you
about. They are now live fair colonies, and
there is little doubt but that he will winter
them successfully. When you come to see
us, ask to see Neighbor II. 's department.
Besides the five hives, he has the Albino col-
ony that I spoke of a short time ago. The
Albinos are, to tell the truth, rather pretty
bees. If our bees should winter well this
season, I have been thinking of offering
some gentle bees in small hives for sale, for
the " Juvenile Department." Of course,
they would want some pretty bees that are
•nice to handle and nice to look at. I have
thought the Albinos might be just the thing.
If they should happen to produce great
crops of honey, too, it would be quite a joke
in favor of our friends Valentine and f ike.
HOAV AVE ARE DOING OUR FEEDING THIS
FALL.
Neighbor H. has all chaff hives, and it is a
very easy matter to set a common tin pan on
the frames, in the upper story. In our
queen-rearing, however, we have about 200
Simplicity hives. Many of these have only
three or four combs, so that if we had a pan
that would set in beside them, it would save
the expense and bother of an extra upper
story, while we are feeding to keep the
queens at work. Selling bees and queens as
we do, you know it is quite important to
keep the queens laying every minute possi-
ble. Well, we tried using SimpUcity feed-
ers, but it was too much work to fill them up
so often. A tin pan will hold more sugar
than a dozen Simplicities; but a tin pan
won't go into the hive at one side of the
frames, especially if we have a division-
board in, beside the four combs. On the
five-cent counter we have, as you may have
noticed, a two-quart bread-pan.
THE BREAD-PAN FEEDER.
These pans are 6 in. wide, 10^ long, and 2i
deep. They have flaring sides, so that they
nest into each other, and a hundred or more
of them occupy but little room. They cost,
as you see, but 45c for 10, or $4.00 for 100—
the same price as the Simplicity feeders, and
yet, as they nest, occupy much less space for
shipping or stowing away. Each pan will
hold 3 lbs. of granulated sugar and 1 lb. of
water. A Simplicity feeder will scarcely
hold 8 oz. of sugar. Now, the bees would
drown in these pans, as you know, were it
not for the piece of cheese cloth ; and we
have been a little surprised to lind that
spreading the cloth in the pan, with the
sugar on top of it, answers every purpose,
in warm weather. The cloth should be suf-
ficiently large so it will not get pulled over
into the pan, and the pan should have one
edge nearly touch the combs, or division-
board. If you do not have a division-board,
be careful the bees do not build a comb on
the mat above, after they have been fed a
few days. We just set tlie pans with their
cloths over them in the hives, and then with
a 5-cent dust-pan fill each one heaping full of
granulated sugar. Another hand, with a
can of pure water (like the one shown be-
side the chaff hive, under " Feeders," in our
price list), pours in water slowly, as much as
he can, without running the tins over. Of
course, the bees will have the liquid portion
out in perhaps a couple of hours ; but the
moist sugar they will work on and dig in for
several days, and may be a week. Be sure
that the bees find it, and it may be well to
sprinkle a little over them, until they get a
taste. One very pleasant feature of this
way of feeding is that you have no trouble
-with robbers, for they can do nothing with
the dry, sand-like sugar, neither can they
with the pure water. You can, if you
choose, roll your barrel of sugar right out in
the apiary, and leave it uncovered until you
get through, providing no rain or dew gets
into it. With chaff hives, just set the pan
right on the frames and turn back the mat
slightly. f
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
479
LEAVING SECTIONS ON AIAa AVINTER.
BY THE ONE WHO FIRST SUGOESTED IT.
M S I sit at the head of the cl"«iwho leave sec-
J^\ tioii 9 on all winter, and by reason of having-
' first started the investigation, I feel a lively
interest in all that has been said the past five or six
months on the subject. Having- carefully noted the
developments and sifted the evidences, I would
now gi\e you my conclusions, which are based also
upon my own experiences of top ventilation.
In the first place, a rather serious error has crept
in, which might be the means of serious losses an-
other long- cold winter: it is this: you recommend a
ventilating opening right over the cluster. This, in
my opinion, would be very dangerous, unless it
prtssed into a nearly tight receptacle above, which
would prevent a direct draft ttirough, such as well-
sealed honey-boxes or broad frame? made snug and
tight with propolis at the top-bars; any crack or
hole too large for the bees to close should be cov-
ered with strips to prevent draft. If the bees are
disturbed too late in the season to prevent their
closing up again, I would strongly urge covering the
broad frames snugly with enameled cloth, heavy
manilla paper, or any thing else air tight.
If colonies are not strong and well provisioned, we
would not put on section?, because they can not be
got at for examination so readily; but put a few
narrow cross-sticks, long enough to reach across the
10 frames, placed near enough together to insure
free passages; coverthese with enameled cloth to
prevent them gnawing, then a straw mat the full
size of second story, and chaff cushion on top.
The covering over enameled cloth will prevent the
condensation of moisture; but if there should be a
condensation, it (the condensed water; will be eag-
erly sought for by the little fellows as soon as they
begin to stir in warmer temperature. Neither clean
water nor fresh air will hurt them if not in excess;
but excess of either would be injurious. The ex-
periences of the past winter have shown that bees
can easily bear a eonfluement of .5 or (i months if
kept perfectly inactive; but as soon as incited to
brood-rearing, the trouble begins. My opinion is,
that, when not breeding, bees will consume only
honey— no pollen to any extent; then their excre-
ment will be dry and very slight; but when, by feed-
ing brood, they are compelled to eat and manipulate
pollen as well, they need to void the greater residue;
and if prevented in this by conflnement,.they be-
come diseased.
Now, to prevent unseasonable brood-rearing
would be the great end to be sought ; for, first, it
excites to flying out at too low a temperature; sec-
ond, it exhausts stores tremendously; third, it
shortens the lives of workers niateriall}'; fourth, it
is undoubtedly injurious to the (lueen to greater or
less extent; and last, it is no benefit to anybody.
Feed nocturnally during September and October
to get the hive full of young bees; at the same time
shortening the lives of the Julj^ and August brood
for the benefit of the winter supplies; then there
will be goodly numbers left in March and April.
Keep cool by gentle top ventilation, but not forget-
ting free access to all the combs by passages above
the top-bars; avoid a direct draft through the cen-
ter ; see well to it that they have plenty and to spare
of sealed stores; and if you can, shade entrances
from the sun.
If any colony persists in flying when snow is on
the ground, give a little more top ventilation; this
will stop them readily. The broad frame with sec-
tions on all winter just suits us for strong colonies:
it gives the necessary space abo\-e the frames, and
it keeps the hive too cool to rear brood; it gives a
dead-air chamber above, without a draft; the bees
will not enter the section department except in a
body; and if they should, it would be the warmest
part of the hive, from which they could again
emerge at every point.
When willows or maples begin to swell their buds,
take off the section^; supply sealed frames of hon-
ey, or trays of candy, where needed; cover down
tightly, and trust in (iod for the "increase."
Cleveland, O., Sept. 1 1, ISSl. A. C. Kendel.
Thanks, friend K. While I agree witli
yon in nearly all, 1 am not qnite satisfied
that a small opening right over the cluster
will do harm. A few days ago I met a bee-
man in an adjoining county, while waiting
for a train. lie had, if I recollect, last fall,
87 colonies. All died but one. I called to
see this one, It was an old box hive, with
holes open in the top, covered with a box set
over it loosely. More than that, it was split
from top to bottom, so it would seem the
wind might almost blow through it. Such
cases have been mentioned too often to be
accident. (See report on page 497). One
thing I fear somewhat, is that bees some-
times, after a cold spell, instead of getting
out at the entrance get into the upper story,
around the ventilators, and there perish. In
the old box hives, if the entrance was
stopped up they could go out of the hole on
top, and come back in the same way. In
our back numbers it has been already sug-
gested that the entrance is better if on top
of the hive for winter. Has this point been
sufficiently looked into V
The following came to hand after the fore-
going was put in type : —
When I wrote you two days ago, I touched lightly
upon bees eating honey in preferencs: to pollen ex-
cept when rearing brood. To-day I read with pleas-
ure Mr. James Heddon's article in the A. B. J. of
Sept. 7th, where he takes very much the same
ground. Now, while it gives me pleasure to know
that these thoughts came out almost simultaneous-
ly, and are the outgrowth of experienc3 and obser-
vation, it would appear as if this thought had been
suggested by Mr. Heddon, which is not the case. I
trust that such suggestions will result in further in-
vestigations of the thoughtful ones, and prove of
mutual benefit to us all. A. C. Kendel.
HOW TO MAKE A MACHINE FOR PIERC-
ING TOP AND BOTTOM BARS FOR
AVIRED FRAMES.
FKOCUKE as many harness awls (those having a
diamond-shaped cross-section) as you have
— ■ wires in your frame, and grind off the acute
angles so as to form a chisel or cutting point per-
haps 1-33 in. wide. Grind about /s in. up from the
point, and let the slant be nearly uniform. Now
draw the temper from the shanks so that a file will
cut them, and with a square-cornered file cut a notch
in an obtuse angle of each shank at or a little above
the largest part, cutting it nearly half off, and mak-
480
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Oct.
ing the notch wide enough to admit the uniform di-
ameter of an 8d. nail.
Take a hard-wood block 2x^i in., and 2M in. longer
than the distance between the outside wires ia your
frame, and, after making it to correspond with the
wires in your frame (center of frame at center of
block), cut a groove at each mark just right to re-
ceive half of the shank of an awl, letting the point
project square from the edge of the block about Hi
in. The obtuse angle of the shank is let into the
wood. Now take a block the same size as the
other, but 3 in. shorter, and groove it so that,
when the blocks are placed center to center and
face to face, and securely bolted or screwed to-
gether, the awls will be held quite firmly in
place. Before finally putting them together, how-
ever, drive a piece of nail into each of the
grooves in the longer block, I'^tting them project
just enough to fit the notches in the shanks, already
spoken of. Now fix the blocks firmly together with
the awls in place, and we have the " head-block."
Now take two pieces of board, T in. wide and 6 in.
long, and cut a groove iU in- wide and ?^ in. deep,
and M in. from the edge) along the shorter edge of
each. These standards are to be firmly nailed (with
grooves to the front and facing each other) to the
bottom-board, which should project 2 or 3 inches in
front of them. This bottom-board is 2 or 2V2 ft. long,
and wide enough so that, when the standards arc
nailed on, the ends of the head-block will just slip
into the grooA'CS. Before nailing the standards on,
cut a notch in the lower front corner of each, I'i in.
high, and reaching back across the groove, and bore
a iio-in. hole 5 in. from the bottom, and 51 2 in. from
the front side. The frames are to be slipped over
the bottom -board, the top-bars coming into the
notches in the standards. Set a I'/j-in. screw into
the back side of each notch; slip on a frame, and ad-
just the screws so that the awls shall be over the
center of the top-bar. Take a 2-inch gtrip, slightly
thicker than your top-bars, and fasten it to the bot-
tom-board just back of the frame when on, and fas-
ten a strip (lU in. thick) over this, and projecting
over the top-bar. The awls work through this strip,
which serves to prevent the frames from rising
when the head-block is raised. There must be a
clear space of 'a in. between strips and standards.
Take a board about 16 in. long and I'/i in. narrower
than the distance between the standards, and nail a
9i-in. strip on each edge of it, letting them project
Z% in. beyond the end of the board. Nail a narrow
strip about % in. thick across one side of this board,
6 in. from the ends of the projecting strips, for a
fulcrum, and, placing it on the bottom-board so that
the points project ?i in. under the head-block, nail a
thin strip across the bottom-board on each side of
the fulcrum, to keep it in place. Finally, take a
board about 3 feet long, and wide enough to fill the
space between the standards; bore a %-m. hole, 2 or
3 in. deep, in each edge, 10 in. from the back end;
nail a small rounded strip across the under side 5
inches in front of the holes, and work down the front
end for a handle. This lever is coupled to the stand-
ards by slipping pieces of ;'« iron rod, or bolts with
the nuts off, through the holes in the standards and
into the holes in the lever.
Now for business: Screw the bottom-board to a
work-bench so that the front end projects from the
edge. Slip on a frame with the left hand, and de-
press the lever smartly with the right, thus sending
the awls right through the top-bar, and raising the
back end of the lower lever. The levers being wide
and stiff, raise and lower the ends of the head-block
alike. Knots in top and bottom bars should be
avoided. The machine should be adjusted by blocks
or screw-heads so that the frames slip on just right,
and the awls descend just far enough. If preferred,
the holes maybe punched before the frames are put
together.
My machine cost only 35 cents, and about two
hours' work one morning; and before noon it saved
me two or three days' work over the old way. At
first I did not notch the awls, depending on the grip
of the blocks to hold them; but the first time the
head-block was raised, two or three awls stuck fast
in the top-bar. 1 then notched them, as I have di-
rected, and have punched about 1.500 frames without
any trouble. F. B. Chapman.
Scipioville, N. Y., Sept. U. 1881.
Your ability to devise ways and means for
nialiing tools cheaply is considerable, friend
C; but I fear most of our friends Avill find
it a pretty good day's work to make such a
machine, even if the materials do not cost
more than you say. We first pierced our
bars with a similar machine, to be worked
by foot power, but we broke so many awls
we afterward made a gang of drills to do the
work. We did not draw the temper, as you
suggest, and I think likely this would make
quite a difference. With the gang of drills
we can pierce several bars at once, and hard
or knotty places make no difference.
^^ igi ^
RASPBERRIES FOR BEES.
f MAILED you this morning a few clusters of
blossoms from a seedling raspberry that we
— ■ have. For bee-keepers it far surpasses the
Cuthbert, as it gives two crops each year. If very
dry, the last crop is not very large, but is of excel-
lent flavor, and, no matter how dry, the bushes are
loaded twice each year with clusters of blossoms
that will keep the bees busy. We are now in the
most protracted drought we ever experienced, yet
our bees are working away on them as merrily as
though it were June. You will see by clusters sent
you how bushes are loaded, and I did not pick out
the largest by any means, but took them just as
they came. The berry will not average quite as
large as the Cuthbert; drops from the bunch easier,
and is so soft as to be unfit for a market berry, but
for home use can not be surpassed, with us at least;
and as you get two crops per year, I think it will
pay better, especially for those who want them for
pasturage for bees, than any other berry we know
of. We have not the time nor inclination to intro-
duce the berry and make money out of it, so I will
make this offer: If you or any of your subscribers
want any of the plants to try, I will send you some
at but little above what it will cost for postage, moss,
and oiled paper. Postage on a good strong plant
will not vary much from 15 jC. Now, do you think it
will be too much to ask 2c each by mail, postpaid, or
100 by express for $1.00? If you do, I will try to fur-
nish for a little less. F. L. Wright.
Plainfield, Mich.
The samples sent seem very full of blos-
soms, and fruit in different stages ; and it
would almost seem as if it were June to
look at them. I have often heard of ever-
bearing raspberries, but had the impression
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
481
that they were never much of a success
practically. I know there are wild raspber-
ries in Michigan that hear crops in the fall,
for I have seen them ; but I do not feel so
sure the same plants would b^ar two crops
further south. IIow is it, >e small-fruit
men V 1 should think your price Avas cer-
tainly low enough, friend ^V.
grape; sugar for avinter food.
FRIEKD M'^COnD'S EXPERIENCE.
f PROMISED last fall to ffive you the result iu the
spring of my experimonts la feediDg grape and
— ' eane sugar mixed, for winter. I intended to
report in the spring, but perhaps it is better that I
have delayed it until now, as it has allowed me time
to cool down a little. Now is the time to think
about feeding for winter, and finding the losses so
so heavy everywhere and under almost all circvim-
stances, I scarcely knew what to say, but I suppose
nearly all bee-keepers, like myself, except beginners,
have their own way in all their manipulations, and
think it the best. I have my own way, which ap-
pears to suit my limited ideas; my own kinds of
feeders for fall and spring, which I prefer to any
others, and they cost me nothing. My own queen-
shipping cages, which I am content to use exclus-
ively; my own method of hiving without cutting
limbs off, and my own wnj- of wintering, with the
very best results. I use none but the L. hive, Root
chaff hive, and the Langstroth and McCord Twin
chaff hive, and standard size L. frames, and never
lost a colony until last winter, and then I lost 35, out
of t)0, and it was the first time I everfedgrnpe sugar
in the fall. I fed the following mixture to every
hive I lost, except two, and one of them, the strong-
est colony I had, starved, and the other one I at-
tempted to winter with the second story on; but
after consuming all in it they starved and froze in
attempting to reach the stores below, which were
abundant; but the weather being extremely cold,
and so much space upward, the heat rose to the top
as fast as generated, and they all died, clustered to-
gether almost within reach of plenty.
But, to the feed: I took 4 lbs. white coffee sugar
and 1 quart water, 4 lbs. of grape sugar, and one
pint water, mixed and heated both separatelj', to a
syrup, then mixed in the proportion of two quarts
grape to one quart cane syrup, and fed in my pans
as usual. 1 believe it would do very well, if the bees
could fly every week or two at furthest; but such
winters wo do not often have, and therefore I am
satisfied that any mixture containing grape sugar
in anj' proportion is very unsafe for winter feeding.
There is so much starch body in the grape sugar
that must be discharged often as fcX?ces, while a
much larger proportion of cane sugar will evapo-
rate through the body of the bee, as insensible per-
spiration, which enables the bee to retain its fn?ces
through a long hard winter, without having what
some call dysentery. Last winter put grape sugar
to a very severe test; it hardened in the cells, and I
lost every colony that I fed it to, and most of them
left their hives and combs in a fearfully filthy con-
dition; but by scraping and washing, I restored
them to a pretty good condition. I believe, had I
not feed any grape sugar, some of the weakest col-
onies would have gone under (but not so many), for
some were mt strong enough in the fall to survive
such a winter as lust. 1 saved one queen and small
remnant of her colony, that were literally plastered
and daubed all over and stuck fast, by dumping
or scraping them into a pan of warm water, and
stirring them with a stick until washed clean, then
drying them on a board by the stove, and returning
them to a warm clean hive and fresh clean combs.
Oxford, O. Sept , 1881. D. A. McCORD.
^ » ^
CAPABILrriES OF BEES.
ip[gSsEFORE entering upon this subject, I wish to
f^4j ^^y t^^*- what a colony of bees are capable of
doing under favorable conditions is no cri-
terion of what we may expect many colonies to av-
erage. It is not a large yield of surplus honey from
one or two or three colonies that constitutes a sea-
son's success, but a good arcrafjc yield from the
whole apiary. From 1871 to 1875 inclusive, we had
good seasons for surplus-honey gathering. Bass-
wood yielded bountifully evcrji (/ear, and while our
average yield was large, I will detail a few excep-
tional cases, exemplifying the wonderful "capabili-
ties of bees " under conditions, all of which we hard-
ly understand.
During the basswood flow in July, 1873, 1 hived an
ordinary prime swarm on to 10 Langstroth combs.
Five or six days after being hived, I extracted the
l)rood-chamber clean, and took out about .50 lbs. of
honey. At precisely the same time the next day, I
emptied it clean again and got 30 lbs. of a fair quali-
ty of unripe honey.
When Mr. Hosmer, of Minnesota, reported 53 lbs.
in one day, I had reason to believe it; but when one
of our gushing bee-keepers came right out after-
ward with 60 lbs., I th ought it looked slightly "fishy."
I have extracted 13 lbs. per day fiom buckwheat
alone. I had one colony of black bees in 1873 that
gave me 410 lbs. surplus honey, 48 of which was
comb, all the rest extracted, of good quality. Dur-
ing 1871 I had one colony of bees give me 100 lbs. of
surphH comb, and come outside and build comb
and fill it with honey under the bottom-board,wblch
stood high from the ground.
In the spring of 1873 or '74 I bought 3 colonies of a
neighbor, in 9-frame L. hives, for $30.00, and I sold
the surplus that they gathered within a space of two
weeks (during basswood bloom) for $130.(0. It Is
just to say that the honey was all extracted, and bot-
tled and sold at fancy prices -some of it averaging
as high as 33c per lb. All the colonies referred to
were black, and none were aided by others.
But, a few big hills don't make a world, nor do
these unaccountable yields of a few exceptional
colonies make a fortune for their owner. They
make food for thought and study. Other stocks,
standing by their side, gave little or no surplus.
Still others, full of bees, and in every way equal to
the first-named, as far as the master could deter-
mine, gave only one-fourth or one-half the surplus.
Those differences, during the same flow, can be ac-
counted for only by constitutional differences in the
make-up of the individuals of the colony. Whether
we can see these differences or not, we can plainly see
and realize the results; and all we have to do is to en-
courage it, by breeding from those stocks that pos-
sess it. I may say that I hnow that such a course
proves satisfactory. Remember, these results were
all given us by a raceof bees entirely neglected by the
hand of science. That the black bee possesses many
valuable points of superiority over any other race,
482
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Oct,
it is folly to deny. If any one hive possessed all the
merits, all would have adopted it long ago; if either
the black or yellow race of bees had been in rrrry
icfl)/ superior to the other, there never won ld_ have
been long- and earnest contro^•ersies regarding
which is the bettor one to adopt. When two things
each possess a complicated mi.vture of the good and
bad, then it is that extended experience is needed to
wisely say which, all things considered, is the better
of the two.
But there is scarcel,\- a vegetable or animal now
under the control of man, that he has been satisfied
to use in the form or possession of qualities as he
adopted it. " Better and better " has been the cry,
and better and better have we made it.
Let the history of nil the improvements of the past
be repeated in the future by the progressive bee-
keepers of America till ".4/)i".s.lnH'ri(anrt" shall be
eagerly sought for by all the bee-keeping world as
the hcst. James Heddon.
Dowagiac, Mich., Sej^t. 15, issi.
A FEW ITEMLS.
QUEENS WHOSi: DAUGHTERS ALL PllODUCE THRIiE-
B \NDED BEES.
^v^N page 424 of September Cleanings, W. z.
™Jv) Hutchinson asks Doolittle a question about
those queens whose brood will produce queens
that will produce all three-banded workers, whether
said queens mate with black or Italian drones. As
a reply, I would refer friend H. to page 133 of vol. 3
of (iLE.\NiNfis, where I write of a queen 1 had of A.
I. Root: "1 have raised CO queens the past season,
and each one is a duplicate of its mother, and not
one of them produces a black bee, with thousands
of black and hybrid drones around." Again, on page
50, vol. 3, Gleanings, I wrote: "The first Italian
queen I ever saw was introduced some time in July,
and did not raise a drone that season; neither was
there an Italian drone within 13 miles of her; yet
none of her daughters ever produced a black bee.
There were hundreds of queens raised from her
during 3 years, yet none of them ever produced a
black bee." Also, if I am correct, Mr. Langstroth
and E. Gallup both had (jueens known to have mated
lilaek drones, which never produced any thing but
three-banded bees. Now, friend H., these are facts;
but how it is, I do not know. I claim the Italian bee
is only a "thoroughbred," and not a fixed race of
bees. It is said that a cross of the black bee with
the Egyptian, will, in three generations, produce a
bee which no man can tell from the best Italian. If
this is so, it is probably the starting point of our
Italians; but why such breeding can so thoroughly
tix the bands, that a queen mating with a common
drone will not show such mating in her woi-king
progeny, is more than I can tell, but know such to
be a fact.
A friend receiving a queen from mo which chanced
to have a few 4-banded workers sent with her,
claimed, after reading friend H."s article, that if all
the bees produced by said (lueen were not 4-banded,
she must have mated a hybrid or a black drone, and
really talked damagcx if she did not do it. Now,
this argument will not hold good; for some of those
queens reared from the first Italian (jueen I ever
saw, produced 4-banded bees, and certainly these
(jueens must have mated black drones. The matter
of /jr(/)(7.s is not so great as the honcji-producinti
qualities of bees; and if our breeders would pay
more attention to this, the worltl would be better for
it.
liUOGD HV CHRISTMAS.
On puge 428, September Gleanings, J see our
lengthy friend tells us that, on the tirst of .January,
he took 8 colonies from different parts of the cellar,
and that every one of the 8 had "two and three frames
of sealed brood, and young bees hatching." I turn
back to page 14 of vol. 5, of Gleanings, and there I
tind that A. I. Hoot did not believe that bees com-
menced to rear broo<l as early as Christmas, al-
though Mr.Quinby told us they did,and Doolittle.af ter
several experiments, proved Quinby correct, and so
wrote. Now, here comes a man who writes his first
article for publication, and in it tells us of brood-
rearing commencing at least two weeks earlier
than Christinas, and A. I. Root passes it without
comment. This man also says, that the greater part
of that written by our old writers "does not amount
to the paper it is written on," as regards wintering
bees, and still NoAice makes no comments on that,
unless it is to saj-, " May the Lord bless you." I
think, when a man casts a shadow on such men as L.
L. Langstroth, L. C. Root, Prof. Cook, and hosts of
others, and says that what they write is "bosh and
trash," it would be well to chide him a little, even if
he tliirr^ come from the ABC class.
taking sections KltOM ItEES.
On page 438, September Gleanings, I lind these
words: "How do you get your sections of h(jney
without ha\ ing the cappings gnawed by bees tilling
themselvesV" and the editor says he don't know,
" unless you oiien the hive very quickly and scram-
ble for the HUed section 3 before the bees get the cells
open." This gnawing of the capping in the fall of
theyear, orat any tim'j when there is a scarcity of
honey, when taking off comb honey, used to be a
great annoyance to me, and " scramble " as lively as
I could, if there was much on the hive, the bees
would always make the combs look bad by punctur-
ing the cappings to fill themsohes with honey. Of
late, however, I have taken off the board that closes
up the outside sections, and blown smoke in the
holes which the bees always leave in the corners of
the sections for a passage way for themselves. Blow
in considerable smoke, and as sooq as the bees have
mostly run off the tirst sections, remove them, and
you will find that scarcely a bee remained on the
second tier; blow in more smoke at the top holes of
these also, and then take them. Then serve the
next the same, and so on till all are olf, and you will
find that the bees will run down before filling them-
selves at all. As the smoke comes from above and
through their passage ways, their first instinct is to
scamper below, and down they go, leaving the hone.\-
clear. But you must be sprj', for if you linger till
they come back, they will then fill themselves in
spite of your smoke. With hybrid or black bees, 1
have taken off 30 to 40 lbs. with scarcely a bee on
the sections, in this way; but the Italians don't drive
as well, neither will they gnaw the combs as bad.
However, the Italians can be mostly driven in the
same way. G. M. Doolittli;.
Borodino, N. V., Sept. 19, 1881.
I am well aware that we often have queens
whose daughters produce no black bees, but
1 do not know that I ever owned one whose
daughters produced no two-banded or hy-
1881
GLEAKINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
483
bricl bees, though I have often thought of
the cases friend D. mentions. What a prize
such a queen would be foL- the dollar-queen
business ! Why, we could sell every queen
for tested, without even trying them ; for if
the workers are all three-banded, we all rest
satisfied. Xo wonder friend Hutchinson
asks hoAv, then, shall we know which are
pure y I might say, rely on imjiorted stock ;
but quite a number of the brothers declare
the bees in Italy have a taint of black blood;
and if this is the case, we shall have to give
it up, sure. So far as I am concerned, I
should not care for the yellow bands at all,
if the bees w'ere gentle and good honey-
gatherers. T want them yellow-banded
when I buy them to sell, because our custo-
mers would hardly be pleased with tliem
otherwise, and I do not knoAV but the yellow
bands are the best test we have, as yet, of
purity.
Aren't you a little hasty in your criticisms,
friend D.V I confess I felt somewhat as-
tonished to hear I had ever said I did not
believe bees commenced to rear brood be-
fore Christmas. Ifere is all I find on page
14, vol. ■-) :—
Doolittle thinks a good colony will commence rear-
ing brood by Christmas, but Hill puts it at Febru-
ary. We are inclined to agree with the latter, al-
though winters like last, they may rear brood near-
ly all winter.
I did not comment on the statement of our
new friend, because 1 did not think it
strange or wonderful. In my greenhouse
experiments I proved clearly that bees could
be made to rear brood during any month in
the year. "With the new Iloly-Jiands and
Cyprians, the problem seems to be to pre-
vent them rearing brood, even one iccfhin
the year. Neither did I understand our
young friend to mean to cast any reflec-
tions on our old standard writers. I thought
he would probably get some of his youthful
eiithusiasm toned-down a little, and hence
the chiding of my closing sentence.
ladk^' §^jiarfinmi'
F^^^OU know I told yoii I was a novice — just be-
W gan with one swarm, and am 06 years old;
— ' rather old for a beginner. Well, I have to-
day five hives full of bees; three natural swarms.
1 feel rather proud of my success, and ceru thankful.
My bees would not work in the sections, but filled
the frames full below. Some of the new foundation
was filled with pure honcj'. so heavy I had to use
both hands to handle it.
Will bees fill sections just as well if placed below?
I find it hard work, and very troublesome, to lift off
the sections above, and the bees pour over so, and
get so mad. Mrs. James Morrow.
Vermillion, D. T., Aug. 23, 1881.
If your bees prefer to work in the lower
story, and you prefer to get the honey out of
the lower story, by all means use side-storing
boxes, my friend. When you speak of the
bees pouring over so, it makes me think you
have been trying to work without a smoker,
or that you tried to take away honey when
they were gathering none. When honey is
being gathered I use ho smoker, and they
don't pour out either. JNIay be you have got
hybrids withal.
I will give you a few notes on my success as a bee-
keeper. I went into wintcr-fjuarters with two stnmg
colonics of Italians in Langstroth hives. Kept them
in the cellar about six weeks, or until the middle of
December, then put them on their summer stands,
and they came out all right in the spring. I have
increased to 10 colonies, and have taken about 350
lbs. of as nice honey as yovi oversaw; will extract
again next week. The cleume, or Rocky-Moimtain
plant, is still yielding a good supply of honey.
There are acres and acres of it in this county. Will
you t.ike mo into your ABC class?
Mrs. A. L. Pkabouv.
Denver, Col., Sept.C, 1881.
Most gladly, my friend ; and as our
Ladies' iJepartment does not seem very full
of late, we are especially glad to give you a
hearty welcome. We are very glad to hear
from "our old friend, the Rocky-Mountain
bee-plant, in its native soil. I should think
it a rare treat to see acres of it. It must be
a beautiful siglit, judging from our Spider-
plant field.
COLORADO.
You may have heard from this section of Colora-
do, although I think not, as no one in the valley has
bees.
The altitude here is 7500 feet above sea level.
There is bloom hero for feed from six to seven
months in the year. Ked clover grows here wild.
Catnip, peas, and buckwheat, can be cultivated here,
and the Kocky-Mountain bcc-plant grows, acres and
acres of it, wilil. Some wild buckwheat grows here
late in the fall, that is so sweet you can smell honey
from it. Th(?re is a great amount of wild strawber-
ries grow here. Mustard and artichokes and sun-
flowers will grow here wild: forget-me-nots are
plenty in early summer, and all summer long there
are lots of wild flowers, mtistly j'cllow and white.
We live four miles from the mountains, on a large
brook; there are no trees down here, but they
can be planted with success; that is, any kind that
are adapted to the climate.
We have nice gardens here, and are commencing
to raise small fruit; and next year will try early
(^orn for green corn. We farm a whole section, and
so you can judge wo need nothing for exercise or
employment, unless it pays liack pretty well for
every hour of care.
We have received, and been reading your ABC
book, and feel very much interested, and think of
trying two or three colonies by way of experiment-
ing.
Please tell us if you think all things favorable.
Do you think it a favorable business for women,
and are they usually as successful as men? Please
answer this particularly, and how small a capital
can any one possibly start on.
Mrs. Frank S. Koff.
Rosita, Custer Co., Col., Sept. 13, 1881.
I can not see any thin^ lacking, from your
description, my friend, out, on the contrary,
the picture vou draw makes-one feel as if he
would really like to live there, even if you
are a trifle "away up high." Let us hear
from you further after you get started. Our
484
GLEAi^INGS IN J3EE CULTURE.
Oct.
back Nos. and vols, will answer about the
business being adapted for women, and your
capital may be anywhere from one hive of
bees up; better small, perhaps, than other-
wise. __^_
' AM a little girl 13 years old. My pa keeps bees;
we went into winter-quarters last fall with 9
stands of bees. We came out this spring with
7—3 weak ones and 5 strong, and the 3 weak ones
died. The 5 strong ones swarmed 15 times. My pa
gave me a swarm last summer, and he bought a yel-
low queen from you and put it in with my black
bees, and she stayed in only W2 days, and she led otf
with a swarm of bees, and I have two stands of bees
now. We use the Simplic-ity hive. Our neighbor,
Mr. John Farren, had 16 stands of bees last fall, and
came out this spring with 4 stands.
My pa takes Gleanings; we could not do without
it. He gets some very good ideas out of it. I like
to read It. Pa has one of your smokers. I attend
Sunday-school. Julia Bannon.
Well, that is a first-rate letter, Julia ; but
we have puzzled our brains in vain to tell
where to send the book, for you see you
haven't told where you live, at all. The
postmark on the envelope has a little resem-
blance to Pennsylvania, and the girls were
going into a long hunt to lind you, until I
stopped them. Now, when you see this, you
will take a postal card, won't you, and tell
us real plainly what town, county, and
State, you live in V I am glad the yellow
queen did not go off— aren't you V Are her
bees yellow now too V
In 1879, my pa bought one colony of bees in the
old-fashioned box hive; they swarmed three times,
and pa, not knowing any better, smoked two of
them with sulphiu-, and took out the honey and bur-
ied the bees. Pa put the other two in the corn-crib,
and wintered them all right. We stayed home all
the next summer, and watchedthera, andthey never
swarmed, and we were quite provoked; so pa said
there must be some different way of managing bees
than that. In the fall he bought 13 more colonies at
$1.00 each, then making 14 in all ; he transferred two
of them, and put them into hives 19 inches long, 15
inches deep, and 13^4 inches wide. We put them in
a good warm stable on the north side of the barn.
About the first of January, pa found three of them
that needed feeding. We brought them in the house,
and found one of them dead; the other two being
weak, he thought he would put them in the cellar to
keep them warmer; but the cellar being too damp,
the comb molded and the bees died. About the first
of April we put them out on a plank, all close to-
gether. In a few days there was a heavy snow-
storm, and when it began to get warmer the bees
flew out and fell on the snow and died; so pa scat-
tered straw on the snow for about ten feet out in
front of the hives, and stopped the holes up with
straw, so that the bees could not get out; but he
gave them plenty of air. Last year pa gave a neigh-
bor one dollar if he Avould show him how to transfer
them. This spring, about the first of May, wc trans-
ferred the 11 that were left, and then bee-keeping
began in earnest. The next day after transferring,
pa bought two more colonies. By taking from the
strong ones, and adding to the weak ones, by the
middle of May they were all quite strong. By keep-
ing the queen at work, he got them so strong that he
had to buy 13 Italian queens, and divide them up.
We have now one Holy-Land, 3 Cyprians, 17 Italians,
4 hybrids, and 31 blacks. Pa's share of the bees is
ten-thirteenths; my brother Clarence's share is one-
thirteenth, and my share is two-thirteenths. Pa
makes all of his own hives, and my 9-year-old brother
and 1 make the racks and paint the hives. We ex-
pect to get 1300 lbs. of honey this year. We have got
1300 lbs. up to date. I have two brothers and two
sisters; one brother is two weeks old, and the other
one is nine years old; my youngest sister has bine
eyes. I would like a picture of your Blue Eyes, and
give you a picture of my Blue Eyes. I live in a
country place, and I am 11 years old, and go to Sun-
day-school and day school. I read in the fourth
book, and study arithmetic, geography, grammar,
and algebra. Pa has been taking Gle.^nings and
the A. B. J. for about ;5 months, and we like them
very well. My brother and I are going to Toronto
next week with pa, to attend the fair and bee-keep-
ers' convention. H. Fr.^ncis Cook.
Atherton, Norfolk Co., Ont., Sept. C, 1881.
Well, I declare, friend Francis, I shall
have a pretty good opinion of you Canadians
after a while. You know our boy John is
from Canada, and here you are, only 11,
owning a share in an apiary, going to fairs
and bee conventions, and writing good long
letters to a bee journal. Now, while I think
of it, I want to put in a plea for the juveniles
at our conventions. If any are present they
are to be allowed to speak, in place of some
of the men who make such long speeches.
I am a little afraid you have not been tak-
ing just the right course in wintering; but
with the bees you have now on hand, you
will likely find out what is best in the mat-
ter. The pictures of Blue Eyes are all gone ;
won't the one in the A B C do V I should be
very glad to see the picture of your " Blue
Eyes.''
My father has kept bees 17 years. The first swarm
he had he found in a hollow tree on the bank of the
river; he sawed the tree otl on both sides of the nest,
and put a pole into the hole of the log, and tied a
rope to each end of it, and hung it on the back of
the wagon, then hauled it home. He left them in
the log a short time, and then drove them into a
hive. He has now about 300 swarms from that one.
In swarming time I watch to see where they alight.
This summer 1 got 10 cents for every swarm I saw,
and earned a gold breastpin, and still have some
money left. My father don't use tobacco in any
form, nor whisky either. Eva Amery.
St. Croix Falls, Polk Co., Wis., Sept. 3, 1881.
Well done for you, friend Eva. So you
have bought every thing you need — at least
I suppose so, and have money left. I had
made up my mind that your father was a
good man, before you told that last line, and
now it seems to me you can thank God for
having given you so good a father. Pretty
well done, for the bees that came out of that
one old tree.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
485
I am a girl six years old. I go to school every day,
and I have a different lesson every class. I have no
brothers nor sisters. All the other little girls were
printing letters, so I thought I would print one too.
I often write letters to my grandma. My pa takes
Gleanings, and I like to hear about friend M. and
his neighbors. My pa got a queen two or three
weeks ago, and the bees killed it. I am not afraid
of bees, for I have one hive of my own. I was a long
time printing this. I go to Sunday-school. My
grandfather at Mt. Carroll, 111., has one hundred
stands of bees. Ada Bekyl Darrah.
Chenoa, McLean Co., 111., Sept. 10, 1881.
Well, I don't wonder you were a long time
printing your letter, my '-little friend,"' for
it is done very nicely indeed for a little girl
only six years old. ^\'hat do you think of
Mr. ]SIerrybanks this month V Don't you
think you would have laughed too, if you
had been there when he tipped over back-
ward on the buggy seat V
I am a girl nine years old, and like to read your
Gleanings ever so much. Mother has not any bees
now; she thought thej' were dead, and brought
them into the sitting-room, and fixed a feeder on
top, and in the night she heard an awful buzzing;
they were swarming, out in the sitting-room, and
she shut the bedroom door, for she thought they
would swarm us out too. They got out of a little
hole in the feeder. Mother says she wants to get
some more. She promised me a swarm, and her
bees died, and she did not have any to give mo.
, Addie E. Osborn.
Brlmfleld, Ind., May IT, 1881.
Well, now, that was sad, was it not, Ad-
die y Tell your motlier, when she under-
takes to fasten bees iii or out of a hive, she
will have to look sharp. A good many of us
have '' come to grief '" when we thought a bee
could not get out nor in. I hope both you
and your mother will have better success
next time.
This Is the first letter I have ever written, though
T am thirteen years old. I have three sisters and
one brother. Father has kept bees for thirteen
years, and the most that he ever owned at a time
was IT colonies. Last fall he had 5, but lost 2 last
winter. Sometimes they sting him, but he don't
mind that much, for he likes bees, and calls them
"little pets." Sometimes they swarm when he is
not at home; then we have to hive them. One time,
when father and mother had gone to town, they
came out, and we children had to hive them; and
when pa came home they came out and went back
into the old hive. This is the fourth year that father
has taken Gleanings. Florence G. Peck.
Jackson, Mich., May 20, 1881.
Very good, Florence. So your father has
kept bees just as many years as you are old.
You must not be discouraged, even if the
bees "you children'' hived did not stay;
they often "don't stay,'' even for old hands
at the business.
I am a boy 14 years old. I have 8 hives of bees ;
they are all in box hives; I had a good many young
swarms get away from me this year. I live at an
old steamboat landing called Newport, on the Trini-
ty River; the nearest town is Riverside, on the I. &
G. N. R. R., which is my postoffice. This is a good
country for honey. I have never known bees to fail
to make plenty. Mj- bees are all common. I have
taken as much as 35 lbs. of comb honey at one time
out of a single hive. The bees get a good deal of
honey from the willow-trees on the banks of the
river. I want to get me some good hives for my
bees next year. I wish you would please tell me the
best hive for comb honej'. I take Gleanings, and I
like to read it very much. I have four brothers and
one sister. I am the youngest boy. My father is
dead; he died when I was 1 years old. I like bees
very much. Bees always winter well here. Last
winter was the worst I ever saw. I never lost a
hive. I don't put my bees In any house. I just
leave them out in the yard. Jeff. D. Werner.
Riverside, Walker Co., Tex., Sept. U, 1881.
Pretty good, friend Jeff. Since you speak
of it, it seems to me I would like very well
to live where bees would (dicays winter. I
really do not know that I can tell you what
hive is best for comb honey, but I rather
think the chaff hive has given as many good
reports as any, in the hands of all kinds of
people. The orders for them now are larger
than they have ever been before. 1 rather
think we shall ■' just leave " our bees '• out in
the yard " too, this winter.
LETTER FROM A SIX-YEAR-OLD LITTLE GIRL.
SEND ME A TOY PIANO. I HAVE A SWARM
OF BEES. THEY MADE ONE BOX OF HONEY,
AND HAVE NEARLY MADE ANOTHER. I AM
SIX YEARS OLD. MY NAME IS
EMILY M03ELY.
Mr. Root:— My little girl has written to you to
send her a toy piano. She has never been taught to
write or to read. I taught her her A B C's, and she
has taught herself to read In easy lessons; and when
she wishes to write she prints. E. J. Moselv.
Oyster Creek, Texas, August 9, 1881.
AVell, now, Emily, that is first rate. The
letter is plain, and to the point ; and the
way in which you tell a great deal in a very
few words, would make a good lesson for a
great many of us who are five or ten times
as old as you are. I guess you must have a
pretty good father or mother— may be both.
Have I guessed rightly?
I am a little boy 10 years old, and go to school. I
have got one hive of bees. My stepfather, G. Phil-
lips, has 3 colonies. He told mo if I wanted to save
all of my pennies I could buy me a hive of bees, so I
went and picked strawberries, and got money, and
sent to Dan White, of New London, Ohio, for a nu-
cleus. The bees did not come, so I got discouraged;
told my stepfather my money was lost; he said no,
and told me that I could have one of his, and he
would take my chances. The money came back all
right, and I own the best colony of hybrid bees in
this town. They sting hard, though. I would rath-
er it would be you to handle them than me. My
stepfather takes charge of them for me. I shall
soon learn, I hope. He takes Gleanings, which he
is very fond of. Ma calls him her bee-man, he is so
fond of bees. I send j-ou some fire weed seed, buds,
and leaves, mentioned in some back number of
Gleanings. There is one acre or mOre growing
near our house. It is roaring with bees from morn-
48G
GLEANINGS IN BEE CUJ.TUEE.
(3ct.
ing till nig-ht, and the seeds are tiyiug like a swarm
of bees past our door as I write this letter. The
honey is nice, but not as good as basswood. The for-
est is full of basswood here, and a good place for
bees; only 5 colonies near here for several miles
that we know of. Joseph Monica.
Romeo, Marathon Co., Wis., Aug. 38, 1881.
Well done, friend Joseph. It speaks well
for you that you are on such good terms
with your stepfather ; and if you can handle
those hybrids, you will probably have no
trouble when you get to the pure Italians. I
am glad, also, to see one of your age so ob-
servant. Make the most of that field of fire-
weed, and don't be hasty in condemning
those to whom you send orders. AVe could
liave told you that you money was perfectly
safe with our old friend Dan White.
MRS. LUCINDA HAKKISON TO THE .IDVENILES.
I've just finished reading the Juvenile Depart-
ment, and am pleased that so many boys and girls
are interested in bees. I had so much talking to do
in August, that I coul<l not write to you for the Sep-
tember Gleanings. I was in Vermont, visiting a
brother whf) had been a missionary in Turkey for 37
years, and who came back to this country on ac-
count of poor health. As he was not a bee-keeper,
he did not know much about the bees there, and re-
marked that the honey they bought in Turkey was
not as white and nice as that seen in America. Do
you not think the Turkish bees are as neat as ours?
They are striped, and arc probably Italians; but
then they have such funny houses to live in, that I
suppose that has something to do with their honey
not being any whiter.
If you would ride up to some of thet^e Turkish vil-
lages, you would think it was a field of potato pits;
but if you entered one of these houses that are con-
structed underground, you would find a great large
place that had been built many hundred years, and
a queer family living there, consisting of donkeys,
cattle, sheep, and fowls, and I almost forgot to say,
men, women, and children. They build under
ground to keep warm, us there is little wood in that
country. There is plenty of coal, but none of the
mines have ever been worked, for the government
does not mind its own business, but meddles and
prevents people from working, just as it did when
the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilding.
The people must have a fire to cook, so in warm
weather they take the manure that the cattle have
made, and the women roll up their loose trowsers,
and work it up with their feet, and make it into
cakes, drying them in the sun. They fence off one
corner lu their underground houses with a light
railing for the people, and sink a big jar down in
the floor, to burn these cakes in. At night in win-
ter, when the fire is burned down low, they cover
up the top, and lie with their feet on it to keep
warm; and when the fire is out, they let their legs
hang down in the warm jar.
The bee-hives are made out of manure, by work-
ing it up and forming cylinders, which are dried in
the sun, and have a few cross-sticks in them. They
have to be kept out of the rain, for if they get wet,
the poor bees would be in a sad plight. Do you
wonder, now, why the honey is not as nice as ours?
Mrs. L. Harrison.
Peoria, 111., Sept. 9, 1881.
m
..g
99
This department is to be kept for the benefit of those who are
dissatistted ; and when anything is amiss, 1 hope you will " talk
right out. " As a rule, we will omit names ana addresses, to
avoid being too personal.
M S for me renewing my subscription, I don't
J(^\ think I will, my time having expired. While
' I have been reading Gleanings it struck me
a good many times that you wrote one thing and
practiced another, especially in one case; that in re-
gard to my boys. They wrote to you for advice as
to what they would reqviire. They had saved their
spending money, and had taken a notion to bees.
They wrote they had never kept bees. Then was
the time you should have dropped a postal, saying
they would be risky property, unless in the hands of
an expert. I tried as you wrote, to give them some
brood; all had box hives. One man in Philadelphia
I saw, said he would not open his hives to take a
frame of brood out for $10.00 at that time of year,
as it would be almost sure death to them.
I got a pipe and tobacco last week; first time I ev-
er smoked a pipe in my life. I declare if it did not
make me sick a good deal more than bees. The boys
had a good hearty laugh. I said it was the first time,
and would be last. Willie says, " Now, father, for a
smoker from Hoot; it will be all we shall ever get
from him." I said no. I did not think I was entitled
to one, as I was not an old smoker. I was afraid a
number might tell stories to get smokers from you,
and would not return money if they began agaip;
but certainly it must have done a deal of good to
break so many from the evil habit, which I think
leads to a desire for strong drink in many cases. I
hope that what my boys saw of me smoking may be
a lesson to them as long as they live, sulficient to re-
pay both me and them without getting a free smo-
ker. John Earnshaw.
Germantown, Pa., Aug. 16, 1881.
Now I must really protest, friend E.,
against some of your strictures. Is it not a
little unkind and uncharitable to intimate
that I necessarily had a selfish motive In
view, because I did not discourage the boys
from going into bee culture? If your boys
went to the store to buy matches, would it
be the duty of the clerk to discourage the
purchase, because matches are often danger-
ous things in the hands of boys? Do all
boys turn out badly with bees? See the Ju-
venile Department, and other letters in this
and other numbers. Have we not every
month a "Blasted Hopes" department, on
purpose to have every one fairly warned of
the risks of bee culture? I do not think I
either discouraged or encouraged ; for with
my busy cares, I can only treat your boys as
I do all others, in a general way. About all
I can do Is to hand new comers the sample
copy and price list,. and leave them to draw
their own deductions. — I can not say I very
much admire your plan of enforcing good
morals on your boys, by object lessons, when
it goes into tobacco, as you did. Notwith-
standing, I am glad you sent me the money
for a smoker, and did not claim one for
breaking off. We are good friends, any
way, are we not, friend E.V
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
487
FRIEND HUNT'S ADAMS' HORSE-PO^V-
ER.
(SEE MENTIOX OF IT ON PAGE 405.1
f RECEIVED your postal, asking- for a description
of my Adams' horse-power. Now, had you ask-
— ' cd me for a description of the new minister, or
of my wife's last new bonnet, I think I could give it
you ; but that horse-power is a " sticker." Any per-
son wishing to make one had better get a cut of it.
It would help more than any thing I can write.
However, I will give the few changes I have made in
it— I think for the better.
Instead of a rope, I use a chain made of 'i-inch
iron. I also place my pulleys, that give the chain a
half-turn, side by side instead of one above the oth-
er, as I could not make them work that way. The
rim is worked out 6 inches wide; that is, the upper
and lower pieces; the center -piece is i'i in. wide,
which you see leaves a groove for chain !'/» in. deep.
The upper and lower pieces are, or should be, l\i in.
thick, and centei -piece \. The rim should be bolt-
it may stand out doors all the time, your
saws and machinery being securely housed,
of course.
SUCCESS NOT ALWAYS IN THE NUITIBER
OF COLONIES, ETC.
^lOME articles in Gleanings from my frieud
^> Mellen, of Amboy {an the Inlet), are noticeable
' on account of the manner they portray the
inherent modesty of the man. If friend Mellen
should tell the readers of Gleanings just what he
has done with bees in the last twenty years, un-
doubtedly nine out of every ten would class him
with the author of " Blessed Bees." Keeping, as he
does, only a few colonies, 25 or 30, he entirely throws
some of us would-be large producers into the shade.
With my 100 colonies this year, and 150 last, I would
dislike to show receipts with him, for I am confident
he could show more dollars Ironi 23 or 23 colonies
than I with uiy 100 or 150. Perhaps, friend Root, you
could persuade him to give us a partial review of
THE ADAMS HORSE-POWEK APPLIED TO BEE-HIVE MAKING.
ed and naiied very securely. On the end of the guys
that support the rim, put about a foot of chain, so as
to raise or lower to suit. Make the wheel not less
than 15 ft. in diameter; and even this size is hard on
a horse where you have much to do. The post for
center is a piece of 4 x 4 scantling, with stubs from
an old a.xle in each end. The lower one works in an
old box of a wheel. It is not much of a .iob to make
one; but should any of my bee-keeping friends at-
tempt it and get puzzled, let them drop me a postal
and I will help them all I can. If this is not a sufH-
cient description of it, let me know, antl I will try
again. M. H. Hunt.
Bell Branch, Mich., Aug. 27, 1881.
With the above we give the original cut
which first turned friend Hunt's attention
that way. You will observe that the especial
feature of it is, that the horse travels inside
the wheel, while the belt, or chain rather,
goes in a groove in its circumference. To get
the horse out, the rim is lifted a little, un-
hooked, and he steps out just like letting
down a pair of bars. But little power is
wasted in friction, because the horse pulls
right on the chain, as it were, that runs
your buzz-saw. If the wheel is kept painted.
his career with bees for a number of years back.
Living only a few mibs from him, I have studied
the man some, and his manner of handlmg his bees
more; and I have come to the conclusion, that his
success can be told in one sentence — keeping his
bees strong, and doing every thing that needs to be
done, at the right time.
And now, friend Root, one word about queens,
and I will let up. I, with perhaps a thousand others
of your readers, have been in the habit of buying
quite a number of queens every year from quite a
number of different breeders, and have come to the
conclusion there is as much difference in different
strains of Italians as there is between Italians and
blacks. I have one queen now that, if I bad her
where I could raise queens from her, and keep thera
pure, I think any bee-keeper would be satisfied with
them, combining as they do so many good qualities
with so few bad ones.
While I have this good queen and some of her
progeny, I have other queens from other breeders
that I do not consider any better than blacks; in-
deed, not as good as some strains of blacks.
I have a proposition to make, and then I am done:
That all the prominent queen-breeders that lay
claim to having superior strains of Italians, each
488
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Oct.
send one queen to A. I. Root, that he shall put each
one in a good colony; that next summer he shall re-
poi't through Gleanings how they wintered, how
they " springed," and which he considers the best
queen, all things considered; and to pay to the win-
ning queen-owner the price of all the queens sent
him, provided no sender shall send an imported
queen, or shall charge more than S3.00 for his queen.
Now, Mr. Root, I have not proposed any thing I am
not willing to enter into myself, although I do not
make a claim to being a prominent queen-breeder.
Lee Center, 111., Aug. V2, 1881. J. L. Gray.
I hope our good f liend Mellen will excuse
us toe talking so much behind his back, and
If he will give us the report his neighbor
hints at, we won't do so any more. — I am
very much obliged, friend Gray, but I should
go crazy, sure, if you put any such task as
that on my shoulders. I would want a year
or two on some isolated island to do it, and
then I should not expect to get at more than
a glimmering of the truth. I am much in-
clined, too, to think you would get good and
bad queens from everyone's stock, and that
likely one man's, on tlie average, would just
about equal another's. AVe are all chang-
ing about so much all the time, I do not see
where any great difference can be. Freshly
imported stock seems to be an advantage ;
but with the poor facilities we have, any of
us, for isolation, I confess I have but little
faith in extra strains of bees. Our old red-
clover queen promised pretty well, but still
I could never be quite sure her bees did not
steal their stores.
LETTER FROM FRIEND IIARKNESS.
HOW HE AND HIS WIFE KEEP BEES IN PARTNER-
SHIP, ETC.
^T would be a pity to have your waste-paper bas-
Ji|[ ket remain empty the year round because all
" — ' the letters you receive are "good enough to
print." So I am going to write you a long letter,
knowing that the more 1 write the more it will be
worth when you sell it by the pound.
The ferocious-looking insect pictured at the top of
this page is supposed to be a queen-bee. I don't
know what kind of a one it is, for I never saw any
thing that looked like it. Perhaps it is the Apis dor-
sata (that "stamps" his feet and shakes off the dew),
or else the " big blue bee " that one of your corres-
pondents inquired about. The line of writing under
the picture was suggested by reading, in the July
Gleanings, the " Department for those who forget
to sign their names." I am very absent-minded, and
for fear that I should get into that Department, or,
rather, that some of my letters would, I thought best
to print my name on my paper with the copygram.
I suppose you would say "cheirograph;" but I like
the name copygram better, as it is so much easier to
spell. Of course, your word is the purest Greek,
mine being a sort of liybrid, half Greek, half Eng-
lish; but as I am used to handling hybrids, I like it
all the better for that.
I believe I have never told you much about our
bees. I say our bees, because they belong to my
wife and me in partnership.
T hamlle the bees and pocket the money;
She lielps all she can, and we both eat t'iie honej".
We began in May, 1879, with a single colony, which
was a present from her father. It swarmed twice,
and the three gave us about 75 lbs. box honey. We
wintered them all and got from them last season six
natural swarms and 325 lbs. of box and section hon-
ey. We wintered seven without losing any, and
have this season had eleven natural swarms. I do
not yet know how much honey we shall get this
season, but probably not a large amount. As you
know, I have just begun to learn my A B C's. I
never saw an extractor till I made one about two
weeks ago, my only guide being the pictures in your
price list and Gleanings. But if we have not tak-
en out much honey yet, we have had some natural
swarms that I think are worth reporting. Our
seven old colonies have each swarmed once, and
four of them the second time. I weighed those
seven tirst swarms very carefully and this is what
they weighed:—
WEIGHT OF swarms.
1
Ilea
vie
<t one, -
- n lbs.
A\
•erage i
veipht
)11, .
..11
two, -
three, -
- 18K ••
- 25 ' "
2,..
...Sll-i
6U
' S,..
. . .8 1-3
(>
loui', -
-31 •'
• 4,--
...7S-1
hV.
five, -
- asy. •'
' .■>,..
...7:mo
4w;
SIX, -
-n •'
' «...
...fi.5-0
i
seven, -
- 4.-. •■
• '.•
...6 3-7
My feeder ad. in Gleanings has begun to yield
fruit, and I have already received and filled orders
from people in five different States. The first order
came from J. W. Shaffer, of Corydon, Wayne Co., la.
I feel quite well acquainted with that gentleman,
for his son Charley has told us, in the July Glean-
ings, page 325, all about his father's bees and his
own.
It is sometimes hard to decipher the names of
people who order feeders. I wish I had a printed
copy of your subscription list, to find those names
in. It would be a great help to those who wish to
send circulars to live bee-keepers, as it would give
the addresses of over 4000 of them. But I don't
know that you could sell enough to pay you for
printing them. Some time I will tell how we win-
ter bees here in northern New York without losing
any; but I have written enough for this time.
J. W. Harkness.
Keeseville, Essex Co., N. Y., Aug. 15, IfSl.
EXPERIENCES IN BEE CUIiTUREDOWN
SOUTH.
BY OXE WHO SPEAKS RIGHT OUT.
^]jOME five years ago I commenced bee culture. I
^i knew nothing whatever of bees and their hab-
^--^ its, except their stinging pi-opensities. A
friend (?) gave me a colony in a small soap-box; these
were black bees. Like most beginners I felt that I
wanted one hundred colonies at least, immediately,
if not sooner. Soon after giving me the colony of
blacks the same person proposed selling me a large
colony of what he termed Italian bees. I bought
them; they too were in a soap-box, but the colony
was very strong. I have since learned that this
colony was the worst class of hybrids, and cross is
no term to apply to their temper. I have since
found that this man sells hybrids for pure Italians,
and sells the pure Italian for albino bees. The lat-
ter he tells people are a distinct class of bees, much
finer and better than any other race. I have since
found that the albino is merely a " sport " from the
Italian, and, though fair to look on, their qualities
1881
GLEAl^INGS IN BEE CULTURE.
489
as honey-gatherers are far below those of the blacks
of darker strains of Italian bees. They appear to
lack toughness too — something on the hot-house-
plant order.
In the beginning I was srcatly nonplused to know
when, how, etc., the bees would swarm, but could
not find any infallible signs in the books that would
apply to the box hives. Finally I transferred my
bees to the simplified Langstroth hive, put them on
stands, and expected just a little "bigger" yield
than I had read of friend Doolittle getting from
those " crack " colonies of his. Alas for human ex-
pectations! I did not realize eight pounds of surplus
honey to the hive. The next year I felt that I had
not managed properly the first season, so I bought
some flue queens; they were dollar queens too, and
I fortunately got them introduced. Lo and behold!
that season I got about 30 lbs. to my strongest stocks.
Well, I applied myself the next season, reading the
bee papers, studying the successful management of
some, and the reverses of other bee-keepers. Iwould
pore over the back numbers, reading often till ten
o'clock at night. My wife would tell mo, " Well,
well, you have gotten the bee fever bad." The next
season — that was last year — I took from my best
colony 137 lbs. of honey in one-pound boxes, and
which sold for over twen'y doUartt. That year I was
trying to rear queens largely also, and, including
nucleus hives and other larger, I realized over six
dollars from each. I considered that a big improve-
ment, especially as the old bee-keepers in the neigh-
borhood told me that it was a tolerably poor season
for honey, they thought.
I felt that the additional extra yield was brought
about by close study and proper management; by
doing the right thing at the right time. Close appli-
cation and common sense, with a determination to
succeed, finally accomplish wonders in bee-culture.
A gentleman recently said to me, "Oh! there's no
use for the bee papers to tell mc those 'big yarns'
about big yields and the millions of dollars in bee-
keeping. I believe they are lying ! Of course, it's to
their interest to puff the business."
This gentleman was from an adjoining State, and
had tried five- liincls of bcc-hivcs and failed signally
with all. Itoldhimof my success; he did not tell me I
was lying (I stand 6 feet in my stockings, and weigh
185 pounds — ah!)
This year, getting an advantageous offer, I sold all
my bees but a weak nucleus. I built this up to a
strong colony. Yesterday I weighed surplus in up-
per story, and found 86 lbs. of honey. This colony
has all of 40 lbs. in the lower story also.
Of course, there's nothing strange about this, sup-
posing it had been a fine honey season; but it has
been the poorest experienced in this locality for
many years. I used fdn., of course. I know some
extra strong colonies that started in strong with ten
frames of comb; they haven't 5 lbs. of surplus to-
day, and haven't swarmed either. Why is it that
some have better "luck" in getting surplus honey
from their bees? I think diligence and close appli-
cation is the secret — if secret there be.
I am still wanting to do better — get larger yields.
Tell friend Doolittle to look out; I shall keep trying
every year to learn some thing new in the business
until I can "get as much," if not just "a little more,"
than he has, of surplus honey from one colony.
That will be a happy day for me. R. C. TAYLOR.
Wilmington, N. C, August 22, 1881.
WHAT FRIEND HUNT IS OOINO TO DO,
AND ^VIIAT HE HAS DONE.
fHAVE been thinking some lately of sowing a
lot of seeds of different honey-plants, and would
■ like your advice as to kinds, amounts, etc., best
to sow. We have here profuse quantities of white
clover and wild red raspberries; but basswood is
not very plenty; buckwheat is quite largely grown
here too, but there are intervals in the blossoming
of the above, especially in dry times, when the bees
can do but little, and it is just such intervals that I
would like to fill it up by planting various honey-
plants.
WHAT HONEY-PLANTS TO SOW.
There is a railroad less than half a mile from my
house, and as the land along the track is rich and
mellow, I have conceived the idea of scattering seeds
of honey-producing plants along the track, as I
think they might as well be growing there as the
useless weeds usually found in such places. What,
in your judgment, would be best to sow in such lo-
calities? Of course, it would have to be something
vigorous enough to grow without cultivation.
TWO QUEENS INSTEAD OF ONE.
I made a nucleus colony last June by putting a
few frames of brood and bees into a new hive, giv-
ing them at the same time a sealed queen-cell; a
week later I found the cell torn down, and a num-
ber started from their own brood; but their i)rood
being from a hybrid queen, I cut them all out and
gave them another frame of brood from a pure
queen, containing a sealed queen-cell; a few days
later, on looking them over, I found this last cell
open, but could not decide whether it was torn down
or the queen hatched; so I took another sealed cell,
of which I had plenty, and laid on top of the frames.
Three days later, I examined them, setting one
frame in an empty hive, so as to have more room to
handle the rest. I found eggs in several of the
combs, and looked until I found the queen, a nice
large one, when I prepared to close up the hive, and
as I was about to replace the frame from the empty
hive, I accidentally discovered another nice large
queen on that, and, not wishing to lose "her majes-
ty," I set it back in the empty hive, adding a few
frames of sealed brood from other hives, and now
they are two good strong colonies, with queens
hatched together in the same hive. Isn't this a
rather unusual occurrence, or is it common?
SILVERHULL BUCKWHEAT SEED.
I see by a late number of Gleanings that you ran
short of silverhull buckwheat, and had to send clear
to Mr. Gregory, and pay $1.75 per bushel, and, I sup-
pose, freight also. Now, brother Root, was it vem
wicked for me to smile just a little all to myself
when I remembered writing to you last spring, and
trying to sell you some, and you offered me only
$1.00 per bushel, delivered at j'our place? If you
get in another such a fix, just drop me a line, and
perhaps I can help you a little.
I had 6 swarms last fall, and lost 4 in wintering ;
have increased to 8, and bought one, so I now have
9 all in good condition ; I lost one or two of them
just from pure carelessness, in letting the en-
trances get stopped with ice, and so smothering
them. E. Hunt.
Sheridan, Montcalm Co., Mich., Aug 29, 1881.
At present, friend H., I know of no honey-
plant that will succeed without cultivation,
and the best among the cultivated plants is
49U
GLEANINGS IN BEE CtJLTURE.
Oct.
the Simpson. Can't you get the raikoatl
company to let yon set out the plants and
cultivate them ? The early variety I have
several times spoken of can easily be made
to fill the gap between fruit-blossoms and
clover. — We often have the experience with
queens you mention, and I would much rath-
er havetwo queens in a hive than none, and
so we put in a queen-cell, in all doubtful
cases.— Thanks for your hint on the buck-
wheat. The trouble is. that, with our many
lines of business, I can not remember who
has made me good offers ; and in the case
you gave, when I made you the offer I prob-
ably had all the seed it seemed I should be
able to sell. When a *' run '' came for it,
and we were out, your offer was forgotten.
We now have a book containing the name of
everything we deal in, and of whom we buy.
AVhen some one makes us an offer, we go to
this book. The book is large, and we "have
had trouble already to so arrange it alpha-
betically that we can turn to the desired ar-
ticle instantly. I don't think it was wicked
at all for you to smile : why did you not
" smile '" right back, on a postal card?
MONEV-BOARDS vs. €H[.%.FIi" CUSHIONS,
ETC.
fHAVE not lost a single swarm in the winter for
four years. First, as soon as the hees are done
' gathering- good honey from basswood, I weigh
or examine all swarms; and if any of them do not
ebntaia honey enough, I feed them good honey un-
til they do. Next, before cold weather sets in I raise
up the slats which cover the holes in the honey-
board, and with a narrow knife-blade remove the
little bits of comb on top of the frames, being sure
to remove it from between the frames when there
is any, thus giving a little passage between all the
combs where one did not pi-e\'iously exist. Now,
when they are set in the cellar I remove the slats
from the two front holes in the honey-board; place
the super over them, and then let them alone until
spring; still, about the middle of winter I raise up
one end of the super about an inch, and let it re-
main so for the purpose of giving them more air. I
put nothing in the super, because I believe the air
will carry off the moisture from the bees much bet-
ter than anything else; neither (and this is what I
consider an important point in wintering) do I loos-
en the honey-board after it gets so late that the bees
can not glue it on again. I would not do it for much
less than the price of the swarm. I believe that re-
moving the honey-board, or substitute thereof, al-
lows too great an escape of the heat from the bees;
because they want a little upward ventilation, it
does not follow that they want the roof of their
house torn off.
And now a word about honey-boards. If I am not
badly mistaken, wood is the greatest non-conductor
of heat of anj' thing that we can place over our
bees. I would not exchange a good pine honey-
board for all the chaff that ever grew in the West.
I believe that a swarm of bees can be exposed to
too much cold in a cellar by removing the honey-
board, and so allowing the heat from the bees to be
constantly escaping. I use the Langstroth hive.
Nelson Hubbard.
South Strafford, Vt., July, 1881.
(Juite a number of our neighbors winter
bees in the old-style L. hive, with honey-
boa^-d, right out on their summer stands ;
and as several small apiaries came through
with scarcely more than their usual loss, in
this way. it "can not be so very reckless, aft-
er all. They uncover a few of the holes in
the honey-board, right over the cluster, and
that is alf. I feel pretty sure that it is a bad
thing to break the honey-board loose, late in
the fall, and I am inclined to think this is
one thing that caused so many to die where
queens were introduced late in the fall. Sta-
tistics liave shown very decided advantages
in chaff hives : but I think they might per-
haps do just as well, if the cushion in the
upper story were omitted, and a board with
a few holes in put in its place. This is to be
done, of course, before cold weather sets in.
The number of openings, very likely, should
be governed by the strength of the colony.
CAliIFORNIA.
IS IT r.EALLV so MUCH AHEAD OF US, AFTER ALT,?
/P]; LEANIXGS for this month came to hand, and
tiSf ^ ^^ike great pleasure in reading the letters of
^"^ the different correspondents, and have sonie
good laughs in comparing the different modes of
wintering, for they are all new to the amateur bee-
keepers on this coast.
I think there would be but few going iiUo the bee
business here had they to build cellars to put their
bees in, or go to the trouble of packing in chaff, saw-
dust, old cirpct, etc., to save their bees; that is too
much like work; and to go into winter-quarters
with fifty or sixty stands of bees, and come out in
the spring with only one-half, is rather discourag-
ing. Here we place our hive on the stand, and it re-
mains there without any protection, summer and
winter. But we have our setbacks in this country
as well as j'ou in the East, and perhaps lose as many
bees on account of drougth as you do from freezing.
The last few years have been very tmcertain; we
can count only on every other year for a honey crop.
In 1879 I had 1;.'5 stands; the spring opened finely.
In February the willow was in bloom, and the bees
breeding i:p strong. In March there was a world of
bloom, and the bees gathering honey in April. I ex-
tracted from the colonies, and had my bees in good
shape, and there was a good prospect of a large hon-
ey crop. The first of May we had a few days of hot
north-east winds, which blasted all the bloom; the
bees killed off the drones, and went into winter-
quarters with but little honey. The consequence
was, in the spring of 1880 I had only 30 stands alive
out of 133, and most of my neighbors were in the
same boat. I know you will say, "Why did you not
feed?" But we did not all the same, but think we
will the next time. You would have laughed to see
your old friend Wilkin traveling around with his
wagon loaded with bee-hives, hunting for a good lo-
cation, and he, was not the only one that had to
" boosker."
I started in the spring of 1890 with 30 weak stands;
the year proved to be a splendid one. In the fall I had
80 strong stands, and had extracted over nine tons
of honey. That is a pretty good yield from thirty
stands, so you see what can be done with bees in a
good year in this country. But this year is almost
as bad as 1879. There was plenty of bloom, but no
honey. There are a great many who have not taken
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
491
a pound of honey from their bees, but almost all the
old stands have plenty to winter on, and the bees are
still getting- enough outside to live on, so we will not
be as bad olf as in 1879. There was no increase to
amount to any thing this year. My apiary is situat-
ed high up in the mountains, and in a good season
have an abundance of bbiom of hundreds of varie-
ties.
I forgot to tell you that my bees arc black. I will
try some Italians next spring, and see Avbat the dif-
ference is, if any. "Wilkins is about 1- miles from
my place. No honey this year. He is buying to
ship to England. Ci. W. Lechler.
Newhall, Los Angeles Co., Cal., Aug. 'M, 1881.
RAITIBLiE NO. 7.
/fs^UH ramble this time takes us to the town of
IIMw) Granville, and to the apiary of Charley Blos-
^-^^ som. Mr. B. has about 80 swarms, and runs
them for comb honey. His bees are in the Lang-
stroth hive, and are allowed to swarm naturally,
and two or more swarms are put together in the
new hive, or they are put in until the hive is over-
flowing with bees. The sections are put on and are
tilled in an incredibly short time. Thus a large yield
of honey is obtained from the new swarms. Our
friend Charley winters his bees upon their summer
stands with Acry good success. Instead of packing
with chatf, he uses a hive made of I'i lumber.
The soil upon which they stand is a gravelly loam:
but little moisture is retained on the surface, and
the warming- influence of the sun is felt more here
than upon other soils. We think it may have some
influence during the winter. Another prominent
bee-keeper of this town is Stephen Staples. As he
has just commenced his study of the habits of the
honey-bee, and has had good success in raising a
line lot of honey, and losing a number of swarms
during the past winter, he prefers to be classed with
the A B C's at present. We howe-ver predict his suc-
cess in the future, for he is a most successful far-
mer, and one of the most renowned fox-hunters In
all of this section.
In another portion*of Granville we find Stephen
Carpenter, a man over 70, whose weight is over 300.
Mr. C. has a line cellar, and makes it a point to put
his bees in the heart of it, thus giving them plenty
of ventilation all around. The heart of his cellar
did not save his bees, through last winter, as his loss
was fuUj' one-half. Both of the above Stephens be-
long to the society of Friends, and we all know what
good thrifty people they all are. There are several
others starting apiaries in this town; but all they
want is just to get honey enough for their own use,
when we know they are itching for a hundred
swarms and piles of honey. Another peculiai'ity
with some is, that " my daughter or my v^on does the
fuHsina with the bees."
In the adjoining town of Whitehall are also several
bee-keepers, and it is a good locality for the storing
of honey. Kaspberries, white clover, and basswood
are abundant, while upon the marshes around the
head of Lake Champlain are quantities of button-
bushes.
We will visit but one apiary in this town, and hope
your juvenile class will find some thing in it to en-
courage them. Willie McLachlin is a boy about 11
years of age. He had two swarms in the spring,
and purchased a few moi-e, which, with his new
swarms, gave him nine. From these he sold ttfty
dollars' worth of honey up to the first of August.
His honey is put up in pound sections; a neat label
is attached to each one, and his demand at 20 cts. per
lb. is greater than his supply. One swarm gave him
75 Ids. Of course, Willie's father and mother en-
courage him in all this, and the consequence is, that
instead of being a noisy street-boy he is a quiet bus-
iness lad.
We wish here to call your attention to that bee-
sting mentioned in Ramble No. .5, June No. I have
recently seen Mr. Andrews, and can give further de-
tails. The honey was taken from the hive in the
fall, and put away for winter use. It was in a large
box, and as the honey was gradually used out there
was some drip in the bottom. It was in May, fully
seven months since the honey had been taken from
the hive, that his daughter dipped up a spoonful of
honey from the bottom of the box, and in the act of
swallowing, the sling alone (there was no bee in the
honey) caught in her throat, and the poison took ef-
fect unmistakably, as she was always affected with a
prickling sensation over the whole body. The doc-
tor, after removing the sting, examined it under a
glass, and could see the poison-sac, and the sting had
a fresh appearance. It was certainly preserved
in the honey for months. J. H. Maktix.
Hartford, N. Y., Aug. 19, 1881.
May the Lord bless Willie McLachlin, and
may his example move more to do likewise !
The salvation of our country depends on
such as he. The streets and crowds of boys
around our depots are the places where Sa-
tan is continually training our youth for the
purpose of replenishing our prisons and re-
form schools. May the Lord bless thee,
AVillie, and help you to stay right where you
are, despite the temptations tiiat shall per-
haps s<wn tend to lead you away 1— I can not
quite give up about that bee-sting, friend
M., especially as you say the sting with its
poison-bag had a fresh appearance. Is it
possible tor any one to be sure it might not,
in some unaccountable way, have come right
from some live bee within a few moments V
A%INTEBING.
ALSO SOME THING IN FAVOR OF OUTDOOR WIN-
TERING.
fJlHE first condition for the successful wintering
of bees is to have bees to winter, and plenty
- — ' of them in every hive; good strong colonies,
completely crowding the brood-chamber in October,
are the best. These are best obtained by keeping
each colony in prime condition through the sum-
mer. If this has not been done, weak ones should
be doubled up till all are strong.
The second condition Is an abundance of good
sealed stores, provided as early in the season as pos-
sible, and kept for winter use. Colonies which are
used to get box honey will usually have enough in
the brood-chamber, but those used for extracted
honey will often be short. Even if we do not ex-
tract from the brood-chamber (I never do), if they
have a good queen they will carry the honey nearly
all above, and give the room in the upper story to
the queen. Some combs of sealed honey should be
kept for such colonies. Honey is the natural food
of bees, and when gathered and sealed up early in
the season is as good and cheap as any. Give them
492
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Oct.
plenty of it, but not too much, allowing them some
empty eomb on which to cluster. If they have what
you think is just enough to take them through the
winter, loan them one more comb containing five or
six pounds of sealed honey. If they do not need it,
thoy will give it back to you in the spring: if they do
need it, they will pay it back in the summer with In-
terest.
New for the figures. I had 50 colonics last fall,
one-half in a good, dry, wcU-reguhited cellar, and
the remainder on their summer stands. Of the 50, 1
lost 17, and all but one of these from starvation
when the winter was nearly over. Thoy had honey
enough for an ordinary winter, but not for such a
severe one. Five pounds more to each hive, SO lbs_
to the 10, would have taken them through. At 10 c
per lb., this would have cost $8.00. Thus for $8.00 I
might have saved 16 colonies, and received from
them this summer 50 lbs. apiece, or 800 lbs. of ex-
tracted honey, worth .$80.00. It would have paid.
What a difference it would have made in the reports
last spring and this summe,-, if these tens of thou-
sands of colonies which starved to death had all
been saved, as they might and should have been !
Besides, it is not right to rob these little creatures of
the food they need and so carefully provide. Nor
does it seem altogether consistent tn call them "our
little pets" and then after getting the surplus they
afford, to steal or tf.ke by force because we are
stronger than they, the few pounds they need to
keep them from starvation in Avinter. But we do it,
or have done it, not on purpose, but in our careless-
ness or avarice. Then, after our " blessed bees " are
dead, we fill the papers with lamentations over our
losses, and perplex our brains trying to discover
some method of wintering bees without loss. There
is one thing about which I am resolved, and about
which every bee-keeper should be resolved, to let no
more bees die of starvation.
The third condition of successful wintering is
some kind of protection from the cold of severe and
protracted winters. This is not as important as the
conditions previously mentioned, because, if they
have been complied with, bees in ordinary winters
pass through in almost any kind of a hive. Still, it
is important, as the bees are the better for it any
winter, and it is really necessary in very severe
ones. There are two methods I have tried,— one on
the summer stands, the other in the cellar. On the
summer stands, protection is needed. In the ten-
frame Langstroth hive, a chafC cushion should be
put at each side in place of 3 or 4 honey frames re-
moved. Over the remaining frames, some sticks
should be laid, and over all a cloth or piece of carpet
put. Then a second story should be added, and filled
with chaff. On this the cap should be put, and the
hive placed where it will get the winter sunshine at
least part of the day. For the cellar, the chaff
cushion are not necessary; yet, as they will be of
use when the hives are returned to their stands in
the spring, it is well to put them in.
Which is the better, to winter on the summer
stands, or in the cellar? I must confess, that, every
thing considered, I am not certain which. If our
winters were all like the last one, the cellar would
undoubtedly be the better way. But they are not;
last winter was an exceptional one. There are ad-
vantages in wintering on the summer stands which
must not be overlooked. I have a good cellar, and
have uniformly had good success in wintering in it.
But some of my neighbors also use the Langstroth
hive, and leave their bees out without protection,
and with surplus boxes or supers on, just as in the
summer. With all my care with spring feeding and
spreading the combs, these colonies, left without
care, would year after year be working in surplus
boxes, or swarming, one or two weeks before mine.
Nine hives thus wintered in 18T9-'80, and which I
bought in the spring, gave them next summer as
much surplus honey as the thirty 1 had wintered in
the cellar. I am not certain that I can afford to
keep my bees in the cellar in ordinary winters for
the advantages to be gained in unusually severe
ones, especially as the bees I left out last winter,
with the consumption of a few pounds more honey,
came through nearly as well as those in the cellar.
As it is, I will put part into the cellar, and leave
part on the summer stands. But if 1 had no cellar,
I would not go to the expense of making one until
it was fully established that, in the long run, cellar
wintering is the better way.
I think that the experience of my neighbors and
others who have left the surplus boxes on all winter,
shows that there is some advantage in having a
dead-air chamber of some extent above the bees in
winter. This might be covered with chaff. These
men who left on the upper boxes did not break open
their hives after the bees had them sealed up for
winter. I have never seen moldj^ combs in such
hives in the spring. But let us all keep our colonies
strong, and give them plenty of food, and then try
to ffnd out what we do not know about the best way
and place to keep them. J. W. White.
Milroy, Pa., Sept., 1881.
AN ABC SCHOIiAR IN LOUISIANA.
CAME through the winter without losing any of
my bees; the 23 colonies were strong, and in
good fix. All were blacks. I increased up to
Aug. 1st to 80 colonies— 30 natural, and 28 artificial.
I bought one Italian queen, and a friend gave me an-
other, from which I have raised 60 young queens, the
most of which met Italian drones. I made it a rule
to kill all the black drones I could. I have two nu-
clei raising queens for the other 20 colonies as fast
as the queen-cells are 14 days' old. I cut them out
and place one above the frames of the hives I wish
to put them in, which saves introducing. I hardly
ever fail. Thoy must be without a queen three days
at least, or they will destroy them. I have lost a
good many on their bridal trip, as they are exposed
to fowls and birds. I will have them all with young
queens before winter, and another year I will do the
same with all the hybrids, and then I shall have pure
stock. I did not aim for honey, as I wished for bees.
I extracted only 720 lbs. I have as many colonies as
I can attend to. I am a manager on a sugar planta-
tion, and my time to devote to bees is limited. When
I increase to 150 colonies I will devote my entii-e
time to them.
I had two or three strange things happen to my
bees. One day I found one of my young queens, 4.
months old, balled in the hive. I eaged her 34 hours
before releasing her, then she was received kindly;
four days afterward I looked for her, and found five
queen-cells, when I took it for granted she was dead.
So on the 14th day I went to cut some of the cells out
to put into other hives, and I found her alive and do-
ing her duty. I cut all the cells out. Why did they
make those cells, and why did she not tear them
down?
1881
GLEAJ^INGS IN BEE CULTURE.
493
I had a hive of tees queenless one month. On ex-
amining, I found one side of a frame laid nearly full
of eggs— from 2 to 8 eggs in every cell, and not a
queen nearer than 15 ft. I did think a queen might
have made a mistake and gone into the wrong hive;
but why did she lay the eggs in the way she did? I
have introduced a young queen in the same hive'
and she is doing well.
Does the food that the bees give their young
change their sex, or docs a queen lay male and fe-
male eggs like a fowl? M. A. Garrett.
New Iberia, La., Sept. 3, 1881.
Bees sometimes ball their own queen dur-
ing a season of scarcity, seeming to have
tried to revenge themselves on tlieir poor
mother because the forage failed in the
tields. At such times they often start queen-
cells. I have sometimes thought it might be
caused by other hives standing too near —
the young bees, after some playspell. getting
in. and, finding a strange queen, commence
to ball her. You will tind in our back num-
bers, friend G., accounts of stocks that build
queen-cells right along, where they have a
laying queen. — Your last case is simply that
of a fertile worker, which subject you will
find fully discussed in the A B C book. —
Queens lay both kind of eggs, like fowls,
but they lay drone eggs in drone cells, and
usually, worker eggs in worker cells.
IS POIiliEN AT FAUI^T?
HOW SHALL WE FIX OITR BEES FOR WINTER?
fjRIEND ROOT : —The ravages of last winter
have caused a multitude of views to be ex-
pressed as to the real cause of the general
mortality. I would say, in regard to them, as Dr.
John Gumming once said in regard to the many ex-
positions of the book of Revelation," A great deal
has been written upon this subject, much very fool-
ishly; more very rashly; nothing, however, in vain."
There will be some light evolved in almost every
view expressed. It is not 1o add myself to the al-
ready colossal number of writers who have ventured
to dissipate the darkness enveloping this subject,
that has prompted me to write this article, but to
correct, if I can, some views that have been already
advanced which I believe to be untenable.
It has recently been maintained, by some very re-
spectable writers on apiculture, that pollen was the
Pandora's box out of which all our ills, during the
last winter, issued. Is this true? Let us see. What
is pollen but the fecundating dust of the anthers of
flowers, which bees have gathered, by their natural
instinct, from time immemorial? It is indispensable
food to the young larvic, without which brooding
can not be successfully carried on. It has, there-
foie, been in every hive, in its normal condition,
ever since the existence of the honey-bee. Its pres-
ence in the hive during winters in which bees have
easily survived, as well as those like last, in which
dysentery has prevailed, can not be questioned.
Why, then, charge the whole disaster upon the pol-
len, as if it were terribly at fault last winter while
perfectly harmless in other winters that bees have
generally survived? We might as well attribute
blame to the natural food of the human family, in
seasons conducive to dysentery, as to charge the
natural food of the bees with being the cause of dys-
entery r.mong them last winter. The fact is, that
there are certain conditions of the human system, and
of the atmosphere, necessary to the enjoyment of
good health, even when we have the most suitable
and substantial food; and the same thing, I believe,
will hold good in the case of the honey-bee.
Let us, then, look for a moment at the facts in the
case. These in reference to' last winter may be
summed i«p into two. First, we had a continuously
severe and cold winter, lasting from the beginning
of November until the last of March, in which bees
in this latitude had onlj' a single flight. Second, the
mortality during the winter was unparalleled. These
are admitted on all hands. The condition of the
bees was by no means uniform. Some were in good
condition, others were not; but all suffered less or
more, whether on summer stands or in cellars,
packed or unpacked. 1 infer, therefore, that the cold
of last winter, contiQuous as it was for whole months
without a single day of sunshine (which, by the way,
to all who noticed it was very remarkable), caused a
condition that induced dysentery almost as an epi-
demic. True, there were other secondary condi-
tions, induced by the excessive cold, that contribut-
ed to the fatal result. Bees were excluded from
reaching their stores of honey; this would necessi-
tate their eating more pollen than they otherwise
would, if it were within their reach. The effect of
this would be dysentery. The cold would likewise,
as Mr. Diulant has shown in a recent article, cause
them to eat more honey to keep up the neces-
sary temperature. This, if long continued, would
likewise result in the same way, if prevented from
haA'ing a purifying flight. Neither the pollen nor
the honey, do I believe, was greatly at fault, but the
cause of the general calamity was the remarkable
severity of the winter, which was entirely beyond
our control. We might, then, with equal propriety,
charge the cause of the "epizooty" among our
horses some years ago to the oats and corn they ate
that season, as to charge the cause of the bee dysen-
tery last winter to the harmless pollen and honey
that bees have gathered and eaten since they
hummed for the first time, among the primitive
flowers of the garden of Eden.
Bee-keepers need chastisement, as well as others,
to Arcp them in mind of the divine sovereignty.
They are to remember that God gives power to be-
come wealthy in bee culture as in other things.
Farmers have their failure in crops; horticulturists
have their poor seasons; merchants have their dis-
asters; wool-growers their epidemics, and why not
bee-men? Let us, then, learn all we can from our
failures. A defeat to some generals is better than a
victory. I hope it will prove so to us.
This article is already too long, or else I would tell
you how I have been succeeding. But I will only
say, that I have been doing well. I have made some
money. This is the only season I have ever realized
my outlays and somewhat of a gain. But I have
been as busy as a nailer. I hope to have some leisure
now to write on some topics.
W.M. Ballantine.
Sago, Muskingum Co., O., Sept., 1881.
Thanks, friend B. I think your point a
good one, where you say we might almost as
well lay the blame of the epizootic among
horses to their oifls or corn, as to lay the
blame on pollen for the losses in wintering.
Still, I have seen such good results in win-
tering with sugar stores and no pollen, that
I feel pretty sure that the food that nature
in
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUIIE.
Ocrr.
furnishes is not always tlie mostwliolesome.
Our regular food does very well for us, usu-
ally ; but during a time ()f severe drought,
such as we are having now, almost every-
body has to be careful what he eats, and not
a few of us have to come down to plain
In'ead and milk, graham, or some thing of
tlie like, instead of partaking of the fruits
that we usually eat with impunity. I am in-
clined to think it well to keep out the pollen
in winter, much as we put the sweet apples,
pears, and melons on a high shelf where the
children won't see them uhen tlieyhave fre-
quently recurring spells of a 1 suppose
you all know how it is, if I don't tell it.
jo>e:s's bee islands.
REPORT OF A VISIT TO THEM.
^gn^ KIEND KOOT:- Your request, that I would fur-
jifJ"' ni.sh some account of my recent visit to the
— ' above islands, was duly received, and my will
was good to comply with it sooner, but I am one of
those luifortunatc mortals who always have more
work to do than time to do it in. However, I will
now try to give you and your readers an idea of an
enterprise, in which all bee-keepers can not but feel
a deep interest.
The islands lie in the Georgian Uaj% and are part of
an immense archipelago. Ti»lk of the Lake of the
Thousand Islands ! here are from 3000 to 5000, of all
shapes and sizes. They have never been accurately
counted, are unsurveyed, and still in the hands of
the government. Jones has located there, with the
right of purchase when they come into the market.
The island which is the center of operations, is called
Palestine Island. It is distant from Beeton, Mr. J.'s
home, 100 miles, 40 of which are traveled by rail, and
the remainder by steamboat. There is daily com-
munication between Palestine Island and Beeton,
the steamer plying between Colliugwcod and Parry
Sound passing very near to a jutting point of Pales-
tine Island. From this island, bees and all needed
supplies are distributed to the two other islands,
named respectively Cyprus Island and Italy Island.
These islands are from 6 to 8 miles apart. There are
no bees in all that region, except what Jones takes
there. A stock of bees could not live in that region
on natural supplies. The bees taken there to carry
on the breeding business gather very little, and must
be fed continually all through the summer season.
It is a bleak, stormy region, but often very pleasant
in the time of year when the heat is oppressive fur-
ther south. Of course, it is lonesome, there being no
settlement nearer than Parry Sound, in one direc-
tion, 16 miles off, and Collingwood, in the opposite
direction, 60 miles off. The bees are taken to these
islands in the spring, and returned to Beeton in the
fall. This year was characterized by such a cold and
backward spring, that operations could not be com-
menced until the middle of June.
Of course, the object aimed at by this isolation is
to keep the three great races of bees entirely sepa-
rate, so as to secure the absolutely pure fertiliza-
tion of queens. Palestine Island is devoted to Holy-
Land bees, and as these are preferred by Mr. Jones,
as well as in brisk demand by other bee-keepers, the
chief attention is given to them. More correctly, I
should say, a larger number of Holy-Land queens
arc reared than of the other races, the same
care and attention being given to all. The young
queens arc reared mostly in full colonies at Beeton,
shipped to the islands for mating, returned to Be((-
ton after they have begun to lay, and are thence
despatched to all points as ordered. It is a rather
tedious and costly process, but it secures the ob-
ject aimed :it, with unerring certainty. Cyprus
Island is devoted to the Cyprians, and Italy Island to
the Italians. On each island there are a number of
nucleus hives, accompanied by a number of full col-
onies containing the best drones produced at the
Beeton apiaries. Besides the breeding of pure
queens, a variety of crosses is being tried, of which
not much can yet be said with positiveness, for
crossing and breeding for points are slow processes.
I will not go into the minutije of daily work on these
islands. Experienced bee-keepers can easily picture
that to themselves; but I will say, that the opera-
tions are carried on systematically, and, so far as I
could see, with great precision.
The general family likeness which subsists be-
tween the three races of bees now prominentlj' be-
fore the apicultural public, necessitates a breeding
establishment such as this, until such time, at least,
as by repeated experiment, and thorough testing,
we have settled down on the bee of the future. So
long as we had only blacks and Italians, it was easy
to distinguish them ; but now we shall have to go In
for pedigree, the same as horse, catte, and other
live stock breeders. After spending three days at
the islands, and nearly as much time at the Beeton
apiaries, I can not infallibly identify each individual
specimen of the races, and when a general mix
comes, as it will in all apiaries where the three spe-
cies of drones are flying, it will be pretty bewilder-
ing. This establishment may be said to be the one
emporium of pure queens for the world. There is
nothing like it in Europe, Asia, Africa, or America.
Its Importance is already recognized by all advanced
bee-keepers, and as apiculture spreads, which it is
sure to do, the value of this enterprise will become
more widely appreciated.
The following are, as nearly as I can state them,
the distinguishing characteristics of the Holy-Land
and Cyprian races: The Holy-Land queens have very
distinct black bands between the yellow, and the last
band near the segment is half-moon shaped. These
queens are Aery bright and handsome. The Holy-
Land workers have a gold shield between the wings,
not quite so large as that on the Cyprians. The hair
is longer on the thorax, and more gray. The hair on
the segments of the abdomen is a distinct gray, even
to the tip, giving them a lighter appearance than the
Cyprians. The Holy-Land bees are very docile— as
much so as the quietest Italians. They seem less in-
clined to build drone comb than any other bees, and
even in a populous colony will build worker comb
clear down to the bottom of a deep rack. They also
build an enormous quantity of queen-cells. I count-
ed 56 in a single hive myself, and Mr. Jones states
that they often start far more than that. He tells
of having got 63 living queens in one batch, only 3
of which were in any way imperfect. The queens
are wonderfully proliflc. I saw immensely strong-
stocks, every available space peppered with eggs,
yet they are said not to be so liable to the swarming
fever as other races. After a short inspection of
stocks, I could identify the Cyprians by their dis-
position and movements. They have a certain touch-
me-not air. The Scotch motto, i\^f )/io mc impuir Ja-
t'O'si/, is theirs. They are very like the Italians, but
1881
GLE^VNINGS IN BEE CULTUIIE.
4! to
a close observation of ihem shows that they are
lighter under the abdomen, have a jrold shield be-
tween the wiugs, the third black segment being of
crescent shape, and the tip of the abdomen jet black.
But their sensitiveness and quick temper are what
will strike the observer most forcibly; at all events,
these impressed my mind the most, and they would
have impressed my body too, but that I took the
precaution of wearinji- a veil.
But Jones eagerly awaits the advent of the .4pi.s
(li)rmta. He is fairly ilaft on that insect. 1 hope the
Cyprians will be abolished before he gets it. An
Ai)is ihirsata sting and a Cyprian temper would in-
deed be " too utterly utter." Still, we do want a bee
with length enough of tongue to rifle the clover-
heads of their large store of sweetness. If Mr. J.
can procure or develop a bee that will gather the
red-clover harvest of honey, he will crown his apia-
rian achievements with a feat that will send his
name down to posterity with a halo of glory around
it that will make him the wonder of coming genera-
tions, and the apicultural hero of all time. This is
what he is working for. Meantime, he reports
progress thus: "I recommend the Holy-Land bees,
and think they will outstrip all others thus far ob-
tained." Still, I think we shall hang to the Italians
for some time yet. They are among bees what Wil-
son's Albany is among strawberries. The Holy-Land
bees are new comers, and a new broom sweeps clean.
I am inclined to believe these three races have had
a common oiigin, their comparatively slight dis-
tinctions being attributable to local and climatic in-
fluences. Even if Apis dorsata does not come along,
we ought to be able, with the four races now in
hand, to produce a bee better than any of them.
WlLtilAM F. Cl.^rke.
Listowell, Canada, Sept. 3, 18S1.
Many tlianks. friend Clarke. It may be
that all of our readers are not faiuiliar "with
the fact, that the writer of the above was at
one time editor of the American Bee Journal.
I mention this, because his wide experience
adds weight to his observations and opin-
ions in regard to the enterprise of friend
Jones. I presimie, from the talks I have had
with friend J., that the food he uses is gran-
ulated sugar ; but I would also like to know
if he linds it necessary to furnish a substi-
tute for pollen, or does he find enough of
that V If not, our friends who complain so
much of an excess of pollen might save up
combs full for him. By all means, friend J.,
go on ; and when yoii lack means, tell us
how we can help yoit. The IIoly-Land bees
certainly have some strong points of differ-
ence that ]jromise well. We often send them
out to till orders, and T have never yet heard
them called any thing else than nice Italians.
The bees would please almost anybody in ap-
pearance, and we have never yet had a com-
plaint of their being cross, like some of the
Cyprians,
What time of the year do they gather.'
Xt any time of the year when food is plen-
ty and the weather not severely cold.
How do they gather and deposit their honey?
They lick it out of the blossoms ; and
when they get a load they deposit it in the
cell by throwing it out "through the same
brush-like tongue through which they take
it from the blossoms.
How do they seal their honey-cups?
With the same little scales of wax men-
tioned, by warming it in their mouths, or
under their chins, until it is almost in a
melted state.
Do bees get lazy?
I am inclined to think they sometimes do.
What causes bees to get lazy?
As nearly as I can tell, because they have
nothing to stir up their ambition. Just take
away some of their honey with the extractor,
Avhen their hives are full to repletion, and
they will generally get over being lazy.
Do bees ever have any disease?
Bees have very few diseases, compared
with the rest of the animal kingdom.
What remedy is the best?
AVell, that is a big question, friend M.;
but I am inclined to think I would treat
them as I would the human family for most
diseases. G ive them plenty of the best food,
plenty of good air, proper protection from
the weather, and after that, a severe letting
alone, that nature may do the curing.
How far will bees go after honey?
I think they do not often go more than
two or three miles ; perhaps not over a mile
and a half profitably ; but Doolittle puts it,
if I am correct, nearly twice as far. I think
it very likely they would go much further,
if they could start out of hives in a valley,
load up on the hills or mountains, and then
sail down home with their loads.
What do bees do with the water that they draw
from the earth and carry in the gum?
After publishing this, I hope your readers will an-
swer these questions. H. H. McDaniel.
Marquez, Leon Co., Texas, Aug. 19, 1881.
In very hot weather, I am inclined to think
they carry it in to make the hive cool, much
as we sprinkle the floor. When rearing
brood largely, and confined to the hives with
only thick hcuey, they use a great deal to
prepare the food of the infant bees. Now if
the "readers"' don't agree, let them give
their views.
SOME QUESTIONS" BY A YOUNG HAND.
SENDING QUEENS LONG DISTANCES
DURING THH DRY WEATHER OF AUGUST.
S I am a young hand in raising bees, I would
like to ask a few questions in regard to rais-
ing them.
How do bees gather the hone3--comb? Where do
they get it?
By pulling it in little scales from between
the rings that form their bodies.
flHE queens were received safely, and In fine con-
dition, last Monday, Aug. 22d. One solitary
— ■ attending bee in one of the cages was dead,
but all the rest were as lively and bright-looking fel-
lows as one need wish to see. Your method of ship-
ping this time, merits my approval. I like the
double cage, giving ample space for bees, and, best
of all, the two bottles of water. Many thanks, my
dear friend, for the pains you have taken to fill my
order. You remember we have been trying for over
496
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Oct.
a year, and at last, out of six queens sent at different
times, we have received two in good condition.
When I received the queen at the postofflce, at
least a dozen men saw a sight they had never seen
before— a queen bee— an Italinn at thnt! " Look a
here, mister," said a by-stander, " you couldn't run
after me fast enough down the steepest hill in all
this country to give me a whole swarm of them
blamed stingin' things you've goi over there in your
yard; but don't you forget me when you get a gum
full of them yaller fellers to sell, for I want 'em."
You can no doubt infer that he had had some ac-
quaintance with my belligerent blacks, and that he
had read or dreamed something about the docility
of the Italians. His remark led a listener to expose
all of his knowledge of bee culture by asking how
long it would take " that queen and them bees in
there" to make a swarm. I made the crooked places
straight to his mind as well as I could, and after let"
ting all examine my bees to their satisfaction, I in-
vited them to visit my apiary at their convenience,
and retired to my home. Millaud Berky.
Duck Creek, Dallas Co., Tex.. Aug. '.^5, 1881.
Many thanks for your kind -words, friend
S., for I sadly needed them when your letter
came to hand. We have not, even with the
double cages and double bottles, succeeded
in all cases. See the letter below : —
The bees arrived on the 25th, dead and dried up.
If you can send bees on a two-weeks' journey, so
that they will be alive when they arrive, do so; if
not, why not say so? R. Beeton.
Santa Barbara, Cal., Aug. 25, 1881.
The above was a package of live queens,
all in double bottle cages too. £ wonder if
our friend who wrote it thinks our queens
cost nothing, and that we make a practice of
sending them that way all the time. We
have got to try it again ; but with this herce
drought we are having now, I really feel
fearful it Avill be only to lose again, al-
though we have many times this season sent
them to California in nice order.
THE (TPRIANS.
"more about" friend HAYBI'RST'S "TEA-P\RTY."
?g^.^ELL, friend Root, I suppose I must stand up
Wm and " speak my little piece" in regard to the
Cyprian bees. While " Hayhurst's Tea-Par-
ty " is quite extravagant, and was sent to you with-
out my knowledge or consent, it will give the reader
a pretty good idea of my opinion of the one bad
point of the Cyps; viz., their vicious temper.
The only experience I have had with them was
with the imported queen which I sent you, and her
progeny. I purchased this queen of friend D. A.
Jones last summer, and have no doubt that she was
one of his best, as he received $15.00 for her at about
the time he had reduced the price of imported
queens to from $7.00 to $12.00. 1 raised 10 queens
from her last fall, 8 of which were wintered in my
yard, the other two were sold. These queens were
mated with Italian drones. I could see no difference
between them and the pure Italians as to winter-
ing qualities. We treated all our bees alike for win-
ter, and they came out in the spring all in very near-
ly the same condition.
Very early in the spring, the imported Cyprian
colony, as well as the other eight, " yielded to treat-
ment " more readily than the Italians; but by the
time the honey harvest and swarming season began,
the Italians were fully up with them, both in numbers
and stores. Friend Harrington is correct In saying
that "they are great honey-gatherers." So are our
gentle Italians. He says, "They work on red clo-
ver." So do our enterprising Italians, who dig away
at it when nothing better is at hand, and even lay up
a surplus when black bees are consuming their
stores. But they are not "the best-natured bees" I
ever worked with. I used to be so egotistical as to
think that I could handle, without trouble, ariij bees
that gathered honey: my egotism is all gone now.
Whj-, Mr. Editor, I would rather "go through" sev-
eral hybrid colonies than one pure Cyprian; not
that the hybrids are less inclined to sting when first
disturbed, but a few puffs of smoke will send them
head first into their honey, and, once gorged with
this, they are no trouble. Cyprian bees, at home,
never gorge themselves; they are always on the
alert, can not be frightened, and the slightest jar
sends Ihou-ands of them into the air, all ready to
plant their stings in the first moving object thej'
may see— the only remedy being to close the hive
and leave the field to them for awhile.
Now, when a fellow is running, without help, 3C0
colonies in the dollar-queen and pound-nucleus busi-
ness (as I did during the busy season this year), hav-
ing orders pouring in with every mail, customers, as
well as bees, in a hurry, or during extracting time,
when every minute lost means pounds of honey
gone, it is not very pleasant to lose even ten minutes
of the precious daylight for such a purpose. I can
work all daylong without the use of smoke, with my
pure Italians, the thermormtcr at 110° in the shade,
and during the worst drought we have ever known,
and have no robbing, no bees hurt, and scarcely a
sting; while the worst slinging I ever had was from
our imported Cyprians, duiing the height of the
honey harvest, their hive crammed with loose honej%
and I did nut kirk it over eitliir. We do not handle
bees in our yard in that way, and I {irotest against
the imputation.
Another great objection to having such stingers
about is the effect upon those who are so kind as to
visit us. The last time friend Salisbury was at our
house, while I was recounting to him my troubles,
the tears rolled down his jolly face, not so much in
sympathy with me in my misfortune, but because a
Cyp had paid her " respects " to his nose. He didn't
stay with us so long as we would have liked; and as
his frisky white Pegasus trotted down the dusty
road, I thought, "Alas! we shall have no more pleas-
ant calls from friend S. until the last Cyp has disap-
peared."
Please call on us, friends; they are all gone now;
and if the imported queen we had is a type of the
race, they will stay away. E. M. Hayhukst.
Kansas City, Mo., Sept. 9, 1881.
Why, friend II., the Cyprian colony has
not behaved so very badly in our apiary.
They made only one visitor (who, by the
way, is quite a bee man too), hunt shelter
amid the lima-bean plantation. John, who
was handling the frames, stood very still,
right over the hive, and he did not get stung
at all. We rather like to have one such col-
ony, just to take the conceit out of some vis-
itors that one meets once in a great while.
1881
GLEA2^I>s'GS IN 13EE CULTUEE.
41t7
UP^VARD VEISTIIiATION.
ALSO SOMETHING ABOUT LEAVING THE UOXES OX
ALL WINTER.
SN the Julj' Gleanings you say: "There is, with-
out question, a siguiflcance in these reports of
" — ' favorable wintering, with an opening, or open-
ings, of not too large a size, right over the cluster."
In the August number you a«k: "Who ean tell us
more about making them (bees) wax up every thing
solid, and letting them be until May?" These are the
two extremes of the question of successful winter-
ing, and It would seem that the amount of testimo-
ny, adverse or favorable, to the two systems, would
determine their relative merits. To ascertain the
truth, I have visited many of the most successful
bee-keepers in this part of the country, and have
questioned others regarding their success in winter-
lug bees, etc. These are the facts as reported to
me:—
Mr. Patete had 35 in the fall, U in the spring; he
used l)0x hives; part had openings through the top-
board, and boxes set over them; in these the bees
mostly survived; a few in hives of large size not
\entilatcd, lived. Mrs. Kissel had 1~ in bo.v hives
that had holes through the top-board, over which
boxes set, not fastened down closely; thej' ail lived.
Mr. Hofman, with similar hives, and treated in the
same way, out of iO saved 18. His hives stood in the
shade, and the bees were not Induced to fly only in
the warmest days. Others with box hives not ven-
tilated lost all, or saved a part, according to the de-
gree of protection afforded by the l:)cation and size
of the hive. Mr. Simpson, of Kulo, uses a frame hive
13 in. square and is in. in height, 9 large frames be-
low, and small ones on top. He bored holes through
the cover, leaving the small frames in the hives, and
set boxes on, not fastened down. Outx)f 39, 30 lived.
Another man, with similar hives similarly treated,
met with similar results. Of my own, out of 163, 3
lived through; but of these, more hereafter. Some
30 more were kept in the precinct, with results va-
rying according to location and size of hive.
To the west of here, Mr. George Schoch, out of 83,
saved 2. They were In the Quinby hive, properly
cared for, as understood by the teachings of the bee
.iournals, and as practiced heretofore with success;
but without upward ventilation, and, to some ex-
tent, shaded; a serious fault, I believe, either in Min-
ter or summer. Mr. Wyant, in Langstroth hives,
sulHciently ventilated to admit bees at almost any
joint in the hive, wintered 17, all he had in the fall.
A part of the time they were drifted under the
snow. I also hear of another stock that wintered in
a Langstroth hive with nothing on the frames. Mr.
Bacon lives on the Missouri bottoms. He had 4"
stocks in the fall; 33 lived through, and among them
was one in a hive that was split from top to bottom,
and spread apart fully 3 inches wide. Thej- had
wintered in this hive, and with his others had been
removed in April into his smokehouse, and left for
several weeks; placed one above another until the
waters of the Missouri subsided, when they returned
to their summer stands without serious loss of
bees. They were blacks. All along the course of
the Missouri River, for hundreds of miles, similar
means had to be resorted to, and in no case am I
able to learn of serious loss resulting from their re-
moval. Mr. Bacon's hives were box hives, contain-
ing about 2300 cubic inches. He bored holes through I
the top of the hives, and set boxes over them to be
filled with honey; after removing the honey, the
boxes were placed on the hives without fastening
on, and the holes were left open. He had known for
many years that bees wintered better with upward
ventilation, and had always practiced it.
Mr. Helfenbein had 13 stocks in box hives In the
fall. All died but one. There was a I'^-inch hole
through the top of this hive that remained open all
winter; the others had no ventilation. Mr. Smith
saved 13 out of 30 by wintering in the cellar. My
own bees were in an exposed place, but cloths were
spread OA-er the frames, and thick cushions laid on.
The warmth, generated by the bees, was retained in
the hives, and also the moisture. The former, it ap-
pears, unnecessarily; the latter, very disastrously.
If, as in the case of Mr. Bacon's split hive (which
had also top ventilation;, sufficient warmth can be
maintained through the excessively cold weather of
a winter like the last, in which the temperature
sank several times to oG-, what necessity is therefor
cushions? In examining hives in March I found the
bees all dead in 65 ten-frame American hives that
fitted closelj', and were covered with the greatest
care, when at the same time in the old large hives of
poor manufacture and liadly fitting joints, the bees
were alive; ami in these, along the side of the
apiaries from which the prevailing winds blew,
the bees were in better I'ondition than elsewhere— a
circumstance indicative of an infectious disease.
In large hives, the stench originating from the dis-
ease is less concentrated, and, therefore, less viru-
lent; and the combs at some part of the hive are
generally clean, on to which the healthy bees, if any
remain, will gcnerallj' remove.
Out of upw.ird of 1100, six-sevenths vierishetl.
•• 32:i in trame liivt- s. 5i lived; about one-sixth.
700 and over in box hives, 106 lived: about one-seventh.
56 fianie hives, ventilated through cover, 47 lived;
about six-sevenths.
'• 1.J5 in box hives, ventilated through cover, 67 lived:
about one -half.
•20 wintered in cellar, 12 lived; about three-Hfths.
I regret that I am not able to give the dimensions
of the various kiuds of hives, and the a<lvantage ac-
cruing from the use of large ones.
In reading this report, one will be surprised at the
nearly utter destruction of the larger apiaries;
smaller ones, however, in which no live bees re-
mained, have not been mentioned especially, on ac-
count of space. The greater loss is in part due to
the unprotected locations of the apiaries. Where
they were protected from the cold winds of winter
and spring, and induceil to fly on mild days by the
genial rays of the sun; and with such as were in
large hives, though not ventilated at the top, the
success was greater than with those in exposed po-
sitions, or with those wintered in the shade. The
infectious nature of the disease renders it impossi-
ble, in most cases, to suppress it during cold weath-
er; and where there are most bees together, it as-
sumes the most virulent type. The greatest suc-
cess was with frame hives, ventilated through the
top; yet this higher degree of success is probably
due to the superior locations in which these hives
were kept — Mrs. Kissel having saved all of her bees
in box hives. There is no apparent advantage in
the style of hive; but those of large size have win-
tered bees better than smaller ones. Frame hives,
without cushions over the frames, have wintered
bees better than with them. Those the most suc-
cessful in wintering had nothing over the frames.
Jerome Wiltse.
Rule, Nebraska, Sept. 1, 1881.
498
GLEi\:NINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Oct.
From Different Fields.
PATENT HIVES, ETC.
^ygnpAVING been humbugged to a smell amount
JS[iJ'{[ (yet large to me, a poor man, the sum of
' $20.00), I would like to know If there is a
patent on a hive called " Kidder " hive, and if they
have agents to sell these hives for them. This sum
I paid to a man who called himself Kirk Kidder, for
an outfit to sell, but which I never received. Hav-
ing been caught in a small trap some time ago bj'
for queens, smoker, etc., which I never re-
ceived, it served me about right for being so green
as to trust a man, not knowing whether he is re-
sponsible or not. All goods that I have ordered
from you have come promptlj', and give good satis-
faction. All goods that I have ordered from the
friends who advertise with you have been satis-
factory. Please give information concerning these
parties if you can. C. Haucke.
Greenup C. H., Ky.
We have several times notilied onr readers
that the Kidder family were all in bad re-
pute, and we now say, have nothing to do
with any man who travels about selling
rights for patent bee-hives or any thing else.
Do not even stop to talk with them. You
are wasting your time any way, and will
stand a great chance of losing your money,
if you even allow them to getyour attention.
Thanks for your kind words in regard to
our advertisers. The party you mention is,
I think, all right, and we have written him,
to see where the trouble is.
THE ANT-LION AS A FRIEND OF THE BEES.
While walking among my bees this evening I no-
ticed that, where I had put sand about the hives for
keeping down grass, it was utilized by the ant-lion;
and the question at once arose in my min<1, whether
the curious little insect might not be an iidvantage
to us in keeping down the ants, which are so persist-
ent about hives when the tenants are not very strong.
Did it ever occur to you or any of our fellow-work-
ers? As some may not be familiar with the insect, I
will add a short description, as I have so often no-
ticed them. It is in its larva state that we wish to
notice it, as an insect about the size of a carp-fly,
with flat oval body, just the color of sand, and with
powerful mandibles, which are hollow, and which
serve as tubes for conveying the juices of its prey to
its own body. It delights in a dry sand, where it
throws up the sand from a central spot until it has
made a conical pit of perhaps VA inches diameter at
the top, and just as deep as the sand will lie on the
inclined sides. At the bottom of this pit it secretes
itself, and awaits the coming of some unfortunate
ant or spider that may venture too close to the edge
of the pit. Should the prey be at all likely to re-
cover its position at the top of the pit, a shower of
sand will be sent over it, making an a^■alanche, which
is sure to bring it within easy reach; and once in
the mandibles of the ant-lion, its life blood is drawn,
and its own carcass thrown out, and every thing
about the pit arranged for another victim.
I have put two or more in a small vial, to observe
their movements, and generally a combat begins at
once, and continues till only one remains.
Whether the number of ants thus destroyed would
materially affect the numbers about a swarm of
bees, I can not say. I noticed eleven of these little
pits about one hive this evening.
Frank J. Bell.
Moosehead, Pa., Aug. 2f, 1881.
Thanks, friend B. I have often noticed
this queer insect, and its manner of securing
its prey, and I can think of but one objec-
tion to inviting them to take up their al)Ode
near our hives. It is my impression that the
perfect insect is a sort of a dragon-tiy that
sometimes catches bees. If this is so, we
had best look out. Will friend Cook staight-
en us out on this pointV
SPANISH NEEDLES, ETC.
Dry, DRV, DRY. Bees are now just beginning to
bring in honey and pollen from Spanish needle.
How the plant can survive the drought is moi-e than
I can imagine. We have not had any rain for three
months, to amount to any thing. When I was a boy
I said to pn, " What are those nasty Spanish needles
made for?" Pa said, " God knows best." And now
I begin to see that God made every thing for a pur-
pose. "And he saw it was good." It does seem,
brother Root, that if it were not for Spanish needles
bees would surely starve; for every thing else is
almost dried up. There has been no dew for three
weeks; still, our bees arc doing well. But my
neighbor's bees are almost all non est. My bees
have made more honey per hive than ever before —
some as high as 300 lbs. surplus honey (comb hon-
ey). Say. friend Root, what am I to do: there are so
many who want to know how my hives are made,
and 1 can't answer all? AVith your consent I will
write it up for Gleanings. Geo. W. Stites.
Spring Station, Ind., Aug. 21, 1881.
Very glad to hear so good a report, friend
S. If God did not send us the dry weather,
we snould not know any thing about wliat a
blessing rain is. I presume every man,
woman, and child here would smile at the
sight of lain now. Our well I told you
about, still holds out; but I tell you, "the
draft on it is severe. We should be glad to
describe your hive, if you wi!l make it brief ;
but I hope, friend S., "you will not start any
of the younger ones on any path out of the
regular standard sizes of frames.
THREF. LAVING QUEENS IN ONE HIVE, AT LAST.
I read much about 2 queens in one hive (laying), so
I will also say something about it. You will remem-
ber, at the time when you were here, we took one
frame with brood, out of a chalf hive (the hive I got
of you), to give that swarm that was hanging on
that peach-tree. You know that you complained
about the old queen's wings being clipped so dose-
Ij'. Well, about 3 or 4 days later I examined the
hive from which we took the frame Avith brood (and
it also contained that clipped queen), but there was
a young queen in the same hive (she had thick full
wings). 1 took the young iiuecn with 2 frames with
brood out of the hive, and formed a nucleus. A few
days later, I looked in the old hi\e again; well, there
was another young queen (Inying) in with the
clipped queen. So perhaps there were 3 queens in
the hive at one lime, laying. Otto Kleinow.
Detroit, Mich., Aug. 20, 1881.
Well done, friend Otto. I have often
thought of your pretty little apiary, and
wontlered what you were doing there all
1881
GLEANIKGS IX BEE CULTURE.
499
this time. T presume the two young queens
were daughters of the old one, and proba-
bly just become fertile.
TIIEKMOMETERS.
As there has been some complaint that
thermometers do not always behave with
their accustomed truthfulness, after a trip
through the mails, we wrote t;ie makers, and
here is a hint from them: —
Your postal is received. In reply, we state that
the mercury in the tube sometimes becomes separa-
ted in transportation, but it can be united by turn-
ing- the thermometer upside down, and jarring the
mercury down so that it will go to the top; then take
it in the hand, and give a jrentle shake sidewise, and
it will unite. Please consider what a thermometer
is, and the price paid, and we think you will not be
dissatisfied. We have to handle every thermometer
over oj times before it is finished, and then sell at 8
or 10 cts. apiece. J. Kendall, & Co.
New Lebanon, N. Y., Aug. 24, 1881.
If I am correct.' 1 have succeeded in unit-
ing the meicaryiu all that have been re-
turned to us.
UNSEALED BROOD FOR NEW SWARMS.
During swarming last summer, I gave the new col-
onies a frame of unsealed brood; in every instance
the colony would start queen-cells, and swarm inside
of twelve days. During the present summer they
have acted in the same manner. Of courss, the
young swarms were large ones, issued from ;3-storj-
Simplicity hives. Was it the great quantity of bees
being shut down to one story that caused them to
swarm so soon? Wm. Parmelee.
Bean Blossom, Ind., Aug. 13, 1881.
Very likely the cause was as you state it,
friend P. 1 should always divide large
swarms, if I wanted to be sure they would
not swarm out : but very likely a"^ second
story given them would have had some ef-
fect in inducing them to stay. A second
story can be loaned a new swarm, where
they seem backward about all going inside,
when hist hived, and after a day or two, ta-
ken away safely.
CARRYING .4. SWARM OF BEES, ON A LIMU, THREE
miles ON HORSEBACK.
One day my father sent me on an errand about .5
miles from home, and when about 3 miles on my
journey I saw a nice lirge colony, a mile from any
house, clinging to the limb of a bush. My old love
returned, with a desire to possess this colony; but I
rode on, finished my errand, and tried to borrow a
sack to capture the bees in on my return, but failed;
but to my joy, there the bees still clung as I re-
turned. I was determined to have them, so I dis-
mounted, gently severed the limb on which they
clung, mounted my young spirited steed, and car-
ried them safely home, 3 miles away, still clinging to
the limb over my shoulder, and I hived them in an
old-fashioned gum. This is how I liecame the own-
er of my hrst colony. After that I was successful
in discovering bee-trees (wild colonies living in hol-
low trees', and would save the colonies until I was
the owner of several.
In introducing a queen she escaped from the cage,
and soared aloft as far as the eye could see. I felt
apprehensive that she was gone, but sat quietly by
the colony, watching for her return. In the course
of 20 or 30 minutes she came back and alighted upon
the cage in my hand. This time I succeeded in get-
ting her in the hive, and closed it. After a little I
looked in and found her completely "balled." I re-
leased and re-caged her, and after 36 hours she was
released and accepted. H. A. H.\lbert.
Corsicana, Texas, Aug. 23, 1881.
Most people seem to think a swarm of
Ijees must be conhned when they are to be
carried any distance, but I have "frequently
directed them to be carried in a market bas-
ket, upside down. A few days ago [ told
some one to cut off the limb, and bring it
along. From your experience, friend H., it
seems this was safe advice.— A queen will
usually come back to the cage she came out
of, I believe, if allowed to do so, and I think
many tine queens have been l3st, from a
want of knowledge of this fact.
HONEY FROM CORN, ETC.
I think friend Hutchinson meant me, in July No.,
when he refers to that bee-keeper in his last No.,
who lives not many miles from him, and I admit the
soundness of his remarks; but to tell the truth, I
am afraid it is not for want of time, but neglect and
waste of time with me; and then I have had but 3
years' experience in the bee business. Although I
lost two-thirds of my stock last winter, my number
is now good, with an outlay of $10.00 for 10 lbs. of
bees. I had 7 swarms May 1, and now have 31. I
would say to friend H., that we do not all of us have
the education and natural ability to put our bee
talk in writing that he has.
Bees are now booming on buckwheat. They were
idle for 3 weeks after July 15th, except the pollen,
and some honey from corn. The question has been
asked, ia the back Nos. of Gleanings, if bees gath-
er honey from corn. Mine certainly have this year,
and if any of you will call on me, you shall have a
dish of it with some bread and butter to try it. I ex-
tracted 40 lbs. It is as light as white clover, but of
different flavor. M. D. York.
MiUington, Tuscola Co., Mich., Aug. 13, 1881.
If friend Hutchinson did mean you. friend
Y., you want to go to work and let him see
that your bees are not always a bill of ex-
pense. About that corn honey: Did the
bees get it from the common field corn, and
how did they act when they were gathering
itV It is not only interesting, but it is a
very valuable point. If we can raise honey
at the same time we raise corn, it will be a
pretty safe business ; and we know that vast
(luantities of saccharine matter, or grape
sugar, IS contained both in the stalk and ri-
pened grain. If we can get the bees to se-
cure the honey right direct from the waving
field, what a short cut it will be ! I think
this is one of the things that will 1)6 done, in
the next fifty years.
GOOD THINGS IN UTAH.
Last evening, at 5 o'clock, the Feet cage, queen,
and the accompanying bees, all came to hand in good
condition, only one bee dead. The candy seemed to
be quite dry. My wife put a few drops of water on
it, and the bees went for it like so many pigs. I in-
troduced according to directions. I think all is now
right. Bees are doing well here this season, as far
as I have learned. The Italians that I got of you last
season are doing finely. My old neighbor Prince is
500
GLEAI^INGS m BEE CULTURE.
Oct.
doing a " smashing " business this season; has had
S7 swarms, all doing well. Some of his hives have
already given a surplus of over 100 lbs. to the hive.
A part of this luck has come through the ABC and
Gleanings; however, he is one who attends strictly
to business.
The mesquite, I must say, produces the best-
flavored honey that I ever tasted. It is far ahead of
linn or white clover. If you want a start of the
shrub I will send you a package of the beans. No
trouble to get them to grow anywhere. It is a spe-
cies of locust. W. Lancaster.
Washington, "Wash. Co., Utah, Aug. 23. 1881.
Many thanks, friend L. Perhaps a num-
ber of the friends would like to try the mes-
quite, and I presume you will send them to
any one who will inclose a stamp or two for
postage. From your statement, I should say
your locality would compare favorably with
almost any of ours.
ROCKY - MOUNTAIN BEE - PLANT IN ITS NATURAL
HOME, ETC.
I was going to write you that I thought it was all
nonsense to use any smoker at all with Italians; that
is, I did handle mine all summer without any smoke
at all; but the last few days they are behaviug very
ugly, and so I think I had better try a smoker. We
have any amount of Rocky -Mountain bee-plants
growing wild here, but I never see any bees working
on them— only wasps, bumlile-bees, and the like
frequent them. (!. A. St(1RZ.
Stonewall, Las Animas Co., Colo., Aug. 11, 1881.
We have them in our garden every year ;
and although we see some bees on them, it
is never at all like the roar on its near rela-
tive the Spider plant, just at the break of day.
QUEENS FIGHTING IN THE AIR.
I have thought for some time I would give an idea
about the loss of queens on their bridal tour. I am
satisfied that they meet each other in the air, and
there kill each other. Now in future, when j^ou lose
a queen under these circumstances, if you will no-
tice carefully, either you or some of your neighbors
have lost another queen. A. S. Smith.
Atlanta, Ga., Sept. 3, 1881.
You may be right, friend S.; but it seems
to me " all out doors " is almost too large for
the small number of queens any iieighbor-
hood might send out at the same hour in the
day. Drones, you know, go out in thou-
sands, and they, too, instinctively seek and
go after the queens. I should hardly think
queens would seek each other ; for if they
did, nature would seem to be defeating her-
self. Nevertheless, we are glad of the sug-
gestion.
GETTING A YOUNG QUEEN TO TAKE HER BRIDAL
TRIP.
Did you ever try, when having a young queen that
was slow about getting fertilized, taking out the
frame she was on and holding it to the sun to get
her to take a flight? By holding her to the sun from
5 to 10 minutes I have never failed to get them to
take a flight, if they are old enough; and if they
have bad wings, or can not use them well, they will
mostly jump off the frame and try them. I had a
nice young queen that could not fly at first, and by
practicing two or three times I succeeded.
A. H. Duff.
Flat Ridge, Guernsey Co., O., Aug. 19, 1881.
I have noticed the same thing, but I do
not know that I ever put it into practical
use, as you have done, friend I). T have
often seen young queens take wing when
the comb is lield up in the sun, as you sug-
gest. Sometimes it will be noticed, by their
nervous movements, that they are inclined
to fly, for some little time before they take
wing ; and when introducing a fertile queen,
I often see by these same movements when
she is inclined to fly, and prevent it by hasti-
ly getting the comb back into the hive.
THEY "SWARMED AND SWARMED AND SWARMED I"
My bees have done pretty well in the honey line
this season, but not near so well as they would have
done had wo not had so much bad weather through
the clover season. They got into the notion of
swarming, and they swarmed and they swarmed and
they swarmed. I had the queen clipped, and I put
them back and put them back, and it did no good.
They killed some of my best queens, so I had to put
some of them in new hives. It's no use in trying to
keep bees from swarming when you are trying for
box honey. Jonathan D. Hutchinson.
Windsor, Mercer Co., N. J., Aug. 18, 1881.
It is not much use to try to keep them
from swarming by putting them back, I dare
say, friend II.; but there are ways of prevent-
ing swarming pretty well, if you are on hand
and ready for them. JMany "times it may be
best to let them swarm, and go into a new
hive ; but after they get fairly to work, give
them their old combs, with their unflnished
boxes. Above all things, do not let them
get the swarming mania in the flrst place, if
it can be avoided. Promptly removing all
finished boxes just as soon as" they are filled
will do a great deal toward it. I do not be-
lieve i)utting swarms back ever helps mat-
ters very much.
another idea on candy for QUEEN-CAGES.
We clip the following from the Indiana
Farmer: —
Many of our friends seem to have difficulty In
making a candy for queen-cages which will carry
them safely for any length of time Avithout water.
We make ours as follows, and have not had a single
loss during the season, from this cause. We have
part of a barrel of granulated honey, by digging
down in the center of which, that around the sides
of the barrel becomes very dry. To some of this we
add sufficient of " C " sugar to make a very stifi: paste
or candy. We add sugar so long as it will hold to-
gether. " A " sugar will not do so well, as the grain
seems too hard and dry, and seems more inclined to
run, and to daub the bees.
You see the above comes ]>retty near the
Viallon candy; and as it is made Avithout
heat, it is a xery simple and easy thing to
do. Oliver Foster suggested the candied
honey, after being drained, but the addition
of the sugar, I think doubtless an improve-
ment. To make it stay fast in the cage, it
will probably need pressing into auger-holes,
open at one side, similar to those in our
latest Peet cage.
1!EE-STINGS AND RHEUMATISM.
My age is 49; handled bees 8 years; had no rheu-
matism before engaging in the business. My opin-
ion is, that bee-stings make my rheumatism worse;
indeed, I have thought it was the cause of it, and
came near giving it up at one time on that account.
I get several hundred stings during the season. I
1881
GLEA^rnGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
.501
find Italians sting just as badly as the blacks, and
the hybrids sting worse than either. The Italians
are the most hardy, and the best honey-gatherers,
and, taking all together, worth as much again as the
blacks. Bees in Scriven Co., Ga., will make from 6j
to 75 lbs. of honey and their winter stores; that is, if
well attended to. J. W. Johnston, M. D.
Scarborough, Ga., Sept. 7, 1881.
Now, friend J., the above is rather a back-
set on our plans for curing diseases by bee-
stings. I wonder if such is not about the
case with all kinds of medicines. What
cures one man will kill another. Let us
have the facts, no matter whose pet theories
they spoil.
MIST.'VKfiS OF POSTMASTERS.
The smoker, catalogue, and receipt came all right;
but I sent 50 cents for a bee veil. You gave a re-
ceipt for a veil, but if you sent one it did not come.
John McGregor.
New Eagle Mills, Grant Co., Ky., Sept. 5, 1881.
Now, friends, it would seem from the
above that we must certainly be at fault, for
it is almost an unheard-of thing for such an
article as a bee veil to fail to reach its des-
tination, if properly sent ; and so even I set-
tled down to the conclusion that the clerks
must be at fault, and would have no doubt
told them so had not my eye caught sight of
a postscript at the bottom of the letter, in
another handwriting. Here it is:—
p. S.— The bee veil has been overlooked. You
need not send it. It was a mistake in myself that
they did not get it. P. M.
I presume postmasters are fallible, like
other folks; and in view of it, shall we not
be slow in deciding positively who is at
fault y
inserting queen-cells as soon as the queen is
REMOVED.
The proportion of cells torn down when inserted
among mj' bees iimnrdiatdy, is eleven out of every
dozen. M. Frank Taber.
Salem, O., Sept. 1, 1881.
This matter, like introducing virgin queens
just hatched, seems to be dependent upon
the yield of honey, and perhaps some other
causes. At time's, scarcely a cell will be
torn down, even when put in as soon as the
queen is taken out ; at other times, they seem
to be destroyed as above. It seems to me
we should be governed somewhat by the
number of cells M^e have on hand; if a great
plenty that must be taken from the hives,
put them in at once; and if torn down, try
again ; but if you can manage so as to have
your hives queenless a couple of days be-
fore inserting the cells, by all means do so.
The lamp nursery helps us very much in
such cases, for we can leave the hive until
the queen is really hatched, and by this time
they will always accept the young queen.
We have introduced young queens by the
hundred this season, with excellent success,
if we except the few weeks past, while we
have had such a drought.
UPS AND DOWNS IN WISCONSIN.
As other ABC scholars report from time to time,
and as I have not seen any report from Northern
Wisconsin,! will modestly say, that In this town there
were 50 swarms left on their summer stands last
fall; only two came through all right; 23 were in a
cellar, and had good ventilation; 13 wintered. I had
5 on summer stands, packed in sawdust; they came
out with one swarm last spring, and I bought one
more light one. Now I have from those two swarms
7 very heavy ones in good condition for winter.
The most astonishing fact is, we have taken 500
lb3. of honey from them this season, mostly extract-
ed, nearly all light colored. Now, friend Root, my
bees are all Italians, and from that queen I bought
of you ; they are the best race of bees for work in
this vicinity, as others gathered only 100 lbs. per
swarm. We appreciate Gleanings very much, and
especially Our Homes; also Humbugs and Swindles.
I should like to see you, and thank you for your
prompt and fair dealings. Q. M. Torrey.
Shiacton, Wis., Sept. 10, 1881.
Many thanks for your kind words, friend
T.; but I hardly deserve them all. I am
glad to hear the queens we send out produce
good working stocks, but I really do not be-
lieve them any better "strain "than other
people's bees, aside from the advantage that
would probably accrue from importing as
many queens as we do. Five hundred
pounds from two colonies and their increase
is rather '' astonishing."
INTRODUCING BY FRAMES OF HATCHING BROOD.
I was unwilling to risk introducing my queen as
the cage required, so I put her into a nucleus and
gave three frames of capped brood and honey; shut
up entrance, and awaited developments. This
morning about fifty bees had hatched, and among
them, in striking contrast, gleamed the " yellow
queen" and her escorts. I am delighted with my
success so far, and shall let them fly to-morrow, and
begin building up from strong stocks, and feed to
start the queen laying.
I am a " novice" in the business, and have taken
full charge of 13 stocks hero; increased to28 and got
quite a lot of surplus comb in 1-lb. sections. Isn't
that pretty good for one beginning his " t-y-ties "?
A NOVEL PROCESS FOR MAKING MATS, OR WATER-
PROOF CLOTH FOR ANY PURPOSE.
We are using, for coverings for frames, a cloth
prepared by the following recipe, taken from the
Scientific American. No insect will molest it, and it
is a sufficiently water-proof covering for outside
protection:
Dissolve 8 oz. soap in a gallon of boiling soft wa-
ter; thoroughly saturate the cloth; wring out, and
soak the cloth over night in a solution of 10 oz. alum
in one gal. of water; wring out; rinse in Clearwa-
ter, and dry. We find this works well so far.
A. D. Willis.
S. St. Louis, Mo., Sept. 8, 1881.
Your plan of introducing is usually safe,
friend W., but it is expensive, because it is
slow, and usually considerable trouble. Al-
so, a good deal of brood is lost, usually, un-
less you can get combs containing no un-
sealed brood. A little care is required, also,
to see that the queen does not leave the little
cluster before enough bees are hatched out.
The process you give of making cloth fire and
water proof 'is the result of a queer chemical
change ; and since you call attention to it, I
have no doubt but that it would help to pre-
vent the bees gnawing any kind of cloth. I
think you are doing very well indeed, for
the first season.
502
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Oct.
HOW TO MAKE A GLASS FRUIT-CAN INTO A lEEUER.
I send you a tin to put on a one or two quart fruit-
can, with metal rim. Put it on with stick up ; this
gives the bees a chance to get the feed when placed
over the frames. Screw on the rim and try it. You
can see when the feed is out. You can, if you like,
put a M-inch board across the frames, 4 inches wide,
cleated %, to raise it from the frames, and bore two
holes for each can; you can then put four cans on
one board, and keep the rest of the frames closed up.
You could also make the pieces without the stick
by using larger tin, and turning it up '■'» all around,
like a cup. You see, after using the cans you can
fill them with honey and sell them.
Last fall I tried to winter 59 hives ; lost 28 ; that left
31; bought 10 for $40.00; 6 good, 4 poor; outof theSI, I
had 10 good, 10 middling, 11 poor. From 41 1 increas-
ed to 72 hives and 9 nuclei— 81 in all. From them I
got box honey, 600 lbs., and extracted 1700 lbs., mak-
ing 2300 lbs. from 41, and increased 81. I want to
winter 80 hives this coming winter, and I will try to
fix them so they will come out like the burning bush
on the mount before Moses. The Lord bless you,
brother Koot! J. W. Utter.
Amity, Orleans Co., N. Y., Aug. 19, 1881.
Many thanks for your kind words as Avell
as for the feeder, friend U. This feeder is
intended for the kind of glass fruit-cans that
have a metal ring to hold the cover on. The
piece sent is just a circular piece of tin with
holes punched in it, and a piece of wood I
square tacked across it with wire nails. This
bit of wood prevents the collar from being
screwed clear down, and so leaves a passage
for the bees under it. The point made, that
these cans can be afterward washed and sold
with honey in them, is quite important, for
the can is in no way injured, and the coa er
is not used at all.
THE L. FRAME.
In Gleanings for this month, page 4:33, Mr. J. E.
Pond, Jr., says that as far as he knows everybody ad-
mits that the L. frame is the most convenient for
operating. Please say to him that I for one consider
it the most outlanilish, inconvenient, and unhandy
frame I ever undertook to use, and I would not use
them and the hives connected with if I could be fur-
nished them free, and a dollar each for my extra
trouble. I want a frame that I can set on a board
without killing bees on the under side of it; one I
can take from the hive with one hand; one I can
carry three of, when covered with bees, in one hand,
and not hurt a bee; and I can take from the brood-
nest without removing the sections above. When he
can do that with his frame, I will admit they are ap-
proaching mine in convenience of handling.
E. B. SOUTHWICK.
Mendon, Mich., Sept. 3. 1881.
"Why, friend S., one would almost think,
from your vehemence, that some one was
sticking a pin into you somewhere, or that
you had got a i^atent-right bee-hive of your
own, of some kind. Which is itV
AN A B C SCHOLAR IN C.A.NADA.
With much pleasure I lay hold on my pen to in-
form you of our honey season in this part of Canada.
Our season is now nearing the benediction period,
but has been very good thus far. We started in the
spring with one colony of common black bees. This
one colony was tremendously cut up by the frost
and steady winter, and a lack of sulBcicnt honey.
We bought them as a first swarm, but found out
afterward that they were a second. Last j'ear not
being a good honey year, we fed them. Well, we
started with one colony, or, rather, a nucleus, for
they covered only dH frames in the hive. But
through your valuable A B C we have run them up
to 3 good, strong, healthy, active swarms; i. r., if we
know any thing about large swarms. The first one
came out late on Sundaj-, July 27, and the second one
two weeks later on a Sunday morning. The last hive
we supplied with 9 Langstroth frames, filled with
Jones's Dunham fdn., and they now have as much
honey as the other two. We have robbed them of
about 6o lbs of fine surplus comb honey. Strict at-
tention would have given us more, but we are farm-
ers, and afraid of bees, so we contented ourselves
with 60 lbs. Father, however, intends to make bee-
keeping his business, if he lives to get old and child-
ish. The season has been a good one in these parts.
A short distance from here good strong colonies
turned out 90 to 120 lbs. surplus extracted honey.
Accept my thanks for A B C. It has been a world of
good to me thus far. I will make better use of it
next year.
Good comb honey has been retailing here at from
20to35cts. ; extracted, 18 to 22; out of the groceries,
at 30 cts. I could have sold 2000 lbs. at that figure.
Wesley Baer.
Bonmiller, Huron Co., Out., Can., Aug. 30, 1S81.
REPLACING QUEENS SENT BY MAIL.
I do not like to think people dishonest, but there
is a person here who got a queen and put her in the
hive, and was away for a while, and came back, and
I believe she was dead. He sent for another. 1 do
not know whether he got it or not, but I would not
like to get them in that way.
Ont., Can., Sept. 5, 1831.
For obvious reasons, the Avriter of the
above wishes his name withheld. I })resume
it is a fact, tliat Ave who send out queens are
sometimes asked to send another, when it is
not right that we should do so. Sometimes
the receiver reports that the queen came to
hand alive, but feeble, and that although
she lived a day or two, she was finally brougnt
out of the hive dead. It may be a hard mat-
ter to decide whether the queen died from
the effects of her trip, or was killed in intro-
ducing. In the former case, it was the ship-
per's duty to make good : in tlie latter, the
loss of the receiver. How shall we always
decide such mattersV I will tell you my way:
Recognizing that I am selfish, and will be
very likely to see the whole transaction from
a selfish standpoint, I try to take the other
extreme ; and if I err, err on the side of do-
ing a little more than my part, rather than
the other. Accordingly^ I choose to stand
the loss of all queens received by me, that
are sufficiently alive to crawl about, but
when a customer receives one from us in ap-
parently feeble condition, I wish Jiim to put
her into a hive as quickly as possible, and do
the best he can for her; and then if she dies,
as it seems to him, on account of feebleness,
I will send him another. I well know how
natural it is to have thoughts force them-
selves into our mind after you have lost a
queen, that she did not seeni very lively any
way; l)ut I would far rather be wronged a little
issl
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
503
than to run any risk of wronging anybody
else. Money or property that comes from
wronging another can never make one happy.
"WINTERING ■\VITH SErTIONS ON.
There is considerable said about wintering- with
empty sections on. Empty boxes have been put on
box hives here lor j^ears, and counted the best way
to winter bees by many. I know of one box hive out
in the orchard without any other protection, and
sometimes durin<r the winter the wind blew otf this
empty box, and it was left off till spring, the holes
in the top of the hives still open, and the entrance
at bottom of hive opi'ii one-half inch, the width of
hive, causing- a draft or current of air through the
brood-nest most of the winter. Said hive worked
well in spring, and swarmed about two weeks earli-
er than most bees around here.
Limerick, TU., Sept. 7, 1881. E. PKiiCi'.
LOCL-VT HONEV, ETC.
We have had a fearful drought, and crops are
nearly a failure. I extracted 500 lbs. of locust honey,
i>ut have not taken a pound since. Yesterdas' and
to-day they have been bringing in some buckwheat
honey, the first this season, and it seems quite a re-
lief to lay the feeder aside, after having it in con-
stant use for two months.
Gleanings is a very welcome visitor, and is re-
ceived each month with all the pleasure of an old
friend. If, however, you are going to be responsible
for all losses incurred through some scamp who
manages to get an advertisement in Ule.vnings,
and give ever.v fellow a smoker who says he has quit
the use of tobacco (please send largest sized Bing-
ham—eh?), and, I might add, take back all goods
that we awkward chaps can't make go, I am afraid
you can't keep it up to the present standard. By
the way, how many of these smoker men, I wonder,
have sent in their cash? C. G. Knowles.
Portland, Meigs Co., O., Sept. T, 18S1.
You give me more credit than I deserve,
friend K. In my efforts to overcome the
natural selhshness of my nature, I may
have been injudicious, and possibly care-
less ; but to guard against such mistakes,
God has sent good kind friends like yourself
to give me warning. The Tobacco Column
has started quite a wave of reformation in
the riglit way, and now a great many are
breaking off 'without asking for any smoker,
as you will see by the letters. Would you
break such a public promise, friend K., if
you had once given it V
polled; how to qet it out of combs when in
excess.
In September Gle.\nings,H. A. Davis asks how to
get pollen out of combs. I have done it by soaking
the combs for a day in water, and then washing out
with a force pump with a sprinkling nozzle. If he
has not a pump, any tinsmith can make a tube 11 in.
long, l'/2 diameter, with a strainer soldered in one
end. Use a stick with a leather tacked around it
for a plunger. I have one of them, and it works
well, but not so fast as the pump. Stand the combs
on their edges to soak them, or they may break out
of the frames. The water to use with the pump
needs warming a little, as cold water makes the
combs brittle. The water must not be thrown in
the cells with too much force, or it will knock the
bottom out of the cells in new combs. After wash-
ing, put the combs in extractor, and throw the
water out, and they will soon dry.
Please request Frank Boombrower to tell how he
prepares his liees for winter, and hnw he gives them
water. E. I). Howixr..
New Hampton, N. V., Sept. i:., 1881.
Those who are troubled with an excess of
pollen will doubtless prolitby jour ingenious
plan, even though it is considerable work.
A <'eE.4.P COMK CUPBOARD AND FUMIGATING KOOM.
The time has againarrivcd when all surplus honey-
combs should be taken away from the bees and
stored away for another season. As many like my-
self have not a nice tight room exclusively for combs
wherein to hang thein, let me tell how I do manage.
I procure a large dry-goods bo.v which has tight
joints, and one side open; place it on end In the
sliop, woodhouse, or even out of doors, if well cov-
ered. On the inside I then nail cleats to each side,
a little below the top; then make frames of lath,
ripped in two, or something similar; each end of
which rests on the cleats thus:
In this frame I hang my honey-combs, and then
slide it into the box on the cleats. Just below these
combs I nail othercleats, on which I put frames the
same, and so on down to the bottom of the box, each
pair of cleats holding several frames of combs.
Then having the box calked and waxed tight, I hang
the door (formerly cover) on hinges with wire hooks
to hold it shut. To the edges of the box where the
door comes against it I tack a strip of cloth, so that
when it is shut the box is almost air-tight. Thus not
a very large box will hold several hundred combs.
To fumigate them, remove a few combs from the
front bottom tier; take an iron kettle, put in 3 or li
inches of coal ashes; then about a pint of live coals;
place the kettle where the comVts are removed; drop
on to the coals about J4 lb. of sulphur to 40 cubic ft.
of space; shut the door quickly, and in one hour
every worm in those combs will trouble no more.
Combs treated thus about June 1st and August 1st
each year may be kept any length of time, I think.
They should be aired for a day or so before being
given to the bees. S. C. Perry.
Portland, Mich., Sept. 1.5, 1881.
Very good, friend F. We have just had
quite a time with some of our combs, which
we have taken from the bees in August and
September, preparatory to doubling up. We
placed them in the vacated house apiary,
which shuts tolerably tight, but we have had
to brimstone them three times, and I am
afraid a sharp looking would find now and
then a live worm yet. Your plan is right,
and is sure to do the business, and better,
perhaps, than a larger room.
MAPLE SUGAR FOR WINTER STORES.
Will it be safe to feed maple syrup or sugar that
tastes and is somewhat " buddy," or perhaps a little
sour, to bees? Having a quantity on hand, and bees
requiring food, I wish advice before making the
venture. Frank Chase.
Springville, Erie Co., N. Y., Sept. 14, 1881.
Maple sugar, if of e.xcellent quality, might
do for wintering bees, but as it always con-
504
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Oct.
tains more or less caramel, or burnt sugar,
to say nothing of various gummy vegetable
matters, I would not risk using it. Some of
the worst cases of dysentery last winter
were among hives fed" largely with maple
sugar. As its price is nearly, if not quite,
equal to that of coffee A, there would be no
great advantage in it. Better use the gran-
ulated.
A correspondent asks what we think of
the following, clipped from a newspaper : —
CURE FOR RHEVMATISM.
A German bee journal has an article recomraendingbee-stings
as a cure for rheumatism. The wiiter's wife was afflicted with
severe rheumatic pains in the arm. The husband held bees to
her arm, allowing them to comiiletely empty the poison sacs
into the muscles. The succeeding nitilit the lady, for the first
time in six months, enjoyed a g'""! slitp- Tlie arm was swollen
pretty badly the next day, but this riipidly decreased. No rheu-
matic pains have since been felt l>y the lady. Other cases of
similar cures are mentioned by this writer. As the average
honey-bee is always ready to perform his part of the experi-
ment, those inclined to tiy this remedy may do so with " neat-
ness and despatch . ' '
Our friend will see by back numbers and
volumes, that the remedy l;ias not proven
equally successful in all cases ; still, enough
favorable evidence has been furnished to at-
tract considerable attention to the matter.
A WORD FOR THE LOCUST-TREES, ETC.
The bees have done pretty well this season. We
came through the winter with 11; increased to 1.5;
had only 3 natural swarms; one of them went to the
woods. One stand of black."?, worked on Doolittle's
plan, gave me one Simplicity hive, frames L. size,
8 frames to the hive, and IS frames of comb honey;
all the rest did well, but this one made the most
honc.y. This is a great locust country. Blue thistle
and white clover also abound; but the weather was
so unfavorable that they worked but little on white
clover. They just roared on blue thistle for about
10 or 11 weeks, but they worked harder on the locust
this year than I ever saw them work on it before. If
you were here you would not have to plant a locust
grove for your bees, for there are from 3000 to 10,000
trees within a mile of us, and last spring they were
the most beautiful sight I ever saw. Little bushes
not more than 5 feet high were just loaded with
bloom; but it is generally said here that if the locust
blooms heavily the bees will not swarm much.
What can be the cause, unless the bees block the
queen at this time? All of our bees are now in L.
or Simplicity hives. The Holy-Land queen we got
of you is very prolific, and although the bees are a
little smaller than the Italians, I am inclined to
think they will be good honey-gatherers. The Ital-
ians, although they gave me only 60 or 80 lbs. of
honey, they gave me two tine swarms that I would
not like to take $15.00 for.
Your Home Papers are a source of pure delight
here indeed. I really believe 1 could get along now
without Gleanings if it were not for them.
Samuel D. Rutherford.
Kearneysville, W. Va., Sept. 10, 1881.
FRIEND CHURCHILL'S HAPS AND MISHAPS, AND HIS
QUEEN THAT "CACKLED," AND HOW IT ALL
ENDED WELL AFTER ALL.
I must tell you what luck I have had with bees.
Last spring I bought what I thought to be a good
stock, but only one quart of bees and a lot of honey;
as I did not know it would do to look inside a hive, I
bought at chance. Well, it had no queen nor drones
nor eggs, so I bought an L. frame of Mason, at Mc.
Falls, and the bees on it, and bought a dollar queen
from Massachusetts, which proved not to be mated,
as it was quite early, and weather cold; but she
soon got to laying in the two combs, on each side,
next the division -boards; but one month passed,
and the brood that was capped when I bought it did
not hatch; then about that time I found my queen
dead. But they soon had cells, 7 in number, started.
Several bee-men said the brood was dead, so I went
to J. B. Mason and got another frame and bees, and
Italian queen, but they would not fall in love with
her; so I put the frame with cells in another hive,
and caged the queen with the new frame, and in two
days let her loose, and she cackled and went to lay-
ing in a short time. You see, I knew nothing of bees
a few weeks previous, but I did not throw the old
frame away; and don't you think they all hatched
all right? and now I have one hive of 8 frames, and
the other has six frames nearly full of brood and
honey in L. frames, of yellow and clever bees. By
the way, I borrowed some of your GLEANiNGS,which
I read after others were all asleep, which gave me
an insight. The care of bees is a great pleasure to
me, and I mean to make it quite a business. I shall
take a large swarm of Italians from the woods to-
morrow, and hive them in L. frames, and fasten
comb with strips of wood inside. Bees have swarmed
well here this summer, I think.
I forgot to say, that the frame that they said was
dead hatched a fine yellow queen, and her bees are
very fine and gentle. I have a good smoker, and
look my bees over very often, and with care, and
work slowly, so I know just how they are getting
along.
There are many old box hives about here, full of
old black comb and moths. One man has one 15
years old, and has not taken a bit of honey nor bees
from it, and the hive will divide itself, as it is nearly
all moss, and leans hard the wrong way. Now, what
is the use of such a course as that? I think I could
have made a number of good ones, and had them
Italianized, if I am only a new hand. You may put
this in Gleanings if j'ou like, and I wish to know
what kind of a bee-man you think I may be in time.
E. P. Churchill.
West Minot, And. Co., Me., Sept. 13, 1881.
I think you promise very well for a bee-
man, friend C'.; but, begging your pardon, I
want to protest against you, or any one else,
saying n queen was sent you that was not
f eitilized. As queens often refuse to lay for
a week or more after a journey, no one has
any means of knowing ; and it is a hard im-
putation against the honesty of the breeder.
Will you not please bear it in mind, my
friends?
MOLDED FOUNDATION.
The sample of "thin molded fdn. for comb honey"
you mention on page 426 came from us, and was
made upon our new plaster fdn. mold, the casts of
which were taken from patterns of very perfect
and thin fdn. received from C. Dadant & Sons. I be-
lieve I sent you my price list, containing samples of
both thick and thin fdn. I have used the Dadant
style for both, but like the D. S. Given equally well
for brood combs. My new metallic molds will work
as rapidly and perfectly, I think, as the plaster.
They are moistened by means of a pad made for the
purpose. I hope to furnish them within two months.
Oliver Foster.
Mt. Vernon, Linn Co., Iowa, Sept. 19, 1881.
1881
GLEAi^^INGS IN BEE CULTURE.
605
QUEEH-CELLS NOT ALWAYS AN INDICATION OF
QUEENLESSNESa.
I have been wanting' to write to you before this,
but was afraid j-ou would place mo Id the Qrowlery,
ns I had nothln^f pleasant to write. I am one of
your ABC scholars, and a poor one at that. I re-
ceived 2 queens from Mr. Hayhurst, which I intro-
duced all right. About fifteen days after, I found her
In there all right, and the combs well filled with
eggs. 'When I looked again the other day to see if
her beej had hatched out, I found that they had
started queen-ceils and one already sealed up, which
made me believe that they had killed her. The
other one Is all right. Now, what do you think
made the bees kill their queen, after being In there
about 18 days? F. It. Leifeste.
Mason, Mason Co., Tex., Sept. 9, 1881.
Friend L., your queen may be there still,
all ri^ht ; for you will see, by back numbers,
that it is not a very rare thing for bees to
raise another queen while they have a good
laying one, and colonies that will keep doing
this are especially valuable. Whenever you
Hnd cells started, with plenty of eggs in the
hive, you may be pretty sure the old queen
IS somewhere around. Jiees do sometimes,
however, especially in the fall of the year,
when little honey is coming in, kill a queen
and rear one of their own, even after she has
been laying a week or two. The only rem-
edy I know is to feed them a little every day
until all hands are in a prosperous condi-
tion, and feeling pleasant and friendly.
TOBACCO COLUMN.
a HAVE used tobacco for years, and have con-
cluded at last to accept your olTcr and quit; bo,
send me such a smoker as you would use, and
I pledge myself that, if I use tobacco again, to so In-
form you, and at the same time pay you for the
smoker sent me, and four others tobo given to some
others who can be Induced to quit the filthy hnblt of
using tobacco. It Isn't the smoker that I caro about
— no, sirl I expect to see the time in the next 4 or 6
weeks when I would give a dozen smokers if I had
not pledged myself. I expect nature to make a
strong demand for the weed; but I mean to con-
quer, and this promise to you, I think, will help mo,
together with my pride in the power of my wlU. 8o,
send along the smoker, and I will let that do my
future smoking for me. J. E. Pond, Jh.
North Attleboro, Bristol Co., Mass., Aug. 2, 1881.
I*ertaliili>B to J3cc Culture.
We respectfully solicit the aid of oar friends in conducting:
this department, and would consider it a faror to have them
»end ua all circulars that hare a deceptive appearance. The
greatest care will be at all times maintained to pi-event Injustice
Being done any one.
I have been a slave to tobacco for over 30 years;
have been a reader of Ole-VNixos 3 years. Some
time in January I quit chewing, but have not quit
smoking yet, but Intend to soon, with the help of
Ood. I do not want you to send me a smoker to
quit, but I thought it might encourage you to know
that you were doing some good, even when you don't
send Emokers. The Home Papers have helped me a
great deal In my Christian life. They strengthen
my faith In prayer to Almighty Ood. I know that
God will answer our prayers if we pray arioht. Re-
member me In prayer to God, and ask him to help
me quit tobacco entirely; also every thing that is
displeasing to him. Go on with the good work; and
may God bless yoa abundantly. Is the prayer of your
brother In Christ. David Pratt.
And it does encourage me, friend P., more
than you know, perhaps. I have, as I have
often told you, felt that God was guiding
this department, and your kind letter shows
how he 13 guiding it. Jlold on to his strong
arm ; look forward and up, and never look
back, nor even tkinl- back.
^ RECEIVED some booksofa ctrtain N.C. Mitch-
H ell, of Indianapolis. I suppose he would try me
as he did many others. My father sent him
$15.00 for a honey-extractor, etc., but received only
a few old boards, worth 50 cents, as my brother has
told me. I will send you a few of the Iwoks to let
you know what Sir. Mitchell has to sny alx)ut you,
and I hope you will answer the man in Gleanincs,
from A to Z.
In regard what Mr. M. says of queens, I have to
say as much In/ai-orofyours. The tested queen re-
ceived 4 or 5 years ago, and a dollar queen later,
were real beauties in every respect; and the prog-
eny of the dollar queen are red-clover bees In the l)e«t
sense; very gentle, large, and Industrious. I am
certain I would not give that dollar queen for a
115.00 queen of M., If tiis bees are no better than his
writing. Our bees are doing well.
P. Stephen Stesoeii.
St. Melnrads, Spencer Co., Ind., May 19, 1881.
Many thanks, friend t?., for your warm
championship of my poor self. 1 do not be-
lieve there is any need of any answer to
^vhat Mitchell says. His own actions are
answers enough. It seems to me your fa-
ther did unusually well in getting even old
boards for his §15.00. AH of Jlitchell's cir-
culars are sent to me as soon as out, by dif-
ferent friends, and so are almost all other
suspicious circulars in the bee business.
$chs and Qum^s.
nONET BEPOBT rOR 1881.
€[^OMMENCED In spring with 20 colonics; In-
tj creased to C3; extracted 163J lbs. comb honey;
In sections, 100 lbs.; total, 1733 lbs. Used no
separators with starters of pieces of comb. Have
bought all my fdn. of H. A- Burch, of South Haven,
for3year8, which proved satisfactory.
Home, Mich., Sept. l.i, issl. J. CnxPicks.
I have taken over U» lbs. of honey from my bees
this summer, and biul only 4 swarms In the spring.
New Woodstock, N.T., Sept. 16, •«!. O.aMoMa.
We sold the rest of our honey last week, at 12 eta.
— 9om e 4000 lbs. We got 105 1 bs. to t he hi ve.
Strulhroy, Can., Atig. 15, '81. J. lltrrHERroRD.
a good nECono.
Please discontinue my name in the 11.00 queen
line, as I have sold all I have to spare this fall. 1
have filled all orders up to date, and I wish to step
out of the ranks till another season. If anybody has
not received the worth of bis money from me, I am
ready to make amends. L. W. Vaskirk.
Washington. Pa., Sept 12, 18?1.
.50G
GLEAKIKGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
Oct.
nUTTER-WKED.
Inclosed please find a package of seeds which we
call butter-weed. It grows in abundnnce on our al-
luvial meadows, blooming in the fall, and is the
greatest honey producer thiir we have.
Hknrv IUssf.'ct.
Salem, N. J., Sept. n, 1881.
I received a quocii in place of the missing one
nil Friday last. T have her in the hive now:
she was a beauty. I ha<l good lutk this titn(.'. 1
lost but one out of the dozen. Thcyare laying finely.
I feed the bees a little while introducing, andlthink
it reconciled them a little; but the Peet cage, T
Think, had more to do with it. I think it is "boss."
J. D. HOTC'HrNSON.
Windsor, Mercer Co., N. Ji, Sept. V). 1881.
^(Ur can't always teia. by the i.uOks how kau
A TOAD CAN .lUMP.
The last queen that you shipped mo arrived in
good order, and I was very much pleased with her.
The queen that I did not like turned out to be a very
fine (inc. She has her hive full of as line bees as I
ever saw. The last one has young bees also, just as
good as I want them. I was too hasty in saying that
the first one was a hybrid. It won't do to judge
them by their looks. John W. GntniB.
Gainesville, Allen Co., Ky., Sept. 7, 1881.
BUCKWHEAT.
I saw In Aug. Gleanings that you were short of
silverhuU buckwheat for seed. If you should want
any from Canada, I think I could send you about one
hundred bushels, or perhaps more, for about 70 cts.
per bushel, bags included. It is all from the seed
I got from you two years ago. .1. R. Tennant.
Richmond, Oxford Co., Ont., Can., Aug. 15, 1881.
[Wo think the freights and duties would prevent
our using the buckwheat, but perhaps some of our
readers may be glad of it.
The bee-keepers in this vicinity have again "niUied
to the standard " since the great fatality of bees
last winter. Many wh^lost all their "seed"' have
not yet given up the ** ghost." Those who love the
beautiful in nature have purchased colonies to take
the place of their predecessors. Of the 30 colonies
which brought sunshine and recreation to our home-
stead the previous season, but one lone colony re-
mained to tell the story; and its family record
was ''blurred " with the words, " Dead, dead, dead."
With careful attention, we have increased to four
tiy natural and artificial swarming.
E.J. HlNSHAW.
Lynn, Uandolph Co., Ind., Sept. 10, 1881.
<iUEEM LAYING.
U'e have an Ohio lady settled on our island at
last. She reached here Friday, Sept. 2, at t p. >[.
Hers was a funeral cortege, as her escort was dead.
Her ladyship was the only survivor. At once I
placed her in a queenless colony. Next morning,
Saturday, found her out and balled. Kecaged her
and fastened cage firmly to comb with transferring
wires. Sunday yet in the cage; Monday morning
^jf'her bees in the cage, but no queen. I soon found
r whose majestic step showed ^er royal lineage,
■*' showing a great fondness for their new mother
■ i persistent eSort to be near her.
JAS. A. >y)liTE.
orgiana, Brevard Co,, Fla., Sept. 5, 1881.
IMPHOVEMENT IN APPEARANCE OF QUEENS AFTIR
INTRODUCING.
The queen came all right, but the bees with her
were dead; have got her introduced all right, and
she io a beauty. She is one-third larger this morn-
ing than she was yesterday morning when she came.
Pitt^ton, Pa., Aug. 13, 1881. J. 11. Mo,si«R.
[[ have given the above to induce some of the
friends not to be loo hasty in condemning queens
when tirst rccei\cd, especially after a hard trip.l
PROMPTNESS.
I don't know that I want to be put into the Growl-
cry, but I can't have any patience with those who
advertise, and then are so very slow about filling
their orders. 1 have ordered of five different par-
ties who advertise in Gleanings, and in only two
cases have they been decently prompt in filling their
orders. I don't inlnd their keeping iny order one
week; but where the time lengt hens Intof our weeks,
there is certainly something wrong. Either they
should not advertise, or they should keep a stock so
fcey could fill their orders. Geo. A. Deming,
- Amboy, 111., Auti: Hi, 1881.
One of the queens was pure, the other hybrid. I
bought five queens this season — rJ from you, as
above, "i each from two other men. Four out of
five hybrids. How docs it come? Are queen-rearers
careless, or are black bees in the ascendency? Bees
seem to be gathering honey fast, notwithstanding
the drought. I think they get it from smartweed,
iis there seems to be no other source.
S. C. LyilARGER.
(JangfS, Ohio, August ™'j, ISHl.
II am sorry to hear so many dollar queens prove
hybrids. Those wo haAC bought and tested in our
own apiary seem to turn out more hybrids this year
than ever. It is somewhat owing, perhaps, to the
way In which every thing in the shape of ii bee-hive,
that wintered thrnu>jh, has been saved and made
the most (if.l
K(iGS THAT NEVER HATCH.
I send you a fine Italian queen; she began to lay
on the 10th day, .Tuly 1st, 1881, in full colony, and has
been layiug ever since, but iii)f an rua 'i<i« ''i.rr
hatrlutl. There are no drones in the hive. J. B.
Brogan raised several queens of same kind last sea-
son. S. W. MOHRISON.
Oxford. Pa., Sept. 12, 1881.
[Such queens are found once in a great while, and
have been noticed in our back numbers. I do not
know that we ever had more than one, and her eggs
had a rather shriveled appearance. It seems a lit-
tle strange that your neighbor should have had sev-
eral of that kind. Absence of drones should pro-
duce only drone-laying queens.]
My bees beganabout July 20 bringing in pollen of a
greenish-yellow or yellowish-green color. The hon-
ey smclled very strong. Just at night we could
smell it 20 or 30 feet' from hives. They worked on it
through the first week in this month. From the de-
scription, what do you think they are working on'/'
[I can not suggest what your bees were working
on. friend H.; but If I were you I would follow them
and find out.]
Does a queen that hatches 1' 9 days differ in
shape from one that hatches "or longer?
[A queen hatched from lai . j old before It is
started for a queen, has much more the appearance
of a worker, and we sometimes find them so nearly
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
.507
like a worker that it is ililHcult to decide they arc
queens at all, except by the attention the bees give
them.]
Bees have done quite \rell here this summer. I
look for another bad time the coming winter, as they
are filling their combs too much with pollen.
E. D. Howell.
New Hampton, Orange Co., N. Y., Aug. 16, 18S1.
[Perhaps it would be well to remove the combs
eonlaining most pollen, before feeding up for win-
ter.]
I would like to know what make and grade of
grape sugar Mr. D. H. Tweedy feeds his bees, and
if his bees do not carry some of it out of the hive
when he feeds it dry?
[[ may be mistaken, but 1 think it was the Buffalo
A that he got of us. I ha\o never known bees to
carry (jraiic suijar out dry.]
Will sweet clo^•er and figwort seed grow if thrown
in the grass on the roadside?
[Sweet clovor will often do well, scattered by the
roadside; but the tigwort will not make its way to
any extent without cultivation and protection.]
Caubasswood be gmwn from the seed, and how is
it to be planted?
[Basswoodis very difficult to grow from the seed.
Better get small trees from the forests ]
Do catbirds and blue-jays catch bees?
E. D. Howell.
New Hampton, N. Y., Sept. 15, 1S81.
[Ulue-jays most assuredly catch bees, and, if I am
not mistaken, catbirds have lieen tried and found
guilty of the ?anie offense. Shoot them and exam-
ine their crops. If you find any bee-stings, you are
SHre it was worker bees and not <lrones they con-
sumed.]
MR. ITIERR^BANKS AND HIS NEIGH-
BOie.
Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou
didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten
thyself before thy God, thy words were heard.—
Dax. 10 : 12.
ET was Saturday. .John's father sat out
by the house/siiiolving as usual. I have
— ' mentioned, that tliey had secured a
small amount of honey from their bees, be-
sides increasing to get bees to cover the
empty combs. A\ ell, John's mother had, by
the aid of an extractor, also secured a stone
crock full of most thick, beautiful, crystal,
basswood honey, which she had purposed
saving for family use. However, as her hus-
band was out of work, or at least thought he
was, there was very great need of a little
cash to supply the needs of the table, and
to get even clothing to make the children
decent, when they went to Sunday-school.
As a last resort, she had decided to sell this
crock of nice honey, and so John had been
up to the grocery with a small sample of it.
The grocer ottered IH cents per lb., in con-
sideration of its being extra nice, and be-
cause the dry weather had made not only
honey, but fiuit and all kinds of sauce, very
scarce. As the crock was quite heavy,
friend Merry banks had volunteered to take
it up town, if John would set it out by the
gate, where it would be handy to set into
his buggy as he came along. A white clean
cloth had been tied over the top to keep out
dust ; and as John's father sat in sight, no-
body seemed to think but that it was safe
enough. It was not many minutes, howev-
er, before a sleek-looking cow of inquiring
disposition came along. She looked this
way and that, as she came along the road,
and tinally ventured cautiously to walk slow-
ly up and smell of the crock and its contents.
She seemed satisfied with her investigations,
apparently, for after one or two sniffs she
wound her tongue around a loose corner of
the cloth, much as she would a' nice tuft of
grass, and, giving it a dextrous pull, tipped
crock and contents down on to the round
hard stones below. I think I will just give
you a picture of that cow. Here it is:—
THE ( OW AND THE CROCK OF IIOXEY.
John's father saw her, from the first; but
his tobacco had so stupefied his senses, driv-
ing away diUl care. I suppose, that it did
not occur to him she might do any harm,
until the crock was down and broken. Now
he roused up. and came out swinging his
arms, shouting,
'■ Whay ! go 'long there, you old brute I"
Ilis cries brought John and- his mother,
and she, with tears in her eyes that she
could not keep back, made an effort to
save some of the honey with the dirt, by
scraping it into a piece of the broken crock.
Just at this crisis friend M. and his wife
came up in the buggy, and while John's fa-
ther still stood by smoking his pipe, friend
M. was out in an instant; and not until ev-
ery particle of earth or stones containing a
drop of honey was scooped up, did he stoj)
to even talk about it. A good swarm of
bees was raised up, and an empty Simplicity
hive placed under them. Then a second Sim-
plicity hive was placed over the colony, and
the pans containing the dirt and honey were
placed in this upper story. All of the stones
and lumps of earth that could be handled
were placed on the frames. As the bees
licked off the honey, the dirt crumbled and
fell through to the bottom hive; and finally
the whole contents of the pans were turned
over on the frames also, fresh combs being
508
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Oct.
given the bees as fast as they needed more
room. The honey was eventually saved, but
it took several days to get it done, and its
flavor was spoiled for any thing but bee
food. Had it been sold at the grocery, each
pound of honey would have bought granula-
ted sugar enough for two pounds of better
and more wholesome food for tlie bees.
A-fter the honey was disposed of, friend M.
gave them a good-natured lecture on care-
lessness. His wife ventured to suggest that
accidents would sometimes happen, any way.
"But, my friends, accidents, the greater
part of them, need not haiH^en."
''Yes," chimed in John's father. "If
I^ncle Billy, the rich old curmudgeon, would
keep his cows shut up, instead of roaming
the streets, preying on the property of poor,
hard-working men like myself, there would
not be such accidents."
Uncle Billy was the rich man of the neigh-
borhood, and it was talked about that he let
his cattle run in the streets when the grass
got liigh, presuming that no one would in-
terfere, just because he was rich. Mr. M.
therefore began as follows :—
'• Look here, neighbor : it is (piite likely
that Uncle Billy has his faults, like all the
rest of us ; but it is a very bad way to get
into, of complaining of onr neighbors when
any thing goes wrong. It is a great deal
better to form a habit of shouldering what
seems to us to be a little more than oursliare
of every such transaction. Talking about
neighbors' faults seldom makes them any
better ; but talking about our own sins and
shortcomings, in the proper spirit, almost al-
ways brings about more or less of reform."
" But, neighbor M., you don't pretend to
say that we were in any way at fault for the
C3w being in the street and pulling the crock
of honey over V ''
" I do mean you were considerably at fault
in setting anything so valuable and fragile
in any such exposed public \)lace. It is true,
I never should have thougiit of a cow being
in the street, nor of her taking any such mis-
chievous notion into her head : but I should
have had a sort of instinctive dread of leav-
ing that crock standing in that way, outside
the fence, and this same feeling would have
prompted me to put it i)i a place of safety, or
ask somebody to watch it."
" Father sat right in plain sight of it,
smoking his pipe, when I i)ut it there," sug-
gested John, who, human like, had a sort of
fancy for shoving the blame off on somebody
else, even though that somebody else was
his own father.
Friend M. looked at the pipe, and then at
his wife, in a sort of undecided way, as if he
were questioning within himself whether it
would be well, or do any good, to attack
again that old subject of tobacco, but evi-
dently concluded to risk it. and proceeded, —
"Neighbor, will you pardon the liberty, if
I say a word more about that pipe of yours V"
John's father good-naturedly removed the
pipe from his mouth, and, holding it off a
little, while he contemplated it with a smile
and a sort of twinkle in his eye, said, —
" By all means, friend M. : say any thing
about the p;"pe you choose," seeming to inti-
mate that, so long as he blamed the pipe,
and not himself, it would be all right. His
friend, however, seemed to have no purpose
of letting him off in that way, for he went
on, —
" Well, what I wished to say was this :
that, had your senses not been dulled by the
fumes of that pipe, you would have seen
that cow in time to have frightened her
away, and thus saved all this honey your
wife has thought so much of."
Friend M. here stopped abruptly, and be-
gan feeling in his pockets, lirst one and then
the other. Finally he stood up and began
fumbling in his coat-tail pockets. At this
crisis of the proceeding, old Dobbin evident-
ly thought they had talked long enough, at
least on one subject ; and, deciding that fur-
ther forbearancs had ceased to be a virtue,
with sudden vehemence made a vigorous
push to go on. The effect was, in spite of
Mrs. M.'s efforts to the contrary, to throw
our rotund friend violently backward. In
his efforts to save himself he stuck out his
feet, but, alas ! they did not quite reach the
dash-board, and by the time he was fairly
on his back on "the seat, his feet stuck
straight up in the air. His feet and ankles,
although without question highly useful to
himself, at least, were so far from being or-
namental that, in spite of the evident dan-
ger, the children burst out laughing ; and as
his good wife, while she held old Dobbin
with one hand, took the other and pushed
the aforesaid feet and ankles down into
their proper position (thus bringing him
straight up on the seat), the rest joined
heartily in the laugh also. Even John's
mother laughed through her tears at his
queer, surprised look, until she almost cried
again; and then when friend ]SI. joined in,
the rest took another start, until old Dobbin
looked around to see if it were really true
that everybody had gone crazy, when there
was certdinly nothing to laugh at, at all.
Honest old IJobbin had his views of the fit-
ness of things as well as other people ; and
the oats at home that he would have had
long before this were to him more sensible
and substantial than any thing that all this
talk amounted to. If the truth were told,
he had played a more important part in the
morning's proceedings than any one there,
except John's father, was perhaps aware of;
for at the disputation about this tobacco,
John's father had begun to be violently
angry; after the laugh, however, he so far
forgot it that he was the first one to ask for
that wonderful something that was to come
out of the coat-tail pocket.
" Why," said friend M., " here it is. It is
a little pamphlet, sold for 3 cents by Health
Reformer, Battle Creek, Mich., that I wish
to read from." Bidding Dobbin be quiet,
he adjusted his specs and read as follows : —
TOBACCO-USING PnOMOTES CHEEHFULXESS.
Tobacco stupefies, intoxicates, narcotizes; if this
is cheerfulness, then we may indorse the lines of the
poetic lover of the article who sang,
Deprive the tobacco-chewer of his qnid, or the
smolier of his idolized pipe, and marls how soon his
cheerfulness disappears. How suddenly he awakes
to all the perplexities and irritations of life, like a
person awakening from sleep.
The drunkard feels happy while sipping his bowl
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
.509
of steaming sling; but how does he feel the next
morning after a •• spree"? A more wretched crea-
ture is scarcely imaginable. The tobacco-user does
not find hi3 real status so often, because he is drunk
nil tlic time, and thus mistakes his comfortable feel-
ing for cheerfulness. A very low grade of enjoy-
ment.
IT IS THE POOR man's ONLY LrXURY.
Would-be philanthropists put in the plea for to-
baccd that it is the only luxury which poverty al-
lows the poor laborer who toils for a dailv pittance.
With tobacc^^c feels contented with his lot. To
him it is fiwKt raiment, riches, and contentment,
for it readers him oblivious to the lack of any and
all of them. How cruel, then, to take from him such
a boon:
Suppose all men were rendered thu? stupid and in-
sensible, incapable of aspiring to any condition high-
er, nobler, or better, than that in which circum-
stances or fortune placed them? How soon would
complete stagnation ensue! How soon would all
progress cease 1 and how quickly would the world
relapse into the barbarism of the Middle Ages!
As he got to the end, Dobbin shook his
head and made such a vigorous effort to go
on. that it was hard t.. keep him still ; but
Mrs. M., to everybody's surprise, declared
that she had a word to say.
"By all means, let us hear it,'" said they
all.
"It is just this. I fear my husband has
given you the impression that we never have
any accidents in our home, and that all he
does is always all rifjht. and that he never
does careless or thoughtless things. .John,
will you please tell them about that nice
case of sections you had picked out Avith so
much pains, to take to the fair?""
" There were 4Ssections. and they weighed
38 lbs.;"' and he stopped there, with a sort
of sly twinkle in his eye. *
" But you want to be honest, now. and go
on and tell the rest."
" Well, they were very nice and straight
and true and white and perfect.""
" Yes ; but go on and tell it all."'
"I didn"t get the tirst premium.'"
"Now, that isn"t frank and honest. Tell
them why you did not take the premium.""
" I concluded not to take them to the fair.""
"Now look here; if you do not tell it
straight, I will."'
" Well, the cover got left ofE, and the bees
got in."
"You mean, that you left the cover off
yourself, and — "'
" Well, have we not got all the honey in
the hives?""
Dobbin here concluded the rest might do
as they chose, but that he was going home ;
and oif he went, and nobody stopped him
this time.
-John's mother felt sad during the day :
but under it all seemed to be a sort of bright
something — something like a promise that
made her light at times, in spite of herself.
Toward night, a neighbor brought her a
new bright half-dollar for some washing she
had done ; and as she had been wondering
how they should get the means to purchase
some butter needed during the Sabbath, she
gave her husband the plate and asked him
to get it for her at the grocery. A crowd
was lounging about as usual Saturday night,
and he, instead of doing his errand and
passing on, stopped to hear what they were
saying. The talk seemed to be on the
amount of beer a man might drink at one
time. The keeper of the grocery-store was
evidently quite an interested listener, for
the subject seemed to promise to him the
sale of quite a lot of beer. The doctor said
he could drink three glasses without trouble.
The shoemaker said he would drink four if
any one would pay for it.
" Suppose you fail." said one.
" Then I will pay for it myself."
"And drinks for the crowd?" said an-
other.
The talk then went on, and banter after
banter followed until the doctor said he
would drink eight glasses if any one would
pay for it. and drinks for the crowd: as is
usual, no one of those present had any
money; but one of them, noticing the half-
dollar our friend had in his fingers, whis-
pered,—
•' Take him up ! He knows he can't do it.
Why. it is an utter impossibility. He won't
hurt himself: let's see the fun."
Poor, weak man 1 Thinking, of course,
there was no chance of losing his poor wife's
hard earnings, lie was coaxed into it, as
many another weak man has been. I pre-
sume he had forgotten the little text his chil-
dren had been repeating about being coaxed
by sinners.
My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.—
Prov. 1:10.
Tbe doctor, with a self-complacent smile,
stepped up and said. —
'• Gentlemen, here is to your health. That
is onp glass. And that is another,'' and so
on with the whole eight. The grocer was
careful to set out only what beer the half-
dollar would i)ay for. I am glad to say, to
the credit of John's father, that he did not
drink any. What should he do? How
could he ever take that emptyiplate, and go
home facing that mild, patient, blue-eyed
Avife of his, and tell her he had fooled the
money away she "worked so hard and wearily
for, just to see one man make a brute of
himself ?
He wisely concluded to go home and tell
his wife the whole truth, and ask her to
have faith in his resolution to keep entirely
away from the whole lot of such compan-
ions" in the future. Although there was a
tear in her eye, she told him to let it go and
never mind: that if it resulted in his hold-
ing aloof from that class of men, it was
probably a half-dollar well spent. Her kind-
ness was the severest blow of all. He could
have borne scolding and fault-finding far
better than this treatment. To use one of
his own expressions, it cut him up terribly.
He thought of new resolutions, and of what
his friend had said about his tobacco. He
thought how self-denying his wife was, and.
for that matter, his whole family, and of
how much comfort his tobacco moiiey would
procure for them all. " Oh if I could only
break off!" bethought. He had tried be-
fore. In fact, he liad made many resolu-
tions, but none had ever been kept very long.
In his inmost soul he felt that it would be
folly to promise any more. He knew it was
actions that were needed, not words. Where
did his wife get her new-found strength ?
Had that Bible he had so often seen her
reading, of late, any thing to do with it ?
-)10
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Oct.
He knew its teaclungs were right, and what
he needed ; but he had little faith that he
could ever live up to any of them. Could
God have any patience or care for one so
Aveakly wicked as himself? lie went and
sat out by the door. For once in the world,
the thought of his pipe was distasteful. In
fact, it galled him to think of ii. JJefore
bedtime, .John came up to his mother's side,
as w'as his custom, and as lie remembered
the events of the day, he said,—
'' Don't feel bad about the honey, mother;
I wiW try awful hard to get some work, and
I will work so hard that they will ail want '
me ; and you see if I don't pay it all back to
you."
The innocent, childish remark, cut him to
the quick again. It seemed to occur to him
all at once, tliat God had put into the mouth
of his little boy the very words he wanted
spoken to him. He moved out among the ;
bee-hives and sat down there. Even the !
hum of the insects toiling inside their hives
seemed a reproof to him. It seemed plain
to him now why he had not been sought af-
ter when hands were wanted. He was not
a profitable hand. His whole end and pur-
pose had not been to serve his employer and
get the work along, but rather to have the
hours pass until (juittiug time. His own
work, even, was neglected and undone. I
Some thing seeined to say to him that peo-
l)le could hardlv exi)ect him to work faith-
fully for them when lie was too lazy to do
his own work. His whole past life seemed
stretching out before him. The thought of
it and the sight of it galled him until he
could bear it no longer. Down on his knees
he knelt, alone in the night. It was not
mucli of a prayer; but the words, ''God
have mercy on pie a sinner, and help me to
be a lietter man," were carried above, and
recorded in the book of life.
The minute he ix)se to his feet, a fear seized ,
him that this wn)nld pass away, like other
resolutions, and this caused a desire to spring
up that he might have some thing given him
to do at once, right there in the night. God
heard the thought.* and as quick as a Hash
liis scanty woodpile rose up before him. ,
Straight to it he went at once, and before 10
o'clock that Saturday night every stick was
(■utup into nice stove lengths, even includ-
ing the hard sticks that John had cht)pped
at in vain, and tried to split for a year back,
.ifter that the yard was raked clean and
smooth, a great "portion of the wood carried
in, and the rest piled up nicely for the Sab-
bath. His wife supposed it was done be-
cause he felt so much ashamed at the loss of
the half-dollar, and of course she felt happy
to see him show his penitence in such a
practical way. I need hardly tell you he
was happy, as well as tired ; but he said
very little, for the new guiding spirit seemed
to say, " Let actions speak, rather than
words.''
Sunday morning he was uv before sunrise,
and, instead of the morning i)ipe, he pro-
ceeded at once to make himself as clean as
possible. As he did not forget to include
*And It shall come to pass, that before they call. T
will answer: and while they are yet speakiug, I will
hear.— Is.v. 05:*„'4.
his tobacco-stained mouth in the general
scrubbing, it took the best part of an hour.
Such clothes as he had were scrupulously
clean, and after he had them on, ready for
church, he really looked fit to be kissed, not
only by little Mary, but by his wife too, even
though the recollection of yesterday was
still rresh in the mind of both. I tell you, a
nice clean papa, clean both in body, soul,
mind, and spirit, is seldom unai)preciatedby
any child. Well, our friend, while resolv-
ing that the Sabbath was to be a day of rest
from the labors of the week, felt that God
did not intend that it should be a day of
idleness for him, at any rate. He began
looking about the house for some lesson-
helps for the coming Sabbath-school; but
as all they had in the house were for juve-
niles, his wife suggested that he might go
over to friend Merrybanks for some thing
that would prepare him better for the Bible-
class. She seemed instinctively to feel his
present longing for some thing to do was the
promptings of the voice of God. As he made
known his request with a happy, good-
natured smile on his face, friend M. could
not help thinking, '' Except ye become as
little children, ye can not enter the kingdom
of heaven." With his wife's little Bible, and
the paper that had been loaned him, he was
so busily engaged he hardly thought of
breakfast at all until summoned by a hand
laid lovingly on his head. Fresh eggs, with
mealy potatoes, soft light bread, and, ts sure
as you live, a plate of nice yellow butter.
Did God send that too V Across the table,
up on the mantle, in plain sight, lay that
old pipe.
And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the
ground, and breathed iutn his nostrils the breath of
fife; and man became a living soul.— Genesis 2:T.
Truly was he made " of the dust of the
ground;" but since the moment he had
knelt out in the darkness the night before,
God had been breathing into his soul " the
breath of life."
OR HONZY PLANTS TO BE NAMED.
NCLOSED flndparts of ahoney-plant thati would
like to know the name of, and how to raise it
by cultivation. The plant grows to the height
of 3 feet, and is found growing wild in the timber,
and blossoms from middle of July till last of August,
and bees work on it all daj', and more than they do
on the Simpson honey-plant (that also grows wild
here). 1 tried to grow it from the seed, but it did
not come up for me. Jacob Sills.
Cedarville, 111., Aug. 5, 1S8I.
Answer by Prof. Beal.
This is Veronica T'i'r!/uiic((, Culver's root. Culver's
physic; common on bottom land, and in rich woods.
It belongs to the large order t<cr( phulariarca:, tig-
worts, which also contains mulleins, linaria, or toad
flax, snap-dragon, figwort (scrophidaria nodosa),
which some bee men have recently called Simpson
bee-plant; also pentstemon,mimulus, speedwell, ger-
ardia, lousewort, and others. Prof. W. J. Beal.
Agricultural College, Lansing, Mich,, Aug. 11, 1881.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
511
§ur f cip#.
So fight I, ns not beatiujar the air: hut I buffet my
body, and bring it into bondngo: lest by any means,
after that 1 have preached to others, I myself should
be rejected.— I. CoR. 0:26, 27, New Version.
S I sit down this morning to write Our
Homes, it is with a feeling of sadness
in my heart, because of the news just
at hand, that our I'resident is dead. Sad-
ness and gloom are resting over our nation.
Had he died of a natural sickness there
Avould have been sorrow, but not just the
kind of sorrow we have now. Wickedness,
Iniquity, and crime, are in our land and in
our midst ; and although we call ourselves a
Christian people, it would almost seem as
though the one Avho accepts the office of
chief ruler of our land , even by the Avish and
voice of the people, Accepts it at the risk and
peril of his life.
In our Sabbath- school of late we have
learned how God, in olden times, destroyed
nations for their wickedness and disobedi-
ence. Most of us well remember how God
punished us during our civil war, by taking
the life blood of our firstborn ; and how do
we know that some great calamity will not
sweep our land again, if this stream of evil
is not in some way arrested V A few weeks
ago I visited the Reform School at Lansing,
Mich. Over 1200 little boys were being cared
for by the State, because their parents could
not manage them at home. As I scanned
the faces of them, one after another, I felt
like thanking God that the authorities of
the State were doing so well what the pa-
rents would not, or thought they could not,
do. What are we doing, as a people, to re-
strain crime, and what will God do with us
if we are too lazy, listless, and selfish, to do
any thing V We have many times discussed
this matter here in these pages, and most of
you probably remember the incident given
in our February number, in regard to the
men who were robbing a turkey roost.
What shall we do with crime, and what
shall we do with criminals, when we meet
them defying the laws of God and man V
Here are two instructive letters in regard to
the matter :—
Friend Root:— Your questions at the close of the
Home Papers in the February number of Glean-
ings, in regard to what Mr. Baird should have done
on the occasion of having his turkey roost robbed,
were intended, I take it, to bring out a principle,
which principle I eoDceive to be involved ia the fol-
lowing query: Whether it is better to use force or
moral suasion in dealing with the violators of the
law.
Had Mr. B. attempted the latter, had he gone out,
for instance, and read a chapter from the Bible, and
expostulated with these thieves on the sinfulness
of their course, it is altogether likely that they
would have laughed him to scorn; and if they were
persuaded that this would be the only power which
he would oppose to their unlawful designs, tuey
would doubtless have despoiled him of his turkeys
before his very eyes.
Further, if any class of men in the community
should act upon the principle of opposing only mor-
al suasion to the selfishness of their fellow-men, it is
clear that the unprincipled would flock to them
from every quarter, and quickly strip them of
every thing they possessed. In the present condi-
tion of human nature, society would speedily be
hopelessly disorganized if the higher class of minds
should undertake to deal with the criminal class on
the principle of moral suasion alone. On the other
hand, the question arises: How far should force be
applied in protecting ourselves from the incursions
of the lawless? I reply, to the extent of completely
protecting ourselves and our property, and placing
the criminal entirely in our power.
Had Mr. Baird quietly slipped out of the back door
and stirred up neighbors enough to have surrounded
and captured these thieves, he had placed himself
in a position where his moral suasion would have
had the best field for its activity. When a man
stands helpless before us he is in the best situation
to appreciate kindness from our hands, llude and
selfish minds look for rudeness and selfishness from
their fellow-men, and when kindness and good will
are manifested toward them they excite in their
minds either contempt or love. If their moral pre-
ceptor is not a person who cau command their re-
spect, they will treat his teachings with contempt.
If, on the other hand, they feel that he is superior to
them, or is in a position to successfully oppose force
to force, and selfishness to selfishness, yet out of
the goodness of his heart treats them with respect
and kindness, the nobler attributes of their souls
respond like an echo.
I have heard ministers say that their feelings were
often shocked at the rudeness with which they had
seen children in the mission schools of our great
cities treated by their spiritual teachers. Where,
according to their idea, love and gentleness should
abound, they had seen rude force applied to compel
respect and obedience.
The mission teacher, however, had learned from
experience that among the class with which he had
to deal were many whose lower natures, by inheri-
tance and wrong training, possessed such a feaiful
ascendency over their higher natures, that appeals
to the latter could scarcely awaken any response
till the energy of the former had been subdued.
W^ithout proceeding further, I think my position
in regard to the midnight assassin will be clearly un-
derstood. It is this: Give him to understand that
you are ready to oppose force to force in the defense
of yourself and property; to strike him down, or
even to shoot him, if necessary; but when he is
helpless in your power, then let your good will to-
ward him be shown by binding up his wounds, and
using your moral suasion to turn him from the evil
of his ways to righteousness. James McNeil.
Hudson, N. Y., Feb. 11, 1881.
Within the past few months I have been
led to feel the force of much that is said in
the foregoing ; yet I think our next friend
supplements well the letter with a timely
caution :—
AS YE WOULD THAT MEN SHOtJLD DO TO YOU, DO
YB ALSO UNTO THEM LIKEWISE.— LUKE 6:31.
BE NOT OVERCOME OF EVIL, BUT OVERCOME EVIL
WITH GOOD.— ROM. 12:21.
Friend Rvot:— Your comments on the communica-
tions of Messrs. Baird and Stites suggested the idea
of sending you a few thoughts on the same subject.
With the spirit of both the communications, and
your comments on the same, I am well pleased.
512
GLEAi^INGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Oct.
There are, however, certain moral principles under-
lying the subject of self-defense that are not gener-
ally understood: hence the frequency of man-
slaughter in defense of person and p'-operty.
Life is the most inestimable boon the Creator has
bestowed on man. No amount of property can
equal it. "All that a man hath will he give for his
life." It is, then, too precious to be taken in de-
fense of private property. There is only one case
that the law of God will sanction, in which it is
right for a j)' irafe individual to take the life of an-
other. That case is, when one individual assails an-
other with hostile attempt, the individual assailed
has the right, in self-defense, to shed the blood of
the assailant. But before he possesses this right, he
must be convinced of the deadly intent of his antag-
onist, and be driven to the necessity of either losing
his own life, or of taking the life of his would-be as-
sassin. The right of taking away life in any case,
properly lielongs to society in its organized capacity
—civil government; but in the above case, always a
case of emergency, the person assailed has no alter-
native. He can not wait lor law. He must act, and
act promptly, or else lose his own life: hence he be-
comes, for the moment, judge, jury, and sheriff.
The case referred to by Mr. Baird, recorded in Ex-
odus 22:2, on which he has given us Bishop Hop-
kins's comment,* is to be understood on the above
principle of defense, not of property, but of life.
Indeed, the quotation from the excellent author,
whose work we highly prize, as given by Mr. Baird,
expressly recognizes our view. But my own opin-
ion of the passage is somewhat different from that
of Bishop Hopkins. We do not think the passage
sanctions intentional manslaughter at all. The pas-
sage is as follows: "If a thief be found breaking
up, and he be smitten that he die, there shall no
blood be shed for him. If the sun be risen upon
him, there shall be blood shed for him." The
manifest import of this language, which is a cor-
rect translation of the original, is, that the
death of the thief was ■icrUkntaU and not int'tttiinial.
It being in the night, as is evident from the succeed-
ing context, the owner, in endeavoring to repel the
assailant, might accidentally denl him a blow in the
dark that might terminate fatally, though not so in-
tended by him. He would then be only guilty of ac-
cidental manslaughter, and therefore guiltless. This
view finds a corroboration in what immediately fol-
lows. " If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be
blood shed for him." This clearly teaches that an
individual, in taking the life of another in defense
of property, in the daytime, is guilty of murder.
Why? Because he has every opportunity of seeing
the thief, and of guarding his blows.
I have thus come to the conclusion, that the life
of another should never be taken intentionally in
defense of property, however valuable. The image
of our Maker should ever render the life of our
neighbor so sacred, that we would never attempt to
take it away in defense of any earthly considera-
tion.
In connection with this subject I will relate an
occurrence that took place some three years ago in
Washington County, Pa. I was intimately acquaint-
ed with the parties, and deeply interested in the
case, for they were both old scholars. One of the
parties, in company with some other lads, ileter-
mined to pilfer an orchard of a neighbor who had
*See February number, page 97.
some excellent peaches. Whether the other party
was aware of the attack f)r not, I will not say. It
turned out, however, that the pilfering party were
discovered in the orchard and tired at with a shot-
gun. It was a fatal shot. One of the young men
fell mortally wounded, and expired in a few mo-
ments. That shot cost the parson who fired it thou-
sands of dollars and a term in prison. But the loss
of money, and physical punishment, are nothing
when contrasted with the mental anguish resulting
from reflection on our rashness, and the tho\ight of
having shed a fellow-creature's blood. Better
breathe the spirit of Christ, and carry out the senti-
ment expressed in the passagj of Scripture at the
head of this letter. Far better to suffer ourselves
to be defrauded— robbed of a few peaches, of a few
pounds of honey, of a few pounds of grapes, etc.,
than to resort to the pistol, the bowie-knife, or poi-
son. Let me illustrate the conduct of the Christian
by the case of an aged minister with whom I was
personally acquaiated. S ime of the readers of
Gleanings may have heard of him, if they did not
know him. I refer to the Rev. Samuel Hindiaan,
late of Washington, Iowa. In returning from the
eastern part of our country a few months before his
death, he was robbed of several hundred dollars,
while asleep on the train. Awaking, and discover-
ing his loss, for he was without a penny, he prayed
for the poor thief that had stolen his money. This
was Christlike. " Father, forgive them, for they
know not what they do." Let the readers of Glean-
ings, who have sustained a loss by others, go and do
likewise. Wm. Ball-^ntine.
Sago, Muskingum Co., O., Feb. 4, 1881.
I am very glad, friend H . vou have brought
out this point, especially the one involved
in your last incident. The ide.i is altogether
too common, that it is right and proper to
shoot one who is stealing "our fruit, or our
honey, if you clioose ; and right in the same
line, there are many, even professors of re-
ligion. I fear, who think aman is justihedin
knocking another down, simply because he
has been called a liar, or insulted in some
way. In our own neighborhood, one neigh-
bor killed another for just such a trilling
matter. Am I not correct in saying that no
words that can be uttered should ever induce
a Christian, or even a gentleman, to strike
the one who speaks them V And is not this
wav of settling difficulties a relic of a sort of
barbarism of which the pjesent age should
be ashamed V I want to tell you a little
story of my boyhood days.
You know I used to travel around to the
schoolhouses, showing people experiments
in electricity and chemistry, when I was
eighteen years old ; it was the time when I
thought I must put professor on my hand-
bills, or people would not come out. Well,
I did not make very much money at it, or at
least I didn't save Very much. In fact, to
tell the truth. I never saved very much at
any thing. AVell, I wandered out near
wliere my brother-in-law, Mr. Gray, lived,
in a rather newly settled region, tiien com-
monlv called the Black Swamp. And after
I had given lectures all about at the school-
houses round there, :SIr. Gray one day very
kindly suggested that I should stop travel-
ing for awhile and settle down at some more
1 permanent employment.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUliE.
.513
" Come and teach school in our district
this winter; it will be a good school for you,
and in the spring yon will have money
enough to ■ go lecturing ' a long while. ''
" But how do you know the people will
have me V"'
" I know, because I have applied for you
already, and they will be glad to get you . I
am sure you had better take it."
I accepted the offer, but was told, before I
commenced, that the school had a very bad
name. For several winters, the custom had
been to turn the master out of doors, and
then the directors always fell back on a man
who Avas a wood-eliopi)er by trade, but who
had muscular strength enough to enforce
obedience, even if he was not wholly up to
the times in all the modern sciences. 1 did
not care very much about this, for I had a
sort of philosophy that, if one did his
duty well and faithfully, he was not
likely to get into aiiy trouble of that kind.
Besides, when fighting had got to be done,
I was considerable on a fight too. Even aft-
er the school was well started. I found
there was a little ill feeling toward me, be-
cause the trustees had rot chosen some of
the young men in their own neighborhood,
and" the wood-chopper, after having had a
look at me. said he guessed he would have
to come in l)efore very long and take charge
of the school, as he usually did, before the
winter was very tar advaiiced. I had my
own views, however, and kept my own coun-
sel. I Avas not, therefore, surprised when I
found I had. after a month or two, gained
the good will of almost every scholar. In
In Our Homes. Part First (p. liO), I have told
you how I made the hardest case in the
school learn the multiplication-table. This
achievement did a great deal for me, and
pu]nls, parents, and directors, seemed to feel
they had got the right man in the right
place. I was much in the habit of playuig
with my scholars at noons and recesses, and
]Mrs. Gray (my sister) once warned me I
would have trouble, if 1 did not preserve a
proper dignity ; but I assured her the schol-
ars all thought so nmch of me there would
be no trouble. There was, though.
I think it was some time in February that
I noticed a growing uneasiness and impa-
tience among some of the older pupils.
They not only got into a habit of Avhisper-
ing. without "much heed to whether my eye
was on them or not, Init they actually talked
out loud. I talked i)leasaritly, and finally
plead with them, but it did not stop. ^Vheu
Ithreateiied, some of the older boys laughed.
That night, in going to my boarding-place
across lots, 1 selected a good beech whii),
and before any of the pupils came next
morning, 1 hid it imder the schoolhouse.
After school opened, I told them that the
first pupil who deliberately and defiantly
whispered, that day, would be punished. I
resolved to get a very fair and plain case,
but none came until afternoon. Then one
of the largest and heaviest boys in the
school (in fact, a much larger man than my-
self) whispered, and kept whispering right
before my eyes.
'' LysandeV, you are whispering."
"Yes, sir,"
" The safety of the school demands that I
should punish j^ou."
'• Mr. Root, you are not man enough to
teach this school, and the sooner you give it
up. the better."
This boy was by no means the worst one,
and I well knew it ; but, as is often the case,
the ringleaders had put him up to it. I rea-
soned with him ; but the otheis snickered ;
and although he admitted I had been a good
friend of his, and all of them, he still insist-
ed that I had better give up the school.
With white face, and I presume trembling
limbs, I told him 1 should hold my place
where the trustees had put me, as master, as
long as any breath was left in my body, and
1 directed one of the boys to go out and get
the whip. Unfortunately, he was so scared
he did not get my directions, and came back
saying he could not find it. Things were
coming to a crisis. 1 forbade any one mov-
ing, and went and got it myself. This was
unfortunate, as my absence allowed them
to arrange a concerted action. 1 came back
with the whip, and ordered him to step out
on the floor. lie did so, but warned me not
to touch him with that whip. The suspense
was painful, and I was anxious to have it
over. To show him that I was not at all
afraid of his threat, or his superior strength,
I struck him withtlie thin end of the Avhip
right across the face. With a yell of rage
and pain, he sprang toward me ; but as the
blow of the Avhip perhaps slightly blinded
him, I easily tripped him, and, placing my
foot on his throat, demanded an uncondi-
tional surrender. As I half expected, he
gave it at once, and promised to behave and
obey, if 1 Avould let him go back to his seat.
Had I been a Christian, I would have
breathed a prayer to God for deliverance ;
but 1 knew no God then. The mental strain
had been such that I was weak and off my
guard ; besides, I supposed it was all over,
and I was conqueror, I was surprised to
hear a hiss and a titter, as he, Avith head
down, proceeded to go to his seat; but the
taunts of his comrades, that could hardly be
suppressed even there, Avere too much fox
him, and, breaking his Hag of truce, as it
seemed to me, he stepped on a Ioav seat
near, and before I could gather myself at
all, he leaped Avith his Avhole great Aveight
directly upon me, crushing me to the fioor,
and called to the rest to come and help, as
they had promised to do. My mother told
you, in Fart First of Our Homes, that I as a
child had a violent temjter, but that it took
considerable provocation to get it fully
aroused. While helpless under him on the
fioor I heard the movement of feet, as the
rest prepared to come and put me out of
doors Avith my predecessors, and invite the
wood-chopper to come. All of the tiger in
me was fully aroused, and the thought that
I Avas borne down by one who had proved a
traitor to his fair promise, nerved me to a
frenzy. I would have prayed, but I did not
know of prayer. He, knoAving he Avas guil-
ty, was probably a little off his guard, es-
pecially as I seemed to have giA-enup; but
it was only to mass strength. It came, and
in a second, almost, I was out from under
514
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
Oct.
him, and on my feet. Several were partly
out on the floor.
" To your seats !" I thundered, " or I will
not be responsible for your lives.''
They wavered a second, but doubtless
thinking it would be folly to be frightened
by one little man, a boy of only 18, and they
a half-dozen all about me, they hesuated. At
this crisis the man under my feet called to
them again to come on, and 1 knew I was a
prisoner unless I secured obedience by one
bold stroke. I raised my heel, and planted
it in his face ; and as the blood flew I yelled
to them to take their seats again.
This is terrible, and it pains me much to
write it ; but it convinced the boys I was
terribly in earnest, and they huddled back
to their seats like a lot of frightened sheep.
One of them ventured the suggestion that
this would be the last day i ever taught
school there.
" It may be, sir, but as it is pretty certain 1
shall be master here until four o'clock, the
time to dismiss, I would ask you not to
make any further remarks, at least of such
a nature, without permission."
Lysander washed his face, and, if I am
correct, we tied up a wound on his face, and
then I permitted him to go home ; but the
rest of the scholars I obliged to remain until
school was out. The next day the directors
and many of the parents assembled to see
what was to be done with me. It was the
opinion of many I should be prosecuted for
assault and battery ; and from the evidence
given in by the boys who were massed
against me, it looked pretty bad. Cross-
questioning, however, showed that their ev-
idence was prejudiced, and Anally, by the
advice of an old judge, who lived near, they
accepted the statement of a little girl, who
told it every time alike, and could not be
made to state any part ditt'erently. The
judge then, in a short speech, recommended
the trustees to engage me for another month
longer after my time was out, because I was
the first man they had found for some time
who was up with the times, and couldn't be
put out of doors by the boys. This seemed
to turn public sentiment in my favor, and I
had a very quiet and pleasant time during
the remainder of the school.*
Now, friends, I have told this story all
through, and I have tried hard to tell it
truthfully. I have told it a good many
times, to illustrate how it is, that sometimes
nothing but brute force will answer. I have
told it recently in the same way, and it is
within only a few days that it has occurred
to me that there is a sequel to that story
that has never been told. You will notice,
and may have noticed in going over it, that
I have all the way througfl placed myself in
the light of having been all in the right-
yes, almost a hero, while the Black-Swamp
boys were all in the wrong. Now, I by no
means mean to justify putting schoolmas-
ters out of doors ; but in a sequel to this lit-
tle story, I wish to say something in behalf
of these boys. Was our civil war a necessi-
* The real ringleaders in this little rebellion were
the two boys mentioned in the last of Our Homes,
Part II., who stole the watches. It occurred shortly
after the incident above.
ty, and was my fight with the boys in the
schoolroom a necessity V In talking with
one of the best school-teachers I ever knew,
in regard to the matter, he said that, while
it might b-? that neither he nor I could have
taken that school and got along without such
a crisis, he thought there were men and wo-
men who would have so managed that no
brute force would ever have been needed. I
did not quite agree with him tlien, but 1 do
now.
Here is the sequel : I told you I had a
habit of being quite familiar with my schol-
ars. Had 1 said with the older girls, I
should have been nearer the truth. Had I
taken the same pains to help the young men
of that school with their lesions that I did
the young women, some few of them, and
been steady and true to both, and to the di-
rectors who placed me there, right along
week after week, I do not think I would
ever have been disobeyed. You may think
I have a way of speaking of my sins, some
of them, in a more severe way than they de-
serve. You may say it is a common occur-
rence for teachers to be a little partial to the
opposite sex. More, then, is the need of a
reform. Before the winter was half over, it
was remarked, and in my hearing too, that
the schoolmaster was very willing to assist
certain girls with their examples in arithme-
tic. So far was this true, tliat one young
lady complained to her father, because I
was making myself too familiar. The father
(and he was the kind old judge who took my
part so faithfully at the school trial) re-
proved me right before tlie family circle one
morning, while I was bo;irdiug there. May
God bless him for his kindness, even to one
who deserved a sharp, severe reproof ! As
we came around the fire, he said,—
" Mr. Hoot, there has just been a new law
passed."
" Has there V" said I ; " what is it ?"
" It is," said he (and his eye ftdl of kind-
ness rested on me so fully that I could not
mistake his meaning), "it is to the effect,
that any man, either married or single, who
willfully trijies with the att'ections of any
girl under age, is liable to State prison for a
term not exceeding three years."
Of course, I replied in a strain of pleasant-
ry, but the reproof went home, and I respect-
ed both him and the daughter all the more
for it ever afterward.
Oh that all girls wereon such intimate terms
with their father, that they could go to him
as freely and promptly as did this one. I
was effectually cured in this one direction ;
but as this incident was but a little before
the outbreak, my reformation made but lit-
tle difference. Think of it, my friends ; I, a
young man of fair education and ability,
good connections and i)arentage, was em-
ployed to instruct and teach good morals to
a neighborhood of boys and girls. JSly em-
ployers, relying on my sense of honor and
uprightness, did not think of it being neces-
sary to keep an eye on me, but paid me my
wages, good wages too, for going there day
by day and using those precious moments in
— to put it very mildly — foolish trifling. If
a boy or girl in my employ should do the
same thing now that I did then, I should
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
515
find it hard work to keep cool enough to re-
prove them. If it were my daughter and
some one else, my first impulse would be to
say that he needed a horsewhipping, and a
right smart one too. If any one whose eye
rests on tliese pages is or has been guilty in
a similar way, let him read Christ's words on
the subject, and see how far, how immeasur-
ably far, he is from loving " his neighbor as
himself." If it is your daughter, or your sis-
ter, there is a difference, you will find ; ay, a
fearful difference. Poor Lysander, when
"he said I was " not man enough to teach
that school," was right.'''' Had he told me
plainly just what he thought of the way I
had been doing, and given me the pounding
I deserved Hold on I hold on I is tliat the
way to reclaim sinners, my friends, even
just the kind of sinners I have given you a
view of ? Lid Jesus knock men down, or
horsewhip them, or even command the earth
to open and swallow them up V Lysander,
if your eye ever meets tliis, will you and the
rest of tliose boys and girls forgive me ?
Instead of setting my heel down on the
face of a fellow-being, — one who was created
in God's own image,— why did I not set it
down a month before, on the iniquity in my
own heart, and, like the soldier Paul, buffet
my own body into subjection V God says, he
that ruleth /ru>(Sf/f', and not he that pounds
unruly scholars, is greater than he that tak-
eth a city.
Why, oh why ! did I, during all that winter,
forget my Bible and the kind teachings of
my good mother V I can not lemember of
going to church one single time that winter ;
and I think it very likely that sermons were
then distasteful to me. It seems to me
that, had some good and earnest Christian
taken me in hand just then, and talked to
me kindly and firmly, it must have stirred
within nie a better spirit. If there were any
such, I do not remember them. Dear read-
er, is there one in you,- neighborhood ? If
not, are you ready to —
Go, with the name of Jesus, to the dyin?.
And speak that name in all its living power?
Why should thy fainting heart grow chill and
weary?
Canst thou not watch with me one little hour?
And are you ready to call them back with
patient love (rather than horsewhips), as in
the following V
Not now; for I have- wanderers in the distance.
And thou must call them in with patient love.
From that day to this I have never learned
whether the law the judge laid down was a
fact, or only a little pleasantry for the time
being ; but while I sincerely hope we have
laws just so stringent, I pray God that his law
may be so instilled into the minds and hearts
of our teachers that it may shine out over a
sinful world, and render it unnecessary that
even one of the ijupils should ever need re-
minding of this law of our land. The law
did good; but oh, could I have been led to
walk from that time to this, feeling the eye
of Almighty God was over and above and
around me, nay, rejoicing that such was the
case, how much more might I have been
worth to myself, my nation, and my God, in
restraining crime !
Now, with what I have just told you in
mind, and the lesson I have brought out,
please go back and read those two letters
again, I gave in the beginning of this paper,
and see if you do not get some new ideas.
What shall we do with crime, what shall we
do with criminals, and, above all. how shall
we stop iniquity in its first germs V
It is quite likely that, if friend Baird had
gone out to those turkey thieves, and read a
chapter to them then and there, it would have
done no good; but was there not a time
away back when friend B. might have man-
aged to read the Bible to them under fitting
circumstances ? Are there no towns or
small settlements near him where Sunday-
schools may, or might have been organized V
and is brother Baird, or you, my friend, in
the habit of standing up in these schools,
and reading the Bible to the boys and girls
who will always be found ready to listen to
this kind of instruction V Is it not in your
line y ]Methinks it is in the line of every one
who detests crime and wickedness, and
hungers and thirsts after righteousness.
It has been said, that, just as sure as we
get another president who is as good a man
as Garfield, just so sure will he be shot down.
Who will do it V Show us the enemy, and a
hundred thousand strong, if need be, will be
in arms in an instant. Point out the man,
or banded army of men. My friends, it is no
man. In this case it was no banded army of
men. It was simply Satan, or the inborn siu
of the untrained and unsubdued human
heart. .Just rally around Paul with our open-
ing text on your banners, and you will have
the enemy right before your face. On the
coins of our land we read, Ta God ice trust ;
yet I fear that in every little town in our
land you will hear God's name taken in
vain bv the boys of our streets. Is that loy-
al V AVould it "be safe to curse our President
in the same way ? and would it be worse to
curse him than'to curse the God of our fa-
thers y Is there not an enemy among us, at
our very doors ? Is not cursing the God in
whom our nation trusts, openly and on our
very streets, one step toward shooting down
the man whom our nation delights to honor?
Rouse up, ye brave, ye strong of muscle and
strong of heart, and come to the fight ; but
let the blows be dealt within. Cease not the
warfare, until we can pray, with David, —
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.— Psalm
51:7.
A kind Christian talk with a 5'oung man
or woman, now, may stop a fight in school a
month hence, or the assassination of a pres-
ident a few years hence, and possibly a great
civil war a century hence. It will not do to
wait until the fight has begun, or until just
the eve of a crisis. Noiv is the appointed
time: and, my friend, if your name is not
already enrolled among those Avho " are on
the Lord's side," for the suppression of the
crime and wickedness in our land, I invite
you, in his name, to come and enlist under
his banner and commence the fight ; yea, this
very day and hour.
So light T, as not beating the air; but I buffet my
body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means
that after I have preached to others, I myself should
be rejected.
516
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Oct.
THE BIJRCH MATTERS.
QlINCE our last, a few more reports have
^) come ill f»f money sent for bees, and
the followinc; have reported having re-
ceived queens.
I admire the way you propose to stand by the cus-
tomers of your advertisers, if it is "unbusinesslike."
However, I should not allow you to stand an3' thing
I had sent Burch. But he has sent me my queens, and
ended my account with him. What he agreed to
send June :iOth, 1 received Sept. 10th.
C. M. Bean.
McGranville, N. Y., Sept. 12, 1S81.
Mr. Burch mailed me 2 queens. J got them the
27th In good shape; only one dead bee. Please ac-
cept thanks for kind words. H. Dickson.
West Lima, Richland Co., Wis., Aug. 29, 1881.
Some time ago I wrote to you concerning sojue
money sent to H. A. Burch for Italian queens. The
queens were received this morning.
G. H. Pond.
Bloomington, Hen. Co., Minn., Sept. 18, 1881.
I received the queen all O. K. Mr. Burch has sent
me two queens, which makes him and me all square.
Wm. Paumenter.
Bean Blossom, Ind., Sept. 16, 1881.
I received a queen from H. A. Burch & Co.
Cumminsville, Can., Sept. 22, 1881. A. Fbasek.
I have not heard of any bees being sent
out during the past month, of any money
being returned, nor of any security l)eing
given. Neither have I heard of any assign-
ment being made. It would certainly be out
of place for me to commence paying an ad-
^'ertiser\s bills before it has been shown he
either could not or would not pay them him-
self. No one, so far as I know, seems to
think I am in any way responsible for those
who were not subscribers to Gleanings.
THE BEE-MEN OF CANADA.
FRIEND in Canada sends the follow-
ing, clipped from the Toronto Globe
of .Sept. 10th :
HONEY AND APIARY SUPPLIES.
The advance made by this department during the
last three years is prodigious. Up till the time of the
establishment of the Industrial Exhibition the apiar-
ists of Canada were represented in the Provincial
and other large shows by the display of a few pounds
of honey and wax, and may be one or two hives and
a few supplies, the whole being usually accommo-
dated on one shelf in the Dairy Building or else-
where. Now the bee-men have a house of their own
completely filled with articles which make it one of
the most interesting sights on the ground. Several
of the exhibitors have working colonies of bees on
the ground, and by to-morrow a large tent, 30x44
feet, will be erected in which to display the various
operations of transferring, packing for winter, doub-
ling, and dividing swarms.
Dr. Nugent, Strathroy, a gentleman who went in-
to bee-farming last spring, shows about 3000 pack-
ages of honey put up in attractive forms in glass, tin,
and other cases. The clover, bass wood, and buck-
wheat honey are put up separate. Dr. Nugent has
now some 400 colonies, all left well supplied, not-
withstanding that 15,100 pounds of comb and ex-
tracted honey have been taken away from them.
W. L. Wells, Phillipstown, makes a large show of
extracted and comb honey, put up in a convenient
form for sale; also beeswax, and a very simple and
cheap wax-extractor, together with comb, comb
foundation, apiary supplies, and a frame of bees,
showing the queen, and the methods in which the
insects work.
M. Rainer, Cedar Grove, shows extracted honey
and comb honey of singularly good quality. This ex-
hibitor gets his comb honey built so evenly by his
use of the slit zinc partition sheet, shown for the
first time here last year. The slits in the sheets are
of oblong shape, a little over nine-sixteenths of an
inch long, and a little less than three-sixteenths
high. This admits the worker tn'cs, Init neither the
queen nor the drones can pass. Consequently,
wherever this perforated divider is placed the
queen is confined to the frames on one side of it.
The frames to which the queen has access will con-
tain brood, but the frames which she can not reach
will contain honey only, which can be extracted
without interfering with the brood. It is found in
practice that, when the frames in the brood-chamber
are filled partly with honey and partly with brood,
the bees can be induced to carry the honcj' back-
ward to the honey-chamber. This is done by the
simple act of uncapping the cells and returning
them. This being done, the bees carry the honey
away, and put it where the bee-keeper wants it. Be-
hind the division-board can also be placed the frames
for the making of the comb honey, and it is found
that, bj' the use of the perforated sheet for backing,
the combs get the regular appearance to be seen in
Mr. Rainer's exhibit.
D. A.Jones, Beeton, makes a display of nearly 30,-
000 pounds of honey, principally in packages of dif-
ferent weights; about half a ton of wax; sets of
packing cases designed to carry small packages
without waste of space; packages of graduated size
arranged so that they can be returned empty in nests
of six; comb foundation imported from the States,
and also comb foundation made in Canada, the su-
periority of the latter being plain at a glance; a cen-
trifugal extractor, with a little improvement, so
that it can be made to fit frames of any size; and all
kinds of apiarian supplies.
Mr. Jones has also si.x frames of bees containing
pure-bred Holy-Land, Cyprian, and Italian bees; also
crosses from the i)ne breed to the other. The cross
between Cyprian and Italian is a very fine, strong
bee. One nucleus contains an improved Italian bee,
the outcome of constant selection and attention.
There are also six colonies of bees complete, which
will be handled and subjected to all the operations
of the apiary for the instruction of observers.
Boys, let's all go to Canada.
CLEANmCS m BEE COUTURE.
J^. I. I^OOT,
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER,
MEDINA, O.
TERMS: $1.00 PER YEAR, POST-PAID.
FOR CLUBBING RATES, SEE FIRST PAGE
OF READING MATTER.
3vgnE:xDX3Nr.iA., ogt. i, xbsi.
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
51:7.
-Ps.
S. C. & J. p. Watts, Lumber City, Pa., send us a 6-
page descriptive circular of chatf and Simplicity
hives, with price list.
Friend Oldroyd has succeeded in getting his
inks in shape so they can be sent by mail, as a pow-
der. See his advertisement, and send to him for a
circular.
We consider it a privilege to mail a sample copy
of Gleanings to anybody in the world; so if you
have a friend anywhere you would like to have re-
ceive a copy, just write his name on a postal card
and send it to us, and we will thank you for so doing.
Four numbers of a weekly bee journal, under the
title of The New England Bcc Journal and Home Ga-
zettc have reached us. The paper is quite spicy, and
has some good articles in it. Price T.'ic per year.
Henry A. Poole, editor and proprietor. Mechanics
Falls, Me.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
51?
HONEY FROM RED CLOVER.
Neighbor Dean has just been in, and now gives
liis honey crop at 1000 lbs., instead of three or four
hundred, as I gave it last month. About 350 of it is
comb honey, and the rest is extracted. He said his
bees filled sections right along in August, from the
red-clover blossoms. Bees gather honey from red
clover In Medina County, if they don't in other
places.
All who are intending to attend the National
Convention, at Lexington Ky., Oct. 5, 6, and 7, will
need to set about it as soon as this is in their hands.
1 see by the A. B. J. that Mrs. Lucinda Harrison
proposes an impromptu meeting to be held
in the Mammoth Cave, after the discussions are
over. I should be very glad indeed to attend, but I
have been absent so much this fall that it seems
next to impossible, and we are now just in the
midst of preparing our 300 colonies for winter.
May God bless the kind friends who have written
they would take nothing from mfi for the money
they sent Burch. I do not want to ask release from
any promise I have made; but such expressions
seem to say that my attempts to reform existing
e\'ils have been approved by both God and my fel-
low-men. Truly can I say with David, "For he shall
give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all
thy ways. They shall bear thee up in thrir hands,
lest thou dash thy foot against a stone."
Once in a while, when things do not please, some-
body throws it up to me about the pretensions I
make. My friends, if I have made pretensions I did
not mean to; for in truth I am selfish, cross, and at
times, I fear, crooked and hard to get along with. If
there bo anj' merit in being grievously sorry for
these faults and failings, when I look back and see
them, I do not know but that I have that merit-
Sometimes it seems to me that I must give up in de-
spaii-, were it not for the comforting promise, " The
blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin."
bees to be killed.
Is there anybody near friend P. who can take the
poor bees and save them from death? Read:—
I have .')0 stands of bees that I expect to kill. Tliey are in
Diehl patent hives. If vou want them you ean have the comb
and honey at Iftc per lb.', and pay me 83.00 for my hives. I will
give vou the bees. Write at once. ((. N. Pil.iRES.
Keiiipton, Ind., Sept. 24, 1881.
Friend P., if you would leave out those patent
hives, and give us just the bees and combs, we would
be better pleased ; but even then the express charges
would be a serious obstacle with us. Can not some
of our readers near there save them? Bees will be
" cash money " next spring.
It were no more than just, to let our friends in
Canada know they are indebted to Mr. Geo. O. Good-
hue, Danville, Quebec, Canada, that we are enabled
to use all Canada money and postage-stamps, at par.
He has simply, for the sake of serving his country
men, been doing quite u little banking business with
us for over a year past, making no charge for his
services. I presume he will scold at my making this
mention, but I do not wish to receive credit for what
belongs to another. If Queen Victoria's subjects are
all like our bee friends in Canada, I could, with a
whole heart, say with them, " God save the Queen!''
THE MICHIGAN SCFFEREBS.
I PRESUME most of you have, before this time,
done something for these friends. In our town, we
have sent several large boxes of clothing, etc., and
also some money. A few of our bae-folksare among
the sufferers, and one letter is at hand, telling of a
little boy who burned. May God help the parents in
this great afHietion, and may he show us how best to
manifest our sympathy. It seems these fierce flres
are not alone confined to Michigan. See the follow-
ing:—
A terrible prairie fire swept away my apiary- Sept. 6tlt. Chaff
hives burned lively. The apparent resources are cut off. but the
unseen are still ainiiulanHiod is ■-de to trust in. --Althouyrh
the figr-treeshall not blossom, neither -^hall f r\iit be on the vines;
the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no
meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be
no herd in the stalls; yet I will rejoice in the Lord."'
Baxter Sprinfcs. Kan., Sept. S."!, 1881. C. D. Wright.
I hope, friend W., it was not a great many chaff
hives that were burned, and that you have not lost
all your bees. Truly, the unseen resources of the
great Giver are never cut off.
PREMIUMS FOR EARLY SUBSCRIPTIONS. |
Everybody who sends $1.00 for Gleanings for i
the year 1883, during this present month, may have •
any article on the 15-cent counter as a premium for
so doing, providing he comply with the following
conditions: You are to state the dollar was sent in
accordance with this notice, tell what article you
want, and the amount of postage. Those who have
remitted before this reaches them, for 1882, can
have the premium by calling our attention to it,
and sending the postage. The l.'> cents can be used
for articles on any other counter, if you choose;
but if wanted by mail, be sure to send the postage.
In November, the premium will be from the 10-cent
counter, and In December, from the 5-cent counter.
Friends, when you order honey-labels, please
write out exactly what you want, or send us a sam-
ple label of what you had fixed in your mind. We
will send you package of samples free of charge to
select from. If you do not take the trouble to do
this, but say simply, "Send me some honey-labels,"
you will have to take whatever the printers see fit
to give you. One friend, in complaining, says he
should think we might have known he didn't want
labels for extracted honey, and I presume we should,
had we recollected all his correspondence. At the
very low prices we furnisli them, the best I can do is
to hand your letters to the printers; and if you do
not tell them just what you want, I do not know
how 1 can take them back. We are your servants,
and are, also, really anxious to please; but I do not
see how we can, unless you give full and plain or-
ders. Cut out the size you wish, then write out
with a pen every word and figure you want on it,
and I assure you we can please, in quality of work
as well as promptness.
THE OHIO STATE FAIR.
As our Ohio people saw tit to appoint me one of
the judges on honey and apiarian supplies at the
State Fair, I thought best to attend. 1 am happy to
say that the exhibits were very fair, and I enjoyed
very much the duties assigned me, more especially
as my co-worker was the Rev. Mr. Ballantine, who
gives us the excellent letter in Our Homes for this
month. The third one on the committee being ab-
sent, we picked up a bee -man to assist. The pleas-
ant part of the whole of it was, that all parties, so
far as we knew, were perfectly salisfled and pleased
with the awards. I met and made many new friends
at our capital, and came away feeling happy, be-
cause I had known and seen more of Ohio and our
518
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Oct.
Ohio people in two or three days, than ever before
in my life. Almost the only sad thing I saw at the
fair was the long row of beer-barrels, with Ohio
boys standing behind them, ready to serve anybody
who had the requisite nickel. Is it possible this
state of affairs is to remain thus in our beautiful
State of Ohio? To make the said barrels more at-
tractive on a hot day, huge blocks of ice surmounted
them. Plenty of iced drinking water was found on
all parts of the fair grounds, and every thing con-
ducive to the comfort of the 75,000 whom I am told
were in attendance. I do not know what the cus-
tom may be throughout our land, but I thank God
that no beer is sold openly on the grounds of the
Medina County Fair.
WHAT A POUND OF BEES WILL DO IN A SEASON.
When in Michigan, I made a note of what friend
Hunt had done with two packages of black bees,
each containing a pound, and a black queen. I lost
the memoranda, but if I recollect aright, each built
up a good colony, and gave a swarm; and when I
was there the whole four were storing honey in sur-
plus boxes. Perhaps he gave each a couple of
frames of brood, but I am not certain. 1 think he
purchased them in May. It seems a little strange
that a pound of bees and queen should amount to
more than a whole swarm ordinarily does, but many
reports seem to indicate that they have done so dur-
ing the past season. I can think of no other explan-
ation, than that the owner took more care and pains
with them, just because a pound of bees in a wire
cage was a sort of new thing, and a curiosity, as it
were. You know it has been said that Italians pro-
duced the great results they have, just because they
were a new thing, and received extra care and atten-
tion. Friend Hunt's success with the "black lbs.,"
would seem to encourage this idea. I presume many
of you remember the great things that used to be
done with a single strawberry plant of some wonder-
ful new kind.
Moral:— Just take the bees and plants you have
already, and make believe they are some new, won-
derful kind; and if your faith (and energy) are sulB-
cient, you will find tltey really are.
SQUARE MEN.
My friends, I am not only willing, but glad, to
serve you in any way in my power, even to advanc-
ing money for you in a contingency, providing I
know you are square and true, to the extent, if you
should die, or meet with any other misfortune, your
wife, mother, grandmother, or any or all of your re-
lations, would have respect enough for your bright
name to see that every thing was straightened up,
"square" and true, right on the spot. There are
such men among you, and, I repeat, it is a pleasure
to me to advance money to them, on a few days, of
course, or recommend them to others, or to give
taem assistance in any way. Well, other folks are
wanting to know who these square men are, and
sometimes the square men ask me if I will please
say to somebody that I know them, and know they
are square. Well, now, I have been thinking what
a nice thing it would be to have a list of the straight
ones, and also a list of the crooked ones. Let it in-
clude, say, every one among our bee-men who ad-
vertises any thing for sale at all. It is not to tell
how much a man is worth, alone, but what his hab-
its are; for we have those in the ABC class, and in
their teens, who are more prompt and true than
some who are worth their thousands.
TAKING BEES THAT ARE TO BE BRIMSTONED, TO
FEED UP FOR^ WINTER.
Many are asking if they can take bees that are of-
fered as a gift, or at a low price, and build them up
now by feeding. Yes, sir, you can do it every time,
but you must be about it at once. If this journal
reaches you after dark, and you have colonies that
are weak in bees, out of stores, and out of brood,
give them a feed of something before you go to bed,
and then have them taking feed continually, for the
next month. It is of the utmost importance that
you improve every hour of warm weather. You all
know by experience what it is to try to feed during
such weather as we had last April. While it is
warm with warm nights, feed will do wonders; but
you want to have it all over, before it gets to freez-
ing. Feed until the combs are full and bulging, and
little bits of wax are stuck on top of the frames, and
all over the hive. After you get the queen to laying
well, do not take out the frames any more until next
May. But let them build it all up solid just as they
have a mind to. Feed granulated sugar, if you can;
if not, coffee A. Cheap yellow sugarwill sometimes
answer, but it is very much more apt to cause dys-
entery. It will perhaps take 25 lbs. of sugar to feed
up a colony thus, having no stores, but it is cheaper
to give them the whole 25 lbs. and have them come
through strong, than to stop at 15 and lose bees and
sugar too. You want to feed until you get them
" hiioming."
SEPARATORS, OR NO SEPARATORS.
OuK neighbor Shane has had the most of his comb
honey made in the combined shipping and honey
crate (shown in our price list), without separators.
The crate is taken right from the hive, and carried
to market, without anj' repacking. The saving of
labor by so doing is of course immense; and as his
honey is straight enough to bring 24c per lb., whole-
sale, it certainly can not be very bad. I believe all
hands admit, too, that we get quite a little more
honey, when the bees can till the whole case with
solid honey, just as they naturally do, without any
separators of any kind in the way. The great draw-
back is, that you must leave the case on the hive un-
til CA-ery section is scaled; or at least it is a great
deal more trouble to select the first-capped sections,
and get them into a case, without having one sec-
tion mash into its neighbor. It seems much a ques-
tion of the time the bee-keeper has to devote to the
matter. Another thing: you must use separators,
if you expect to glass each section. If I am correct,
sections glassed are in some disrepute just now, be-
cause the public object to paying for glass at the
same price of honey. We have sold a great quanti.
ty of these cases, to be used without separators,
this season, and I would be glad to have reports
from them. We have bought tons of tin for sepa-
rators. Shall bee-keepers keep on buying them? I
once said I did not want any more section honey
built without separators; but it was before we got
up the case mentioned above. How is it, friends?
Let us hear your different experiences. I believe
friend Heddon has discarded separators.
We have to-day, Sept. 2Sth, 4419 subscribers. Our
list seems to "stick" this year, when we get above
the foyrth thousand.
1881
GLEANmGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
523
Contents of this Number.
INDEX OF DEPARTMENTS.
niack List —
Bee B-Jtaiiy 53fi
Kee Entomology 537
Blasted Hopes 557
Cartoon —
Editorials 56fi
Heads of Gra,in old
Honey Column 570
Humbug-s and Swindles —
Juveni'i' Department 5:i7
Kind\\' •• Is from Customers'is:)
Ladies' "I'partment 559
Limch-R'om —
Notes and Queries 558
Reports Encouraging 557
Smileiy 537
The Growlery 530
Tobacco Column 565
INDEX OF HBADS OF GRAIN, NOTES AND QUERIES,
AND OTHER SHOUT ARTICLES.
Alley's Italians 549 I Honey, Thin, why it does
Ants in Florida 553 Not Sour in Hive 551
Another ABC Scholar 555 1 Honev from Smartweed 5tO
Atmos. Feedei-s, a diflicultv
with n.'ii;
Banner Apiary S'iri
Bees, Pound of in June .55,s
Bees, Holy -Land .558
Bees Balling their Queen 554
Bees, Taxing 519
Bees and Grapes 528, .■)47
Bees on a Rampage .531
Bee-Caves of Texas. 544
Big Red Clover for Honey.. 540
Boxes, Side-storing .5.58
Buckwheat and Stings ,549
Caging Virgin Queens 54fi
Candy for Bees 538
Cages, Large v. Small.'. 54<<
C Sugar v. A 550
Compar. Value of Sugar and
Honey for Feed .547
Colorado, One Swarm in .548
Cro.ss Bees from Imp. Q"n...5.52
Cyprians Hard to Handle .552
Cyprians Ahead .5.59
Credit Side of Humanity. . . ..508
Comb-Holder. A New .529
Comb Crate 2 Tiers High. . . ..5.55
Dadant on Foundation 541
Dean ' s Report .549
De Worth '^s Pert'. Machine.. 5.59
Division-Boards .541
Disheartening .547
Doolittle's Report .520
Fi'agments from a Scholar. .532
From 9 to 20, and H ton of
Honev 5.52
Flour Feeding in Fall 553
Fdn. Without Wires 553
Gallup and his Ranehe 539
Good for an A B C Scholar. .651
Good For a Sm.all Venture. ..551
H. A. Burch&Co .508
Hayhurst's Letter .527
Honey in New Brunswick. . ..559
Honey-dew Not Gathered ... .559
Honey f*- Shipping Bees... 5.50
Honey from Cotton •5.5S
Honey, Ext. v. Strained 550
Shall We Winter? 542
Household giicens 546
Hurrah lor Texas! 558
Inforuiation Wanted 5,51
L. Frame, The 536
Ladybirds on Spider Pl't.. ..5.50
JIai-king Wt. on Cans 5.59
Men-vbanks .560
filler's Report 5.34
Neighbor H. 's Letter .527
No Brood nor Eggs in Oct.... 535
Patent Hives 528
Plea for Gloves and Veil .5.54
Pollen 558
Postmasters. Stirring Up. . .5.59
Pollen in Winter 529
Queen Flying 27 Milles .5.50
Queens. 2 in a Hive .554
Queen, An Uneasy 555
Queens Killing Workers 556
Queer Ways Bees have of
Consuming .Stores 550
Questions from a Scholar. . .543
Rapp . or Winter Rajje 553
Room Wanted in Smilery. . .548
Square Men 531
Saw-set, A New .545
Still Hopeful 548
Scrapei', A Handy 549
Stings and Rheumatism 554
Sections, 1-lb, v. 2-lb 5.50
Scotland 5.58
Sending Gl. without Orders 508
Smokers. Troubles with 50C.567
Trans . in October 5.55
Ventilation, I'pward, . . .548, 551
Waterbui-^' Watches 569
Water for'Bees 549
Waste-Basket. Our .5.55
Wakefield ' s Queries 545
What a good Col. is Worth. 557
What two Hives did 550
White's Report 533
Wintering and Ventilation.. 5.35
Wireweed 550
Yellow Bees from a Black
Queen -554
I This Case Weighs ib..
I Contents Weigh ib. — oz©
Total, ^&s oz
■X*£t<ls.o 3>J'otic© !
This honey will candy, or become white and hard, as
soon as it becomes cool, or cold weather begins, and
this candying is, in fact, the best proof of its purity. To
restore it to the liquid form, set it in a warm oven, or on
the reseiTOir of the stove, removing the stopper so it
will not ooze out. When it is all melted, remove and
cork again. It sealed up while quite hot, with a cork
dipped in melted wax, it will usually not candy again.
Some liquify jt by placing the bottles in hot water. To
prevent breaking the glass, let the bottles rest on a
thin strip of wood.
Either of the above labels, printed on gummed pa-
per, will be furnished at 10c per 100, or $1.03 per 1000.
If sent by mail, 2c per 100 extra.
A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio.
CDCC I A sample copy of the NEW ENOLAND BEE
rif bC I JOUENAL. H. Poole, Mechanic Falls, Me.
Bee-Keepers' Student Wanted.
Bee-keeper must bo experienced, and thoroughly
reliable. No person using tobacco or cigars need
apply. Address S. NUGENT, "Linden Apiary,"
lid Strathroy, Ontario, Canada.
FOTt SALE.
A Barnes Foot-Power circular and scroll-sawing
machine, all in complete running order. Price, i3t).
11 H. L. Richmond, St. Johns, Olivet Co., Mich.
WONDERFUL AMERICAN EYE OINTMENT.
R. A. LABAR, Allentown, Lehigh Co., Pa.
Sample by mail, 10 cents. lid
Names of responsible parties will be inserted in
any of the following departments, at a uniform
price of 20 cents each insertion, or $3,00 per year.
$1.00 Queens.
Names ingei'ted in this department the first time with-
out charge. After, 30c each insertion, or $3,00 per year.
Those whose names appear below agree to furnish
Italian queens for $1,00 each, under the following
conditions: No guarantee Is to be assumed of purity,
or anj'tlilngof the kind, onlythat the queen be reared
from a choice, pure mother, and had commenced to
lay when they were shipped. They also agree to re-
turn the money at any time when customers become
impatient of siich delay as may be unavoidable.
Bear in mind that he who sends the best queens,
put up most neatly andmost securely, will probably
receive the most orders. Special rates for warranted
and tested queens, furnished on application to any
of the parties. Names with *, use an imported queen
mother. If the queen arrives dead, notify us and
we will send you another. Probably none will bo
sent for $1.00 before July 1st, or after Nov. If want-
ed sooner, or later, see rates in price list.
*E. W. Hale, Newark, Wirt Co., W. Va. 2-1
*A. I. Boot, Medina, Ohio.
*H. H. Brown, Light Street, Columbia Co., Pa. 7tf
*E. M. Hayhurst. Kansas City, Mo. 1-12
*Paul L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, La. 7ttd
*D. A. McCord, Oxford, Butler Co., O. 1-13
*S. F. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. 7tfd
*\Vm. Ballantine. Sago, Musk. Co., O. "i tfd
*C. B. Curtis, Selma, Dallas Co., Ala. 6-11
*T. W. Dougherty, Mt. Vernon, Posev Co., Iad.T-12
C. H. Deane, Sr., Mortonsville, Woodford Co., Ky.
8tfd
Hive Manufacturers.
Who agree to make such hives, and at the prices
named, as those described on our circular.
A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, Iberville Par., La. Itfd
S. F. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. Itfd
J. F. Hart, Union Point, Greene Co., Ga. 4-3
KIND WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS.
QUEENS TO CAIiIFORNI.\.
The four queens came to hand In nice order.
Ventura, Cal., Aug. '26, '81. R. Wilkin.
I am well pleased with my Clark's cold-blast smok-
er; would not give it for four of the kind I formerly
had, although costing considerable less.
Fat Kennell.
South Gates, Monroe Co., N. Y., Sept. 22, 1S81.
The dozen glass-cutters are " boss." I cut all my
glass with one, and it cut the last one as well as the
first. I don't think I need a diamond now. The
labels are nice, D. G. Webster.
Blaine, 111., Sept. 20, 1881.
I have just finished the 10 hives and find every
piece all right. The Ui lb. scales are just the thing,
could not do without them, all that have seen them
are surprised at the low price. Freight on the hive
and scales, $3.37, which I think reasonable.
Claude S.mith,
Norwich, Chenango Co., IT. Y., Oct. 19, 1881.
52-1
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Nov.
Roney-pails crnne all risht. I am well pleased with
them. Thanks for promptness. A. A. Parsons.
Avon, Ind., Sept. 34, ISSl.
I have received the ABC book of you, whi«h I
sent for. I am surprised at the beautiful way they
are bound, and don't see how you can doit so cheap-
ly. Please accept ray thanks. J. E. Todd.
Unadilla, N. Y., Sept. U, 1881.
Inclosed tind $10.00, for which please send 3 more
of those Waterbury watches. The one I ordered the
20th came to hand "the 2od. I can't see how they can
be sfild for that money, if they are all as prood as the
one I got. J. C. HossLEU.
Moultrie, Cjlumbiaua Co., O., Sept. ~*T, 1881.
You are very kind to offer to pay damage on
smoker, but the expense of repairs was small; be-
sides, 1 think your customers can afford to stand
damages once in awhile, as you sell your goods so
low. Clarendon But.man.
Plymouth, Penobscot Co., Me., Sept. 3, 1881.
The watch is a wonderful piece of mechanical
skill. The whole of its internal arrangement turns
with the; minute-hand, and if it continues to work
as it now dofs, it will be one of the most remarka-
ble productions of this remarkable age.
Wellsville, Mo., Oct. 10, 1881. .1. T. Stemmons.
KNIVES BETTER TII.\N CIRCUSES.
I ani a 14-year-old boy, and I want a knife. I
bought one from you last winter, and I lost it. and I
want another. My pa gave me ol)e to go to the cir-
cus to-day, so I changed my mind, and send you the
50c for a knife. H. E. Bowen.
Custer, DeKalb Co., Ind., Sept. 7, 18isl.
The queen I ordered from you about the 10th of
this month I received in less than three days from
the time I sent for it, which was much sooner than
I expected it. I introduced her according to direc-
tions, and she was received in good shape, and is do-
ing linely. The hive is well tilled with brood to-day,
Ang. 2i)t'h. J. Q. A. Walker.
Union City, Erie Co., Pa., Aug. 29, 1881.
The bill of goods was received O. K. a few days
ago, for which please accept thanks. The lace scis-
sors, little plane, and, in fact, every article is all that
one could wish, and much better than any thing we
can get of the kind for the same money in this
"Sunny South land." Bees arc workimj gloriously.
Allan D. Laughlin.
Courtland, Ala., May 24, 1881.
We like the scales, "The Favorite," ever so much.
The selected tested queen received of you last May
1 put with two frames of hatching brood; filled up
the hive with empty comb as needed. They swarmed
twice, besides giving some surplus honej'. 1 also
took out several frames of eggs for queen-raising.
Looking for her a week ago I found her not, but a
young queen instead. From 20 hives I will take TOO
lbs. extracted, and 100 lbs. comb honey.
Mrs. CnAS. Faville.
South Wales, N. Y., Sept. 19, 1881.
The carpenter's pencil came to hand last night;
and all the other goods ordered, including matching-
planes and grate for smoker, have been received.
All are very satisfactory, and in good order, except
lamp-shade, which was crushed and broken in the
mail. But never mind. I sent for it more from curi-
osity than necessity, and hardly expected to get it
safely through. Here they charge $3.00 for the same
kind of matching-planes which cost me only $1.65,
even when registered. Wm. Muth-Rasmussen.
Independence, Inyo Co., Cal., May 21, 1881.
THE HUNTER SIFTER; ONE OBJECTION FOUND TO IT
AT LAST.
I received the crank sieve, but I am sorry to say
it is not what I want. 1 wanted a sieve to sift medi-
cine. This will not answer, and I should not like it
to sifttiour. The object in sifting flour is to get out
the worms; but this thing will grind the worms, and
the biscuits would be equal to Liebig's extract of
meat. I have tried to sell the thing, but it is no go.
I will return it. V. Leonard.
Springfield, Bradford Co., Pa., Sept. 5, 1881.
PAPETERIES.
Where on earth did you scare up that atrocity
which you have christened " Papeteries"? (See Cat-
alogue, p. 32.) Had you not better sharply mark the
little chap, say with the policeman's star, lest his
own mother should not know him? Jokingly,
Koshkonong, Wis., Oct. 17, 1881. D. P. Lane.
[/didn't christen it at all, friend L.; it is the name
the paper and envelope manufacturers give to a
little box of stationery. I do not know whether the
pretty pictures on the lid of the box have any thing
to do with the queer name or not ; but some jvay
they seem to please, especially the small ones for
the juveniles.]
You see. friend Root, my showing your double-end-
er files has sold some more for you, and handles to
boot. The other goods came in very nice order.
One of the smokers I sold the next day after I re-
ceived it, to a brother bee-keppcr. I have sold an-
other one to-day, and my old Simplicity .The scales
and feeders arc for myself. I had apair of the Little
Detective scales, and I sold them; 1 want a pair that
I can weigh hives on, and in fact every thing, even
to " the wife," if I wish. R. P. Lovejoy.
Greig, Lewis Co., N. Y., Sept. 26, 1881.
LThanks, friend L. There will be no trouble at all
in weighing the "wives" as well as bees, on our
large scales, if they don't weigh over 244 lbs., and it
seems to me any woman might be satisfied with that
limit.]
I don't know what is the matter, but the goods we
have got of you have given satisfaction in every re-
spect. We have filled every order for queens, and
have given satisfaction so far as we have any knowl-
edge. If there are any of our customers that are
not satisfied, we will try to satisfy them if they will
let us hear from them. Mr. Johnson and I have in-
creased our bees to 65 stands from 35, some of them
very weak. T. S. Hall.
Kirby's Creek, Ala., Oct. 6, 1881. .
[It may be urged by some, that the above looks a
little like free advertising; so it is, friends, and I
shall be most happy to do the same sort of free ad-
vertising for every one of you. I can with a clear
conscience do almost a,ny thing for those who give
satisfaction to theic patrons: but you do not know
how it pains me to hear advertisers say unkind
things of those who have been so kind as to send
them their money and their custom. How is it,
friends? As the season closes, can you say, with a
clear conscience, that every one with whom you
have had deal, is satisfied, so far as you know?]
KIND WORDS FROM A COAL-MINER'S BOY.
What in the world did you send me your Glean-
ings for 3 months for? That 25c was for postage on
the smoker you were fool enough to give me for not
using tobacco, and I shall not use it, if 1 know it,
any more. Now, I intend you to have your pay as
soon I get the money, because you have enough to
pay out for nothing. I think that some try to take
the advantage of you. Friend Root, I feel as If you
were a very near friend of mine, and can't help it. I
would like to write you a long letter (I have so much
to say), but I can't, because my learning is poor. I
never went to school since I was 8 years old. I am
a coal-miner's boy who never drank whisky, and
now I have a little'farm, and a good locality for bees,
out of my hard earnings. I never took an oath in
my life; never was before judge or jury in any
manner, and will try not to be. 1 would like to have
some of your profanity cards to give the boys in our
shop. I am working in C. M. Crandall's toy shop, as
engineer, until I finish paying my debts, and then I
will try bee-keeping and queen-rearing. When I
was 12 years old my father got killed two feet from
my side, in the mine. I was a door boy at the time;
father was the mine boss. My eldest brother was
near at the time. It was In 1863. Brother went to
the war, and left mother and me and four little ones,
so that is the reason I never could go to school, and
I have often sat down and cried when I bav(! seen
other boys going to school, and I had to go in mines
to dig coal. Whf'U I was 17 1 was a miner, and at
that age I have handled 19 tons of coal in one day,
with the pick and shovel. What would a boy think
to-dny to see a boy going in the mine with his lamp
and book? Ah, Mr. Root, I learned to read in the
mine. This is from one who loves to do risrht.
Robert J. Thomas.
Montrose, Pa , Sept. 0, 1S81.
GLEANINGS
BEE CULTUI\E
Devoted to Bees and Honey, and Home Interests.
Vol. IX.
NOV. 1, 1881.
No. 11.
A. I. ROOT, I
I
Publisher and Proprietor, \
Published Monthly.
Medina, O.
\ EstaUishecl in 1873
r TERMS: Si. 00 Per Anxvm, in Advance;
I 2 Copies for Si, 90; 3 for 82.75; 5 for 84.00; 10
I or more, 75 cts. each. Single Number. 10 cts,
-j Additions to clubs may be made at club
I i-ates. Above are all to be sent to OSE post-
I OFFICE. Clubs to different postoflices, not
' [ LESS than 90 cts, each.
NOTES FROITI THE BANNER APIAKY.
No. 2-1:.
APIS AMERICANA.
fHE following- letter was received from friend
P. L. Viallon, and, tbinklnjr it "too good to
■ keep " all to myself, I take this method of re-
plying:—
f"niExn HUTCHIXKOX:— .\s .vou are a queen-breeder, like my-
self, and knowing that you are of that class that will tell the
tiaith in s])ite of all. I thousrht T would ask your opinion of tke
Apis Americana, or. rather, the American improved Italian bees.
1 would say yoiir experience, but I am not aware of your exper-
imentinj; in this line. I u.se the word opinion, as yoii have been
sendinc: queens to many, and j'ou certainly must have received
reports from the maiority. so as to be able to compare your
(lueens with the imjnoved queens reared imder the swarming
impulse, etc. Xow. for my part, I have experimented upon this
subject for several years, and I have come to the conclusion
that it is an easy matter to degenerate bees, and that there is
no improvement to be made on the daughters of selected im-
ported mothers. Since 1876 I have been importinsr queens from
Itab'. I have never imported more than two .years from the
same district, and although I h.ave paid extra to have queens
selected, I must say that at least one-half of the imported
queens arc not wortji breeding from, hence the outcry against
imported queens. But when one selects the best queens from
the better half, to breed from, then from these queens he can
rear queens that are as pood, if not better, than the great Ajjis
Americana. Now, I do not .sa.y this because I am prejudiced,
but give it as the conclusion that I have arri%'ed at. after actual
and laborious experiments. You know very well that it is
cheaper and less trouble to breed from homebred mothers; but
as I have foimd my bees to be a little less energetic after two or
three generations. I have determined to bleed only from im-
jiorted mothers of my own importation, as then 1 can select
what I want.
I do not rear queens by anj- improved process or principle, but
have the cells built in moderately strong colonies, and hatch
them in nuclei. Sometimes, when there is a press of business,
and for want of stronger colonies. 1 have had some cells built
in very weak colonies, and, though the cells are few, I have
had just as fair and as good queens; which lias often made me
thinic that many of the theoiies advanced are — well, only
theories.
Now another case: In examining a colony last spring, I found
it to have a queen as small as a worker, probably a little longer,
but smaller in diameter. I expected to replace her in a few
days, but, not having an.v queens to spare, I left her, as she was
laying well, until the latter part of .June, when, in going to re-
l>lacc her, 1 fuvrnd that she had been superseded, and that her
daughter was as fair and large a queen as any I have had, and
she has turned out just as prolific as any queen can be. Now
the question is. Is it safe to breed from this queen! I think not,
though she is what any one would call a selected queen. But
then, I believe a little in D.anvin.
Now about those rearing queens and claiming that they are
mated with selected drones. I know that we can have colonies
with selected queens rear a great many drones, and the proba-
bilities are that manv of the queens will mate with these choice
drones; but how can a man prevent his other colonies from
rearing drones! and if he has a neighbor apiarist, how can he
control the production of drones in his apiary! If everj' colony
HI the vard has been deprived of every particle of drone comb,
it is astonishing to see the number of drones that will be
reared. Unless a man has only a few colonies, and is isolated
for several miles from other bees, and then gives a thorough
examination when required, hosv can this selection of drones
be accomiilished!
Well, friend H, 1 hope you will excuse me for having written
so much about these things, but they were on m.v mind, and I
felt like speaking about them to some one, but do not feel like
giving them to the bee journals, as I have neither time nor in-
clination to enter into a public discvission. Tnisting that you
are satisfied with this season's result, 1 am.
Bayou Goula, La., Sept. 15, 1881. Yours Tnily.
PAfi, L. Viallon.
Well, friend V., and all the rest of the friends, I
have owned only three imported queens,— one from
Dadant and two from Nellis. These were all good
queens, and my apiary has been almost entirely
stocked with their daughters. I have had no ex-
perience with queens removed many generations
from imported stock. Some apiarists assert, that
the so-called Albino bees are the result of continued
breeding from light-colored home-bred stock. Who
has the bees that are the furthest removed from im-
ported stock, and yet are superior, or even equal, to
the average imported stock? Many customers have
written, praising my queens, but none have made
any comparisons between them and queens reared
under the swarming impulse. I have, this season,
had quite a number of queens reared under the
swarming impulse, and although the cells were
larger and nicer-looking than many of those ob-
tained by removing a queen from a colony, I have
failed to detect any difference in the queens. Two
526
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Nov.
or three customers have complained, saying that a
queen was not prolific, or that she did not produce
the right kind of bees, and other queens have been
sent.
I presume that the queens roared in Italy are very
much like the queens reared here; that is, some are
good, and others bad or indifferent; and it would
seem reasonable that, by selecting the best queens
to breed from, and then selecting again from their
daughters, and then choosing again from their
daughters, and continuing this selection, that a su-
perior strain of bees might be developed; but right
here steps in that drone part of the problem, about
which friend Viallon so graphically writes. Last
spring 1 had half a dozen black and hybrid colonies
on the yard. I kept them free from drones until I
reared Italian queens to put in their p'.aces, and I
can imagine what a task it would be to keep a large
number of colonies free from drones. I have read
of giving each colony a comb of drone brood, from
choice stock, putting it at one side of the hive, away
from the brood-nest, and then removing it after the
drones had hatched. It was asserted that this would
satisfy the desire for drones, and that, if no drone
comb was afterward allowed in the hive, no more
drones would be reared. I have never tried this
plan, but have alwas's kept my own and my neigh-
bors' hives supplied with purely mated queens; in
most instances, daughters of imported mothers. If
fertilization in confinement could be made practica-
ble, I should have more faith in Apis Americana.
We now have several different races, or varieties, of
bees in this country, each one of which seems to
possess some desirable characteristics. Now, if all
these valuable traits could be combined, the result
would probably bo A. Am. It seems to me that
friend Jones, with his isolated islands, is doing as
much, perhaps, as any one in developing A. Am.
I would not say a word to discourage any one who
is trying to Improve the Italians or any other variety
of bees; on the contrary, I would do all in my power
to encourage them; yet it is my opinion,thSit, for the
present at least, we had better continue import-
ing.
If I am correctly informed, Italy, Cyprus, and Pal-
estine do not afford so grand honey resources as are
found in our own beloved land, and the bees of
those distant climes are obliged to labor very per-
sistently in order to obtain a subsistence, only the
" fittest " surviving. When they cross the Atlantic
they bring with them that disposition to labor, even
for a small reward; audit is only after living for a
time in this land of plenty that they discover how
easy it is to live and yet be a trifle lazy. Of course,
this is an old and oft-repeated theory, which may or
may not be true; but it is well known that the re-
moval of fruits, vegetables, plants, grains, animals,
etc., to some distant and more favorable locality is
usually followed by excellent results for the first few
gcncraUims; and why should not this rule hold good
in regard to bees? I do not wish to bo understood,
however, as having no faith in A. Am., because we
Americans are such a restless, progressive, go-ahead
people {made up from different races, as will proba-
bly be the case with A. Am.), a people that are satis-
fled with only the best, that the time when A. Am.
will be placed in a higher r.ank than all other bees,
and be in a great demand the world over, may not be
so far distant as some of us imagine.
W. Z. Hutchinson,
Bogersville, Genesee Co., Mich.
DOOLiITTIiE'S REPORT FOR 1881.
^5^-5^INTER seemed loth to give place to spring,
w™* so it was April 20th before our bees could
-^ -' fly to any amount, at which time I found the
long, severe, cold winter had made sad havoc with
my pets, and that I had only 30 colonies left out of
my 112, which were in good condition Dec. 1st, 1880.
Those oO were obtained by uniting, till I thought
they were strong enough to be of use tome; and
had I united to 2.5, probably better results could have
been obtained. May 1st, elm and soft maple invited
the bees to their opening buds to obtain pollen,
while on the 12th, golden willow gave them their
first taste of new honey. There seems to be some-
thing in this first honey that sets the bees "booming' '
as to brood-rearing, as nothing else does during the
whole year; and often a surplus of 10 lbs. of honey
is obtained from the few trees we have along a small
stream near us. On May 21st, apple - blossoms
opened, and our bees were given a fine treat for sev-
eral days, securing a nice store of apple honey to
keep them until white clover bloomed. Owing to
the extreme heat during May, white clover com-
menced to bloom June 1st, about fifteen days earlier
than usual. On the night of June 6th we had ahard
frost, followed by cold, cloudy, rainy weather, which
lasted till the 29th, keeping our bees from the fields,
so white and enticing to them, much to the annoy-
ance of their owner, if not to themselves. At this
time the bloom was nearly past; liut as good weather
now favored us, some little was gleaned by the in-
dustrious bees. July 8th, basswood opened, and we
expected to see a rush made for the honey that al-
ways seems to set the bees crazy, as it were. But
our hopes were again disappointed, for the honey-
flow from this source was very meager indeed ; in
fact, it was the poorest basswood season I ever
knew, and at its close our hopes were blasted, as
scarcely a box of surplus honey had been taken.
However, our bees were in the best possible condi-
tion to secure all there was, so we had no ground to
blame ourselves for not doing well our part. Along
during the latter part of basswood, we had noticed
that the large kind of red clover was blossoming, so
that the fields were getting red, which was a treat to
our eyes, as a worm in the head had kept the red
clover from blossoming for the past few years. As
the fields grew redder, our spirits rose, and hope
revived; for in 18T2 our bees gave us as high as CO
lbs. of box honey from some hives from red clover
alone. Soon the bees began to " go " for the clover,
and, to our astonishment, the few acres of teasel
within the range of our bees' flight was yielding
honey wonderfully. The bees now "rolled" in
honey at a rapid rate for aboui 10 days, and then
"slowed up," so that August 1st found the season
for 1881 over with us, as the 100 or more acres of
buckwheat within the range of our bees' flight
yielded no surplus. Four years have now passed
since we have had a pound of surplus honey from
buckwheat. As the result of our season's work, we
have taken in comb honey, 331V lbs., and 718 of ex-
tracted, giving a total of 4035 from our 30 colonies,
which gives an average of 134V4 lbs. to the colony,
and brings our average for the past 9 years up to
92 lbs. per colony. We have increased the 30 col-
onies to 80, which are in good condition for winter.
We have also reared and sent out 83 tested queens,
which of course lessened our honey report to a cer-
tain extent. When spring opened we had but one
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
527
good strong colony, and concluded to work that for
extracted honey. We will give the readers the re-
sult from this one, so they can see the source from
which our honey came, and the yield:—
Willow, b'.i lbs.; apple, I'J?*; white clover, 58}4;
tiasswood, 97; teasel and red clover, 233 lbs. Total,
413 lbs. We also worked a small apiary of 15 stoclcs
a mile or so from home, and obtained from them
874 lbs. of box honey and 14C0 of extracted, giving
3274 lbs. in all, or 151'/2 lbs. average to the colony.
One thing we noticed with pleasure, which was,
that our colonies gave nearly an equal yield per
hive. This is what I have been breeding for for the
past few years, hoping to obtain like results from
all, and not have one stock in the yard give a large
yield, and another nothing. When we, as apiarists
of America, can bring our bees up to such a stand-
ard of excellence that all C(il(jnics.will produce an
equal amount of honey, and said amount bo as
large as that produced by our very best colony of a
few years ago, we shall have no further need of im-
porting stock, for Apig Amciicana will be the best
bee in the world. - G. M. Doolittle.
Borodino, N. Y., Oct. 17, 1881.
GETTING A LAYING QUEEN FROM EACH
NUCLEUS ONCE IN 10 DAYS, AND IN-
CREASING 1 L.K. OF BEES TO 5
COLONIES IN ONE SEASON.
CAN ALL OF THE ABC CLASS DO IT EVEKY TIME ?
^fMHE friends will please imagine that we are sit-
JSjj ting on the blue grass, under the elm-tree,
near our apiary. As the young bees are gaily
sporting in the warm October sunshine, and the
workers are busily carrying in the pollen and a lit-
tle honey from smartweed and goldenrod, we will,
as pleasantly, examine October Gleanings. As our
time is short, we will notice only two items.
First, here is friend Hutchinson, who has some-
thing to say about certain very cheap nucleus hives,
in which he finds a laying queen once in about ten
days. Now look here, friend H. ; if that is the way
you do, I have got to scratch around and see what is
the matter, for I can not begin to do it in our yard.
How do you manage it? Don't your bees ever kill
any virgin queens, or tear down the queen-cells
"ready to hatch" that you sometimes give them?
Do your queens never get lost in mating? and do
they always begin to lay before the tenth day, so as
to have time to leave a few eggs to keep up the
strength of the colony?
I used to think that I could successfully intro-
duce newly hatched queens to small nucleus hives,
almost every time, and at the same time that I re-
moved their laying queen; but I did not do it this
past summer, and I had to (or thought 1 did) adopt
the rule of leaving them queenless three or four
days before offering a stranger; and even then I
would occasionally lose a queen.
Neighbor H. makes an experiment which is emi-
nently successful. He takes a pound of bees in
May, gives them a few empty combs, and, by and by,
some pans of sugar syrup. By the last of Septem-
ber they have increased to 5 fair colonies in good or-
der for winter.
Some of the enthusiastic ABC class who, by the
way, need to be curbed in a little, want to know if
those bees increased to so great an extent with the
help only of the few combs first given, and the pans
of syrup fed indiscriminately, or were they guided
and helped all through the long dry hot summer by
the active brain and skillful hand of a thorough bee-
master who fed them just right, gave them com-
plete combs when needed, also queens from another
apiary? In other words, may these inexperienced
friends expect to do half or even one-fourth as well?
Please stand up. Neighbor H., and tell us all
about it. You see, you and I hope to sell these ABC
friends a great many pounds of bees next summer,
and we do not want them to lose money; neither do
we want our bees to suffer by the mistakes of our
customers. Hence I think it would be a good plan
for you to tell them just what to do with their bees.
Do it now, that they may have plentj' of time to
study the matter tho^oughlJ^ E. M. Hayhukst.
Kansas City, Mo., Oct., 1S81.
May I not speak a little first, friend Ilay-
hurst? Perhaps 1 sliould explain to our
readers, that I put the liead and sub-head on
this article, and I also wrote about what
Neighbor H. Iiad done with a single pound
of bees. Well, I would say, for friend
Hutchinson, that I thinlc he did not intend
to say he could get a queen in ten days on
the average, but that it happened he did
once or twice with those little liives. 1 know
pretty well that both he and 2s"eighbor H.
have their share of bad luck. Now about
Neighbor II. 's pound of bees. He said he
was going to increase them to five colonies,
and I bantered him so much about it that it
stirred him up to an unusual degree of de-
termination. They are not wintered yet,
and if you had not Avritten your piece, I am
afraid they never would have been, all of
them. If you want to know Avhether it does
Neighbor II. good to stir him up now and
then or not, just ask his wife. Now he may
answer the rest.
neighbor h.'s STony about " that pound op
bees."
As friend Hayhurst requests me to stand up and
tell all about that pound of bees, I will arise. On
the 15th of May I put up a pound of bees to ship.
The weather was very warm; white-clover honey
was coming in very fast; they got daubed with hon-
ey, and when I got to the factory they weie all in
the bottom of the cage nearly suffocated. I put
them in a chaff hive on empty combs in Mr. Root's
apiary. They were Italian bees, but I put a tested
Holy-Land queen with them, more for the purpose
of showing the bees to visitors than any thing else.
I also gave them two frames of new honey, mostly
unsealed. I covered them with the winter chaff
cushion, and then left them severely alone for
about a month, when I divided them first.* And
here is where the trick commences. There were 7
frames of brood. I took all the hatching and sealed
brood and the queen for the new swarm, leaving the
eggs and larva? to rear queen-cells from. When T
rear queen-cells 1 always like to feed the colony. I
have fed $11.00 worth of sugar and $3.00 worth of
honey. I have raised from that queen over 100
queen-cells and two laying queens, and have given
the five two laying queens from the other apiary.
Medina, O., Oct. 26, 1881. Neighbor H.
*JIr. Root asked me how many swarms I coulil make, and 1
said five; he laughed, but I have the five.
028
GLEANINGS IK BEE CULTURE.
Nov
PATENT-RIGHT BEE-HIVES.
KIND WORDS FROM GOOD FRIENDS.
f CAN'T get along without Gleanings, for I like
it very much, and I like the editor too; but it
' hurts to read such sentences as, " Have noth-
ing to do with anj' man who goes around selling
rights for patent bee-hives, or any thing else" (p.
408), for I can say that I'll never engage in a busi-
ness that I can't ask the Lord to help me in. I have
not taken a cent from a man this'season but that
has declared himself perfectly willing to pay, and
some of my warmest friends are those 1 have done
work for. Honest, now! don't you believe this is a
kind of hobby of yours? It surely can't be so sinful
to get an article patented, or our government would
not allow it. Isn't this more a matter of opinion,
and shouldn't we cultivate a charity for each other's
differences? AVhy, I believe there comes pretiy
near being two sides to the temperance question,
and yet I earnestly advocate the right, and never
drank a drop. But you couldn't scare me off of your
subscription list any how, for GLfeANixGS contains
too much good reading, and if I ever come any-
where near Medina, I'm coming the rest of the way
and call on you. Yes, I almost believe 1 would, even
if I knew you would turn up your nose, and say to
yourself, "Yes, here is one of those patent-hive
men." G. K. Hubbard.
LaGrange, Ind., Oct. 16, 1S81.
Now, Mr. Koot, on page 498, October Gleanings,
you cut the " Kidder " family. Do you know them
■pcrsoniilhi/ did they ever harm yoH, or has your im-
agination, and letters of hasty writing from others,
made out the whole family of "bad repute "? If a
relation of yours should •' miss it " in some of his
dealings, how would it "strike" you should it be
said, " The whole Root family are in bad repute"? I
believe the Maker of man has room in the field of
charity for what is (joiid in the " Kidder famih'." I
don't believe in total depravity, you see; and in the
same article you say, " Have nothing to do with any
man who travels about selling rights for patent bee-
hives, '</• 0711/ thing dsc," etc. When you consider
that, I think you will pass judgment on yourself. I
am not in favor of flooding the country with "pat-
ent rights," but I believe it just for a person to pro-
tect himself from unprincipled parties, by having a
thing patented that is meritorious, and where the
public is not overcharged by the " right."
A little argument Avill not build a wall between us,
for I won't be any thing else but your friend, and I
do not mean to be presumptuous. I believe, if we
would obey the great injunction, " Come, let us rea-
son together," the two great powers of heaven and
earth (love and charity) would find lodgment in more
human hearts. We are too touchy.
w. M, Young.
Nevada, Wyandot Co., O., Oct., 1881.
I must confess, my friends, the spirit of
kindness and true friendship shown in both
your letters lias touched me very much ; so
much so, indeed, that I have just had the
Humbug and Swindle department lifted out
bodily from the pages, although it contained
two complaints against patent-hive venders.
If I have been erring on the side of too much
severity, I will try for a little while to err on
the side of being too lenient. I am not at all
shaken in my position, that the greatest
good to the greatest number would be se-
cured by just such advice as I gave, but be-
cause of just one such man as yourself, friend
II., among the number wlio are traveling
about selling rights for a patent bee-hive,
(do you go among utter strangers, friend IL?)
I will, for the present, refrain. Friend Y.,
that one expreswion, " I won't be any thing
but your friend," has taken a strong hold of
me. If we could all hold that spirit in all
our arguments and disagreements, what a
different world this would be 1 Methiuks I
see one weak place in your plea. You ask
if any of the Kidders have ever harmed me.
To be sure, they have not. If they had, it
would have been a personal matter, and en-
tirely out of place in my own journal. Bad
men are published, to save our readers from
being defrauded by them ; and I do not
know how I can very well be excused from
holding up this warning, when the Kidders
have been practicing a species of blackmail-
ing for nearly twenty years past. When I
say Kidder family, of course I mean those
of them known in bee culture.
BEES AND GRAPES.
ALSO A LITTLE ABOUT BIRDS AND GRAPES.
M S there has been a great deal said about bees
>^\v eating and puncturing grapes, I take this op-
' portunity to send you by mail one of the bees
or birds that do puncture the grapes, making a hole
as small as can be made with a fine needle, and
larger. I have had about 10 years' experience with
bees and grapes; have never seen a bee puncture a
grape yet. I know by watching what mischief (to
my sorrow) this little bird is among the grapes.
If you know the name of the bird, please let me
know. C. F. Hopkins.
BrowDhelm, Lorain Co., O., Oct. 11, 1881.
Not being posted in ornithology, we sent
the bird to i-'rof . Cook. Here is his reply :
Dear Sir:— Ihc bird from Mr. C. F. Hopkins, of
Brownhelm, Ohio, and received through you, is the
ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula). It is
sometimes called the ruby-crowned Wren. It is
found from the Gulf, in winter, to Alaska, in sum-
mer; and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. It ap-
pears here in April and September, and the same is
true, without doubt, in Northern Ohio. It nests and
breeds north of us. This little bird is greenish olive
in color, with a bright crimson spot on its crown. It
has a sharp bill, which enables it to reach into crev-
ices under bark, etc., for the insects which form the
larger part of its food. The length from tip of bill
to tip of tail is 41 ; inches.
Mr. Hopkins's observation is new. This little
beauty, whose song is as beautiful as that of the
canary, has heretofore borne an untarnished chai--
acter. True, Wilson says that it sometimes eats the
stamens of apple-blossoms, but this could hardly be
called harm. But that it should form this new hat>-
it of piercing grapes, and sipping the juice, is surely
much against its character. Its bill is admirably
fitted for just this work, from its nccdle-like shape;
and granting that it should once experiment in the
line of tapping grapes, we could hardly wonder that
it should continue in that line, nor blame it for so
doing, especially as it has more than earned the
grape juice by ravaging among the insects.
1881
GLEANIi^GS IN BEE CULTURE.
529
This observation is of no little interest as an item
in science. Every new fact like this is very valua-
ble. A. J. Cook.
Ag. Col., Lansing, Mich., Oct. IT, 1881.
A NEW CO.II B-HOL.de: R.
WN taking out the fir.st comb from a hive
Jll full. I presume almost every one has
looked about wishfully for some place
to hang or stand it. witliout hurting the bees
that ought to be found covering every part
of it. If stood on end with considerable
care, you may not hurt bees ; but if it tum-
bles down, or gets blown over by the wind,
you may not only have bees killed, but the
queen too. as has happened several times to
my knowledge. You will observe that we
have a device, made of folded tins, shown in
our price list, to hang on the edge of the
hive, for this purpose. Well, a few days
ago a visitor, Mr. H. W. Minns, of Xew
London. Ohio, brought into the office a de-
vice for the same purpose, shown below.
It is made of strap
iron, such as is used
for ironing the upper
edges of wagon-box-
es, and, when well
made,looks very neat.
When it is to be
shipped, or laid away
on a shelf, the cross-
irons can be turned
on the rivets so that
it is in a very com-
pact form, and it oc-
cupies less space than
MACHINE FOR HOLD- ^yhen opeu. as in the
ING THE FIRST C03I15. put. The CXpeuSC iS
just the same as our tin ones ; but as the
iron is heavier, it will cost more to send
them by mail.
^ m »
POLLEN; ITS PRESENCE IN W^INTER.
FRIEND PETERS' OPINION OF IT.
IfT^DITOR GLEANINGS:— In your August num.
f^^\ ber is an article headed " Come, Ictus Reason
Together," from Mr. Heddon, seeming! j' in-
tended to invite discussion, or, rather, to draw out
the opinions of bee-keepers on the subject of the
influence of bee-bread, or pollen, as a factor in the
production of bee dysentery. It is not the purpose
of this paper to criticise the settled convictions of
one so practical in all his views on apiculture as
friend Heddon has hitherto shown himself; but as
he invites us to " reason together," I suppose his ob-
ject is to call forth the opinions of other bee-keepers
on that especial subject. For myself, I can not for
a moment entertain the belief that pollen, perse,
ever did produce bee dysentery. For all insect cre-
ation, nature has been lavish in yielding natural
food for their support and development. Fields and
forest abound in a profusion of pollen-bearing
flowers whose secreting vessels pour out the fra-
grant pabulum of bee-life. The physiology of bee
organism, from the earliest history to the present
time, clearly indicates the peculiar fitness of such
food; and there is not, never was, and perhaps
never will be, any substitute that is so perfectly
adapted to that end. So well established is the fact,
that the food sought bj' instinct in nature's labora-
tory by all animal nature Is essentially the very ele-
mentary principles of those creatures, that some
physiologists have supposed that at some antece-
dent period the food, or ingesta, had a great influ-
ence in molding the characteristics of both insect
and animal races. How, then, I ask, can bee dysen-
tery be ascribed to the food so well suited to the
growth and development of the young insect, and
in part the food during the natural life of the older
bees? Such a fact, if such it could possibly be,
would subvert nature's laws of aliment and assimi-
lation. I am ready to admit, there are many cir-
cumstances connected with bee-cellars and bee-
houses in the State of Michigan, which we of this
latitude can not fully appreciate; but if friend
Heddon's views are correct, the Avhole multitude of
nursing bees in existence must learn anew how to
select some food better adapted to the digestive or-
gans of bees besides the time-honored bee-bread —
the aliment of all former generations of bees. I do
not believe bee-bread is as noxious as he supposes,
from the fact that there is a greater variety of pol-
lens gathered from the flora of the Mississippi
River bottom than from any other place in America.
The great earthquakes of 1811 produced an upheaval
of all the region about New Madrid, Mo., and a cor-
responding sinking in Tennessee, on the east side,
creating Red Foot Lake, and a corresponding de-
pression on that side along the St. Francis River, e.v-
tending over a large area of land; this last, the sunk
lands, goes dry after the subsidence of the spring
floods, when myriads of vines, weeds, shrubs, etc.,
spring up and fill the air with aroma many miles
around, and affording the greatest locality In the
world for bee-raising, on account of the great
quantity and variety of pollen. Hunters take large
amounts of wild honey for market, and yet the
number of wild colonies is still on the increase.
This strange convulsion, resulting in the produc-
tion of sunken lands, and upheaval of the New
Madrid countrj-, has developed the flnest country
for bee-keeping known to this region of the State,
and no one ever saw bee dysentery among either
wild or domesticated bees in that section. In this
bottom country, where the alluvial soil is most fer-
tile, and flowers exuberate and are rich In honej"
and pollen, and where bee-rearing is so successful
without any disease whatever, I am forced to discard
the views of friend Heddon. All the world will
agree that animal life is most thrifty, and the indi-
vidual more perfectly developed, where natural
food is most abundant. In all this vast variety of
heterogeneous flowers, whoso pollen is all thrown to-
gether in the arcana of the bee-hive, why has the
bee dysentery never visited us? If bee-bread ever
did produce the disease, this extensive mixing of
many kinds of pollen should certainly develop it. I
I have known bees In February without one drop of
honey, but with a liberal supply of pollen, pull
through for three weeks until the maple blossoms
came to their relief. No dysentery then. For fifty
years have I seen abundant stores of pollen In my
colonies, on M'hich the young bee was fed, and the
old bee partly supported through wintw, and up to
this good day never have I seen a case of bee dys-
entery. From these considerations, I am Induced to
believe our friend is mistaken In his conclusions as
to the causes of the disease, and do not hesitate to
advance the opinion, that the real cause may be
530
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Nov.
found in the long winters and forced confinement of
bees, thereby preventing' a frequent discharge of
the fteoal contents of the intestines, which, being
retained, must ferment, produce intlammation, dys-
entery, exhaustion, and death of the bees. "Come,
let us reason together." Geo. B. Peters.
Council Bend, Ark., Sept. 25, 1881.
sojuething to put under the
cushions.
THE PROBLEM SOLVED APPAKEMTLY.
SWENT into the saw-room the other
day, and Mr. Gray was at work at some
queer-looking thing with eight legs,
that looked as if it might be guilty of killing
sheep, or sucking eggs, if it got loose after
dark.
'• What in the world is that, Mr. Gray V"
" Why, it is something that Shane brought
over. He wants us to make 189 like it — one
for each of his hives. It was sent him by
some great bee-man down near Cincinnati,
who never loses his bees wintering."
'' Was it Muth V"
"•No, that was not the name."
"inn?"
"Yes, Hill; that is the man. He wrote
Shane a letter and sent him this machine,
which I think is to be put under the cushion,
to make a chamber for the bees to cluster in,
so they can readily pass over the frames
from one to the otlier."
Here is a picture of the thing, my friends.
hill's device FOR COVElMNGTHE FRA^IES
IN W^INTER.
I saw Mr. Shane when became after them,
and he has promised me the letter from Mr.
Hill, but it has not come yet. The sticks
are sawed on a circle, from half-inch bass-
wood. They are sawed on a curve that
would make a circle of perhaps .5 inches in
diameter. The stuff is held at an angle
when sawed, so the outer surface is some-
thing like the surface of a sphere. The two
iusitie sticks are 9 inches in length; the two
outside ones, only S. The back-bone, as it
were, is a strip of very light hoop-iron, like
that used to hoop pails, it is about a foot
long, which holds the ribs about 4 inches
apart. Y ou set this on the frames, then lay
over it a piece of bagging, or burlap, and till
the upper story with chaff.
It occurred to me, when I first saw it, that
under this would be a splendid place to put
sticks or bricks of candy, when candy has to
be fed. Mr. Shane said he used four cobs,
similarly placed last winter on all his stocks,
but that he had never thought to mention it
when I had interviewed him in regard to
his great success in wintering. We sliall use
it over all of our colonies, and I have much
faith that it will give the space above the
bees, about which so much has been said in
the reports of wintering with the sections
left on. A quilt or cushion does not seem to
answer as well as loose chaff, because it in-
terposes too many thicknesses of cloth. Per-
haps very porous cloth, like burlap, might be
unobjectionable ; and cushions are so much
cleaner and handier than loose chaff.
if you can not well make these things, we
can furnish them for 5 cts. each, or $4.00 per
hundred in the flat. If wanted by mail, the
postage will be about 4 cts. each. '
|/j^ *%rcidkr^r
This departmont is to be kept for the benefit of those who are
flissatistied ; and when anything is aniisa, I hope yo\i will " talk
right out." As .1 nile. we will omit names and addresses, to
avoid being too personal.
llp^RIEND ROOT: -I
JiqI but quit on ace
took Gleanings a long time,
account of glucose and dollar
queens. I am glad you have dropped the gl i-
ccse. When you drop dollar queens, which I think
you will, I shiiU likely send for Gleanings. I am a
poor writer, but your well-wisher. May God bless
you. D. G. Parker.
St. Joseph, Mo., Oct. 18, I88L
I haven't had a suitable letter for the
Growlery for some time, and I am not sure
the above is one ; in fact, the concluding in-
junction seems to indicate that friend F. is
a good friend of mine, in spite of differences.
I presume most of our readers will smile at
the allusion to dollar queens now. Friend
P., you are not fully up to the times, I fear.
Our highest-priced qu(^ens are reared exactly
as the dollar queesis are ; in fact, all are
reared together. When tested, the best are
three dollars, and the poorest are 50 cents,
'i'he dollar queens are simply those sold be-
fore they are tested at all. Most bee-keep-
ers have their own peculiar notions in re-
gard to queens, and, as a general thing, each
prefers to test them himself. It saves time,
to buy a lot of dollar queens and pick out
one from among them that suits you. The
great queen trade that now fills our mails a
great part of the year is mostly in dollar
queens ; and if you will look over the re-
ports in our back numbers, you will see that
their colonies are giving the great yields of
honey. The men who have sold hybrids
and culls for dollar queens have killed their
trade, and are now mostly out of the busi-
ness.
in regard to "glucose," as you are still
pleased to term it, here is an editorial from
the last American Bee Journal : —
To prohibit the use of glucose by law would be
about as proper as to compel hotel-keepers to use
first-class meat in hash, or cheap boarding-house
keepers to debilitate the butter. If persons wish to
buy and eat glucose, they have a right to do so: we
would throw no obstacle in the way of buying it.
But we do object to their buying and eating it for
pure honey or syrup, or any thing except what it re-
ally is. If buyers inquire for glucose, let them have
it; if for hone.v, sell them honey.
Now% if that is not exactly where I have
always stood in the matter, it must be I do
not see things straight. It looks to me just
as if friend Newman had come over to my
position ; but very likely it seems to him I
have gone over to his side. Never mind, so
long as we are agreed.
18S1
GLEANINGS IN i3EE CULTUliE.
5:^.1
BEES ON A KAMPAGE, AGAIN.
WHAT THEY DID, AND HOW IT TURNED OUT.
!E are taking your paper r'^iin, and it is like
an old friend, as we us^d to ha^e it when
we kept bees in Iowa, 7 years ago. Reading
the piece about a man dying from a sting, compels
me to write to you about a little trouble we have
had. A five-year-old chap belonging to a neighbor
of ours who has a big ranche, and has all kinds of
men. Chinamen among the number, at work for him,
is always ready to " help." These workmen are not
very choice in their use of language. One day this
little flve-year-nld was with a Chinaman, helping to
hive a swarm of bees, and, running under the limb
where the swarm was, the bees fell on him ; and as
he threw up his hands to brush them off, they of
course stung him. His mother hearing his cries, ran
to him and got him to the house and brushed off the
bees, and pulled out 13 stings from his neck. Not
knowing what else to do, she poured out a teacup-
ful of strong whisky, which they kept for medicine,
and made him drink nearly all of it. He was getting
stupid from the poison of the bees, but after drink-
ing the whisky, and having a rag wet in the liquor
wrapped around his throsit, he revived, and was
seemingly out of pain. His mother, now that the
need for action was over, gave way to tears, and
through her sobs asked, "How do you feel now, Odin?"
"Oh, bully! give me some more whisky," was the
answer, which effectually stopped the tears of his
mother, as she had to laugh. They kept the cloth
wet with the whisky, and the next day the child was
all right.
I do not like bees myself, for the stings make my
flesh swell so badly, and I can not eat honey, so I
should not care if there were no bees in the world,
as far as I am concerned; but my husband likes them,
and my boys like mamma's honey-cake, so I am in-
terested in the little nuisances for their sakes.
"We have about 85 swarms. We have kept bees for
19 years, but never had them act mean until once
last year. It was a pretty warm da3', and about one
o'clock, when my husband heard an unusual noise
at the pig-pen, where we had about 150 hogs, big and
little. The bee-hives were about two rods from the
pen. When he got to the pen he saw that one sow,
with pigs, in a pen by herself, was running about
very much excited; so he went to her and found
that the bees were stinging her and her pigs. He
then kicked off a board and shoved her out of the
pen. She ran around the large pen, the bees after
her, and in two minutes the bees had come out in
swarms and commenced stinging the other pigs.
Thej' got so frantic that they just raged around.
Mr. Hilton opened the gate and tried his best to drive
them out of the pen into some green barley growing
near, but did not succeed till he had come to the
house and got my help, and it was all we could both
do. The bees were just thick in the air and on the
hogs. After we had got the hogs out we went to
picking up the poor little ones that were literally
covered with bees and stings, especially back of the
ears and between the hind legs. We put them in
the chicken-house and threw wet sacks over them,
then went to see to other things. Out by the barley
we had four horses tied, and I saw that they were
getting excited, and my husband had to go quite
over a large hill before they left them. Then the
cows we had staked out had to be moved. Feeling
tired, I came to the house, and there were mj' two
turkey gobblers, half crazy from bee-stings. I had
to catch them, pull out the stings, and put a wet
sack over their heads. The dogs were whining and
trying to hide from the bees, so 1 threw water over
them, and then went to see about the little pigs. I
found about 20 in misery; 3 or 1 had spasms, so Mr.
H. killed them; then we went to pulling out stings,
but they were so badly stung, and had had to suffer
so long, that 12 died during the week. My turkeys
were almost blind a week. I had to make bee-hats
for us all, for the bees would ho%-er around the door
of our house, and woe unto those who stepped out
without a hat, for one whole week; and at the end
of that time one pitched on me at the well as I was
drawing water, and stung my face. I only had on
my sun-bonnet. We do not know what caused them
to act so, unless it being hot they felt cross; and as
they were eating out of the sow's trough, she fought
them and made them mad. Mks. J. Hie^ton.
Los Alamos, Cal., Aug. 10, 1881.
jSIy friend, you certainly did have a sad
time witli the "bees, but it seems to me you
have mentioned one thing far more danger-
ous than all the bees in the world. Sooner
or later, that boy will have an ungovernable
ajipetite for whisky, and the one act may
send him to a drunkard's grave. I feel
quite sure that no bad consequences would
have resulted from the thirteen stings had
nothing been done more than to pull them
out. I also feel quite sure, from the experi-
ence I have had, that the outward applica-
tion of whisky had nothing to do with the
recovery. Nor, indeed, am I sure that even
wet cloths are of any advantage. I have
tried keeping a painful sting wet with water,
but I can not see that it atfects it at all
either way. The scene with the pigs was
strikingly like the experience of our Mr.
Merrybanks' neighbor, when he was first in-
troduced to our notice.
SQUAliE MEN.
SOME SUGGESTIONS IN THE MATTER FKO.M THE
BRETHREN.
5?^^0UR editorial headed " Square Men," is a capi-
j.^ tal idea. 1 had been thinking for some time
— ' past about suggesting something of the
kind, and I am glad you have taken the steps.
Start that list at once, friend Root, and let every
one pay you for the space taken in your journal-
say so much a year, as it is for your queen column,
and also so much for j-our trouble and expense for
procuring the standing of each. Then besides, let
every one give bond or security of some kind. Now,
would it not be fair for every one who has to com-
plain of a dealer, to give his name? Let every one
come aight out with the facts, and give the names,
as then it may bring more promptness, etc.
Bayou Goula, La., Oct. 6, '81. P. L. Viallon.
SQUARE MEN.
I see you propose publishing a list of the square
dealers, also one for those who arc crooked; and,
say, let it include every one among our bee-men
who advertise any thing for sale at all. Your object
is to give protection to your readers and purchas-
ers, which is very good. But, how about your ad-
vertisers? They are the fciv among the mamj; they
532
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Nov
pay for the privilege of advertising, and surely you
owe them the same protection from crooked custo-
mers. Gleanings for Oct., page 503, gives a case of
crookedness. I have been doing business, advertis-
ing and dealing with entire strangers for about
eight years, and I am pleased to be able to say that,
in all that time, I have found only twi> customers
that 1 know or believe to have practiced fraud (a
pretty good showing, is it not?) Jos. M. Brooks.
Columbus, Ind., Oct., 1881.
Many thanks for your kind words and sug-
gestions, my friends. I knew, before I
started the idea, that you two at least would
be in favor of it, for in all the business you
have both done, I have never, that I remem-
ber of, heard a single word of complaint of
either of you. Square men will most em-
])hatirally vote for such a list; but those
who know their past records have not been
square with their customers, will fight terri-
bly against it. I presume you little imagine
what a shower of invectives will come down
on the bald head of your old friend, should I
attempt to carry out even a part of the pro-
gramme you propose. I spoke of adverti-
sers only, because the list would be so very
large, did it embrace purchasers as well.
Shall we not rather jjublish the names of the
'•dead beats," and say nothing about the
good ones V Suppose you, friend Brooks,
write to the two who defrauded you, that,
unless they settle up, you will have them
published." If they have any defense to
make, propose arbitration, and' publish only
those who decline arbitration, or who won't
answer at all any way. There is another
class, who are so very slow in fulfilling a
promise, that it seems it would be a great
kindness to the masses to tell them kindly
they must be published as " slow coaches,"
unless they brighten up and do better. In
answer to hiend A'iallon. I would say that I
want nothing for my trouble in the matter.
The fact that I am helping the supporters of
Gleanings will be pay enough. Neither
have I any objections to speaking right out,
after the delinquent has been fairly notified,
and neglects to do any thing in the matter.
What are the wishes of our readers?
FKAGMENTS FROm AN ABC SCHOLAR.
ALSO CONTAINING SOME QUITE IMPORTANT HINTS
rOK THE VETERANS.
fWANT to second the remarks of Mr. Hutchin-
son on page 319, July No. of Gleanings in ref-
— ■ erence to building up an apiary in a hurry, and
reaping no benefits from it the first year or two.
Although I am but an A B C student in apiculture, I
started out with the intention of making the bees
pay all expenses, and I have done it. Last year my
two swarms gave me two more, and 130 lbs. of sur-
plus honey. Now I have 13 colonies and 510 lbs. of
surplus, worth $70.00.
HAVE THINGS READY.
This thought came into my mind while reading
Geo. W, Burridge's article on page 327. Now, in-
stead of running after a hive when a swarm comes
out, 1 have my hives all set on their stands in
advance, nicely leveled up, and frames handy, so
that, if a swarm issues on the Sabbath, as fully one-
half of mine do, I can take care of them in short
order.
I use the Roop hive with double walls, so they do
not heat up much inside, and the bees go right to
work.
SAWDUST FOR PACKING HIVES.
I see a good deal in the papers about using chaff,
leaves, etc. Now, I use dry firm sawdust, from the
re-saw in a planing-mill, and I am of the opinion
that it is the best yet. It absorbs the moisture, and
keeps a very steadj- temperature.
HOW LATE TO BREED IN THE FALL.
Friend Grimm, on page 323, tells us how late queens
should be permitted to lay in the fall, if they are to
be moved into the cellar. Now, will some one who
dors H'infe)' bees outdoors tell us about fall breeding?
My bees bred till November last year, and com-
menced again in February. All came through the
winter too.
TRIALS IN QUEEN-REARING.
I think this matter is not confined to Illinois. I
have 2 colonies that are making the third effort to
Ret a laying queen. After the first failure, I placed
pieces of new bright tin near their entrances to
quiet them, but a second failure was the result.
SWARMING BEES BV TELEPHONE.
You may laugh at the mere mention of such an
idea; but, listen to one who doc:< do it. I purchased
a dollar telephone of Perry Mason & Co., Boston,
last winter, also 300 feet of copper wire, and put it
up according to printed directions — the wire ex-
tending from my house to my father's. Now im-
agine my surprise to hear, when the bees began
their summer's work, an occasional sound as loud
and similar to that made by snapping your finger-
nail against a goblet. Now, this wire passes over
one end of my row of hives, and whenever a swarm
issues from a hive within a couple of rods of this
wire, the tap, tap, tapping, that we, at both houses,
hear 50 or 100 times per minute, soon brings some
one to the scene of action. I was aroused once when
half asleep, just in time to see which hive they
came from. Now, I am so thoroughly convinced of
the eflBciency of the accoustic telephone as an aid in
swarming bees, that I shall put one up next year to
run parallel with the row of hives, so as not to be
more than 20 or 25 feet from any of the hives. To
make it convenient for my wife, I will put one
diaphragm in the kitchen, and the other in the sit-
ting-room. The wire needs to be drawn " taut," and
not to make anj' short angles.
QUESTIONS.
Would it be safe to wax a syrup or vinegar barrel
to ship e.xtracted honey in?
In waxing barrels, could you not use less than 30
or 30 lbs. of wax, by putting hot water in with it, to
keep it warm?
Is it possible for even a dollar queen to be jet black,
and her worhrrs too? I would like to know. I thought
best to put the above question on this slip, as some
might think, if it were in print, that I had bought
such a one from j^ou. Now, I call the dollar queen I
bought of you last fall a black queen; but I may be
mistaken. I know one thing: she pays the best of
any queen I have. You may, if you choose, answer
this in Gleanings in such a way that no one will
think you have been suspected of making any such
error. F. A. Palmer.
McBrides, Mich., Aug. 11, 1881.
I too, friend P., most emphatically indorse
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
o33
the idea of having things ready in our apia-
ries. If we get behind, and no hives are in
readiness for the next demand, somebody is
sure to bring some bees after dark, or some-
thing of that kind.— We )';;ve repeatedly
made bees rear brood every montli in the
year, by flour feeding, and with no bad re-
sults that we could discover, until last win-
ter.— Your plan of using the telephone is
indeed a bright thought, and just as soon as
you mentioned it I wondered I had been so
short-sighted as to have never thought of it
before. Our neighbor F. R. Shaw, of Chat-
ham, is engaged in making telephones, and
when I visited him a couple of years ago, he
had several tele]ihones coming into the room.
While we were listening to the neighbors a
mile away, in different directions, I heard a
sound as if something struck the wire, and
suggested a bird had flown against it.
" It was not a bird, but onlv a bee," said
he.
" Why ! " exclaimed I, " is it possible the
weight of a bee could make a sound like
that V ^'
" Just that, exactly,'" said he ; but even
after this, and during the talks we have had
about a telephone to tell when the bees were
swarming, it never before occurred to me
that a single wire would do it. I have writ-
ten Perry Mason & Co. for a sample of their
dollar telephones, and we will see what can
be done to furnish bee-men with a telephone
that will be a tell-tale on the bees when they
attempt to iflay truant. Many thanks, friend
P., for the bright siiggestion. By the way,
does it not seem a little sad to think of so
many young bees bumping their ])recious
little heads against that wire when they are
starting out for a jubilee V — Any kind of a
barrel will answer for honey, so far as I
know, if it is perfectly covered with wax.
The wood, however, will not hold the wax,
unless it is perfectly dry, and warm enough
for the wax to soak into it, partially, as it
were, and so using water would, of course,
be out of the question. If the honey comes
in contact with wax and nothing else, it can
not well be injured ; Ijut any such barrels as
you mention must be vrnj carefully coated.
I think, on the whole, I would rather risk
the honey in tin ; it is quite apt to taste of
any sort of wooden package. — A dollar queen
that is black herself, and produces black
workers, would be a rather suspicious per-
sonage— something like a -'white black-
bird." We often have ([uite dark (or even
black) dollar queens ; but if they do not
produce yellow^ bees, make a fuss about it,
by all means, and by no means hesitate be-
cause the queen came from ».s, if such was
the case.
FRIEND WHITE'S REPORT OF HIS
LOSSES LAST AVINTER.
ONLY 13 SAVED OUT OF 1.30.
AST fall I had 130 stands of bees all in good con-
dition as to honey and bees; in fact, I never
went into winter-quarters with better condi-
tions for a success the coming' spring. I have kept
bees over 25 years, and never lost any during' winter
or spring, except by sheer neglect; but I must con-
fess that the past winter has taken all the conceit
out of me, as I thought I had the winter process
down to a fine point in this section. My bees are
hybrids and blacks; have used nothing but the
Langstroth hive since 1850, except when a friend
sends me a new kind of hive to try its merits. But
of all that 1 have used, the Langstroth is superior to
any.
I would not like to say positively what was the
cause of the mortality among my bees, " for I might
be wrong." But my opinion is, that last fall I had
in my section a great many fall flowers, and as they
did not seem to produce much honey, the bees, eager
to store something, filled the hives with pollen.
They had no place to store it, except in proximity to
the brood-nest, as the hives were well stocked with
honey. The cold spell lasting so long, they could not
leave the cluster to procure honey at any distance
from them, and that which was near them, being
consumed early in the winter, they devoured the
pollen, and, not being able to discharge their fasces,
dysentery was the result, and grew worse as the cold
lasted, death being the result.
The last fly my bees had in 1880 was Dec. IGth, and
not again until Feb. 28th, 1881. At times during the
winter the weather would moderate some, and the
bees would crawl to the entrance and die. Very
few hives seemed to die in clusters, but were scat-
tered all through it and in the honey-boxes, which
they left in a fearful condition.
SIZE OF EXTRANCES FOR WINTER.
I had the entrances to the hives all contracted to
3 in. by ^ in., by simply taking a piece of ?2-inch
lumber, 2 in. wide and 14' 3 long, cutting a notch in
the edge 3 in. long and V2 in. deep, and then screw-
ing it over the regular entrance. This I take away
during the summer or honey season, replacing it
again during the winter.
Now for the results:—
Thirty were in double-cased hives, with dead-air
space all around; only one survived of 20 that
had the honey-boxes on with honey-board. The one
that survived had the dysentery very badly, but
made me 80 lbs. surplus honey this season in boxes.
The other 10 of the double-cased hives had no boxes
on, but a double thickness of old sacknig tacked over
on the top edge of the l)rood-chamber, the honey-
boards being left off; 4 of these survived, but had
dysenterj'. One stand in a double-cased hive with
the honej'-board screwed down tight, with no top
ventilation whatever, entrance 3 in. by 'i in., came
through all right, and cast a swarm this season, and
had no dysentery. One "National" bee-hive, with
boxes left on, died with dysentu-y. Two box hives,
no upward ventilation, died with dysentery. Four
swarms in bee palace, boxes on top and one side, all
died with dysentery. Two in the large Langstroth
Observatory hive, with boxes on, both died with dys-
entery. Eight in hives made of "a in. lumber, with
super on top, same size of brood-chamber, 9 frames
above and 10 below, with honey-board on, holes left
open, 5 of these came through, and none had the
dysentery, and the 3 that died seemed to have gotten
their cluster divided, and neither half able to stand
the cold alone. Eighty-two in hives 78 in. thick,
with top or cap on, to protect the honey-boxes; one-
half of these had the boxes on, and the other half
had the holes in the honey-boards fastened up, with
no upward ventilation; saved only 3 of this lot, and
they had the boxes left on, and had no dysentery.
5M
GLEAiJINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Xov.
I saved only 13 from the 130 I had, and 3 swarms
since, making 16 to commence the winter with. All
are blacks, and I don't believe I have one trace of
Italian blood left. I shall ^o iato the winter the
same as last; but rest assured that I will not
have any pollen near the brood-nest. I shall go
upon the principle, that if it's too cold to go after it
in the side of the hive, they have no business with
it. H. W. White.
Broad Kun Station, Fauquier Co., Va., Sept. 23.
Many thanks, friend W. You strike on
one point that troubles me a great deal.
It is the bees going up into the honey-
boxes, up under the cap, or off to some re-
mote part of the hive to die. Last winter, if
a single cranny was left around the cushion,
they were sure to leave the combs and crawl
up around the wire cloth over the holes in
the gable ends of the chaff hives, and be
found there dead. Well, I have stopped this
in seasons heretofore by sprinkling loose
chaff around the corners. I did the same
last winter, but they then died down in the
combs. Well, when our friends speak of
leaving the sections on all winter, I fall to
wondering why the bees do not go up into
them and die, as mine have done. You see,
in friend W.'s case they did. I have winter-
ed in the cellar, and in our sawdust-packed
house, without any thing over the hive at i
all, and they wintered lirst rate. They did j
not get out and fly around the room, either.
The next winter, however, they got out on
the floor so badly I covered the tops of the
hives with wire cloth. This kept the floor'
clean, and I believe they did tolerably well, j
Why do they stay on the combs at one time, j
and at another get off into the upper part of
the hive, out on the floor, etc. ? Is it that
healthy bet's stay in a compact cluster any
way, and sick ones don't any way ? I hope
it is only pollen and nothing else that makes
them sick ; but I very much doubt that com-
plete success is any thing that can be so
easily reached. — In regard to the size of en-
trances : I do not think I shall again take
Eains to contract the entrances to the chaff
ives. Those left full width last winter did
as well, any way, and, I am inclined to
think, a little better. I am pretty well satis-
fied our bees were blanketed a little too
closely for such a winter. This may sound
strange to some, but our reports are point-
ing strongly that way. I would give a good
wide entrance for winter. I think friend
W. would have done better had he left all
his entrances the same as in summer. He
surely could not have done very much worse.
The above report would point quite strong-
ly in favor of upward ventilation, were it
not for that one colony that came through
all sound with the honey -board screwed
down, and no holes in it at all. I confess
this unsettles me. Friend W., were there
no holes or crevices in that hive at all V Are
you sure the honey-board was waxed down
tight all around? Was there not an open
crack in the hive somewhere? and did the
hive stand right out with the rest ? I pre-
sume of course there was no chaff cushions,
cloths, or any thing of the kind over the
honey-board at all V
HOW TO INCREASE 12 COLONIES TO 81,
AND GET 1200 liBS. OF HONEY
IN A SEASON.
PEE STATEMENT IN REPORTS ENCOURAGING.
si^S^OU ask if I managed those 12 stocks so as to iii-
W crease them from 12 to 81 myself, or if Mr.
Wilson did it. Mr. AAMlson is an iutelligent
old Scotch farmer, but don't know half as much
about bees as I do, and had no hand in the manage-
ment of the apiary, barring the fact that he fur-
nished me many a good meal, for which he had no
adequate recompense. I have done the entire work
of both apiaries myself ; during swarming time go-
ing over to the Wilson apiary each day after it was
too late for swarms to come out at home, and keep-
ing the Wilson apiary in shape so there was no dan-
ger of swarming there.
My colonies were very weak in the spring, but I
had abundance of empty combs, and the season was
exceptionally good. The increase was entirely by
artificial swarming, and the plan was mainly as fol-
lows: From the hive containing my best queen,
say June 1, 1 took away most of the brood, and gave,
in place, empty combs. In thi-ee days I could take
away one or more combs filled with eggs, ready for
qucen-reariug. June 1st or 2d I unqueened one of
my strongest stocks; June 4, I took away all its
brood, leaving all the bees, and gave to it the frame
or frames of eges already mentioned, noting care-
fully on the top-bar of the frame the time of giving
the empty comb to the best queen, and the time of
taking away. From this stock I obtained mj' queen-
cells. June 13th I unqueened another of my sti'ong-
est stocks, and June Itrth, in each comb containing
brood, I inserted a queen-cell, and fastened in the
bees at night. June 15th I took this hive over to the
Wilson apiary, and for each frame of brood I started
a new colony by simply placing in an empty hive the
frame of brood with its queen-cell between two
empty combs, and then. closing up with a division-
board. Of course, each frame of brood had Its bees
adhering to it, and these, being three miles from
their old home, would stay wherever put. In the
Wilson apiary I had 3 full colonies to start with, and
from these I could draw, from time to time, frames
of eggs without crippling them. So in a week after
forming my little colony of one frame, a frame of
eggs was added, or brood if it was to spare any-
whei-e, for I made it a rule, in general, to take noth-
ing but eggs from any colony, unless it was neces-
sary to keep it from danger of swarming. In a few
days, more combs could be added, and soon the new
colony could in its turn f urnisn aid to later-made
colonies. Having two apiaries is an advantage in
making new colonies, and if I had only one apiary I
am not sure but I should take one or more colonies
2 or 3 miles away, leave them 2 or 3 weeks, then
bring them home, and divide up for new colonies.
In that way you get about the right proportion of
old and young bees in each nucleus.
I had no idea of taking any honey from the Wilson
apiary; but by starting my last colonies in the lat-
ter part of June, I thought I could easily, by feed-
ing, get them ready for winter. But as the season
was so good there was no need of feeding, and as
one after another of the hives became too full, I
took from them frames of brood or honey, and gave
to the weaker ones, until all had 9 or 10 Langstroth
frames full; then, as the harvest continued, from
ISSl
GLEAJ^OGS IN BEE CULTURE.
535
sheer necessity I kept one outside frame in each ex-
tracted, not disturbing the other frames, la this
way I increased the 1~ colonies to 81, and obtained
over 1200 lbs. of honey.
The amount of honey stated may not be exactly
correct, but I think it will bo over rather than under
the estimate. I can tell better after it is all weighed.
Of the extracted, part was actually weighed; the re-
mainder in stone crocks was estimated at 10 lbs. to
the gallon. The comb h<mey was in 1-lb. sections,
and estimated at 1 lb. to the section. I have already
weighed 1366 sections, and they overran weight some
20 lbs. In ordinary seasons, with separators, they
will not average quite a pound, but in a flush season
they are filled fuller. C. C. Miller.
Marengo, 111., Oct. 11,1881.
If I am correct, friend Miller, you not only-
got all your queen-cells from your large
home apiary, but a frame of brood with each
queen-cell':' If you used from your large api-
ary o!J frames of brood, each containing a
queen-cell, I do not know but that I could
do it myself, with a steady flow of honey.
In any case, my friends, I tell you it is a
wonderful way to make money, at the prices
bees have brought this past season, even if
you have to feed all the time. You will
note the plan of working is just about the
same as that given in the A B C, except hav-
ing two apiaries two or three miles apart.
I am inclined to think we can so manage as
to avoid the necessity of so much traveling
back and forth; stUl. friend ]SI. may be
right. '
NO BROOD OR EGGS IN OCTOBER.
AfiE THEY QUEEXLESS?
SHAVE been fixing my bees for winter to-day. I
have 3 stands; the best one is a nucleus that I
— ' bought of S. D. McLean & Son, of Tennessee,
last spring. It is very strong. As I was handling
them over I noticed several drones among them. I
saw no brood except some that was just hatching.
Would you consider that an evidence that there is
no queen? S. A. D.VNLEr.
Friendsville, Susq. Co., Pa., Oct. 11, 1881.
Friend L)., your letter reminds me that I
should have mentioned, last month, not to
decide a colony queenless just because no
brood could be found in the months of Oct.
and Xov. Almost every fall, more or less
of our readers will order queens, saying they
- found a queenless colony just as they Avere
fixing them up for winter. Old colonies al-
most invariably stop breeding at the ap-
proach of cold weather, and young ones oft-
en do the same, unless the colony is fed.
The presence of drones in a stroiig colony
need not disturb you, either. A tew days
ago, John reported that our Ilayhurst Cyp-
rian queen had stopped laying, and that
even feeding did not start her up. I replied
th»t I thought it was all right, and looked
into quite a number of other stocks and
found them without brood or eggs also. I
then looked into Neighbor 11. 's little apiary,
and nearly all his stocks were broodless. al-
though they had been fed heavilv. To my
surprise, his albino stock was in' the same
condition, and the queen was so small one
w-ould say she was not fertilized, by her
looks.
•• Neighbor II.. liave you got any hives
down in your River Apiary, full of brood V "
'• Yes, sir. "ee I I have just that."
'• Well, next lime you go down, I want to
go just on purpose to see a hive full of
brood. There isn't any in our apiary."
'• I know there is in my live hives."
•' You'd better look." '
He looked, and was astonished.
'• Have you been feeding that albino stock
right along ':'"'
•• Why, yes. I fed them a whole big pan-
ful only day before yesterday."
We went down to the River Apiary. He
opened hives that contained brood the day
before, but, although they had plenty of
brood and eggs the day before, there wasn't
a •' brood or egg " in the hive, to be found.
'• Why, the little rascals have taken it all
out to make room for tlie syrup I gave them
last night. Who ever heard of such a thing
before 'r*"
•' I have heard of it, but I never saw it be-
fore. Langstroth says, in his book, that the
passion for stores is greater than that for
brood, and that they will, if crowded, re-
move both brood aiid larva', to make room
for more honey."'
The next day, II. came to me with the as-
tounding statement that those hives had got
their eggs, and brood ton, back again. They
only covered it up with syrup to get that
panful all into the combs, and after it was
all safe, then they took the syrup off the
brood and eggs, and went on with their
household duties. If you think this is too
much like a " varn," just pitch into Neigh-
bor II.
Moral. — Be careful how you decide a hive
to be queenless just because you can't Hnd
eggs or brood.
\* INTERING AND VEXTIL.ATIOIV.
^^-OW can we most successfully winter our bees
J'[^^|l on their summer stands? This question has
' been variously answered in days past by dif-
ferent writers, each endeavoring to bolster up some
pet theory, and, generally, after a single season's ex-
perience. Ventilation and non-ventilation have had
and still have their champions, and various plans
have been tried, with more or less success for the
time being, to carry colonies safely through cold
weather. The experience of the last winter, as
shown by reports given from various sections, goes,
however, to show that all means as yet suggested
have failed in many instances, while many colonies,
wholly unprotected, have safely passed the rubicon.
From all this we might conclude that there is no
need of any protection at all; but careful apicultur-
ists will continue their experiments until at last the
best (if not always successful) plan will be devised.
The matter of ventilation as yet is no better under-
stood in regard to the hive, than to our dwelling-
houses; but the majority of those who have given
attention to the matter, conclude that the hive
should be ventilated in miich the same way as we
ventilate our dwellings; that is, by arranging them
so that warmth may be retained, and all bad air and
superfluous moisture be allowed to pass off without
536
GLEANINGS IK BEE CULTURE.
Nov
allowmg' a direct draft of air to pass through the
hive. True, the bees try to stop up every passage
by which air may pass out of the top of the hive;
but it strilies me that this is not done to prevent
ventilation (for they are always ventilating), but to
prevent rain from coming- into their abodes, in a
state of nature, where they are obliged to take up
with such shelter as they can lind; but we, when we
provide them with shelter, can make it rain-proof ;
but the instinct of the natural state of the bee has
not been eradicated by domestication, and it follows
the old plan, I suppose, because it remembers how
its (irandmiithcr did years ago. The great trouble we
find is in getting rid of excessive moisture, and pre-
venting it from freezing in the hive; and by cor-
rectly answering the quei-yi " How can this be
done?" we solve the problem at once. In order to
do this I would give the bees a warm hive, well pro-
tected by double walls, filled with some proper ma-
terial, or by chaff division-boards, thus protecting
them from sudden changes of heat and cold; make
the colony strong enough with young bees to cover
every comb — not less than tive of standard L. size,
at least 5 lbs. of proper food to the frame, with win-
ter passages through them; a honey-board on top of
frames, with from ?e to ij inch of air space between
frames and honey-board ; eight to ten inch holes in
the honey-board, covered with carpeting or burlap,
and the whole protected by chaff cushion, -t to 6
inches deep, to keep the warmth within the hive
and still allow all bad air and superfluous moisture
to pass imperceptibly from the hive. By this means
the bees are kept warm, and protected from sudden
changes, and, I think, will be caused to pass safely
through any but an exceptional winter, and the
least percentage of loss will follow.
J. E. Pond, Jr.
North Attleboro, Bristol Co., Mass., Oct. 13, 1881.
\M lichiui.
OR HONEY PLANTS TO BE NAMED.
fNCLOSED please find flower and leaves of a tree
that grows in my dooryard, that the bees work
on wonderfully from daylight to dark; the bees
wake me up in the morning by their buzzing. The
tree stands by my room window. Please name.
T. F. Shephard.
Town Hill, Luzerne Co., Pa., June ~'8, 1881.
The plant is not familiar to us, and here
is what Prof. Beal says of it: —
These plants are stamiiiatc, and lack pistils. It
seems to belong to the maple family.
Michigan Agricultural College. W.J. Beal.
What is it called in your neighborhood,
friend S.V The leaves are oval, pointed, and
grow opposite each other, perhaps 2 inches
in length. Elowers in clusters, each flower
bnt little larger than a pinhead.
Please name the inclosed honey-producing flower.
It opens about 5 o'clock, when every flower will
have a bee on it. Chas. E. McK.w.
Canon City, Col., Oct. 10, 1881.
Prof. Beal answers as follows: —
This is some species of Mrntzclict, and belongs to
the family Loamccn:, which is somewhat nearly re-
lated to the Cactus family. It has no good common
name. W. J. Be.il.
the: i<angstroth fraiue:.
^X^RIEND ROOT:— I am very sorry that Mr. South-
Jef' wick takes the subject-matter of my article
on the L. hive just as he does, but as I never
heard of him before, and certainly never knew that
he had a frame, I think I may be exoneraiCd from
the charge of attempting to disparage any inven-
tion of his. I am, however, at a loss to know, from
the description he gives of his frame, what he has
in use, unless it is a 1-lb. section with a tin bail, and
a shingle nail in each lower corner for legs. I can't
think he has legs on his frame, for I should suppose
they would be in the way unless they folded up, and
that would make too much rigging to suit me. I am
perfectly willing now to take b.^ck what I said; viz.,
that, " so far as I knew, every body admits that the
L. frame is the easiest to operate," for one person
does not think so. Well, that does not alter my opin-
ion, neither docs it alter the fact, that the form of the
standard L. frame was devised by the king of us all,
after experimenting in a careful manner, and by
using brains of a superior quality in arriving at the
conclusion he did in regard to the matter.
1 have been keeping bees, more or less, for fifteen
years, and have, like manj' others, gone in for the
various improvements (!) that have from time to
time come up, but have at last discarded every thing
in the shape of a frame, except the standard L., for
the reason that I find that it more fully meets all the
requirements of a perfect hive than any other lever
saw or used. I find no trouble in taking it from the
brood-nest, or setting it down, and I don't know that
I ever crushed a bee in using it, when at all care-
ful; and for that matter I can't see what differ-
ence the shape of a frame makes about crushing
bees when you set it down, for, no matter what the
shape is, if you set a frame of com b weighing from
four to ten pounds down on your bees, you will stand
a good chance of crushing some of them.
The only object of my article was to show that, in
one instance at least, the L. hive had wintered a
colony of bees successfully for a series of years un-
der the most adverse circumstances in which it
could be used. J. E. Pond, Jr.
No. Attleboro, Bristol Co., Mass., Oct. 12, 1881.
THE L. FRA.ME, AG.\IN.
As you have asked me a question before your
readers [p. 503, Oct. No.], you can not refuse me the
privilege of answering it before your readers. 1
merely wished to let Mr. Pond know that all bee-
keepers do not worship that idol. Did you not know,
friend Novice, that Michigan is paying a competent
man a big salary to examine and experiment on bee-
hives and frames, and he (by his action, at least) has
condeuined the L. hive and frame? Such Is the
fact, yet we frequently see in Gleanings the L.
frame lauded to the highest. I have a hive and
frame of mj' own construction; it is not patented,
nor am I making them to sell. I have frequently
been asked to make for others, but have refused, as
I had all I could do to make my own, but would
lend them a hive, and they could make their own.
I do not claim that mine is the best. I presume
there are those in use as much better than mine as
mine is better than the L. And now, friend Root,
let me advise you to lay aside your prejudices; let
reason and good sense take the place.
Dr. E. B. Southwick.
Mendon, Mich., Oct. 4, 1881.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
537
I beg pardon, friend S., if I was rude, or
if I have seemed unduly wedded to the L.
frame. Some of the brethren have accused
me of continually changing from one frame
to another, and of late I have thought it
would become my old age (?) to learn to be
a little more stable. In advising the A B C
class to stick to the L. frame, I did it about
as I would advise them to make a wagon so
the wheels would track with the rest in com-
mon use.
I
"(TO <3'
This department was suggested by one of the clerks, as an op-
position to the Growlery. 1 tliink i shall venture to give names
in full here.
ssPM^ELL, friend Root, I presume you tbink I
Yt'zl niust be a nicq little boy for not writing to
-^ you sooner; but I have an excuse, so listen.
In the first place, I was not at home; I was called to
Pekin (county seat) " courting." After I got through
I went to Eureka, III., on some little business; but
when I came home mj- little wife told me the ex-
tractor had come, and she had been practicing with
It. Well, sir, I was perfectly surprised after I had
tried it. Had I known, two years ago, the value of
an extractor, I would have had one. I just think
it's boss.
Now, in regard to that pound of bees and queen I
got from you in July, 1880. I will tell you how I
prospered. Well, when I received them, I left them
in the cage, till evening, and then I went to one of
my hives and took two frames of brood and honey;
put in empty hive; put bees and queen in; next
morning I took a look, and, to my surprise, all the
brood I gave them were hatched; so at noon I took
another look, and foimd the queen had deposited
eggs in all the cells where the young bees had
hatched, and so I gave them another frame of comb
and frame fdn., and in the fall, when I prepared
them for winter, I took from them 19 lbs of honej',
and left them the rest. 1 wintered all O. K. ; did not
lose a stand. I can't account for it. Every one
around here lost all. One man lost 72 stands, all he
had. I was the lucky one (this winter may be the
unlucky one). Well, friend Koot, I don't believe
there wiU be any of those bees that will winter that
you have sent to Washington this summer, and I
will tell you my reason. In the first place, one man
bought 9 lbs. from you (queen with every pound;) I
don't think they have one pound of sealed honey; in
the second place, they are weak— too weak to winter.
If they come through all right, I am going to in-
form you of the fact.
My bees are all right this fall; hives crammed full
of bees, and lots of honey; not much surplus.
Prom one stand I got over 2(X) lbs. of honey; box
hive; bee-keepers say they can't believe that; they
smile if I tell them so. But it's all right, as long as
I get it. Wm. H. Scheidel.
Washington, Tazewell Co., 111., Sept. 27, 1881.
So it is the neighhors who smiled when you
told them of over 200 lbs. to the hive, was it.
friend 8.? Well, I rather think you smiled
too, after yoti got alone by yourself, may be;
at any rate, I think your letter will do quite
well for the Smilery. I have been looking
for one foi' this department for some time,
and I wish you would ask your little wile if
she does not think your letter does very well
here. I presume of course the courting you
did at tlie county seat was not of such a
nature that she would in anv way object to
it.
Or Enemies of Bees Among Insect Tribes.
fNCLOSED In cage you will find a variety of bees
that friend Haskell and I would like to have
' you tell us about. If you notice, the larger one
has a very broad abdomen and long tongue; is very
quick, and gathers honey fast, and is shorter than
the black bee. The smaller ones are not so active,
but seem to gather pollen very fast. They all were
working on goldenrod. If you can give us any in-
formation, please do so. H. Dorman.
Geneva, Ashtabula Co., O., Sept. 8, 1881.
It was our impression that the bees were
only common wild bees ; but we sent them
to Prof. Cook, who replies as follows : —
Dear Friend .- — The small bees are "mason" bees,
and in Ohio the past sum mer have been quite seri-
ous pests as robbers of the honey-bees. The larger
bee, with yellow hairs underneath, is a " tailor" bee.
See 3/tt?H(o!, p. 36. A. J. Cook.
Lansing, Mich., Sept. 15, 1881.
1 send you by to-day's mail a large fly that I caught
in the act of sucking a honey-bee. It is smaller than
the average of its kind. Please give name, and
oblige. W. S. Hakt.
New Smyrna, Fla., Oct. i, 1881.
The large fly sent by W. S. Hart, of New Smyrna,
Fla., is yiaUopliora hamhoidcs, Wied. It is described
in 4th, oth, and 6th editions of Manual, p. 298. It is
one of the worst of the robber flies, but does not ex-
ist, so far as I have learned, north of the Southern
States. A. J. Cook.
Lansing, Mich., Oct. 12, 1881.
iul^nil^ §^jiarli^mi*
fAM a boy 11 years old, and just getting over the
diphtheria. I have one swarm of bees; mine
— ' have gathered 25 or 30 lbs. of honey since the
rest gave up work. I call it a red-clover queen. Pa^
pa takes care of my swarm for me. I have got a
grapevine in front of my hive, that I think as much
of as I do the bees; it is the Worden. Papa says that
1 may have the 27 cts. you owe him, to get me a
handkerchief. Please send me one of your 25 ct.
silk ones, and one that will not fade, if possible.
Bellows Falls, Vt. Ruel E. Clark.
You must learn to handle the bees, Kuel,
so they will not sting you. I am glad you
think a great deal of your grapevine. It is
the vines and hives we think a great deal of
that give us the great crops of honey and
gi-apes. If the handkerchief fades, just
write me a letter and let me know.
I am a girl 11 years old. I would like to write and
tell you some of my daily work. I help my mothet
538
GLEANII^GS IN BEE CULTURE.
Nov.
in the garden, and take care of the blue-eyed baby;
and at my spare time I i3ut starters in my pa's hon-
ey-boxes. The bees are doing- well. Pa toolc off 70
boxes of honey to-day. I tliink your Home Papers
are very nice. We have to go a mile and a half to our
Sunday-school. I hope these few lines will find you
as well as they left me. Melinda Newman.
Glenn, Allegan Co., Mich., Sept. 1. 1881.
Well done, Melinda. You know the Bi-
ble says, when one is faithful in the few
things he has to do, God will give him
more to do; and I should think, from your
letter, you have been very faithful indeed.
Kis5 that blue-eyed baby for me, and tell
her the kiss was sent by her uncle Amos.
Well, Mr. Root, that was an oversight in me not to
give you my address. I will write to you again. We
have had a long dry spell of weather. Our bees
have had very poor pasture. My pa has been feed-
ing them this fall. You wanted to know if my bees
were yellow. My new swarm is just as yellow as
gold. That is the queen we got from you. She has
a hive full of bees. They are perfect beauties. Now
I will tell you the way my pa winters our bees, as
nearly as I can. He makes a platform oOx;56 inches
square. He makes them out of boards and 2x4
scantling. The bee-hive stands on the platform all
summer. He builds the house and cuts the slot for
the alighting-board to stick through to let the bees
come out and in as they please. He places a little
board with a block on each end of it between the
bee-hive and the rough bo.x on the alighting -board.
That little board is to leave the entrance clear so
the bees can go out and in as the weather permits
them. He tills in between the two boxes with straw,
and sometimes he puts old carpet and rags in.
Julia Bannon.
Archie, Venango Co., Pa., Oct. 5, 1881.
Now I am pretty sure, Julia, you saw your
pa do all that, or you would not be able to
tell it so well. Perhaps you helped him.
At any rate, you have told it so plainly I
presume almost any one can understand it.
I believe it is a very good way to lix them,
where one has no chaff hives. Your ad-
dress is all plain this time.
I am a girl 10 years old. I have never been to
school, except two or three months. I spell and
read in the Second Reader. I have a mother and
five brothers. My father is dead. He died when I
was three months old. My brother Jeff takes
Gleanings. He has 8 hives of bees.
Clara E. Werner.
Riverside, Wallace Co., Texas, Oct. 9, 1881.
JSow, Clara, I am sure your brother Jeff
must have a great deal to "do, and I think it
will be just the thing for you to learn all
you can about bees, and help him all you
can. Who knows but that you may some
day be a great bee-woman, like Mrs. Lucin-
da Harrison, who writes to you children al-
most every month.
years. He lost one last winter. He got a nice lot of
honey this summer. I am only 13 years old. Please
excuse this letter, as it is the first I ever wrote.
John K. Brooks.
Conshohocken, Pa., Oct. 12, 1881.
Your letter is very good, John, but I hard-
ly think 1 could say as much for your father's
smoker, if it goes out every time he sets it
down. What kind of a smoker is it, and
where did he get itV
I have been induced to write to you through read-
ing the juvenile letters in Gleanings. My papa
keeps bees; he has 8 hives. I sometimes help him
with the bees. 1 keep the smoker lighted for him.
It goes out when he sets it down. I wear a bee-hat,
and don't get stung. My papa has had bees two
CAM)Y FOR BEES OR QUEEN-CAGES.
HOW TO MAKE IT WITHOUT HEAT.
^=]PtIEND ROOT:— I give to the readers of Glean-
jSp INGS the modu.'i operandi for making candy for
' — ' queen-cages like the samples I sent you (in
the cages). Take coffee A sugar, put in a dish or
pan; crush all hard lumps; add a little water, then
work with a thick knife or spoon, until the grains
are reduced, and the mess has the appearance of a
very thick paste, when it will be ready to put into
the cages. Caution: There are spurious brands of
cott'ee A sugar in the market, which will not make
solid candy, but crumble every time. Buy the
strictly standard coffee A sugar, from some reliable
dealer. Don't put all the sugar in the dish at your
first trial, because you are liable to get your candy
paste too thin; if so, put in the remainder of your
sugar, and make it just right.
My bees have been adding to their stores right
along during this fine weather, but I have not had
time to find out from what source they get it.
Marietta, O., Oct. 14, '81. R. Stehle.
I think I would use granulated sugar in-
stead of the coffee, on account of its being
nearer chemically pure sugar. One impor-
tant part of the matter is the mashing of the
grains into a fine paste; and I am inclined
to think a little heat would facilitate the
process, if one had much to do. To have
this candy get hard quickly, it should be
spread on a board, or in some kind of a tray,
because the wood absorbs a large part of the
water. It should also be in rather thin or
shallow cakes. If not, it will dry over the
surface, forming a crust, while the inside is
soft. I presume advantage might be taken
of this fact, in using candy without water.
The above process makes it so easy for any-
body to make their own bee-candy, I think
I shall take candy out of our price list. One
great reason why I would advise you all to
make your own" candy, is to save the very
expensive express or freight charges, where
you have to send for it in such quantities as
is needed to feed bees. Sugar is shipped by
the barrel at a regular low rate of freight, to
all grocers and merchants; but candy in
small lots can not be shipped for any thing
like these low figures. Of course, you can
put the above candy in the wired frames,
just as well as if it was boiled in the usual
way, but you will have to wait a much long-
er time for it to harden. You can add flour,
if you wish, and it will not hinder the hard-
ening at all; but I do not think I would use
flour for winter use, especially while there is
such a great amount of prejudice against
pollen in the brood-nest for successful win-
tering.
1881
GLEANINGS IN J3EE CULTURE.
539
GALIiUP AND HIS CAIilFOKMA BEE
RANCHE.
BEES IN CAVES AND SQUIRREL-HOLES.
MSI have a great many inquiries from parties
J^\ in the east, wishing to come to California,
' about price of bees, healthf uloess of climate,
etc., I will endeavor to answer these questions par-
tially through Gleanings by your permission. Bees
can be purchased in nail-kegs from 50c to $1.00, and
in all kinds of shaped liives, movable, immovable,
and all kinds of frames and boxes, for from one to
two dollars per stand, black bees at that, and some
of them badly infested with moths; or you can go
into the hills and take them out of caves, hollow
trees, squirrel-holes in the ground, etc. I took out
five swarms three weeks ago, and while digging out
one swarm, another came and clustered on a bush
close by. Last Sunday evening I found a small
swarm clustered on a little bush. Where I have
them located now they are gathering honey, build-
ing comb, and breeding rapidly.
I think I can raise queens almost every month in
the year, and increase, but I expect the quality of
honey will be inferior. Good stocks from practical
bee-keepers are from three to five dollars each; de-
pending somewhat upon the season of the year,
whether spring or fall.
Every bee-keeper in California should have a
ranche where he can raise fruit, vegetables, etc., or
he should have capital enough to live upon through
bad seasons as well as good ones, and he should be
able to hold his honey or sell, just as he sees fit.
Many start in with no capital, and perhaps run in
debt for bees and every thing. Such parties usual-
ly fail, and their ranches are sometimes sold very
cheap. There is a mistaken notion by people at a
distance, and that is, ihoy think that San Diego
County is the best in the State for bee-keeping.
That is certainly a grand mistake. That San Diego
County ships more honey, usually, than other coun-
ties, is a fact; but that does not make it the best
county. Mr. Harbison went into that county in an
early day, and established his large apiaries, and
others followed suit, before the other counties even
commenced. If I should select to-day, for bee-keep-
ing exclusively, I know of no better county in the
State than Ventura, taking all things into consider-
ation. As to health. Southern California can not be
beat in the whole wide world, for you can select
your own locality. From 15 to ~0 miles takes you in-
to the mountains, and you have your choice, coast,
. valley, or mountain. Some invalids are benefited in
one locality, and some in another. Many hopeless
cases, too far gone for any thing to help, come to
Southern California; but such cases had better stay
at home, and die among their friends. I have seen
many an invalid that came to California a few years
ago, and are now enjoying comparatively good
health. A person can make a good living from a
very few acres of ground as soon as he gets a little
start, and almost without an exception the longer a
person lives ia California, the better he likes it. I
have purchased 30 acres, for $30 per acre, in a beau-
tiful valley, intending to go into fruit in company
with my youngest son, who has just arrived from
Iowa. He is perfectly delighted with every thing
here, and so is his young wife. I shall probably
keep some bees for pastime. I have not sold out my
bees in Ventura County. I came into the State in
1878. That season was an extra good one for honey;
1879 was an entire failure; 1880 was good; 1881 but
little honey made, and in many localities a complete
failure. Good honey (extracted) is now selling in
San Francisco from 10c to lie, and retailin.^ at about
15c. There need be no loss of bees, if they are man-
aged as they should be, in any season. They willbe
self-sustaining. Where I am locating my bees now,
they will store honey, and increase, the poorest sea-
son that was ever seen in California; but it will be
lowland honey instead of mountain. In the moun-
tain apiaries there is scarcely ever any swarming
after the 1st of May. E. Gallup.
Santa Anna, Cal., Sept. 21, 1881.
FR07I THE BOX-ELDEKS.
^^iEATED under the vines that hang on the shady
^)) side of Mr. Duster's honey-house, that gentle-
man opened the conversation by saying,
"This season has been a somewhat unusual one in
many respects, and especially so as regards the
honey crop. The spring opened late; it was the
middle of April before I got my bees out. I felt
very uneasy about them, for when I placed them in
the cellar I do not think the hives would average
more than 15 lbs. each. I had requeened them late
in the fall, and they went to breeding; this used up
their stores so that when I moved them into the cel-
lar I was surprised to find them so light. However,
my bees came out all right, except one swarm, and
went to work in good earnest at once, taking flour
only two days, and after that bringing in natural
pollen. In about four weeks the hives seemed full;
never saw bees increase faster, and recuperate
from their winter confinement quicker. The white
clover, from which we expected most of our honey
crop, came in abundance, both in the grove and
prairie, but hardly a solitary bee visited it. I never
saw it so common when it did not secrete more
honey; I got but little from it. But, now came the
BLUE VERVAIN
to the rescue. Once in about live or six years this
plant makes its appearance on the low lands bor-
dering Inlet Creek, in great quantities. I had seen
the young plants last fall peeping up their heads
quite thickly on these lands, so I did not feel alto-
gether discouraged at the loss of the white-clover
harvest. I kept my bees, sections, hives, etc., well
in hand— waiting."
Just here Mr. Duster called my attention to a hive
of beautiful Italians, where the workers were march-
ing out the drones.
MR. DUSTER MORALIZES.
"Just look at those drones the worker-bees are
trotting out on that front board. That's what I call
female ingratitude! That is just like humanity
over again, as I sec it. Nine times out of ten you
will see a great big good-natured lubberly fellow,
in whom there is no guile, mated to a little bit of fe-
male humanity, and yet it will not be a year before
that little piece of femininity will be leading that
big fellow around just as you see these little female
bees do these big drones, and he will seem to like It
too, eh? Look at that large beautiful golden drone
yonder, with his great wings as bright and clear as
isinglass, and that little insignificant female bee,
just worrying the life out of him! See! she has got
him by the nape of the neck; got him where the
hair is short, and she won't let up; female instinct
540
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Nov,
exactly, you sec. Why, this is almost as good a
' moral' show as Bavnum's!"
"I wonder," said Mr. Duster, continuing', " what
these drones die of; the bees don't sting them to
death, that's certain. See that drone on the corner
of that board 1 He looks well, all right as to out-
ward appearance, excepting that still, sad, melan-
choly way he has. I have no doubt he sheds tears as
he thinks of the past, and then on his present for-
lorn, outcast condition; he would if he were not so
big he's ashamed to; wonder if they don't die of a
broken heart. Well, I declare! if there isn't a fe-
male bee creeping up that drone's wing! I've got it
now; she is at his ear— they talk 'em to death ! And
now see here," said Mr. Duster, " if you ever hear of
any one coming to a different conclusion, just let me
know, and I will go for him worse than Heddon after
the fellows who don't believe in his 'bacteria' the-
ory."
Mr. Duster resumes his honey report.
"Let's see; where was I?"
"Waiting?" I suggested.
" Yes, you're right; and if that moral show had not
got me off the track, I'd been through long ago.
Well, I did not have to wait long before I had my
hands full of business. It was nip and tuck between
me and the bees, as my business was such I could
leave it only half a day at a time, and now I will
show you the results."
Here he opened his honey-house doors, and, piled
ia one corner, was a solid mass of ~-lb. prize boxes of
the whitest honey I ever saw — a little over one ton
from the 24 swarms of last spring.
"And now," resumed Mr. Duster, " let me tell you
a little of my experience with blue-vervain honey.
When this honey is put in a goblet, and held up to
the light, you will hardly detect its presence, it is so
clear. One would suppose it was thin, and perhaps
watery, just to look at it; but it's about the thickest
honey I ever saw, and its flavor is as fine as it looks,
which is saying a good deal. Different kinds of hon-
ey, or, rather, all kinds, do not incline to granulate
with me, as much as some years ago. I had a run of
this vervain honey some six or seven years since. It
had the same clearness and line llavor as this. Aft-
er extracting, it would begin to granulate in five or
six days, put it where I would. I put up a quantity
of it in Muth's 3-lb. glass jars for my own use, part
with stopples and part without. They all granulated
in the ceUar, and almost every jar burst. In the
spring I could pick off the glass and roll the solid
cake of honey across the room without breaking. A
Dutch friend of mine called it 'schstony.' This sea-
son it does not trouble that way."
Here our interview ended. II. H. Mellen.
Amboy-on-Inlet, 111., Sept. 37, 1881.
THE BIG RED CL.OVEK AS A HONEY-
PI.ANT.
(fJ HAVE often wondered, as I have read the dis-
cussions on honey-producing plants, that there
is no reference made to what is known in this
locality as the "big red clover." My experience
with it has not been extensive, and I can not there-
tore speak as positively as I would desire to. My
llrst knowledge of it was gained in this way: Some
years ago I was passing a field of clover, not half a
mile from my apiary, in June, and saw ^he bees
working on it. I was surprised to find them work-
ing on the first crop of red clover. I got out of my
buggy and went into the field, and found it alive
with bees, generally Italians, but some of them
were blacks. I was delighted, as I thought the bees '
would never lack for summer forage. In speaking
afterward to the owner of the field about it, he In-
formed me that it was the big clover which was in
that field. Since that I have not seen a field of it:
but one of my nearest neighbors sowed 18 acres with
it last spring, and I expect my bees to have another
trial of it next summer. On inquiring I find that
the advantages and disadvantages of this species as
compared with the common red clover, are as fol-
lows:—First, the bees can work o:i the first as well
as they can on the second crop of the common red,
perhaps better. Second, it grows larger, makes
more hay or pasture. For this reason it is called the
big clover. In other respects it looks like the com-
mon red clover. Third, it is better for soiling pur-
poses on any g.ound, and will do well on thin land
where the other clover will not catch. Fourth, it
blooms ten days or two weeks later, and for this
reason is better adapted to sow with timothy for
hay, as they bloom and ripen together. This pro-
longs the honey season also.
Disadvantages. First, the principal one is, that it
bears its seed on the first crop, and will therefore
not produce seed and hay both the same season.
Second, it grows so large it is almost certain to fall
and become tangled. Third, it makes a coarser hay.
From this statement, it is apparent that this kind
has not received the attention it<leserves, especially
from men who are wanting to enrich their farms, or
to manage them for dairy purposes and honey. In
another year I may be able to report more fully in
regard to it as a honey-producer.
Milroy, Pa. J. W. White.
IIONEV FROM SMART WEED.
POLYGONUM PERSICARIA.
T this late day we are having the only flow of
surplus honey of the season. Smartweed and
buckwheat, delayed fully six weeks by the
drought, are now in the best condition to produce
honey. How utterly at the mercy of the elements,
does the bee-keeper find himself I No flow of honey
until the supposed productive limits of the season are
reached; then a fair yield. No such circumstance
has ever been known in this part of the country.
Jerome Wiltse.
Falls City, Kichardson Co., Neb., Sept. ;>C, 1881.
We bought bees of neighbor Rice in July,
until he would sell no more, saying he want-
ed a few stocks left for "seed." Well, he
saved, to build up with, only about 2-5 ; and
of these, I believe only 20 had queens in the
fore part of July. Yesterday I was surprised
to hear him say he had eighty-one good ones.
'' Why,liave you done all this by feeding?"
'' Haven't fed a bit."
'' You do not mean to say your bees have
been gathering honey all this dry fall?"
" Tliat is just what I mean to say."
" AVliy, where did they get it?"
"Well, as nearly as I can make out, they
got it from smartweed, or blacklieart, as we
call the large kind. It has come up in im-
mense quantities along the outlet to the lake,
about 1* miles from us, and the bees have
been working on it strong through the whole
of the fall."
1881
GLEANIKGS IN BEE CULTURE.
541
I might mention here, that Mrs. Rice has
been sending us so many nice queens this
fall, that I inquired a little and found she
had, besides this 81 of his, been using about
30 nuclei, and she has alone sent us altout
one hundred dollars- worth of queens. What
do you think of that. ladiesV -Again : Last
Sunday morning, as I was going down to the
factory Bible-class, I heard a humming.
Wlien I saw what it was, I went after John,
and, placing him right before a clump of
blaekheart that grows close to the depot, I
bade him look.
'• John, that is xiolygnnimi 'persiciria that
those bees are working on, and " don't you
forget it.' "
The above is the Latin name of blaekheart,
or big smartweed. You can always identify
it, for it has seeds like miniature buckwheat
or beechnuts, for it is a member of the same
family. ^Vho knows but that these little
buckwheat seeds are not of some value, so
that it would pay us to raise the plant, aside
from the honeyV Smartweed griddle-cakes!
just think of it! To come to ])erfection, the
plant seems to need a great deal of water,
and grows finely in swampy places along
streams. I have heard that it is a great pest
in corn-fields in the AVest. This clump by
the depot, that the bees were making such a
roaring on, was, however, growing right in
some hard gravel that had been drawn from
a gravel bank, to cover up the Medina clay.
Each plant branches out, so that a single
root will make a large bed of blossoms. I
feel just now like starting a large bed of
polygonum down by the pond, near the Simp-
son held. May be I shall never get to it,
though. Perhaps you will, my friend. If
you do, I want to see it when I get around
your way.— Friend W., we want to be thank-
ful for even a late crop, and make the most
of it.
AVHAT DADANT TELiL^i EUROPEANS
ABOUT COMB FOUNDATION.
TRANSLATED FROM THE BULLETIN D'APICULTURE,
BY W. P. ROOT.
fjHE first sheets of fdn. were made with a press,
in Germany; but the impressions, not being
' deep enoug-h, it often happened that the bees,
instead of continuing the worker cells (which at best
were but outlined), built drone-cells; defeating one
of the chief advantages of this invention.
One day I learned that a New Yorker was selling
sheets of fdn. I bought a pound for trial, for a dol-
lar. The bees were no more astonished at the arti-
cle than I; which, being made of parafflne, was very
beautiful, though the bees hastened to throw it out.
Some time after, Mr. A. I. Root, editor of Glean-
ings, announced that he had made a machine, made
with rolls, and otfered for sale fdn., and afterward
the machines. I tried the new fdn., and I was so
well satisfied that I proposed to my son, who is my
partner, to buy a machine to make up about 300 lbs.
of wax which we had at that time. He consented,
and we then started out In the fabrication of frames
of artificial foundation.
No one then, not even the maker, knew exactly
how to manage the machine. At times the sheets
would come from the rolls with extreme ease; an
hour after, they would all stick, and it was an ever-
lasting job to clean out the dents in the rollers. But
experience came at last, and, by adding remark to
remark, we have succeeded in manufacturing
smooth fdn. without trouble.
Soon a new machine appeared. Mrs. Dunham, a
Wisconsin lady, produced rolls with deeper cells.
Our business having extended, it was necessary to
have this machine in order to have an assortment.
Two other kinds are made, but I have seen the
work, which leaves much to be desired.
Then the press was reinvented, which, I think, is
much inferior toroUs, and costs nearly as much.
At last, the wax-mold was invented. The plaster
molds, which are dipped in a bath of wax, to till
them, mil with the wax, and are not durable.
We now come again to speak of the rolls at the
bottom of the shallow cells. One can now obtain
sheets of extreme thinness, which are used for hon-
ey in sections; but this article has limited sale, es-
pecially in France.
There are, then, really, but two makers in the
United States who deserve serious mention; they
are: A. I. Root, whose prices are,—
Mac'hiiifs for sheets 12 inches hmy. .m'l iiiinimetiTs $100
Mrs. Dunham : —
Maeliiiies for sheets 13 iiiehes long. »i:t millinieter.-
Mrs. Dunham's machines make less finished fdn.
than those of Mr. Root; but it suffices— at least, it is
accepted by the bees. Root's machines are better
finished, also more firm; those of Mrs. Dunham have
been preferred on account of the thickness of the
fdn., which prevents its sagging under the weight of
the bees, or of the brood, or honey. But Mr. Root
also makes them with deep cells when ordered.
With the Root machine (such as he makes without
contrary orders), one can make from 6 to 7 feet to
the pound. The Dunham machine can make only
■iJi feet to the pound.
As I have said, I have had a Dunham machine sent
to R. Denis, of Vendhuile, a member of our society.
Perhaps it would be well here to give directions to
fasten the sheets in the frames; but I am afraid of
abusing the kindness of the members of the Soc. de
la Somme. Ch. Dadant.
DIVISION-BOARDS, IMPORTANCE OF.
HEN I first began bee-keeping, I felt the
need of an expansible and contraotible
hive, so that I might, without having
two or three sizes, keep my colonies properly
proportioned to the room they occupied; and
for a long time I was greatly troubled for a way
in which to overcome this difliculty. At last I stud-
ied out the remedy. It was division-boards. These
boards, properly constrvicted and judiciously used,
are important accessories to successful bee culture,
and no apiary can be said to be well furnished that
does not keep a stock of them constantly on hand.
By their use, many stocks can be successfully win-
tered that otherwise would perish, and weak ones
build up to strong ones that otherwise would have
to be united with others in order to save them. This
subject I deem of great importance to A B C schol-
ars; and in order that they may know just what to
use, and how to use them, " I arise to explain."
They must be made of some material that will re-
tain the warmth generated by the bees, and I know
542
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Nov.
of nothiug better for that purpose than your chaff
ili vision-boards. They should also fit the hive close-
ly on all sides, and as nearly air-tight as it is possi-
ble to make them. To use them, crowd the bees on
just as many combs (I suppose that every one uses
foundation in making new swarms) as they can well
cover, and no more, putting the frames into the cen-
ter of the hive and pushing the boards up close to
them on both sides; then as the colony increases,
push over a board and put in a new frame until the
hive is completely filled. By this means a surplus of
honey may be obtained from a new swarm that oth-
erwise would have hardly gathered enough honey to
winter on.
In preparing for wiater, it is the easiest thing in
the world to remove three or four frames from
weak stocks, put in division-boards, and pack the
empty room in the hive with some warmth-retain-
ing material. How many colonies have perished in
a severely cold winter, simply for want of the above
precaution? I do not know; but I do know that I
have successfully wintered colonies that could cover
five frames only of standard L. size by using them,
when far stronger colonies died, as I deem, on ac-
count of their being unable to generate the requis-
ite amount of heat In a hive greatly dispropor-
tioned to their size; so I say, use division-boards.
Foxboro, Mass., Sept. 28, 1881. J. E. Pond, Jr.
I believe jjou are right, friend P. ; but still
I must confess my faith in division-boards
has been a little "shaken by the reports we
have had this season, in regard to the ad-
vantages of much ventilation, and an open
chamber over the bees. If a space above the
bees is good, are we so sure, after all, that a
large hive with a part of it unoccupied is
not, during extreme cold like last winter,
also an advantage ? Our friend Jerome
Wiltse almost says as much; and friend
Grimm says, if I am not mistaken, that he
would as soon have a comb as a division-
board. I throw out these hints that we may
look into our reasoning and see that there
are no loose joints in it.
HOW SHALIi WE WINTER?
JliHIS wintering problem is getting to be a very
interesting one again, as the "risky" season
approaches. Winter, like summer, with us is
a season of hopes and disappointments, and this
gambling is where the excitement of the business
comes in. We hear persons saying that " we are go-
ing to have another cold winter;" others say, "a
very open one;" and we say, " we don't know;" but
we make our estimates based upon an average one
with an average loss of stocks. Based upon this av-
erage, a colony of bees is worth three-fourths as
much now as next spring. We calculate the caro of
them till that time, interest on the money, and also
that of those that die, their hives and combs are
worth one-third the fall value. You know, Mr. Edi-
tor, that we advertised some bees for sale. Well,
sir, not one order have we received, and but two In-
quiries for the whole month, and we see the papers
full of " Bees for Sale." Right here allow me to
give a piece of advice to those having bees they are
anxious to dispose of. ilokl them till Kprhuj, even if
you leave them entirely smeared for. I say this be-
cause it seems that those who neglect their bees
succeed in wintering as well as any; and nextspriug,
if every colony now alive should then be alive, bees
will be a cash article at a good round price.
A friend of mine once asked a rich man how he
made his wealth. His simple reply was, " I came
here with a little money and I bought stock and
grain when it was low, and sold it when it was high."
How foolishly simple that sounds, and yet the large
majority do just the reverse. They float with the
popular current, instead of striking out by them-
selves and swimming up stream. Here, too, we find
a larj^e reward awaiting a little energy and origin-
ality.
On page 493 of this Oct. No. of Gleanings, Mr.
Ballantine undertakes to disprove our pollen theory.
If it is incorrect, we can think of no better time nor
man to prove it so; but in my judgment he has
overestimated the force of his argument. He seems
to conclude, that because pollen is made from the
fecundating dust of beautiful flowers, and has the
honor of being a very old store of the hive, that it is
fallacious for us to claim that this time-honored
substance will produce disease, when used In an ab-
normal way and at disadvantageous times. I learn
that the disease we call bee dysentery is also time-
honored. A cancer is a marvel of order and beauty,
when seen through the microscope. Who does not
know that, throughout all the vegetable and animal
creation, that instinct can not be depended upon for
the perpetuation of life? How Is it, when you slight-
ly water a cabbage-plantin the morning of a hot day?
It instinctively turns up its little roots toward the
moisture it scents, and succeeds in getting little or
none of it; but its death soon results form its more
exposed position. How with the colicky, over-fed
babe? Its instinct is to eat to relieve the pain pro-
duced by overeating. Instinct is at the bottom of
the hill of progress: reason, at the top. Instinct ia
a crutch for reason when it gets lame. Instinct is
blind: reason, a clairvoyant. Instinct swims: reason
takes a steamboat. Instinct runs: reason creates
and rides on a locomotive. Instinct stands with
clasped hands, and fears disaster: reason prevents
it. Instinct moves before its betters when reason
approaches. Instinct is better than nothing: reason
is better than cither. Instinct is life or death, as
chance may dictate: reason is life and success. In-
stinct has got its growth, gone to seed, and has long
been decaying: reason is in the bud, and soon will
blossom. Instinct is barbarism: reason, civilization.
Reason produced frames: Instinct fled for cross-
sticks. Reason said, " Sling that honey, and save
that indigestible comb for the bees: instinct said,
"That honey is not what I am used to, and therefore
it is not good." Instinct says to bees, "Go into a
hollow tree, and attach your combs to rotten wood
that will give way when you fill them with honey:"
reason says to them, "Here, draw this sheet of se-
curely wired foundation to a beautiful, straight,
and profitable comb." The intelligent and success-
ful apiarist says, " My bees must be guided by my
reason:" the ignorant and superstitious onesaj'S, "I
will follow your blind instincts." When reason
says, "Forward, march!" instinct stands and howls
like a little dog barking at a full moon. Let us hope
that we shall hear no more pleas for instinct.
What refutes the whole argument made by Mr. B.
is, that what he presents to us as causes of this ef-
fect, viz., cold and confinement (the peculiarities of
last winter), were general all over the country ,while
the supposed effect was not as uniform as was his
supposed cause. Something more localin its effects
1881
glea:nixgs in bee culture.
.543
must have been the primary cause, while cold and
confinement are the great ag„'ravations of this
cause. Finally Mr. B. admits that cold caused the
bees to eat pollen, which caused the disease, and
calls the pollen a secondary cause- and so, after all,
all the difference there is between ui is as to which
plays first and which plays second fiddle. "Let us
sec." Pollen-eating- will produce dysentery, and kill
the stocks almost clean throug-h the southern por-
tion of Indiana, where no excessive cold of long du-
ration, or excessive confinement, existed. The ab-
sence of pollen, in any position in the hive where
the bees would be inclined to use it during confine-
ment, allowed whole apiaries in Northern Michigan
to winter successfully, where cold and confinement
were existing in all their glory. Now, you can
choose for yourself which shall be called the primarj'
cause. I have made my choice. Time will decide,
and I am willing to abide by the decision.
I have just read the article on "Upward Ventila-
tion " on p. -107, by Jerome Wiltse. It seems to me
that this article is worth the price of Gleanings for
one year, to every subscriber. That makes a total
value of St419. At least, let us sincerely thank Mr.
W. for his candid style, his energy in collecting the
facts and figures, and his benevolence in giving them
to us that we may profit thereby. I have experi-
mented every winter of the thirteen that I have
kept bees, and I have used different houses with
thick-filled walls above ground, house apiarj-, cellar,
buried (both above and below the surface), packed
on summer stands with different styles of boxes, and
used many variations with each and all of these
methods, and have demonstrated and written thatf
my bees neglected, often came out best of all. I
have heard every plan for wintering bees praised
and condemned by turns, and now the favorite chaff
packing and cushions are being condemned, even
when the bees are to be left out. My idea is, that
any thing that will prevent the consumption of pol-
len by the hatched bees, will prevent the dysentery,
which will prevent over nine-tenths of all losses out-
side of careless starvation. It seems more than
likely that this great amount of ventilation reported
in the successful cases by Mr. W. prevented the bees
from breeding, and consequent handling of pollen.
AVe must not forget, however, that there may bo in-
stances where honey is scarce and pollen plenty in
the hive; that during cold spells, when the bees can
not change position, they will go to eating pollen as
a last alternative. I think the success of the large
hives consists in the fact, that the size retarded
winter brood-rearing.
I once lost all but 3 colonies out of 48; 46 of them
had dysentery. One that had it squeezed through in
a weak condition; of the two that did not have it,
one was a box hive that was all split open in two
places clear up the sides; also on top. It was win-
tered on the summer stand, three feet from the
ground, and with no care. The other one was a
frame hive, brought from a distant locality, where it
summered alone, and placed on a square box in
our cellar, with three other hives that all rotted
down, so to speak, with dysentery in its blackest
form, as did all the rest of the apiary in that cellar.
This colony did not lose a dozen bees; and this and
many other circumstances convinced me that the
disease is not infectious.
Now, we all owe Mr. Wiltse, and all others who
have given us their time and losses in experiment, a
report of the very most comprehensive experiments
we are capable of making the coming winter. Near-
ly all of us have notions now fixed, and let us dis-
prove them the coming winter, if we can. There is
no grander exclamation than to sa.v, " I was mista-
ken, and hasten to own It, and assist the wheel of
progress in its revolutions, ratherthan tohinder It."
"Open confession is good for the soul." We need
have no fears of treating a number of colonies in a
manner formerly considered murderous; they may
prove to be the strongest of all when spring comes.
Our tests should l)e made on as large a scale as pos-
sible. We should also take advantage of and report
our observations among our neighbor bee-keepers,
as Mr. W. did. Then let us observe, decide, and re-
port, without the least bias or care what we may
have said and believed before. Let us be honest
with our last and best thought. " This, to thine own
self be true, and it follows (as the day does the
night), thou canst be false to no man." I shall take
a large dose of my own advice, and make as extend-
ed experiments as mj- '„'10 colonies will admit of.
Thca when the proper time comes, we will, by an
interchange of experiences, show old Luck that we
have taken another fort, and that it is only a ques-
tion of time when he will be forced to an uncondi-
tional and complete surrender. James Heddon.
Djwagiae, Mich., Oct. 1, 1881.
SOME QUESTIONS FROM AN A B C
SCHOLAR.
p^^lHE selected imported queen I ordered from
PJI you Aug. 27 came to hand Sept. 1, and at noon
you
— ' to-day she had about one card full of eggs. I
was away from home when she came, but my wife
introduced her according to directions on the Peet
cage, and she is all right.
It has been very dry here for some time past, but
there has been no time during the spring, summer,
or fall months of the two years past, that brood-
rearing has ceased in my yard. So you see we are
rather favorably situated.
BFSOOD-nEAItlNG WHILE STOIIIXG IS GOING ON
AT50VE.
Ho'v do you manage to keep up brood-rearing, and
still get the bees to work in the crates? After try-
ing tbis summer to get my bees to fill the crates, 1
have found the brood-chamber almost destitute of
eggs, larva?, and brood, and the chamber full of
honey instead.
Do you advise extracting from the brood-chamber?
and if so, how late in the fall? or how Iohr before
time for honey to cease coming in should we stop?
EMPTY COMB FOR BROOD-REARING IN THE FALL.
Ought there to be empty comb for brood-rearing
after honey ceases to flow? If so, how much?
REARING BOTH DRONES AND QUEENS FROM ONE
MOTHER.
As I now have an imported queen, how shall I in-
sure the purest stock the coming year-by usingher
to raise both drones and queens, or would it be bet-
ter to use my next best for raising drones? (I have
a pretty good one.) How often do you advise chang-
ing the stock of queens to prevent in-and-in breed-
ing? A man told me to-day he had found 7 swarms
in the woods around here this fall -all Italians.
McBrides, Mich., Sept. 5, 1881. F. A. Palmer.
I would not extract from the brood-cham-
ber, as a general thing. If your surplus re-
ceptacles are easy of access, as with the hives
544
GLEANINGS IN BEE CUETUEE.
Nov.
we advise, you will ordinarily have no
trouble iu getting the bees to move their
honey out of the brood-chamber into these
receptacles.— I have never found it necessary
to put in empty combs in this locality, in the
fall, but I presume in some places they get
so much late honey it is an advantage. — I
would by all means rear my drones from an-
other queen than the imported ; and if you
do this you will not need to make any fur-
ther change in stock. If you lind good, well-
marked Italians in the woods, there is cer-
tainly no need of buying any thing more in
the shape of fresli strains of blood, unless it
is an imported queen once in two or three
years.
the: BEE-CAVfS OF TEXAS.
THEY PUOMISE TO BE NOT ALL PICTURES AFTER ALL.
^2f* HAVE read with pleasure the many new ideas
that have been brought out in Gleanings; am
pleased at the clipping friend Hutchinson sent
you about the bee-caves in Texas, and your idea
that it should be developed. I think I can give
you a chance to "strike it big," nearer home; and if
it has not been disturbed lately, I think it equal to
the Texas vein. My informant (an old rustic bee-
keeper) told me that his father struck a bee's nest
in the mountains of Pennsylvania, similar to the
one in Texas, it being also in a ledge of rocks, and by
a stream of water. Well, the neighbors got together
and blasted off the rocks, and took out one or two
kerosene barrels of honey, and then they would
come to a partition in the rocks (another Infringe-
ment on Mitchell's adjustable division-board). This
they would blast out, and got perhaps an ox-cart
full of honey; at any rate, they all got what they
wanted, and there was enough left that ran into the
creek to turn it into metheglin for five miles. You
evidently see it is nearer a bonanza than Hutchin-
son's " scheme," for he has got to look his man up,
while 1 have mine. He says these are the facts, if
his memory serves him right! He is an old man,
and ought to be truthful. Now, while friend H. is
perfecting his oi'ganization, if you will help this old
friend and myself (financially) I have no doubt that,
while you gain the name of a philanthropist, we
will make some money.
I got through the winter with 10 colonies- 5 good
ones and 5 veiy weak. They have increased to 33
colonies, and gave 700 lbs. of basswood honey. My
wife has kept an account of every thing sold from
the apiaiy, such as bees, queens, honey, wax., etc.,
and I have 30 good swarms left. Her figures show a
credit of $112.00. I think I have something a little
remarkable in hybrids. My di-ones were pure Ital-
ians, while friend Wilson, two miles south, and
friend White, one mile north, had black drones. My
early queens were mated purely, but later in the
season, five-sixths are hybrids, while friend Wil-
son's are every one pure Italians,and quite a portion
of friend White's; isn't that a plain case of an ef-
fort of nature to prevent in-and-in breeding?
M. A.Gill.
Viola, Richland Co., Wis., Sept. 5, 1881.
My attention was called to an article in my last
number of Gleanings, headed " Bee-caves in Tex-
as." As you desire to know something more in
regard to the same, I thought I would write these
few lines, that you may see that there may be
some truth in that "big yarn" that friend Hutch-
inson writes about.
1 am not acquainted with that particular locality
spoken of in the Youth's Cumpaniini, but I have
scouted considerably in the same range of mount-
ains, and have often been lold of large bee-caves in
such and such parts of the mountains; but my bus-
iness was of such a nature that I could not take a
" hunt," but I know that it is so, for I have particu-
lar friends who have been to many bee-caves; in
fact, friend Hoot, some of these old W^estcrn Texas
settlers could tell j'ou truthful bee yarns that would
lay that of the Youth's Companion very much in the
shade; in fact, so well is it known, that I am contin-
ually being advised to start my bee business in the
mountains, where I could get all the bees and honey
I want, free. There are considerable drawbacks to
starting a business there, that will be overcome in
the course of time when the country is more settled
up. By the bye, let me tell you another thing in re-
gard to bees in Texas. It used to be a very common
thing to find bees building in the tall grasses and
bushes, and I presume is so yet it the thinly settled
parts of the State. At some future time I would
like to send you a few bee-cave j'arns if you think
they would be of any interest to your readers.
Thos. Balcomb.
Luling, Caldwell Co., Tex., Sept. 26, 1881.
Many thanks, friend B., and I would be
glad to have the " yarns " sent along, if you
will only be particular and let us all know
just how much of it is " yarn," and how
much " real cloth." Here is something from
another friend on the same subject : —
I see in my last number of your Gleanings a bee-
cave story that you seem to doubt. I can say to you
that such things as bee-caves are in existence. Two
hundred miles west of this place, bee-caves are very
common, and a large number of bees inhabit the
caves. The " liear" part of the story I do not be-
lieve, nor the water being sweet for miles below the
cave. Hearing the bees a mile from the cave is not
unreasonable. You must remember, the air is much
purer in Western Texas than where you live, and
noise can be heard at a greater distance.
My bees are doing very well, except one hive,
which some one robbed a few nights past. The
damage was a:bout two gallons of honey. I don't
know whether they got the queen or not, but think
they have. .T. W. Traylob.
Mt. Joy, Delta Co., Texas., Sept. 25, 1881.
QUEENS THAT WILL STING — ALSO A WORD ABOUT
BEE-CAVES.
I have been keeping bees over 15 years, and have
had many queens in my hand, but you may guess I
sent one whirling the other day. I had her in my
hand waiting for the return of my son with a queen-
cage. She crawled up on my wrist, and plunged her
dagger in. I slung her loose in a hurry. Did it hurt?
You "bet a reckon" it hurt as bad as a sting
from a worker; but the sting did not remain in the
flesh, and as an experiment I took a hybrid Holy-
Land queen (virgin) and tormented her until she
would sting my fingers.
Bees are not doing as well as they did last fall;
mine, however, are busy on red elm, cuckle-burr,
and fall cotton-blooms. I have received several let-
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
545
ters asking about Texas as a bee State. I will say,
some portions are very good, bees often making
300 lbs. of comb honey per colony. Eastern Texas is
the best; Western and South -Western are good.
I guess that description of the i-ives you publish-
ed, see p. 436, Sept. No., 1S81, of Gle.A-NINGS, was
somewhat magnified. Come out and I will show you
the caves in Bosque County. B. F. Carroll.
Dresden, Navarro Co., Texas, Sept., 1881.
A NEW SA^V-SET.
ALSO SOME VALUABLE HINTS ABOUT SETTING SAWS.
PRESUME there are almost as many
dilTerent opinions in regard to the way
of setting saws as there are machines
in tlie market for doing it. The one shown
below has received the preference by the
great saw-men, Henry Disston it Sons, of
Philadelphia. We have sold them for the
past year, but as some of onr customers
want a little instruction in their use, we
give the cut and explanation, from Disston's
circular : —
STAR SAW-SET FOR H.iXD, BACK, BAND, WEB, WOOD
AND S.MALL CIRCULAR SAWS, NOT THICKER
THAN 18 GAUGE.
I •
STAR SAW-SET.
Prominent among the advantages claimed for this
set is, that it can be operated wholly by the foot by
means of a treadle, thus leaving the hands free to
guide the saw.
A is the plunger, which is operated by a treadle
attached to E, under the machine; B, the hammer,
or striking part; C, the anvil; D, the movable gauge;
F, the screw to regulate the amount of set.
The striking part, and the anvil, or portion which
receives the blow, are star-shaped, and similar in
construction. The points are all of different sizes,
and are numbered from 1 to C, and are designed to
set different-sized teeth.
It will strike a blow as sharp and effective as
though done by a hammer, and is the most useful
and complete saw-set that has ever been offered to
the trade. If the saw is //o?(?, several blows should
be given in setting it. Raise the back of the saw
from the guide-screw F when the first blow is given,
and gradually lower it with each blow until the pro-
cess is complete. Thus many a good saw may be
saved from utter ruin. A trial will suffice. Be sure
to clean the saw teeth before setting.
Messrs. Disston & Sons also give ns the fol-
lowing additional directions:—
DIRECTIONS FOR USING THE STAR SAW-SET.
First bore a hole through the bench, for the lower
end of plunger to pass through; then fasten the set
to the bench, as shown in the cut. The piece fast-
ened by the screw F over the lower set is only to be
used when setting narrow saws, to prevent them
from tilting. The points of star-shaped pieces are
nuniliered from one to si.v, and are designed to set
different sizes of teeth. With this set a blow may
be struck as sharp and effective as if done by a ham-
mer; if the saw is hard, several blows should be giv-
en in setting it. In setting, raise the back of the
saw from the screw F, when the ttrst blow is given,
and gradually lower it with each blow, until the set-
ting is complete. The set can be used with or with-
out treadle, as a light tap on the top of plunger is
sufficient to set the teeth of saws eighteen gauge in
thickness. By using the treadle, you have both
hands free to guide the saw. The treadle is not fur-
nished by us, but can be attached by any one, pass-
ing a rope or wire through the eye in the lower end
of plunger, and fastening to a strip of board reach-
ing within three inches of the floor, the other end
lying loose on the floor. As in the other case, give
the treadle a sharp tap with the foot. Never set by
pressure. Henisy Disston & Sons.
Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 37, 1881.
Where many circular saws are to be set,
we have found it conveaiient to fix a pin in
the bench, just in front of the set, for the
saw to turn on. Put it over this pin, and
turn it so as to set every other tooth. Now
take it off the pin, turn it over, and set the
teeth omitted before. If the pin has a bolt
through it, with a thumb-niit on top, you
can, with washers, set the saw at any height
you wish, and thus insure an exact equality
in the set of each tooth. To have it adjust-
able for saws of different sizes, the pin
should be set in a sliding block, let into the
bench. The slide is to have a thumb-nut,
to fasten it at any precise spot. Well, after
you have set your pin at the right distance,
and put on washers enough to raise the saw
to the proper height, you can set a circular
saw so quickly it will almost astonish you.
^Ve can furnish above set for Toe; by mail
30c more.
546
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Nov
From Different Fields.
CAGIXG VIRGIN QUEENS.
^r'fS?^ ID you ever try keeping virgin queens caged
JP|[Jj)J until they were 4 or 5 days old, and then suc-
cced in introducing them? If so, in what way,
and with what success? I have tried something
over two dozen, and lost only one. Two of them
were laying in three days after introducing. They
were put in the hive in the old cell.
W. S. C AUTHEN.
Pleasant Hill, S. C, July 28, 1881.
We have introduced virgin queens when a
day or two old, but it was a long job. We
lost a much larger per cent than you men-
tion, and some ol: them did not lay until
they were ten days old. It was a very diffi-
cult thing to get the bees to accept them,
and, altogether, we decided it did not pay.
Introducing in queen-cells has often been
suggested and tried, but I am inclined to
think it makes little difference how the
queen comes into the hive, if her scent, age,
etc., are acceptable to the bees.
A STRING OF QUERIES IN REGARD TO PKEPAKING
BEES FOR WINTER, ETC.
I like Gleanings very much, and have been much
benefited by its contents from time to time. I like
this comparison of ideas. I wish you to reply to the
following:—
Much is said about making passages through combs
for winter, to aid the comfort and prosperity of the
bees; also to let them have time, undisturbed, suf-
ficient to allow the pets to icar iip thoroughly be-
fore cold weather closes in. Now, is this passageway
and waxing necessary in cellar wintering, where no
frost enters the hive? I can not see that it is.
The winter passages in the combs are not
as necessary for wintering in cellars, I pre-
sume, but it is without doubt an advantage
to the queen.
Again: If the iva.cnuj is necessary, why leave an
open space over brood-frames for upward ventila-
tion, as some argue necessary to best good of bees?
The waxing up is simply allowing bees to
do as they usually do, and is all right with-
out any particular precaution, unless with
artificial or small late swarms that have not
had pasturage sufficient to allow them to
get into winter trim properly. I think this
waxing up important, even if the bees do
have a vacant space above the frames, for
it makes quite a protection against cold
drafts of air right through the cluster.
Do you consider any covering over brood-frames
better in this latitude (i. e., duck or enamel cloth),
than the honej^-board ?
I am not sure that any covering is better
than honey-boards for winter; but the en-
ameled sheets are vastly more convenient
for summer use, especially where hives are
to be opened often, as in queen-rearing.
I winter in my cellar, and wish to be able to add a
little warmth occasionally. Will a kerosene-oil stove
be suitable? "We never have used the stove, and I
am not certain about any odor arising.
I do not think I would risk a kerosene-oil
stove, on account of danger of its injuring
the purity and sweetness of the air.
In ventilating a cellar by pipes, one long, reaching
to the bottom, and the other a short pipe, is it not as
well to place both on the same side of the cellar?
I would have the pipes at opposite sides,
to have the ventilation more equal through-
out the whole room.
Will bees winter as quietly in a cellar with a small
amount of vegetables as without?
I do not think a few vegetables would
make any sensible difference.
Can a nucleus, size of '/4 a medium colony, readily
winter in cellar, if a sulHcient amount of haney
is stored?
A nucleus will winter almost as well as a
full colony, if every thing is well in proper
proportion, well waxed up, etc.
Are the bees sensible of the approach of any one
while in the cellar, unless the hive is touched?
I do not think the bees are disturbed un-
less the hive is touched, but the drafts of
air, caused by moving about in their depos-
itory, might arouse them from their winter's
nap. I think it is L. C. Root who advises
having the hives supported entirely from
the ground, and but a few on a bench or
platform, that in moving one hive you need
not disturb many others.
I have queried whether they were so sensitive or
not, as to be moved by the disturbance in the at-
mosphere, caused by a person's walking; also if
tbey were accustomed to hear any noise made.
My impressions are, they do not hear quickly, if at
all, but are extremely sensitive to touch and smell.
Are they not also dull in sight, especially so unless
the object is directly in front?
These are what I am desirous of knowing. If not
too much trouble, please reply in Nov. No.
W. Wakefield.
St. Paul, Minn., Sept. 5, 1881.
I think you are right, in the main, in re-
gard to their sense of touch, smell, and
sight. .
HOUSEHOLD QUEENS, AND BEE-HIVE QUEENS, ETC.
I have felt (after having Gleanings for almost
thiee years) on reading the last two numbers of your
paper, a sort of inspiration to write a letter for the
ABC column, or else it is a craving desire to see my
name in print, as I am now 41 years old, and never
even wrote a paragraph for a paper, and I am an old
bachcliir at that. My name is Butler, and while read-
ing the August No. I could not but mentally wish
that my name was Thomas, or had his mishap, if it
would only bring me a wife as it did him, provided
"she" was a lover of the bees, and there was a
prospect of her loving me just a little. Noav, friend
Root, 1 am obliged to confess my letter begins to
look as though I were trying to do (what I have of-
ten thought some of my ABC brothers were doing)
a little cheap advertising. However this may be, if,
among your lady readers, any of them should read
this
And now, teacher, please answer a new scholar a
few questions. J have a queen two years old, a
choice one that has for two years i-aised nothing but
distinctly marked three-banded worker bees, but
whose bees now look like poor hj-brids. I have
raised almost all my queens from her for the past
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
547
two seasons, and all but two (and they very doubtful),
have produced plainly marked hybrids. Does it not
seem, if she were pure, with a few black bees a mile
distant at least, a part should bring me purely
marked workers?
Are Cyprian and Palestine bees equal to Italians
in keeping out moths? T. K. Bctleh.
Alma City, Waseca Co., Minn., Sept. 5, 1881.
Why, friend B.. tliere is no sort of need of
fallinj^ out of a tree and getting stung as
friend Thomas did. nor advertising in your
bee journal. ,eitlier, in order that yon may
find some nice genteel little woman who
would be glad to help you keep bees and —
house too I There are plenty of exactly the
right kind, right in your own neighborhood,
without any sort of a doubt. Either you
are too faint-hearred. or else you are too
particular. In either case, you must get
right over it. If the woman you should get
doesn't prove to be exactly perfection, it is
your business, with your "broad shoulders.
to stand between her and the world, and by
kindness and love correct the deficiencies
exactly as she will correct yours. It is a bad
idea to get into your head, that there are
better people a thousand miles aAvay. than
there are right in your neighborhood.
AVe have been assisting the friends large-
ly in getting household conveniences, it is
true, friend J3.; but you did not suppose we
meant to include "in the list household
queens, did youV
If they doh"t know about bees, it will be
all the niore interesting to you to have the
pleasure of teaching them. Fix up. and
start out this very night ; and when you are
happier in a home of your own than you ev-
er dreamed of being' before, write and tell
us about it.
I have never met just such a case as you
mention with the bees, and do not know
how to explain it, unless the queen was one
of Doolittle's kind; a hybrid that produced
three-banded workers.
I believe the C'yps and Holy-Lands are
fully up to any Italians, to keep out the
moth.
HEES AND GRAPES, AGAIN.
What is the price of the cheapest wire cloth you
have that will confine bees to the hive? Do you
think, with the thermometer at 75 or 80 , bees could
be moved in a spring wagon 5 or 0 miles without
melting or breaking down the combs in brood-
chamber? Each colony contains 3 or 4 sheets of
fdn. (not wired), but they were in the center, and
have not much honey in them now; other combs old
and tough. Tt seems a great undertaking to move
100 swarms, but I can not have them injure the
grapes this year as they did last. I should be glad
of any suggestion that occurs to you. I think there
are more than 100 acres r>f grapes within their range.
Brocton, N. Y., Sept. 3, 1881. M. Simons.
Why, my friend, is it really a fact, that
your "bees have been meddling with the
grapes, to the extent that you are thinking
of moving 100 colonies? If so. it is a pretty
fair evidence that bees do realh-, at least
sometimes, prove a pest to grape-growers.
There will be no trouble at all in moving
them, providing those new combs made
from fdn. are fastened at the bottoms and |
sides. If not, and such is often the case,
Avhere they are fastened to the comb-guide
and no more, they will often get to swing-
ing when the hive is moved, and break off.
If moved during very hot weather, they
must have abundant ventilation, as I have
explained in the ABC; but I trust ere this
you have had a flow of honey, or something
providential has rendered it unnecessary for
you to undertake such a task.
RATHER UISHEARTEXING.
One of my neighbors sent to the city of New York
for an imported cjuecu — has received three; the
first came dead; the second produced hybrid work-
ers and black queens; the third can't hold on to the
combs— an old worn-out queen, I think. I have had
about the same kind of success in ordering queens.
Harvey P. Farrington.
Mandobi, Buffalo Co., Wis., Aug. 15, 1881.
Gently, friend F. The imported -queen
Inisiness is full of disappointments, both to
the buyer and seller. After the long trip
they have to make, it is not very unusual
for them to come tlirough dead. From your
statement, I infer you received another
promptly, and I am a little afraid j'^ou pro-
nounced her hybrid when she was a pure
queen, judging solely from your own state-
ment. The daughters of many of our im-
ported queens would be pronounced black,
by one not acquainted with them ; but they
will produce nice yellow bees, in spite of
their color. Are not the workers you pro-
nounce hybrids gentle to handle and very
industrious? See if you do not lind them to
stand the test laid down in our A B C. The
last one being feeble, was also occasioned,
probably, from her long trip. It is a hard
thing to" be obliged to bear the loss of an im-
])orted queen ; and to be censured when one
is doing the best he can. makes it still hard-
er. Shall we not all try to cultivate a spirit
of patience and forbearance in these matters?
COMPARATIVE VALUE OF SUGAR AND HONEY FOR
FEEDING.
You have wintered bees on sugar, and now I
should like to know how many pounds of coffee A
sugar, made into a sj-rup, a good strong colony of
bees ought to have, say the 1st of October, provided
they had W) honey for winter stores. What is the
comparative value of sugar and honey as a food for
bees? W. Z. Hutchinson.
Rogersville, Mich., Sept. 9, 1881.
The term " good strong colony '" is rather
an indefinite one, friend II. The colony of
ours that gathered 13i lbs. in a day weighed
llf lbs., but we would call 5 lbs. of bees a
good strong colony. In our experiments in
shipping bees we "thought a pound of bees
would consume a pound of sugar in about 1-5
days, if I am correct. Well, bees in a state
of rest, as in their hives in winter, should
not consume over half tliat amount — say a
l)Ound of stores a month for each pound of
bees. This would give -SO lbs. for each .5-lb.
colony, () months. T do not think, in prac-
tice, it will equal more than half that, even
for stocks wintered outdoors. Where they
are so well protected that they assume their
semi-dormant condition, the amount is still
less. I should think, from the experience I
548
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Nov
have had, that a pound of granulated sugar
made into syrup would be worth as much as
li lbs. of the best honey, to feed. In regard
to the quantity, we should remember that
too much is always safer than not enough.
ROOM WANTED IN THE SMILERY.
If you have any iclea of putting mc in Blasted
Hopes, alter my writing as I did in September No.,
that " very likely my bees would have 1o be fed in
winter," I will now say, "Don't." AVe have had sev-
eral nice showers of rain since that date, and it is
surprising to see how vegetation of all kinds is grow-
ing and blooming. Should frost hold off ten days or
two weeks yet, I may want space in the Smilery. I
feel satisflcd now that all will be in good condition,
and go into winter with plenty of honey. It is sur-
prising to see the amount of brood they have on
hand. They will not die this winter, if young bees
have any thing to do with successful wintering.
UPWAKD VENTILATION.
After reading Jerome Wiltse's article on upward
ventilation, I wish to say that. I once transferred a
colony of bees for a neighbor, that wintered in an
old Buckeye hive, the door of which was left half
open all winter. I think it was the winter of 1877-'8.
However, the weather was very cold all through, yet
that colony wintered well, and was covered with
bees the next spring when I transferred them.
What kind of ventilation would you call that? That
they were thus exposed all nintcr, I know to be a
fact, as they had camb built from the fronts of the
frames to the door, which could not be shut. In
conversation the other day with a bee-keeper from
an adjoining town, he stated that, in preparing his
bees last fall, he accidentally left one colony with
only the enameled cloth over the frames, and this
spring it was as good a colony as he had. Wonder
if we hadn't better " about-face" and take the other
extreme awhile. It seems that, after all the fun we
" smartics " poke at the " old fogies," they are there
about the time wc arrive. Joseph M. Brooks.
Columbus, Ind., Oct. 8, 1881.
Friend Jl, I don't believe I would apply
for a place in the tSmilery if I were you, be-
fore next spring, say the hrst of May for in-
stance.— I am not surprised that the colony
wintered with an opening in the side of the
hive, nor that the one with only the enam-
eled sheet did also ; and I think if there had
been a small hole in the sheet right over the
cluster, it would still have done well. A
real powerful colony will winter without any
thing over them, not even section boxes ;
but if they are not real strong, they will die
off every severe freeze, until all are gone. I
have tried it, some of you may remember.
At such times, even a slight covering seems
to be very important. Now, if a snuill open-
ing is left in this slight covering, this open-
ing will be so full of bees, even during se-
vere weather, that no very great amount of
air can get through it, and it begins to look
to me as if such an opening, or openings, are
about what they need.
STILL HOPEFUL.
I ordered a queen of you a few days since, which
came to hand all right and promptly. She is now
laying, and, to all appearances, will make a success-
ful house-keeper— domestic in her habits, industri-
ous, economical, and, above all, good disposition. I
have run down several times since I have kept
bees, to one and two, and once all went; but ray
hopes have never been entirely blasted. Last fall I
had 23 colonies; this spring I had only two; but I
never felt more determined in my life than I have
this season. From those two swarms, I have had T,
and expect, before Oct. 1st, to have two more, all in
good condition for wintering; and if I lose all next
winter, I will buy a swarm and commence again.
Nothing like pluck and a happy disposition in bee-
keeping. I know now it was all my fault that I lost
so many last winter. They were a^l strong, but I
neglected them initil cold weather came on so sud-
denly I could not make up for my procrastination;
but that was only one of many losses I have learned
and appropriated to myself. W. H. Sedgwick.
Granville, O., Aug. 20, 1881.
what one swarm did in COLORADO.
1 bought one colony of pure Italians this spring,
with clipped queen (got them in April}, and May 25th
they swarmed first, and June 2d they swarmed
again, both being fine strong swarms. June 4th
they swarmed again, that, of course, being a light
swarm. I have taken 50 lbs. of line honey from the
first, and will get about 25 more. The second will
have aliout IG lbs. in sf ctions, and the third have
the 10 frames full, but will make none in sections.
I have taken 14 lbs. from the old hive, and they
have the 10 frames full for winter. The honey is
made principally from Rocky-Mountain bee-plant
and wild sunflower. The bee-plant is very plenty,
growing everywhere wild, and will average four feet
in height, with some specimens si.x feet high, and
blooms from May till September. S. H. Kelley.
Berthoud, Larimer Co., C I., Oct., 18S1.
SMALL QUEES-CAQES, VERSUS LARGE.
The queen came all right, lively as a cricket;
shipped on the 8th, and arrived here on the 11th.
Two Peet cages put together is a pretty good idea
for shipping long distances, but not as good as the
cages used by you last year. A shipping-cage should
be small, so that the (lueen would be tossed but a
short distance from one side to the other. The con-
cussion then is not gri?at enough to injure the queen
when the mail-bngs are being tossed about. Well,
friend Koot, what do you think of my improvement
on the Langsti'oth brood-frames, also for the ex-
tractor? It may be old, but new to me. Simply use
o end-bars instead of two; the center one holds the
combs firmly, and they will not break in extracting,
neither will fdn. sag so badly, and is not in the way
of the queen at all. J. S. Tadlock.
Kingsbury, Texas, Sept. IT, 1881.
I have for some time been thinking of
your point in regard to queen-cages, friend
T., for it is a fact, that large cages do not,
many times, seem to do as well as the small
ones, and I am inclined to think it is for the
reason you state. — Your middle pie^e in the
frame is a very old idea, and the only ob-
jection is. I believe, that it makes a blank
space right in the heart of the brood-nest.
IMPORTANCE OF UPWARD VENTILATION, AGAIN.
I will now hand in my report for this season. Had
3 colonies of blacks left in the spring; increased to 10
by natural and artificial swarming; h:ive taken so
far about 125 lbs. nice comb honey. I had 1 colony
of blacks that was shipped to me 25 miles by freight
last winter, when it was bitter cold. They were in a
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
o4!)
tall box hive; iu the spring- I transferred them to
the L. hive, and took 20 lbs. of honej'. They swarmed
in about two weeks. In 6 days I divided them into
o more, giving to each a ripe queen-cell. This I did
on Monday. The next Friday they cmst a second
swarm, notwithstanding the dividing. I returned
this swarm and gave them a comb containing eggs,
and they swarmed no more. Now, I tried last win-
ter to winter 12 colonies in L. hives, and 2 in box
hives; one was the above colony; the other I bought
at a sale for one dollar, and carried them home on
my shoulder more than a mile last November.
They were weak in numbers, and also in stores; but
both box hives had an empty space above the
brood-chamber for a surplus box. Both box hives
came through the severe winter all right; but 11 of
the 12 in L. hives went " where the woodbine twin-
eth;" 10 of those had 7 inches of chaff on top, and 9
had one foot of straw packed all around, except in
front; box hives had no protection. This has been
a noble season with us. I believe that tons of honey
went to waste in the fore part of the season for
want of bees to gather it. But the drought cut
short the l)uckwheat and golden rod.
North Robinson, O., Oct. 3, 1881. J. H. Ebv.
I believe Doolittle is right when he says thai some
<iugens produce all three-banded workers, whether
said queens mate with black or Italian drones.
Three j'cars ago I purchased a queen of H. A. Burch.
It was late in the season, so I raised only two
queens from her, and both of them produced all
thrce-banded workers, and there were no Italian
drones within 12 miles. I raised .")0 queens the next
season; they all produced three-banded workers.
But I had plenty of Italian drones then. Mr. Burch
has some very nice Italians now. I purchased a
queen from him this fall. She proved to be tiptop.
I have got 8ti colonies. They did first rate in the
fore part of the season, but the latter part was too
dry. S. M. Newman.
Glenn, Allegan Co., Mich., Sept. 1, 1881.
alley's stock of ITALIANS.
1 see by Sept. No. of Glbanings, Mr. O. E. Coon
wishes to know where he can get Italian queens
that will p'-oduce yellow drones. Mr. Coon can get
(jueens of Henry Alley, Wenham, Mass., that will
produce yellow drones and yellow bees with three
bands; no two-banded bees among them, and the
worker bees are workers, as good as the best. They
are very docile (can be handled without bee-veil),
and are very hardy. I have had Italian queens from
Mr. Alley since 1878, and have never known a queen
to produce a dark -colored drone, and the worker
bees need not be put on a window to show their d
bands. They will show them when empty.
Oakdale, Wis., Sept. 7, 1881. C. J. Alden.
The wrapper on mj' August Gleanings stated
that the time for which I had paid expired with this
number. How short the years appear ! It is said
an aged spinster complained that they didn't make
looking-glasses as good as they used to, and it ap-
pears to me the years are not as long as those of
former times. WeU, I inclose another dollar, with
the hope that the coming year, if short, may be a
happy one.
Bees have not done remarkably well in this sec-
tion this season. The flow of honey from locust and
basswood was large, but the white clover, though
abundant, yielded little or nothing. One time last
month neighbor Sherwood and I noticed our bees
were working vigorously on something to the S. E.
of us, and were told by a man that he had seen bees
in immense numbers on a field of red clover at the
foot of the mountain I14 miles from us.
A HANDV SCBAPER.
I have just found a section of a mowing-machine
knife a very handy thing for cleaning hives, frames,
and sections. After these sections are worn to a
point they are worthless on the ni achinc, and are
just right for our work, with a little grinding to
straighten the edges. Turn one edge down to scrape
toward you, and the other to scrape from you, and
hang it up by one of the holes when your work is
done. The dull edge is handy for cleaning the table
or bench on which you work. Try one, and if you
like it, recommend them to the boys.
Jas. E. Dean.
Fishkill, Dutchers Co., Y. Y., Aug. 19, 1881.
WATER FOR BEES; A REQUEST.
In the Sept. No., under the head of "The Experi-
ence of a Novice in Bee Culture," I find an article of
more than usual interest to me. In his closing re-
marks he says, " If any one should wish to have my
method in giving water to bees in winter, and how I
have managed to get 275 lbs. of honey ia sections, I
will give it in Gleanings, if the editor will give
room." Give room, give room, Mr. Editor; wc want
to know it all, for water is as cheap a bee feed as
grape sugar or any other sugar.
J. Patterson Watt.
Duck Creek, Mercer Co., 111., Sept. 5, 1881.
BUCKAVHEAT MAKING BEES STING.
I see no letter from here in Gleanings. Tell your
ABC child it was buckwheat that made the bees
sting the horses and men. They ought to have used
the whip, if there was no other way to get them
away from there. Then, fighting the bees called
the others there, and made it ten times worse. Bees
have done the best here this year I ever knew them
to. Bees almost all died here last year. There were
about 200 swarms in this town that I know of; 13
were left this spring. Bees pay me the best of any
thing. I have 11 now; 8 last fall; lost 3; sold 1 this
spring; left 4. F. P. DattOxV.
Cobmoosa, Oceana Co., Mich., Sept. 3, 1881.
taxing bees.
I send you a paper containing references to the
laws of Iowa on taxation of bees. It was written by
a member of the bar of the Supreme Court of Iowa.
Now, you are asked, "Are bees taxable property?"
You answer, like a moralist, " They ought to be."
Now, what ought to be, and what (V, do not always
coincide. Better say, "Don't know," when such is
the fact. The general theory is, that all property
should bear its proportion of taxation. But the law
does make exemptions, and the question comes,
What is exempt? I have a lot of Clydesdale colts,
valued at $100 each. They are exempt. It may be
wrong, but I am not a law-maker, and can not alter
facts. Is it not wiser to exempt bees than colts?
How can an ordinary assessor tell the value of a
swarm of bees on first day of Jan., the day in Iowa
for setting values? Jesse Oren.
La Porte City, Black Hawk Co., Ia., Sept. 8, 1881.
Thanks, frieutl O. Perhaps I should have
said that it seemed to me bees ought to be
taxed. My only reason for saying this was,
550
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Nov.
that I could see no great difference between
the man who raises wool and mutton for a
living, and the one who raises bees and hon-
ey. Tell the assessor what they are worth
y(jurself ; what one of your neighbors who
Keeps bees would give for them, would prob-
ably be something near their value for tax-
ation. I believe that in some States a man's
land is exempt, if he plants a certain num-
ber of forest-trees on it. The government
exempts him, because they wish to encourage
any movement that is for the public good.
It may be so with the colts you mention.
But is it so with those who keep bees, on the
aveiage? I know of some places where the
community think quite the other way. I do
not believe I could be happy with money
that belonged to some one else, and on the
same principle I do not want money that justly
belongs to the government. If my neighbor
was taxed who had a thousand dollars in-
vested in sheep, and I who had the same
amount invested in bees was not, I should
feel a little ashamed of myself, unless some
good reason were given for making the dis-
tinction. 1 have read the article you sent,
friend O., and I thank you for it ; but still I
do not see why bees should be exempt.
USING "C" COFFEE SUGAR INSTEAD OF "A."
I thought I would let you know how my bees have
made it this summer. I don't think I ever saw bees
do so well. I have just taken off 30 lbs. of nice honey,
and have plentyin the hiveto winter plenty of bees.
The queen that I got with the bees, June 2]d, has
kept 8 frames tilled with brood all the season.
I bought a hive of black bees the other dnj'of a
neighbor, that he got out of a tree. They are in
poor condition. 1 think there seems to be enough
bees. They have but little honey, and but two
frames of brood, and not very full at that. I am
feeding them on the best C sugar I can get. If you
think I can get them through the winter, I want a
tested queen. They didn't cost me much — SI. 30,
hive and all. There are bees enough to cover 7
frames. D. C. Stringer.
Clinton Falls, Putnam Co., Ind., Sept. 21, 1881.
Although your C sugar may answer all
right, friend S . especially if the winter
should be a mild one, I do not believe 1
would keep on feeding it. I once fed up a
colony that was taken from the woods, on
yellow sugar. They built up nicely, and
came through the winter well, but they
died of dysentery as soon as they got to rear-
ing brood, largely in JNIarch.
WIREWEED, ETC.
The flow of honey from fruit -bloom was very
good, and several small early honey-plants did well,
which lasted until poplar, or whitewood, came in.
This was very heavy, and gave us a good yield; but
when this was gone, all was gone. White-clover
bloom was plentiful, but was dried up by the sun as
soon as it came out, and so it failed to give us any
surplus. Sumac failed too; linden did not do much
better; in fact, all the main honey-producing plants
have yielded up to the present time, with the excep-
tion of poplar; but it is very seasonable now; and
as there are several fall honey-plants here, may be
they will gather honey enough yet to winter. Wire-
weed is our only hop . This is a weed which grows
from 2 to 3 feet in height. In one of our neighbor's
pasture fields last fall it was white as a buckwheat
field. It begins to bloom about the middle of Sep-
tember, and continues to bloom, if I am not mis-
taken, very near to December. Frost does not seem
to affect it in the least. I nave seen bees on this
plant after a tolerably hard freeze. I think this
plant will bloom and be.nr honey as long as nature in-
tended, independent of cold weather.
J. F. KUNNION.
Spencer, Koane Co., W. Va., Sept. 27, 1881.
I do not find we have had any such plant
as wire weed reported. Is it not a variety of
the fall asters, friend S.V
LADY-BIRES ON THK SPIDER PLANT.
These arc what I suppose you call moth miller,
and one of the friends calls humming-birds. They
come in such numbers to my Spidtr plant, about
half an acre, that it is of no value whatever to the
bees, as the pests come at night in regular swarms,
and lap cverj' drop. They make a noise that can be
heard some distance. They do not bother the Simp-
sons. Now for the report: Commenced the season
with 8 strong and 4 weak swarms; transferred them
to Simplicities; increased to 3'3; lost 5, absconded,
which was caused by my having to farm the place
and tend the bees, which are in excellent condition
for winter. About 600 lbs. surplus; 200 lbs. extract-
ed, rest comb. Extracted, 9c per lb.; comb, 14. I
lost at least 100 lbs. by not having hive room enough,
but 1 did all I could, which was all about a week be-
hind hand. A. Osbun.
Spring Bluff, Adams Co., Wis., Sept. 21, 1881.
WHAT TWO HIVES OP Bl Fg, BOUGHT IN JUNE, DID.
The 9th day of last June I purchased of a neighbor
two hives of bees. The 12ih, one of them cast a
swarm; the 13th, the other cast a swarm. I put each
one in aLangstroth hive. Ten days after, they both
swarmed again. I put them in hives full of comb.
On the two first swarms that came off, I put 20
frames, holding 2 lbs. each, on each hive. The 9th
of July I took off 10 I'os. from each hive, the nicest
clover honey I ever saw. The £9th of August I took
from one hive 30 lbs., and from the other 20 lbs. of
buckwheat honey, making, in all, 130 lbs. from the
two hives, of surplus honey. The second swarms
have filled their hives. H. L. Wheat.
Croton, Delaware Co., N. Y., Aug. 29, 1881.
THE QUEEN THAT FLEW 27 MILES (7) TO GET HOME.
A few weeks since, I took a lot of queens and car-
ried them to Ellis County, about 27 miles away, and
introduced them into Major H. H. High's apiary,
and, while introducing, one queen flew away and
didnot return, and I thought her gone forever; but
imagine my surprise to find her (I reckon) in her
nucleus on my arrival at home. As it was only a
two-frame nucleus, it could hardly be possible that
two queens were in it, and I am certain that only
one cell was given it. Do you Ihink it possible the
queen returned? A few dajs since, I opened one of
my best colonies to get a frame of bro( d, and found
the queen in a ball of her own bees. The queen is
very prolific, keeping her hive iull, and is c nly one
year old; but she had somewhat suspecded opera-
tions on account of drought, and the bees had filled
the brood-nest full of honey. I extracted three cen-
tral combs, smoked the bees from off the queen, and
in one week she had the three frames full, and two
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
551
others partly filled. Do you thiak they Intended to
kill their queen, or wero they hugging her for fun?
B. F. Carroll.
Dresden, Navarro Co., Texas, Sept., 1881.
No, I do not think it possible at all for a
queen to tly L'7 miles. A queen from some
other hive must have tlowu in by accident
when you were away. I was soing to say,
in your latter case, that the bees balled the
queen because they were dissatisfied with
her not layina;, and perhaps that was it still,
even if she dfd lay three frames full when
she got at it. Colonies not very strong often
ball their queens when the pasturage fails,
or during a drought in the fall.
WELL DONE FOR AN A B C SCHOLAR.
It seems to be in order, from what I notice in all
bee journals, to make reports of the season. As I
am one of your ABC scholars, I will make ray re-
port to you.
I commenced the season with two stands, one Ital-
ian and one hybrid. I have taken 130 lbs. of section
honey, and 13 lbs. extracted; have increased to 7,
which are all in first-rate condition for winter; and,
by the way, all my young queens are purely mated.
I had my ups and downs, like many others, for my
Italian stock, which cost me three swarms, turned
out equivalent to being queenless. They had a fine-
looking young queen, but she would not lay an egg.
After a lapse of some two weeks 1 made a thorough
examination, and found that she was slightly defec-
tive in one wing, so that she could not fly. Of course,
I pinched her head off and introduced a laying
queen. The stock got very much reduced in num-
bers, but has fully recovered now.
P. C. Gastinger.
Kenton, H.irdin Co., O., Sept. 26, 1H81.
NOT VERY BAD FOR A SMALL VENTURE.
I bought 3 nuclei of Italian bees of Dr. J. P. H.
Brown, in the spring of ISSO, and they were the only
Italian bees in the township, and the onlj' bees that
wintered, according to our assessor. This spring I
bought 6 swarms of bees of Mr. E. H. Thomas. Bees,
express, and money order, were $15.92; sold honey
from them this summer to the amount of $16.13, and
got 1 good swarms, besides one going to the woods.
They are in two-story Simplicity hives. As I took
honey only once, the hives are full of sealed honey.
Now, if I had had the experience last spring that I
have now, I think I could have done much better.
Clement Kintner.
Carrollton, Carroll Co., O., Sept. 11, 1881.
WHY THIN HONEY DOES NOT SOUR I.V THE HIVE,
ETC".
I have quite a lot of feed which has become sour.
I suppose it will not do to feed out now; but would
it do after scalding? It was kept in a warm place,
which, I suppose, is the reason it soured; but if this
is so, docs it not also become sour in the hives?
Charles O. Meloon.
Portsmouth, N. H., Aug. 1, 1S81.
I would not risk any thing of the kind for
winter food, friend M., but it will be all
right to feed in the spring, between fiuit-
blossoms and clover, and it will pay well to
feed then too. Scalding will improve it ;
but still, I would not risk it for winter. Thin
feed that would sour over night, almost,will
not sour at all if put in the hive by a good
swarm of bees. If I am correct, this matter
is not fully explained ; but certain it is, that
after they have got it under their supervi-
sion, scattered about in the combs, a little ni
each cell, it slowly evaporates into thick
honey or syrup, without any souring. It
anybody can tell why, let him stand up and
do so. "
information wanted by an a b c scholar.
Does a tested Italian queen produce one and two
banded bees?
An '' orthodox " tested queen never pro-
duces a single one or two banded bee.
Do Italian bees require better care than blacks
through winter?
No better care ; but they may in some re-
spects require a little dixferent care.
Can I be as successful in raising pure queens from
the tested daughter as I can from the imported
mother?
I think you can be just as successful, but
there may be a little more vigor, the nearer
we get to the original imported stock. Be-
sides, if Doolittle's position be true, that a
hybrid queen mai/ produce all three-banded
bees, we can not' be positive we have pure
Italians, unless we have an imported queen.
Some of the brethren contend we can not
even then.
UPWARD ventilation.
Last winter I lost nearly all of my bees. Whether
they smothered or froze, I am unable to say. I
packed them away nicely last fall, with hay, on their
summer stand, leaving the entrance free, which was
?8x6 in. With no other ventilation, is this enough or
not? If not, should it be given at the bottom or top?
If you had nothing but hay over the frames,
or even a covering of coarse bagging under
the hay, not too much covered with propolis,
I think it will be ventilation enough ; but if
you have a honev-board, or any thing equiv-
alent, it should be moved back about i or
f inches, just so that mice can by no possi-
bility get in. Neighbor Rice, who winters
quite successfully, and sells me many bees,
says he uses one'thickuess of clean old car-
peting. He removes the gummed pieces
used in the summer time, just as he puts in
the cellar, and puts on a clean one. He says
one thickness seems to do better than two or
more ; for with the latter, the bees get damp.
I am quite sure many o£ us have covered
the bees too closely.
I must tell you something about my Italians. I
began this spring with 3 colonies of bees — two of
blacks and one Italian. The latter I increased to 4
and got .50 lbs. of honey. The two blacks I increased
to 4, and got no honey. I raised! queen? and Italian-
ized my blacks. My first swarm of Italians came out
on the 28th of May. The next day they carried in 9
lbs. of honey; or, in other words, the hive increased
in weight 9 lbs. in one day, and on the 28th of Jvme
it ihrew off a very large swarm. The other swarms
were made by dividing. I prevented my blacks from
raising drones by cutting out the cells. After all my
trouble, some of my queens produced hybrids. I
have seen, this summer, hundreds of my Italians on
red clover, but my blacks appeared to have no bus-
iness with it. A. C. Williamson.
New Matamoras, Wash. Co., O., Aug. 22, 1881.
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Nov
FROM 9 TO 30, AND HALF A TON OF HONEY IN ONE
SEASON.
Eeport for 18S1: Began the season with 9 colonies;
artiflcial increase, 11; wild swarm, 1; July 10th, a
cast, 1; nucleus with virgin queen, one. Total, 23
colonies.
Extracted over 1000 lbs , and have left them all in
good order for housekeeping till next spring. I had
no trouble in introducing a Cyprian queen, but
failed with a Holy-Land. She was killed in the cage
by the bees from the hive. The same nucleus has
since reared a queen from a cell which R. Wilkin
gave me from his Holy-Land queen. Two or three
of my neighbors have queens of the new breeds;
and so next year we shall see how they compare with
the Italians as honey-gatherers in California, which,
in many points of climate and general aspect, must
strongly resemble their native haunts.
My good fortune this year in increase and honey
crop is largely to be credited to the situation of my
apiary, a little over 3000 ft. above sea-level; pastur-
age extending about 1800 ft. higher up the mountain
slopes, having a line range all to myself, with an
abundance of late pasturage; and having but a
small number to see to, I was careful to have each
colony in full strength at the beginning of the
season. E. G. Sobey.
Santa Paula, Ventura Co., Cal., Sept. 16, 1881.
cross bees from ax mPORTED QUEEN.
I think It about lime I reported to you in regard to
that imported queen. Well, she has quite a stock of
young bees, rather dark ones at that, and, oh such
cross ones I worse than blacks. I believe I would
rather have that dollar queen I got of you a year
ago last July; she raises nicer-looking bees, and I
can handle them without getting stung, they are so
gentle.
It has been so dry in this locality that bees hardly
make a living this fall. I have about a ton of splen-
did comb honey on hand; have an offer of 16c per
lb., think I ought to get more. Do you hear any
thing against putting foundation in sections? Some
of my neighbors think this honey is not as good, for
it is tougher.
GETTING BEES OUT OF A BEE-TREE.
My brother found a bee-tree, about three miles
from here, and wanted me to go with him to cut the
tree and save the bees, if they were worth it. Sept.
ITth we started, with horse and wagon, ladder, smo-
ker, hive, etc.; got to the tree about 11 a.m. They
were In a dead chestnut-tree, about 13 feet from the
ground. We cut them out and succeeded in getting
comb enough to fill two L. frames; got a good
swarm of bees; had to stay until dark to get them
into the hive; set them in the wagon, and brought
them the three miles over a very rough road; set
them right in my apiary of 80 strong colonies, and
to-day they are a good working colony, building
comb and storing honey. How's that for an ABC?
I am busy making chaff hives now, to pack my
bees in for winter. I like the plan of wintering on
summer stands.
I came very near forgetting to tell you something
that perhaps you never heard the like of before.
You say in your A B C (if I am not mistaken), that
where two queens fight, one or the other comes out
victorious, but they never both die. I shall -beg
leave to differ with you for once. On the 30th day
of June, 1881, 1 had a very large fiist swarm come
out of No. 23. Having a few empty combs on hand.
I gave them 3, 1 think, July 1st. I was up early; I
saw there was something wrong with my large
swarm, and on examination I found two dead
queens in front of the hive. July 2d they had queen-
cells started, so one of these queens must have laid
a few eggs in this empty comb the same night they
were put in the hi\'e. They raised a queen from one
of these cells. Albert Brush.
Susquehanna Depot, Sus. Co., Pa., Sept. 2), 1881.
The disposition of the bees from imported
queens varies considerably, as well as the
color : and it is not unlikely that the prog-
eny of a dollar queen may give better satis-
faction, in every respect, than that of some
imported queens. — I think you should get
more than Hi cents this year, for nice coml)
honey. I would l»e glad to get it for that
price' myself. Our grocers have been pay-
ing as high as ii4c liere. — I should say your
feat of taking the bees out of the tree was
pretty good for an A P» C scholar. We have
no complaints now of comb honey made on
foundation.
CYPRIANS; ARE THEY HARD TO HANDLE?
1 see friend Hayhurst and Dadant & Son (through
whom I procured my imported Cyprian queen; are
" down on them." For my part, I don't want gentler
bees. I have at least a dozen pure Italian colonies
that are far worse to handle than my Cyprians, and
I am surprised that such veterans in bee culture as
the Dadants and Hayhurst should give them up after
.so short a trial. I can not speak with authority in
regard to their honey-gathering qualities yet, but
this I know: that the young queens raised from my
imported queen, whether mated with Cyprian or
Italian drones, are ahead of any I have ever seen in
proliflcncss, and all are uniformly gentle to handle,
if handled as bees should be. The season that
opened with so much promise has about ended in the
greatest drought that has visited this section for
many years, and careless bee-keepers will lose the
most of their bees this coming winter from starva-
tion, or all signs fail. If I can get my young col-
onies fed up in time, I will puU through. The old
ones are all right, having plenty of honey stored in
June. E. T. Flanagan.
Bellvllle, 111., Oct. 1, 1881.
My bees have not done very well this season; have
taken out about 400 lbs. honey — 300 lbs. extracted,
100 in 1-lb. sections. I have sold it for 16'; cts. for
extracted, 23 for comb. Best swarm gave 86 lbs.
(queen I had of you June 1st, J879;) second best, 60
lbs. Had 11 swarms in the spring; increased to 15;
have doubled down to 12 now. They have not gath
ered much honey since the 4th of July. I had fine
swarm come out Aug. 10th, one the 11th, and an-
other about the same time that went to the woods —
all first swarms. There is no honey coming in, nor
much in the hive. I think I have a red-clover queen.
I have one swarm that has filled its hive with honey
since the rest have been eating theirs up.
Guy Clark.
Bellows Falls, Windham Co., Vt., Sept. 13, 1881.
You must not let your first SAvarms (nor
second either for that matter) go to the
woods, friend C. The loss of just those you
mention has made all the difference between
a loss and a gain in your season's operations
probably. Hold on to your red-clover queen,
and see if you can rear others from her that
will do likewise.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
553
FI.OCR FEEDING IX THE FALL.
Will you be so kind as to answer me these ques-
tions? I have 4 swarms of bees, weak, and little hon-
ey in each. Can I mix a little wheat or r3-e flour in
the sugar syrup for pollen? They need young bees,
and winter foo'l. Is the flour harmful for winter
food, or can the bees separate it from the syrup, and
put it alone in cells? I stimulate my bees, and it is
so dry that they can g-et no pollen, nor have they
any in the hive (the i swarms). H. M. Mover.
Hill Cburch, Berks Co., Pa., Sept. 24, 1S81.
You can build up colouies in the fall by
feeding wheat or rye tlour, either in candy
or syrup, as I have told you in the A B C ;
but although I have succeeded in so raising
brood, during every month in the winter,
during mild winters, we have pretty good
reason to think that the Hour predisposes to
dysentery during or after severe winters like
our last.' The bees have no way of separat-
ing the flour from the candy or syrup, but it
Is all stored in the cells together, giving the
contents a milky look. In case pollen were
lacking, I would, to rear bees, feed the flour
in August and September, but I would be a
little cautious about using it in October.
However, more experiments may demon-
strate that it is not necessarily deleterious.
retailing, have been put in the market,
glassed sections have rather gone out.
FDX. WITHOUT WIRES, ETC.
The fdn. ordered came promptly to hand, and in
good shape. The Dunham for brood-chamber was
A No. 1; the thin for surplus had a good many im-
perfect sheets, cracked and pieces out, etc. Perhaps
it is as good as you can do on such thin fdn. Let us
know, through Gleanings, whether it is possible to
make perfect sheets of the thin fdn. I used the fdn.
in brood-chamber in August without wire, and it
seemed to work well. Do you think we caa use full
sheets for new swarms of the heavy Dunham fdn.
without wiriug? You are very prompt in filling or-
ders, which is no small item in pleasing customers. I
came near going with the Blasted Hopers last winter
and spring; final loss, 20 out of 30 swarms in fall. I
bought 11 to help build up again; increased to 42, and
shall have between 50 and CO lbs. of section honey per
old colony, exclusive of glass.
SHALL GLASS BE COUNTED AS HONEY?
In giving the weight of honey, is it weighed as
taken from the hive? Some glass their sections for
market, and others do not; some have glass on their
boxes on the hive; it miikes| quite a diflereuce —
probably about a fiflh on 5,14x614 sections.
Fay Kennell.
South Gates, Monroe Co., X. Y., Sept. 22, 1881.
Many reports from the heavy thick-walled
fdn. seem to indicate that it may be safely
used without wires, so far as sagging is
concerned. Perhaps during very hot weath-
er it might not answer so well. We prefer
the Avires, in any case, for convenience in
handling and shipping bees. The thin fdn.,
made in narrow strips, need not have holes
or cracks in it. ^^'hen made in very hot
weather, however, it is pretty diflicnlt to
avoid some tears. In shipping in cold weath-
er, it is also much more apt to break than
thicker fdn. — It has been customary. I be-
lieve, to weigh up the glass with the honey
in selling, and, I suppose, in reporting in re-
gard to the crop ; but. if I am correct, since
the convenient cases, with glass sides, for
HOW THEY FIX ANTS IN FLORIDA, ETC.
Well, I lost the swarm I spoke of in my order; but
very few of them were alive when I wrote to you,
and although I had taken the precaution to set them
on a stand with the legs in cans of water, one night
it so happened that one of the cans got moved up to
within ^8 of an inch of the leg, and the large red, or
what we call " warrior" ants, found they could
reach across, and by that means took possession of
the hive, and in the morning we found they had
killed every bee. But, being determined not to be
nonplused in that manner, I went to work and put
me up a shed by setting posts flrmlj* in the ground;
size of shed was 12x4 feet; height at front, 0 feet,
with a sullicient slant to shed water. I then sus-
pended, by means of strong wires, two scantlings
2x4 inches in size, and the length of the shed on
which to hold the hives, so as to clear the ground
about 0 inches. On each of the suspension wires I
soldered a tin cup made in the shape of the flaring
part of a tunnel, to hold about a quart of water; so
now, with this arrangement the ants will have to
climb up the posts and then down the wires, and
swim the water before they can by any means reach
the hive. Well, when I had got all completed, 1 got
another swarm of neighbor F. L. Dimick, and have
them on my above-described protection platform,
where I think they will be free from the ants, or
any other crawling insects. Our country, being all
the time warm and free from frost, is much infested
with insects, and in consequence we must be very
vigilant to protect our bees all the year round. I
expect that the winter months will be the best for
gathering honey, as the bees seem to refuse to go
out much in the heat of summer, except just at
night and early in the morning. I think that an
abundance of forage will be found hr^re for our bees,
as almost every tree and bush, and an endless varie-
ty of weeds and plants, are at all times in bloom.
V. O. Spencer.
Lake Worth, Dade Co., Fla., Aug. 18, 1881.
RAPP, OR WINTER RAPE.
Send me 4 lbs. of " rapp," or winter rape; if It will
stand over winter in AVisconsin, it certainly will do
well here.
A poor season for me on sandy land; no rain since
the last day of May, and no honey since the 15th of
June. Neighbor Davis, ten miles away, on black,
sticky land, has 2500 lbs. We have had a little rain,
and are looking for more; the turnip-sowing is very
brisk, and seeds are in demand. M. S. Klum.
Sherman, Grayson Co., Texas, Sept. 12, 1881.
As plants to winter over (like the seven-
top turnip) seem quite desirable. I wrote our
seedsman, asking him Avhat the difference is
between this and seven-top turnip, if any.
His reply is below : —
In reply to your postal of the 2flth Sept., we would
say, winter rape is the original of the ruta-baga tribe
of turnip, with a smooth leaf resembling cabbage.
Seven-top turnip is rough leaf, like white turnip.
The summer rape we consider more akin to the
white-turnip family. A. C. Kendel.
Cleveland, O., Sept. 24, 18S1.
As it is at least something that needs de-
veloping, for bee culture, we sent for a
pound, and had it nicely sown, just about
554
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Nov
the first of this mouth. I am in hopes it will
escape the little black ilea that so effectually
cuts off our chance of raising the summrr
rape, in our neighborhood.
Oct. 4.— It is now coming up nicely.
YELiLOW BEES FROiM A BLACK QUEEX.
I have one colony I got out of the woods, and the
bees show .iust as many yellow stripes as those you
send me, and are a great deal larger. I never use
smoke nor veil when 1 handle these, but the queen
is black. Myself and a neighbor cut 13 bee-trees
this year, mostly live oak; got 116 lbs. of honey out
of one tree; but, about 4 gallons Is the general run.
John W. Ross.
Velasco, Brazoria Co., Tex., Sept. 20, 1881.
Why, friend R., you have made quite a
point.' You say those bees are three-banded,
large, and gentle, yet you know they are not
pure, for their mother is black. Tliis corob-
orates what friend Doolittle said last month;
and it looks as if we really have no means of
proving positively that any queen is pure.
All we can do is to warrant a queen to pro-
duce nice bees, and even your black one
does that. It would be just "like me to raise
some queens from her, to see what they
would be like.
A PLEA FOR GLOVES AND VEIL.
Herewith find inclosed $ for one pair of rubber
gloves and one bee veil; and at the same time please
record my solemn protest against your advice to the
class, about using veils and gloves— at least, in hand-
ling Holy-Land bees. If you could see me this
morning, with head enough for two men, and not
enough sense for one, you would certainly repent of
that advice. As for smokers, whew! I am only
watting for the bees to make me money enough to
order your factory chimney with perpetual-motion
attachment. Geo. D. Shaw.
Thomasville, Thomas Co., Ga., Sept. ;?Et, 1881.
I am very sorry for your misfortunes,
friend S., and no doubt you feel badly, and
are right in thinking something ought to be
done ; but I think you will get along much
better to make your bees behave, rather
than put on veil and gloves and leave them
to chase everybody else all over the neigh-
borhood, who don't happen to have such an
armor. When bees get the upper hand so
that they sting your hands, they are alto-
gether out of order; and if I could not make
them stop without putting on gloves, I am
inclined to think I would shut the hive up
and wait until some day when they were in
a better mood to be " reasoned " with. Many
thanks for your order all the same. I don't
mean to dictate, only suggest.
BEES BALLING AND KILLING THEIR OWN QUEEN.
I had a virgin queen killed this spring by her own
bees that had made the cell and hatched it — some-
thing that I did not know ever occurred. I happened
along and found her In a large ball of bees on the
alighting-board, and took her out and found she
was completely disabled. I gave them brood, and
they started other cells at once. She had not been
hatched more than three or four days.
F. E. Gaston.
Tyler, Smith Co., Texas, Sept. 28, 1881.
The case is by no means rare, friend G . , but
it usually occurs during a season of scarcity
or drought. As your queen was nearly or
quite old enough to begin to sally out on her
wedding trip, it may be the bees attacked
her as she was returning. This sometimes
happens, and it has been suggested it was
on account of the different scent she caught
from the drone. As far as I know% it is
weak colonies that mostly do this ; strong
stocks, in their normal condition, are sel-
dom guilty of such misdemeanors. Some-
times a colony will ball their queen, after
the hive has Jbeen opened, but it is usually
ill-tempered hybrids that do such things, if
I am correct iii the matter.
TWO QUEENS IN A HIVE.
One of my bee-keeping friends, Mr. F. E. Manches-
ter, has a colony of very pretty Italians. In this col-
ony he has two very nice queens. These two queens
have been in this hive since July 22, and this is the
first case of dual queens that ever came under my
personal notice. It is a verf beautiful sight to see
them both walking about on the same comb. I have
been trying to persuade him to give them to me,
but he thinks he will keep them to show to visitors,
as the stock is so very gentle and easily handled.
John C. Greenleaf.
New Boston, Mass., Sept. 2, 1881.
The case is not unusual, friend G., provid-
ing it is an old queen and a daughter.
They often work together, for nearly or
quite a whole season. If it were two queens
put together which were not related, it
would be something of an achievement.
bee-stings and RHEUMATISM, etc., again.
I read Gleanings with mvich pleasure, and in fact
any article I can find in books and papers relative
to the honey-bee. I am nothing but a student in the
ABC class, but I hope to know more of the business
some time. Lost all (3 swarms) last winter; traded
in June for a swarm in a box hiv^e, giving a Eoot
chaff hive for them; had one natural swarm, and
one 6-frame nucleus; the queen, ft dollar one which I
got of friend Van Eaton, of York, Liv. Co., N. Y.,
proved pure. I like the Italians best. This article,
however, is called out since reading the communica-
tion of J. W. Johnson, M. D., in October Gleanings,
page 500, as ngaiiiM bee-stings for rheumatism, and
another article clipped from a newspaper, page .504.
I have a theory, founded upon the following: A
near neighbor of mine has suffered more or less with
rheumatism for many years. About two years ago
he was sick for a long time, suffering with inflam-
matory rheumatism. He became convinced that
the treatment that he was receiving was nothing
but a series of experiments, and he, being so much
reduced that, unless he got help at once, could not
live. He therefore changed physicians, and this
man, after examining him, said that his system was
saturated with acid, and called for soda, which he
mixed with water, and gave him to drink. The pa-
tient could not retain the first two or three doses.
He was sponged in soda water, then packed, and be-
fore they were through packing he had fallen to
sleep— the first sleep he had had in many weary hours.
This treatment was continued until he was well — is
well to-day, it being, I think, about two years since
this sickness. I imagine the acid of bee-stings would
not have cured him. He tells me of a person known
to him, who has rheumatism from an opposite
1881
GLEANINGS IN EEE CULTUEE.
555
cause — alkali ~ so strongly charged that a white
mark will follow his knuckles being rubbed on any
surface. Perhaps the acid of bee-stings would prove
beneficial in his case. Now, friend Root, if you think
this may lead to any good, especially to the frater-
nity, you may put it in GIjEAnings, after having cor-
rected as you see fit, or put it into that basket which
I know you have near your writing-desk.
Geneseo, Liv. Co., N. Y. C. B. Pottek.
I declare, friend P., I hardly know wheth-
er our medical brethren will pronounce such
reasoning orthodox or not. I have often
heard of lemons for rheumatism and other
ailments, and I feel pretty sure they are oft-
en quite beneficial too ; but I am afraid they
would be pretty rough on the man who could
make a '"chalk mark" with his knuckles.
Wouldn't he effervesce, and come all to
pieces y I presume the conclusion is, that
bee-stings are good for some folks, and not
good for others.
OUK wa.stp:-basket.
In regard to the waste-basket : You are
wrong — I don't have any. The clerk who
opens the mail does, and she puts into it all
lottery schemes, gift enterprises, patent-
medicine circulars, etc., but never a letter
written by any real bona-fide live man. They
are all answered at once, and then filed
away, for fear the next time the man writes
he won't put his State on, or something of
that kind.
A SEEMINGLY UNEASY QUEEN.
I received the queen all right Sept. 21st, and to-
day, Oct. 10th, I have just got her well received and
settled down in her new home. On the day of her
arrival I put her in the cluster, as directed, and
closed the hive. In 2 days I opened the hive to look
for my new queen, but did not find her in the cage
or out. In about six days I found her and several
eggs, which she had laid. The next day at night I
found her whole family moved into another stock
which I had that day made by uniting two. The
next morning I rescued the queen from a ball on
the bottom-board, and re-hived her and her bees in
the old hive; but it was of no use; she came out
again, and I hived them In another hive flUed with
dry comb, and the result was as before — she would
not stay anywhere I put her, and went into anoth-
er hive, bees and all, where I found her in the ball
as before. I then introduced her to a strong colony
with the hive nearly full of honey, where she seems
to be contented. Can you tell me why she was so
discontented, and shifted my bees around in this
way? The hive she was first put into had not much
honey in It, and was not very tight.
Madison, N. H., Oct. 10, 1881. Geo. F. Jackson.
I -think, friend J., your queen must have
been something like the Hibernian who was
arrested for having three wives, all living.
When gravely remonstrated with for such a
wicked course of doing he justilied himself
with the excuse that he was "only thrying
to get a good one." Your little incident
also starts a knotty point in bee culture.
Can a queen lead out the bees, even if she
should want to? If so, how does she get
them to follow her? If a queen wants to
go out of a hive, as a usual thing she goes,
and the bees pay no more attention to the
matter than if any other bee went out.
How, then, should a strange queen be able
to induce the bees of separate colonies to
play such tricks as given above? I know
they d(), or at least seem to, for I have wit-
nessed similar operations. In natural
swarming, tlie queen does not lead out the
swarm, for she is often among the last to go
out, and sometimes don't go at all. I think,
friend J., she stayed in the last colony sim-
ply because it was an old, strong, well-estab-
lished stock ; such iiTeguIarities as you men-
tion are mostly contined to nuclei, or swarms
made by uniting such.
another ABC SCHOLAR.
This is my first year's experience with bees. My
Interest was excited by seeing and reading your
suggestions in the ABC book, which by chance I
found in one of the little towns of this State. The
"book " pleased me, and I have followed its teach-
ings with very much satisfaction, and, 1 may say,
decided profit too, for I have abundance of honey,
and six stands increase from my original four stands
that I commenced with in the month of June.
TRANSFERRING IN OCTOBER.
One question I wish to ask: Is it safe to transfer
bees at this late season of the year, with the advan-
tage of good weather and plenty of stores for the
bees?
I can get a hundred stands of bees for $3.50 per
stand, in this county, most of which are kept in the
old-style way (in square gums or boxes), and would
venture to buy them if I could transfer them to
my " modesty hive" yet this fall. If you have time
and patience, please answer. E. J. Dickinson.
Corydon, Wayne Co., la., Oct. 10, 1881.
If all of the conditions are observed, you
can transfer bees even in October, but I
should think it a job much more in the line
of a veteran, than one of the ABC class.
Do not buy a hundred, friend D.; but if you
have the money so that you can easily spare
it, try half a dozen, and let us know how
you come out. Bear in mind what a risky
business wintering is, even among the best
of us.
COMBINED CRATE AND SHIPPING-CASE TWO TIERS
HIGH.
I have not had any experience with the wide
frames for getting comb honey, but am pretty w«ll
assured that I will not like them; but I should think
the combined shipping-case and honey-crate just the
thing for surplus comb honey, if it could be used in
a Simplicity upper story, where two could be set one
on top of the other. I have been using cases made
on the same principle (I used them without sepa-
rator, and got 35 cts. for most of my honey), and it
seems to me they are the nicest arrangements to be
found for getting surplus comb honey in section
boxes. Set on a case, and when the bees occupy it
all, elevate it and place another one under it; the
upper one will then be filled and capped first, and
can be removed and sent to market just as it is, if
you do not use separators. Another one can be sup-
plied in the same way the second was. This I sup-
pose could be done with the chaflf hives, but it can
not with the Simplicities, unless the upper story be
made of half-inch stuff. JAS. Border.
Sonora, Muskingum Co., O., Oct. 11, 1881.
The combined case can be used two tiers
or stories high, friend B., by using a plain
556
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Nov
band, as it were, made of half-inch stnff,
and but half the height of tlie Simplicity
upper story. With the exception of tlie
plan of carrying the cases to market just as
the honey was stored in them, the wide-
frame arrangement is much the most sim-
ple. The difficulty in using the cases two
high on the hives is, that tlie under side of
the case has bars for tlie sections to rest on,
to raise them from the frames, and also to
keep the under side of the sections clean. If
you set a second tier over it you have this
space and these bars between the upper and
lower sections, in a way that would be very
bad economy. All things considered, I think
the wide frames most desirable where you
have a colony strong enough to work in two
sets of section boxes.
A DIFFICULTY WITH ATMOSPHERIC FEEDERS.
In using the pepper-box feeders, and feed-
ers of that class, you know they must be
taken out of the hive to be filled. Well, this
is not all, for, in taking them out of the
hive, you get more or less bees with them,
and the otners left exposed are often cross.
The idea of confining the bees down in the
hive by wire clotli, on which the feeder is to
be placed, is very old, and I am sure I do
not know why it has been so long abandon-
ed. The friend who writes below brings it
up again : —
I saw an item in the Kan'.as Bee-Keeper, by F. L.
Wright, from which I have evolved the following:
Take a strip of tin; make a ring, and cover with
wire cloth, for a screen to set the pepper-box feed-
er on, and to keep the bees from getting out when
flUing. Make a hole in a quilt ; put the screen in over
the bees; fill feeder, and set over it. You are wel-
come to any part of the idea. G. H. Mackey.
Milan, Erie Co., O., Oct. 1, 1881.
QUEENS STINGING WORKERS.
I notice on page 448, Sept. No., that friend; Jones
suspects a queen of killing the bees caged with her.
Now, I am going to venture my opinion, that the
bees died from some other cause, and the queen
would have died also, but queens will outlive work-
ers under all circumstances, because they are
stronger, more enduring, longer lived, and fed and
cared for by the workers, and, were it otherwise,
queen-rearing would be quite a good business. J
think it would be a sad breach of instinct for her
Royal Ladyship to step down and bemean herself by
bayoneting her subjects for nothing. I think that
such a bee would not, in reality, be a truly devel-
oped queen in possession of all the instincts and
functions belonging to the royal mother of the hive,
and I would lose no time in convicting and executing
her. But now I will give you a little of my experi-
ence with virgin queens. I put a young virgin into
a cage containing another, and she immediately
crawled upon the other one, and, without any re-
sistance, deliberately stung her, and she expired in
a few minutes. I have several times, in introduc.
ing a young virgin that had never met a bee, seen
her pounce upon the tirst worker she would meet,
and attempt to sting it, but would discover her mis-
take just in time to save its life, would release her
hold, and travel on without molesting another bee.
It appears that, when a queen emerges from her
cell in perfect innocence, she must first learn the
difference between a queen and a worker. Then
her instinct leads her to assist in removing all ri-
vals and destroying the structures containing them.
QUEER WAYS BEES SOMETIMES HAVE OF CONSUM-
ING THEIR ImTORES.
The past season opened very encouragingly in this
part of Southern Ohio. I got my dilapidated, dirtied,
and soured combs all cleaned up and repaired by
the bees, and every thing put in good order once
more, and took about 1200 lbs. extra-fine honey from,
the top stories of about 20 hives. I left the lower
stories untouched, which were all full, when the ex-
cessive heat and drought set in. I at once discon-
tinued extracting, leaving some top stories full and
others partly full, and now I have to feed almost
every colony, even some that I left full above and
below, or almost so, and I find that some colonies
have consumed the stores in first story, and saved
the upper story, while others have done just the
contrary. D. A. McCord.
Oxford, O., Oct. 10, 1881.
EXTRACTED VERSUS STRAINED HONEY.
To the Editor of Gleanings:— Whereas, bee-keep-
ing having become one of the leading industries of
the Pacific Coast; and bee-keepers take so much
care to place their honey on the market in the best
possible shape, discarding the old process of strain-
■in(i their honey, and adopting the more scientific
and business-like way of extracting their honey with
machinery for that purpose, thereby producing an
article as pure as the best comb honey, therefore be
it
Resolved, That our Pacific-Coast papers, in quoting
extracted honey as strained honey; and also honey
merchants, in speaking of liquid honey, calling It
strained honey, are doing- those engaged in produc-
ing extracted honey a serious injury that has been
keenly felt for several years.
Individual ettorts proving of but very little, if any,
avail in changing the quotations,—
Til ere fore,— Wo, the bee-keepers of Southern Cali-
fornia, in convention assembled, protest against the
name, and request that all papers quoting our honey
quote it as extracted honey.
By order of the District Bee-Keepers' Association
of Southern California.
W. W. Bliss, Sec.
Los Angeles, Cal., Sept. 9, 1881.
A good blow in the right direction, friend
Bliss. 1 indorse it most cheerfully.
ONE-POUND SECTIONS, VERSUS TWO-POUND.
We take the following from the Bse-Kecp-
ers'' Exchange: —
The honey market can not bo said to be open un-
til after "fiytime;" but a few lots have come for-
ward. We have received 99 cases from the apiary of
A. E. Manum, Esq., of Bristol, .Vt. It was in one-
pound caps in wooden side sections — a fancy pack-
age and fancy goods. We sold it for 24c; but we
think this higher than can be sustained. Even to-
day the same honey in a 2-lb. section would not sell
for over 20c; but the smaller the caps or sections,
the greater the consumption — consequently it has a
better demand, especially here in New England
among our operatives in thp factories, who have but
little money to spend, and they buy a small package
when they will not a large one.
Two-pound caps are not offered very freely yet,
but we anticipate the white stock will range from 17
to 20c; hut Jmckuhc((t1ionc!j will not sell here, neither
will a mixture soil readily.
A great many shippers have a notion that to grade
honey is to throw away time and money; they put
their best white caps on the outside and fill in the
center with buckwheat, half-filled caps, and any
thing, expecting that it is all going to be sold at the
highest price. We often do sell it to run as it looks,
until it comes haci; <in ns, then we have to do the best
we can, and the shipper gives us a great blowing-up
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
557
for not doing any better. We hope to see it graded
1st, 2d, and 3d quality, and marked so we can tell
without opening. Favor & Dudley.
Boston, Mass., Sept. 16, 1881.
WHAT A GOOD COLONY 13 WORTH.
I found one of my colonies of bees in so good con-
dition in the spring that I concluded to carefully
weigh the lioney as I extracted from it, keeping it
separate until after weighing, and before the dry
weather had stopped their gathering. I took 233 lbs.
from the upper story alone, leaving them all they
had in the lower storj' for their winter stores. I re-
port this to show that one colony in such good con-
dition is worth half a dozen in poor or bad condi-
tion. Wm. McCord.
Oxford, O., Oct. 10, 1881.
m^euvagmg.
REPORT FROM C. C. MILLER.
■N my home apiary, the number of colonics in
spring was - - 55
Increased 78 per cent to - - - - 98
Took lbs. comb honey, - ... - 6376
" " extracted honey, - - - - 200
In the Wilson Apiary,—
No. colonies in spring, 12
Increased 575 per cent to - - - - 81
Took lbs. comb honey, 112
" " extracted honej', ... me
Taking both apiaries together,—
I had in spring, -.-... .07
Increased 107 per cent to .... 179
Took lbs. comb honey, 6488
" " extracted honey, .... 1310
Total lbs. honey, 7804
or 116^4 lbs. honey for each colony, spring count.
Coming directly after a year of disastrous failure, I
feel deeply grateful to God for the success of this
year. C. C. Miller.
Marengo, 111., Sept. 24, 1881.
We are very grateful iideetl too, friend M.;
but your brief report is almost as tantalizing
as that of the man who explained how he
lost his leg, by saying it was " bit off." Did
you manage those V2 stocks so as to increase
them from 12 to eighty-one yourself, or did
Mr. " Wilson " do it, and how was it done, —
natural or artificial swarmingV Please tell
us all about it. [See p. 534.]
I commenced in the spring with 7 weak colonies;
increased to 21 fine swarms of bees; obtained 2.50
lbs. extracted, and 200 lbs. box honey. Sold ex-
tracted at 20c, and box honey at 25c per lb. I ob-
tained a dollar queen of you in September, 1879,
which produced the extracted honey obtained.
They are beautiful bees, very gentle; I can handle
them at any time without smoke. They have at
present two stories filled with honey, and the third
story is more than half filled, and honey is coming
In yet. My bees are in nice condition for winter,
with plenty of young bees and brood.
Wm. Parmerlee.
Bean Blossom, Ind., Oct. 12, 1881.
My bees have done pretty well. Have 1300 lbs.
from my 25 hives. Extracted 300 lbs. Box honey,
1000. Increased from 18 to 27. J. W. Murray.
Excelsior, Hennepin Co., Minn., Sept. 26, 1881.
I have had quite good success with my bees this
season (for a greenhorn). I was in Ohio during all
of white-clover and basswood, with no one except
my daughter to attend my bees during swarming.
She saved all the young swarms but one, which left
the hive after she had them safely hived, as she sup-
posed; yet I increased from 8 in the spring to 23
heavy swarms, and secured 400 lbs. of nice fall
honey in 1-lb. sections, which is selling for 20c per
lb. I have just secured both first and second pre-
miums on my honey at the Benton Harbor fair,
which I think is doing pretty well for fall honey.
Wm. L. King.
Benton Harbor, Berrien Co., Mich., Oct. 6, 1881.
Or Letters from Those AVtio have ITIade
Bee Culture a. Failure.
IJ^RIEND ROOT:-Youhad a great deal of trou- •
Jlpl ble at first, and now I suppose I must go
through the same ordeal. Through the kind-
ness of the postmaster at Corinth, I received the
queen last Saturday, safe and sound; too late,
though, to get a queen out that night, so I took one
out Sunday morning, which I suppose was wrong.
I then put her in, cage and all, 48 hours. I then re-
leased her, and they killed her in two minutes. I
caged the queen which I took out of the stand, and
she died too, so I have a stand queonless. I think
there must be something morally wrong in shipping
queens to our little villa, as out of 7 there is only
one alive, and she is injured from the introduction.
I am about disgusted with bees, any way. I have
30 stands, for which I will take S60.00; all Simplicity
but two. J. S. Baxter.
Kossuth, Miss., Sept. 28, 1881.
I have not given my report for last winter. I
went into winter-quarters with 24 stands -15 in
boxes from 4 to 8 in. thick, crammed with cut hay, 8
on summer stands; came out in the spring with 7;
have 14 now; got no honey; have had to feed maple
molasses to some of the young swarms. I lost more
bees in the boxes than on summer stands. I saw
some favorable reports from men wintering bees in
boxes. I haven't noticed any report from those
men this season. I would like to hear from them. I
have been in the bee business 3 years. White clover
has been a failure all the way through. My bees al-
ways do well as long as poplar and locust last. When
that is over, all is over. We had an abundance of
white clover, but no honey. I have 30 or 40 good
hives, never been used, I would like to sell. They
cost me $1.50; I will sell cheap. They are well made.
They are made after the L. fashion. The frame is
the size of the American, hung on rabbets; is made
out of the best yellow poplar, well dried. If you
want them I will ship them to you at whatever they
are worth. I don't want to stack and burn them. I
believe I will give my attention to blue grass and
cattle. D. F. Steele.
Gosport, Owen Co., Ind., Oct. 1, 1881.
Your hi^'es are not of the kind in regular
use, friend S., and on that account I fear
you will have trouble in finding a purchaser.
This is only another illustration of losses
that result from each one Avho commences
starting out with something different from
558
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Nov.
the regular goods in common use. If your
hives were Simplicity or chaff hives, or even
some hive that holds the regular L. frame,
you would have little trouble in disposing
of them at any time. I admit that you have
had, so far, but little to encourage you, but
I think you will miss it if you dispose of
your stock on hand, at a sacrihce. -Tusthold
on to your bees, but make up your mind you
are going to stop outgoes, at least until they
bring something in, and, my word for it, you
will soon be in the Smilery, like the many
who have gone before you. Stop investing
any more money m them, but be quiet, and
keep cool. You will find that " blue grass
and cattle " have their ups and downs too.
I will write you a few lines, and tell you about the
bees in this part of the country, as 1 have not seen a
repoi't from here yet. This is a very poor place for
bees. I have kept them for 4 years, and the best
season I can get only about 10 lbs. per colony, and
some seasons can not get any. Now, you will say,
" Why, B., may be you do not understand the busi-
Iness," and may be I don't; but I ought to. I have
read books enough. I have read Cook's new manu-
al, and several others, besides Gleanings nearly a
year. It is the poor country— too poor for white
clover to do much good. I wintered C colonies with-
out loss, but did not get a pound of honey to sell. I
think I will quit until I can get in a better location.
Now, friend Root, I see by Gleanings that you em-
ploy a good many hands. If you can give me em-
ployment, I would try my best to please you.
R. A. Bagshaw.
New Providence, Ind., Oct. 6, 1881.
Eriend B., if you will listen to me I am
sure you will come out all right. When L
commenced here in Medina Co., I was told,
just as you have stated it, that it was only
the best seasons that bees would give even
10 lbs. to the colony. In less than 5 years I
had secured over 3U0 lbs. from a single colo-
ny. Keep right along and stick to it.— I am
constantly overrun with api)lications for
places, and the world is full of people want-
ing somebody to set them to work. There
is work, plenty of it, I feel sure, right where
you are. Please do not think me unkind ;
but I have had so much experience in this
matter, I am sure I am right. Take up any
thing you can get hold of, and work so dili-
gently, and with such care and energy, that
everybody will be wanting you. Work at
something evenings, rainy days ; work any
way, even if you do not get more than 3
cents an hour; stick to it, and very soon you
will have all you can do, at prices that tcill
pay.
$€h§ and §mvk'§'
SCOTLAND.
MY bees are working splendidly, and give me,
during the very few leisure hours I have
from business, immense pleasure. No
swarms yet. I have secured a copy of your ABC.
Your apiary must be delightful to witness.
John Main.
Doune, Perthshire, Scotland, May 18, 1881.
HOLY-LAND BEES.
I have some bees from my Holj'-Land queen, simi-
lar to black mud-wasps, only not quite so long.
J. W. Marshall.
Constantine, St. Jo. Co., Mich., Sept. 3, 1881.
SIDE-STQUING BOXES.
I have nineteen colonies now in good condition for
wintering. I have the Quinby hive. I like the side
boxing the best of any thing I ever used in that line.
(i. G. Kenyon.
Central Square, Oswego Co., N. Y., Sept. 20, 1881.
honey from cotton.
I have some honey stored from cotton bloom,
which I think excels any honey I ever tasted, in
point of flavor, and is as pleasing to the eye as to the
palate. F. N. Wilder.
Forsyth, G.'?,., Sept. 19, 1881.
POLLEN.
Neighbor H. put that pollen too close to the bees;
their heat soured it. When bees fix themselves for
winter, the pollen is found outside of the cluster.
When winter sets in it helps to keep them warm, as
a board would, or inner wall. M. E. Williams.
Vanceburg, Ky., May 24, 1881.
A POUND OF bees IN JUNE.
I feel it my duty to report in regard to the pound
of bees you sent me. I received them the )2th of
June; the 25th of August they sent out a swarm of
6;'4 lbs., and left a good swarm in the old hive.
Wm. T. Webster.
East Jeffrey, Cheshire Co., N. H., Sept. 11, 1881.
I have not done as well as our friend Coggshall,
but am well pleased with the results, as I have
worked on a farm all the season and cared for my
pets (18 stands of black "humming-birds"). They
will all take new homes in the spring la Simplicity
hives. K. Gardner.
Hoosick Fails, N. Y., Oct. 10, 1881.
AND NOW IT IS "hurrah FOR TEXAS!"
I have a report to make on my bees this season.
Will wait awhile, as they are not done gathering
honey yet. I have one hive that has given me 484
lbs. to date — 300 extracted and 184 comb honey, and
they are filling another upper stor3-.
Dallas, Tex., Sept. 28, 1881. E. J. Atchley.
Last j'ear the bees worked on corn, but I could not
see them on sunflower: this year they are on the
sunflower and cockle burr, but do not touch corn.
Why is this change? Isa\c B. Rumford.
Bakersfleld, Kern Co., Cal.
[Such eases are frequent, friend R., and they should
teach some of the A B C class to be a little more
careful in saying they do not believe bees ever work
on certain plants, just because thev did not under
their own observation.]
I gave the Clark smoker a fair trial. I would not
give one of Bingham's for a dozen of them. I have
sold it and sent for a Bingham. J. K. Snyder.
Tillin, Johnson Co., Iowa, Sept. 5, 1881.
[There, "that's just as I expected." I believe it
is the first complaint we have ever had in regard to
the hundreds of 50-cent smokers we have sent out;
but this is a complaint, and a "stunner" too. Friend
Bingham, here is a testimonial for yaur smoker; it is
strange, if there isn't some good to be got out of it
somewhere.]
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
559
Wo are having a splendid flow of honey just now,
the latest in the season I ever knew. I have to-day
thrown out 7 gallons of fine fall honej', taking only a
frame or two from those hives where the queens had
no room, or not sullicicnt for brood. The honey is
gathered from the wild asters, and is of a beautiful
yellow color, but rather thin. S. L. Greer.
Friendsville, Blount Co., Tenn., Oct. 5, 1881.
Please tell me what kind of frame Neighbor H.
uses. I am anxious to know, since he wintered so
well last winter. Kobebt M. Teats.
Globe Mills, Snyder Co., Pa., Sept. 30, 1881.
[Neighbor H. first used the Adair frame; but now
houses Ihe Langstroth frame in chaff hives, and
saj s you could not get him to take any other frame
or hive as a gift.]
(•'VPUIANS AHEAD.
Queen duly to hand; introduced to an ordinarily
good colony; in four weeks she had so built it up
that they wore preparing' to swarm, though in the
middle of September. We put on an upper storj',
gave her 10 additional frames, which she is tilling up
very fast. I never had a queen lay so well; if this
be Cyprian, I want more of them.
Stelton, N. J., Sept. 22, 1881. G. W. Thompson.
I commenced the season of iiSi with 48 colonies,
one-half in good condition, the rest weak; have ta-
ken off about 1100 lbs. in 1-lb. sections, and about
1400 lbs. extracted. I have fed 200 lbs. granulated
sugar, and have sold bees and queens enough to pay
for it; have about 80 colonies now in good condition.
Have never failed to have a fair income from my
bees. John T. Newton.
West Kichfleld, ()., Oct. 17, 1881.
USING HONEY FOR SHIPPING BEES BY THE POUND.
AVhy not put about 1 lb. of thick honey in a tin
bottle with cloth fastened over the mouth, and fas-
ten this bottom upward in the box when shipping a
pound of boos by express? Chas. Kingsley.
Greenville, Tenn., May 24, 1881.
[Bees would gnaw through ; besides, honey does
not seem to answer as well as sugar for shipping
bees.]
HONEY-DEW THAT BEES WON'T GATHER.
[In answer to our query on p. 450, Sept. No.,
friend Greer writes as follows:]
The honey-dew mentioned in last Gleanings, so
far as I could judge from appearance and taste, was
as nice and sweet as I ever saw, and lasted a good
while, say 2 or 3 weeks, yet bees did not gather it.
The drought here for two months past will cut the
fall supply of honey short, unless frost delays its
advent awhile. S. L. Greer.
Friendsville, Tenn., Sept., 1881.
stirring up postmasters.
In the postoflice this morning I told the postmas-
ter that there certainly was one journal kept back. Ho
looked in another place, and found the August No.
that I have been writing to you about. I have got it.
Jas. H. Brown.
Croston, la., Sept. 2t, 1881.
[You see, my friends, how we sometimes get blam-
ed when the ti'onble is not at our end of the route at
all; for all that, we alwiiys supply missing copies
without charge, and expect to; but please be mild
when complaining.]
de worth's perforating machine.
I have tried the machine, and it did all that it was
claimed it would, and gave entire satisfaction. If
you want to give Mr. DoWorth a puff in your paper,
and sign my name to it, please do so. It is a splen-
did piece of work. If Mr. DeWorth gets up such
machinery he deserves to be recommended by
every bee-keeper who buys and uses one of his ma-
chines. Christopher Grimm.
.Jefferson, Wis., Oct. 17, 1881.
HONEY IN NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA.
I have been extensively engaged with bees, and
have sold from my bees as high as ten tons of box
honey in a year, and though now in the nursery and
orchard business, I yet take an interest in bees.
Would pay for any reading matter on them of inter-
est. F. P. Sharp.
Woodstock, N. B., Can., Sept. 11, 1881.
[It would seem from reports that as much, if not
more, honey is produced in Canada and vicinity,
than in the parts further south. Is the northern
part of North America being developed for the
honey-bee as it should be?]
MARKING WEIGHT ON SHIPPING-CANS.
I see in Oct. Gleanings, the suggestion of having
weight of packages marked on them before they
are filled, which is good so far, but I would improve
by having printed labels, like this:
Weight of yiackage lbs., oz.
Weight of eontenty, lbs., oz. ,
leaving a space before "lbs." and "oz." blank, to be
filled as needed; then if the labels were printed in
sheets, and gummed, as our postage stamps are,
they would be as handy as a pocket in a shirt, and
could be used for all kinds of merchandise where
separate weights are wanted.
Cleveland, O., Oct. 17, '81. A. A. Fradenburg.
[Thanks, friend F. We will print such labels for
10c per 100; by mail, 12c.]
ladk/ §qfiaviiff0it
^ HAVE eight swarms, and love to work with
Jijl them, but Mr. M. is afraid' of them, so I have no
help. He loves to read Gleanings as well as I
do, but begs to be excused when I want his help
around with the hives, where the bees are. We are
having lovely weather here now, and the little
creatures are as busy as they can be.
Mrs. M. E. McCullers.
Medville, Burk Co., Ga., Sept. 26, 1881.
I am much ashamed of the neglect to sign my
name to my last letter (containing money too), and
that such an omission may not occur again, I wish
you to send me one of those rubber stamps. I wish
my name and address and name of apiary. I am in
a hurry for it too, because I wish to stamp all my
honey with it. I can brag of a black colony giving
98 lbs. of honey in sections.
We have a famous old elm-tree over 100 years old,
which came from Boston Commons, on our place:
therefore I name my apiary after it.
Mrs. T. M. Squire.
Elm Tree Apiary, Redding, Conn., Aug. 10, 1881. <j
560
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Nov.
MB. MERBYBANKS AND HIS NEIGH-
BO U.
Not slothful ia business; fervent in spirit; serv-
ing the Lord.— Romans 12:11.
J'OHN'S father thought he had never be-
fore in his life tasted any butter like
"-^ that he found on the table that Sunday
morning. It was because God sent it, and
the things that God sends are not to be com-
pared with anything else in this world. Per-
haps some of our readers may prefer to have
me state it in a different way. Well, one
reason why he thought the butter so very
nice, was that he had been doing his duty,
not only in using the Sabbath morning in a
way he knew to be right, but that, when he
sat down to the table, instead of pitching in
and helping himself to the best of every
thing, he waited on each of the children, and
even passed to his wife the things she could
not reach readily. When he saw that they
were all lacking nothing, he helped himself.
Also, the plate of butter was brought over
by Freddie Merrybanks the evening before,
saying his mother wished them to try a sam-
ple of the butter made from the fine Jersey
cow that they had just purchased.- Simple
enough, was" it notV Well, John's father
thought God sent it, and I entirely agree
with him; but you. my friend, may think
otherwise if you wish, and we will not feel
hard tow^ard'you, either. If you wish to
have the butter good, try passing it to every-
body else before you take any, and I assui'e
you it will improve it amazingly, even if it
be not made from a Jersey cow. John's fa-
ther had just decided to try to follow Jesus,
and so he '-pleased not himself ; " but I do
not believe he knew where in the Bible it
read so. Do you V
The whole family went to church, and as
it was but a little way they went easily on
foot. Our friend was a good deal interested
in the sermon, but as there was not very
much in it that applied directly to those just
taking a start in the new way, he did not en-
joy it as much as he did "the ]5ible-class,
where he could ask questions. His ques-
tions were of such a strange, out-of-the-way
kind, that he not only puzzled the teacher,
who was the pastor of the church, but called
the attention of many curious eyes toward
him. I will give just one for a sample.
" Can a man be a Christian, who does not
pay his debts? "
it may be that it was the money he owed
for that horse that lay heavily on his con-
science ; but be that as it may, it convinced
the good pastor that his pupil was really in
earnest, and it stirred him to unusual life
and zeal, not only in the answer to that
question, but through the whole lesson.
AV^ith an inward prayer of thanks to God,
that at least one seemed to be inquiring the
way, he raised his spectacles, and, with a
kindly smile beaming on his face, he replied
to his questioner, —
'• Really, friend Jones, I am not sure that
questions of this kind admit of being ans-
wered by a simple yes or no. Had you asked
if a man could be a Christian, who did not
mean or propose to pay his debts, it would
have been somewhat different, for all man-
kind would then answer alike, skeptics as
well as Christians. Now, on the other hand,
you know there are those who, in spite of all
they could do, can not meet thei)' just obli-
gations ; one on a bed of sickness, for in-
stance. In that case, would it be right to
say he could not be a Christian V "
" Well, how hard ought one to try, who is
not sick V-'
" Why, my friend, I hardly feel competent
to say ; but I am pretty sure the harder he
triesi the better Christian he will be — the
more will he feel God's approval. Y ou know
the Bible says, —
Thou Shalt love the Lord Ihy God with all thy
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength,
and with all thy mind; and tby neighbor as thyself.
—Luke 10:37.
That last clause seems to indicate that we
ought to try pretty hard before deciding we
can not give our neighbor that which is just-
ly his own, should we not V ''
" Will you please tell me where that text
is V "
The teacher smiled at his almost boyish
eagerness, and said, —
'• Here ; hand me your Bible, and I will
mark it with my pencil."
It was his wife's little Bible that he hand-
ed out, and as he did so he glanced at her
naturally. There was a tear glistening in
her eye, but with it was a look that told to
him what others could not see. When they
were first married, she had an eager longing
to have him stand well with the best people,
and a true wifely prido in thinking he was a
man among men. This hope, as it were, had
almost died out through the idle and shift-
less life he had passed ; but now the hope
had sprung u)) afresh, and through the
thanksgiving to God for this change that
seemed coming, there was, in that look, as
she saw how pleased and animated the min-
ister liad seemed in this little talk, more
than words could well tell to her husband.
He saw his wife's hands, worn with toil, and
glanced across the little church to where
John and Mary were. He took in at a
glance the way in which their poor clothing
contrasted with the comfortable though
))lain apparel of the rest of the congrega-
tion, and it seemed to him that, if (iod
would only grant the same health he had en-
joyed during those wasted years, he would
as"k no greater blessing. What a dear good
kind man was their pastor ! Why, it would
be almostheaven upon earth to be permitted
to live near such a man, and to help him,
even only the little that he might do, in his
God-appointed work of saving souls.
On his way home, the text — his text — was
running constantly through his mind. As
they sat down to dinner, without thinking
he read it again from the little Bible, and, as
a short silence ensued, it seemed to occur to
all tliat this was their first asking of (TOd's
blessing, before partaking of their food. It
seemed just then to the father that it would
be a pleasant, happy thing to repeat this
text, or something like it, as they gathered
around the table before every meal.
If I am correct, during their talks and
plans for the future during that Sabbath
afternoon, there mingled in some plans and
suggestions for business. The horse was
talked about, and, I believe, nicely fed and
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
ofil
brushed up. I do not know but that the fa-
ther, as well as John, was a little impatient
to commence work. In the evening they all
attended a temperance meeting at their lit-
tle church. r/(t7/' little church. The thought
came up to the father, that, so far in his
life, he had never given one solitary copper
to the support of it. The children had taken
some pennies to the Sabbath-school, but no
one in the world had ever seen him take a
coin out of his pocket for the support of a
church or minister. Just now he had not
one copper in his pocket : but before another
Sunday came, something seemed to promise
there would be some. Several of their own
people spoke at the temperance meeting ;
but our friend had a sort of feeling that he
would prefer to try at least one week before
saying any thing in public about what he
was going to do. The old pipe lay on the
mantel-piece still, and it had not been touch-
ed for OHf- ichole day.
■• John, who can get up flrst in the morn-
ing—you or I ?"'
•• Why. father, what are we going to do V"
•■ We are going to put our corn-field in the
nicest trim of anyone's in the neighborhood,
and then we are going to do something to
pay for old Jack, and get.tlie mortgage from
oft' our little liome.''
•• Shall I call you as soOn as I am up, fa-
ther V '' said John, with a slight twinkle in
his eye.
John was up by sunrise, or a little before,
but he did not call his father. The horse
was up and hitched to the cultivator, and
John came in just the nick of time to go on
with the work. J-5efore night the field was
cultivated twice in a row both ways, and
hoed so nicely that scarcely a weed could be
found. To be sure, no weeds in between the
stalks were skipped, the old dry hard earth
was pulled aw^ay. and fresh mello\v soil put
around in its place. More than one of the
neighbors stopped and looked at the field,
remarking, •• Well. Mr. Jones has done a
nice job on that corn-field, after all."' Seve-
ral times during the day there were oppor-
tunities to stop and talk', but he resisted the
temptation ; and, while he was courteous,
gave them to understand he was busy.
At one side of his lot, near the house, Avas
a wet, swampy place. As it was too miry to
be of any use, it had become a sort of
"•catch-all" place for old rubbish. Old
boots and shoes ; rusty, worn-out tea-kettles,
oyster-cans, feathers.broken crockery, emp-
ty boxes, etc., had been thrown into this
place promiscuously, and, as it was a handy
place, slops and soapsuds had also been
thrown there. The ducks and chickens,
finding the rank foul weeds a sort of shady
place, had also passed a great deal of their
time there, until the stench of the place had
somehow led everybody to avoid it. As it
was next to the street, it added very much
to the untidiness and uninviting appearance
of the place. John's mother had often asked
if a ditch could not be dug so as to let off the
wetness, but it had never been done. Right
near the spot was a low place in the road,
and a small bridge had been built over it to
take the water that seemed, winter and sum-
mer, to be oozing out of this miry place. It
was the middle of the afternoon when the
corn was finished, and he felt a terrible long-
ing to sit down with his pipe ; but with a
prayer to God for help, he told John, after
he had rested awhile, he might help him
down by the bridge.
'• Why. father, what are you going to do
down by the bridge V "
•' When you come down I will tell you."
" Why, I'm not much tired ; I guess I will
go now."
A small pool of Avater lay under the bridge,
but Mr. Jones found it was mostly owing to
a great growth of peppermint, just below,
on which the Lees were just then busily at
work. With hoe and shovel and spade he
soon let this water ofC, without interfering
with much of the peppermint either. Then
he went above the bridge and cleaned out
the channel clear up to his own fence. Aft-
er getting out the gravel and mud, he found
a soft rock that he could cut pretty easily
with his pick and spade. John brought his
kite-string, and it was stretched from the
spot at the fence, right up through the wet-
test part of that unsightly slop-hole. After
the rock was laid bare, a channel the width
of the spade was cut into it, deep enough to
take all the water, and over this were placed
short pine boards, made by cutting up old
dry-goods boxes found about the premises.
The boards were laid crosswise on the rock.
so as to support the dirt more elfectually.
Mary and Freddie were here by the time the
work was well started, and Freddie suggest-
ed they should hunt fiat stones, so as to
make the covering as durable as the sides.
'' Yes," said John, •• and we can take that
tinware and pound it down flat, and use
that."
•' Why," said Freddie. '• my pa has a pair
of shears to cut tin, and I know he will let us
have them so we can cut the tin up and
make it go a great deal further."
Mary here chimed in, '• And I can hunt up
all the old tin pails and basins and wash-
boilers, and get them out of sight and make
tliem do good."
The shears were brought, and some other
children, hearing that old tinware was want-
ed, brought such a lot that there was a fair
prospect of having a whole metal covering
for the whole. John soon found he could cut
tin quite expertly, and began to think a
great deal of the tinner's shears. So inter-
ested did they become in the work, that Mr.
Jones, almost for the first time in years, felt
sorry that it was too dark to work longer.
He felt tired, and his muscles were some-
what sore after his severe day's work, but he
was happy. His text had been with him all
day long, and there was a sort of feeling in
his heart that a great, great friend, some-
where in the universe, was saying well done.
Before going to his rest he went out by the
bee-hives again and thanked God for the
great new happiness that was coming into
his life. He was asleep almost as soon as
he touched the pillow. His wife retired a
little later, and noted that even on his face
when asleep, there was a hopefulness and
peace she had never seen before, it was be-
cause God was leading and he was follow-
ing. Before night of the next day they had
562
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Nov.
got up into the worst part of the slop-hole.
John suggested using the old boots for a
covering, to get them out of sight, as well as
the broken crockery and tinware ; but friend
Merrybanks, who was a much - interested
spectator, said there was a better place for
old boots, shoes, bones, feathers, etc., and
all kinds of animal matter, and so they were
carried to the manure or compost heap, near
the stable. The surface of the rock here
was more uneven, and finally, all at once the
water spouted right out of one side of this
ditch. It poured out into the stone channel,
and made a gurgling merry brook as it went
down under the bridge. John's father dug
out a little where the water seemed to come
from, and found a basin of white clear sand,
after the mud had washed away, and through
this sand the water bubbled and boiled, as if
it were water boiling in a kettle.
" A spring ! a spring ! " came from all
hands, and every one had to rush up, in
spite of the mud and stench from the place,
to see this wonderful spring. Friend M.
spoke,—
" Look here, neighbor ! I have got an oil-
barrel, with both heads out, that 1 think we
can fix right over this."
" But it will taste of the oil," said .John.
'' No, for we will burn the inside with sha-
vings until it is chaiTed. This will take off
the taste and smell, and also prevent it from
rotting."
The barrel was fixed, and, after charring,
the hoops were driven tight, and nailed.
After setting it over the spring, some tough
clay was found and spread around the inside,
and the same kind of clay tamped solid
around the outside. While doing this, a
small passage was left for the water into the
stone drain. Before stopping this and mak-
ing the barrel fill with water, some provision
was to be made for the overflow. Friend M.
said he had a tin eave-spout that he thought
would just about reach down to the road
by the bridge. While John is despatched to
bring it, I shall have to explain that he had,
some time before this, built a sort of play-
house for Mary, in the corner of the lot, near
the bridge. The roof was simply some
boards laid over, and the angle in the fence
formed two sides. Well, the tin pipe, when
put in place, came out just in front of this
playhouse. It chanced to be of just about
the size needed to drive into the bunghole
of the barrel, and this brought it under-
ground enough to be out of the way for
plowing. After all was fixed, and the'pipe
covered up, a ball of stiff clay was forced
into the channel where the water ran into
the drain, and all watched breathlessly to
see if the clay was impervious enough to
confine the water. The water did not quite
stop in the drain, it is true; but this indi-
cated that the water was coming out of the
wet, springy ground, for the barrel was
slowly filling up. Very soon it was up to
the tin pipe, and as the tin was nicely turned
over and tacked to the inside of the barrel,
the spring was soon all flowing out through
the pipe, and pouring in a little waterfall
among the gravelly pebbles down by the
bridge, right in front of the playhouse.
John, in anticipation of the moment it would
come, had one of his old water-wheels, sup-
ported on a couple of forked sticks, and in
no time the wheel was spinning like a thing
of life, and spattering the cool spring water
in a most refreshing way on that hot sum-
mer afternoon. At this point, Uncle Billy
drove along.
"Why, neighbor Jones, have you really
found such a nice spring in that wet, nasty
place?"
" 80 it would seem," said John's father,
pleasantly, although he remembered vividly
about the cow and the lioney.
"• Well, now, we have just been talking of
a trough down in the woods, that would fit
this place exactly ; and if you wish to allow
this water to be used as a public watering-
place, the trough is at your service, and my
men will bring it over this afternoon."
Mr. Jones was suri^rised. In fact, all were
a little surprised. Frerldie ventured, —
" Why, are you going to fix it so everybody
can just drive right up here and let their
horses get a drink whenever they want itV "
"That is the idea exactly, my man," said
Uncle Billy. Thus encouraged, Mary looked
up into the rich fai'mer's face, and ventured, —
" Hadn't you ought to bring a little trough,
so the dogs can drink tooV" Her father
chided her gently for her presumption, but
she had read Uncle Billy better than he, for
the reply came, —
" Yes, my girl, we will bring a little trough
for the dogs to drink out of, so they won't
go mad in a dry time, and you are to take
care of it, and keep it nice and clean."
The trough came, with a little one at-
tached to one end. A h jle was bored in the
end of the large trough, with a lioUow plug
in it, and through this hollow plug the water
fell into the little trough below. That the
trough might not get pushed about and in-
jured, the men brought a couple of solid
posts, and before they went away the whole
was most thoroughlystayedw^ith spikes, and
additionally braced to the posts of the fence.
It did not take John very long to fix the wa-
ter-wheel right over the dogs' trough ; and,
almost before they knew it, half of the little
village had gathered about Mr. Jones's new
spring. By some unknown means the min-
ister came too ; and, after shaking Uncle
Billy cordially by the hand, and thanking
him for his assistance in the matter, he
found a clean white shingle, which he tacked
to the fence, and with a piece of coal wrote
on it as follows : —
Ho! every one that thirgtcth.
Come ye to the waters, and drink.
Of course, everybody had to look down in
that black barrel, and see the white sand
bubbling and boiling in the clear spring w^a-
ter ; but through it all, ]\Ir. Jones was still
busily at work. The drai:^ in the rock, with
the flat stones laid over it, and the cut-up
tinware laid nicely over them, was not yet
filled up. He was just now cutting down
the tall rank weeds, and staminng them in
the drain, before throwing on the dirt. Even
late as it was in the season, he had a plan of
raising a crop there before winter, and he
was in haste to get the ground dry and
ready to plow. I think I shall have to give
you a picture of—
1881
GLEAl^IKGS IN BEE CULTURE.
563
$jir $fiimh
1)
THE AVATERIXG-TROUGII BY THE BRIDGE.
After seeing the minister mark on a
shingle with a piece of coal, John thought
he would try his hgncl at it, and you will see
a sample of his work up over the playhouse.
On the post by the trough you will see a tin
cup hanging. ~ Well, this tin cup has a pleas-
ant history, and unless I am very much mis-
taken, it (the history, not the cup) contains
something helpful 'to more than one of my
readers. It is too dark to work, and all the
family, except John, are sitting on the log
that goes across the bridge, listening to the
ripple of the water as it falls from the water-
wheel.
The ground was pebbly and sandy near
where the water flowed out of the small
trough, so there was but little danger of its
being muddy ; but back, further up the
bank, there was a spot of clay. As there
were a great many stones in their garden
and corn-field, Mr. Jones was speaking about
having them all gathered up and p\it around
the watering-trough, that it might not get
muddy for the horses as they came up to
drink. While he was planning how he
would make a stoneboat for drawing the
stone, both from the adjoining roadsides as
well as from the garden, Johncame running
up, saying,—
" O father, father 1 the bees are actually
building comb again in the boxes. I thought
they were gathering honey in the pail bee-
hive, and so I went and looked in them out-
doors, and the boxes are full of bees, and
you can see the white comb where it sticks
out of the cluster. They are just more than
scrabbling around and working."
•• Scrabbling?'' said his mother.
" Well, you just come and see if they don't
' scrabble.'"
" It must be from the peppermint,'" said his
father.
" Father," said Mary, "you do not think
Uncle Billy is ' an old curmudgeon ' now, do
you V"
" No, my child, and I was very wrong and
wicked to have spoken so of any of my
neighbors." The next sentence was spoken
more to his wife. " Can it be possible that
this is the same world, and the same people
that I knew only last week? Is it really
possible the change is only in my poor self,
and nowhere else?"
"T\ T \R FRIENDS : — Did you never hear
of a minister asking a friend in whom
he had great confidence, to occupy his
I)ulpit in his stead once in a while V Well, I
do not mean to say that I have a pulpit, or
that I am a minister, by any means ; but I
know somethinsrof the great crowd of friends
that look monthlv for the talks I have given
^ou here; and while listening to a sermon a
Sunday or two ago, I could not help think-
ing how much I would like you all to hear
it. It was not so much because it was re-
markably able, as it was that it happened to
be right "in the line of my teachings and my
talk to you, and because I know that there
are some of you who think you have almost
too hard a time of it in this world. I have
often thought that you little know what a
blessing it is for you that you did have a
hard time, and that you did have to work
and scrape for every thing you enjoyed ; but
it seems to me I have never been able to tell
it so plainly and clearly as has our young
friend. Rev. G. J. Webster, of Weymouth,
Medina Co., Ohio. It may be well to state,
that I never saw him until my eyes rested
on him in our pulpit, and I was very much
inclined to murmur at seeing the face of a
stranger, in place of our regular pastor. I
finally decided that it would be a better spir-
it to accept him as one whom God had sent.
Now I wish you to welcome his kind, hope-
ful words in the same way. May the spirit
of the Master carry these words home to
your hearts, and into your week-day lives, ex-
actly as they were carried into mine!
Without doubt, the word here translated " temp-
tations " is not to be taken in the ordinary modern
sense; i. e., an inducement to do some wicked thing;
but, rather, it means something evil to be borne.
The Greek word means, a putting to the proof;
proof, trial, calamity, affliction. It means, also, a di-
rect temptation to sin, but hardly in the text. Ther.?
the apostle exhorts the saints to rejoice in every
trial, or testing; that is, all loss, evil report, perse-
cution, sickness, death, etc., for they are good, even
though they be evil.
Let me then take for the topic of this discourse,
this subject, drawn directly from the text already
given—
TBE GOOD OF TRIAL AND DISCIPLINE.
Judging from the habit of the world, we should in-
fer that its value was chiefly medicinal; trials are
to be taken, onlj- because we must, and never with
joy. Everywhere we find parents and friends who
plan and work with might and main to keep away
trial of every kind from their loved ones. How
many young people there are, especially girls, who
are reared as carefully as hot-house plants. They
are taught only what is pleasant to know — the ac-
complishments; they never soil their hands, or
harden their muscles by severe labor; they are kept
carefully away from all sights and sounds that
might shock their delicate senses; as far as possi-
ble, every wish is gratified; "they toil not, neither do
they spin." Quite common this Is with the children
564
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Nov.
of the rich, and to a less extent among those who j
are not rich. '
Many parents who have been reared in the hard \
school of poverty, and have come out of it sturdy, '
self-reliant, and strong-, say one to another, " I don't
want my children to have as hard a time as 1 had."
So, ofttimes, they make their own life harder that
their children's may be easier. Many young men,
perhaps from sheer affection, refuse to marry until .
they can place their wives above all necessity for :
labor; and many young women— from self-love,
however —who will not marry until they find a man
who not only loves them, but can keep them in ease
and luxury. Indeed, the whole system of the train-
ingof women in the upper classes, in the past, and j
among some nations and classes of society now, [
seems to have had this idea at the root of it — that
woman was to be care free, to live easy, to look
pretty, to be good-natured, and not to trouble her-
self about any thing else. That was her sphere.
I can not speak too strongly of the foolishness of
this system. It runs counter to all the teachings of
Scripture and nature and experience. These ever
teach that the best results ia character can only
come through some form of trial and discipline. It
is absolutely impossible that creatures such as we ;
are should be allowed to have every thing pleasant;
to do just as we wish, and have every thing our own |
way. That can be only for those who are perfect in I
wisdom and in love. The perfectly wise will always j
know what is best: the perfectly loving one will al- i
ways eft oosc it; and such, and only such, will it be ;
safe to trust fully. i
We need only to look at the results of such a sys- |
tem, to convince ourselves of its follj". See the
great army of spoiled children, who, " left to them- i
selves, have brought their mothers to shame;" the j
dissipated, licentious, worthless sons of rich men,
who themselves have worked and schemed to make {
money for their children, but have ruined them by |
it; the idle, trifling young women; the wasters, the j
poverty-stricken; the vicious slaves of bad habits j
engendered in the days of plenty,— all these show
the folly of a life of ease and gratification. ;
Depend upon it, God's plan is the best one, al- j
tvays; and that is, not to furnish men with every |
thing in such quantity and shape as to need no j
thought or toil on their part, but rather so that
every thing good they have shall be the result of
their own earnest, careful labor. * * * #
I have heard people speak of the "gospel of
work," and I thought the phrase a most fit and beau-
tiful one. In work, there is salvation; a salvation
absolutely essential, without which no amount of
what is called religion were of much worth, or could
be long sustained. That is to say, no good princi-
ples or beliefs can save one without he do good
acts too; or, in other words, good action is as much
divine, as pleasing to God, as speech or belief. Or-
thodoxy is not more essential than orthopraxy. One
is not necessarily more pleasing to God, when,
filled with religious fervor, he is shouting and sing-
ing at a camp-meeting, than when, quietly plodding
along between the handles of his plow, he follows
his team over the field. The old monks had a saj-.
ing, that, "to labor is to pray;" and Carlyle
says, " If work be not worship, then the more
pity for worship, for it (work) is the divinest thing
yet discovered under God's sky." Most surely,work^
efifort, something to do or bear, is good, not only for
the results accomplished outside of ourselves, but
also for what It works in us. For that, the trial is
something to be rejoiced over.
I should not wish to leave the idea, that trial and
discipline are good for their own sakes. That can
not be true. I can't like pain because pain itself,
abstractly considered, is a good thing; nor poverty,
because it is pleasant to be poor; nor the conscious
ness of ignorance or M'eakness, because it is good to
be thus; nor sickness nor death because thcfj are
blessings. All these things are but mediate and rel-
ative goods, not of any value or delightsomeness in
themselves alone, but valuable as " working out in
us the peaceable fruits of righteousness." They are
the means to something better; the labor which we
sell for gold, the stepping-stones to something high-
er and nobler in character and experience, that
could not have been otherwise jgaincd. A whipping-
is an evil, decidedly; but if aboy will not be thought-
ful and obedient and good without, and can be made
so with it, then the whipping is a good, most truly.
That boy can afford to kiss the rod, even though it
makes his back smart and ache, and makes the
groans and tears come fast and free. It works out
in him the peaceable fruits of righteousness. If
they could have dome without the whipping, that
were better; but as they did not, then it was good to
have it.
I met, not many months ago, a young man just re-
leased from the State prison of Wisconsin. In tell-
ing me of his experience as a convict, he said he
blessed the day he was ever sent there, for he
thought it had proved his salvation. The confine-
ment, the work, the discipline, the shame, the op-
portunity to think, all brought him to his senses as
perhaps nothing else could. Though at first his cell
had seemed a perfect hell, it had rather been but a
purifying purgatory that cleansed him for heaven.
And now (for space will not allow diffuseness) let
me briefly indicate some of the benefits that come
through trials. And first, I mention, as does the
apostle,—
PATIENCE.
"My brethren," says James, "count it all joy
when you fall into divers temptations, knowing
that the trying of your faith worketh patience."
Says the apostle Paul, who certainly ought to
know from a most tnorough experience of his own,
" We glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribu-
lation worketh patience."
Now, I know no virtue, save the one all-compre-
hending virtue of love, that so crowns and orna-
ments a character as this one of patience. The abil-
ity to toil persistently, to endure cneerfully, to con-
trol the speech, to manage the senses, all this, and
more, is true of the patipnt man. Patience is quiet,
yet brave and bold. The patient man may say, as he
looks trials in the face, "I am not afraid of what
you may do to me. I have been through such ex-
periences before, and, by the grace of Go d, I stood
and can agciin."
The good of trial, then, is, that It devclopes just
this virtue. It must needs do it. The trials of
home and family life, of school life, of business life,
of church life, all surely exercise and draw out and
make strong the grace of patience.
Another benefit from trials is their usefulness in
the development of faculty, skill, resource, power,
etc. There is great disadvantage in a too liberal na-
ture. The most progressive and powerful nations
and races are not those where the sun and the earth
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
56o
have been the kindest. Indeed, it is no paradox to
say, that if we had all we want we should have al-
most nothing; but as we have so little, it is that we
have so much.
We can not help but see that trials keep us from
temptations and from sin. Ease and laziness pro-
voke to lust. "Satan tinds some mischief still for
idle hands to do." When Jeshurun waxed fat, then
he kicked. The ancient monks had a saying, that "a
laborious monk was beset by only one devil, but an
idle one by a legion." The rich and idle are put to
many shifts " to kill time;" the busy and the needy
can not find time enough. Many a yoimg person
miffht have been a blessing to the world had the ne-
cessity to work been laid upon him; but having no
need to labor for self, he would not labor for others.
Necessity might have been for him not only the
mother of invention, but the guide to all useful-
ness, and perhaps, in time, to .=elf-sacrifice ; but
without her, his life went to waste and shame.
Trials are blessings, in that they develop sympathy
with others. They produce, as already shown, the
ability to help, and.no less certainly the spirit of
helpfulness. He who has suffered, is generally glad
to help another similar sufferer with his experience.
Let us not forget, that iu this way lies the divine
method of training, nor with rebellion and useless
repining strive to thwart God's plans for us. Thus
it is that God brings human souls to perfection.
And, given such creatures as we are, I see no other
way possible. What God wants, looks for in us, and
is ever trying to develop, is grace —actual good-
ness that can be seen and felt and understood. He
wants no spurious transcendentalism, no fanati-
cism, nor mysticism, nor asceticism, but goodness,
righteousness, true love to him aad men, that shows
Itself in heart and word and act. And grace is not
manufactured for us, nor grafted or infused into us,
but is developed from what is in us already. God
can not make us holy, save through the use of
means, and in connection with our own willing and
acting. We may pray for grace, but we shall get it
through trial and discipline, and by all the ways
which Providence (who is God) may lead us. * * *
"1 beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies
of God, that ye present your bodies as living sacri-
fices." Let God have his way with you until you can
say, as did Paul, from your own experience, " These
light atHictions, which are but for a moment, shall
work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory." Rest in him until you can say that
you are " persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor
angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth,
nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us
Irom the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord." " Nay, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him that hath loved us."
Now, dear friends, to bring this practical
sermon right down to us, let me ask if there
is one among you who has ever asked him-
self the question. Is it right, and does God
wish, that I should have so much trouble 'i
It is right, just as you have been conducting
yourself, but it is not right, as you mi(j]d
conduct yourself. The trouble, is the medi-
cine that will do you good, and if you take
it as something administered by the hand of
your kindest friend, it will cure the trouble.
By saying it will cure the trouble, I do not
mean that the cause of it will necessarily be
removed ; it may be just there yet, but you
may liave grace to '■• count it all joj[," etc.
Now in regard to unkind and unjust treat-
ment that you may meet in this world. Can
we count it all joy when we are unfairly per-
secuted V I think we can, in two ways. It
is going to make us better, and we will have
the joy of .showing our strength by becoming
weak. If power is in our hands, we can
show our Savior and the world tliat we can
hold power and yet not use it. A man suc-
ceeded in business, and some, perhaps out of
enmity, started false stories about his fi-
nances. He talked back, and a long wrangle
ensued. A friend asked Avhy lie took the
time and pains to reply at all, when he had
so much that needed his liands and brains.
•• And shall I not even assure my friends
that these reports £0 many of them are ask-
ing about are not true V "
'• Yes: but do not mention your maligners
at all. Answer, in a general way, that you
have no bills in the world that are not paid
as soon as due. and then l)e sure this is kept
true, to the very letter."'
See-
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be
ye therefore wise as .serpents, and nanuless as doves. But be-
ware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and
they will scourgr-' you in theiv synagogues; and ye shall be
brought before governoi-s and kings for my sake, for a testi-
mony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver
you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak : for it shall
be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.— Matt.
10:1(1-19.
You are not to study up a long and labored
answer to your enemies. You are not to
study at all; in fact, you are to "take no
thought how or what ye shall speak,'- for
God's truth can always be told in very few
words.
In the nniltitude of words there wanteth not sin; but he that
refraineth his lips is wise.— Prov. 10:10.
TOBACCO COliUMN.
fWANT one of the 5'Jc smokers so much praised
of late. I don't think it hardly fair to say, "If
' j'ou don't send me one I will commence smok-
ing again." I left off about two and a half years
ago, before I knew you were going to pay for it.
Dr. C. H. Smith.
EUaville, Schley Co., Ga„ Sept. 6, 1881.
Inclosed find stamps for one of Clark's smokers.
As it is now over yo years since I quit the use of to-
bacco, which I had been an inveterate user of for 25
years, I suppose I quit too long ago to entitle me to
the smoker. My advice to all users of the "vile
weed" is, to quit and &iay quit, whether they get a
smoker or not. O. O. Spencer.
Lake Worth, Dade Co., Fla,, Aug. 18, 1881.
Put me down with your little army who have quit
the habit of smoking tobacco; but as I have already
bought my smokers and paid for them (herewith
inclosed), you can not accuse me of bad intentions
in getting you to pay me for doing my duty to my-
self and family. I also got a young man (" flrst-rate
fellow") to quit at the same time.
Not for publication. H. F. B.
May God bless you, friend B., for helping
so much; and as I am sure your letter, as
given above, will help more, I have taken
the liberty to use it, notwithstanding your
parting injunction, by omitting all but ini-
tials. We must let our light shine, and not
hide it under a bushel.
566
GLEANINGS IN I3EE CULTUEE.
Nov.
GAinBI^IAG IN FAKOT PKOBUCTS.
I PRESUME our readers, in common
with the rest of mankind, liave
— ■ been touched with the temptation to
speculate, since the recent higli prices of
wheat, etc. Don't do it! don't do it. If
you gain, you are liarmed ; and if you lose,
you are harmed. The greater harm will
probably come if you should chance to be
among the few who gain, for it will unfit
you, and spoil your relish and enjoyment for
all honest, fair, and square day's work It
is only one of the many ways the evil one
has of getting good men away from their
own good honest work. I can most heartily
emphasize the following from the American
Agriculturist, especially the item about sell-
ing your crops, getting the money, and pay-
ing up debts. It is the same with honey.
Sell when you can get a fair price; get the
money, and pay up debts, if you have any.
THE GREAT GRAIN SPECULATION, OR "CRAZE," OF
1881.
Never before in this country, or in any other, has
there been any thing- at all comparable to the pres-
ent speculation, rather " gambling;," in wheat, corn,
and oats, and in hog products. This gambling spirit
has taken possession of large masses of people, and
extends from the great dealers who handle or bet on
tens of millions of bushels, down through all ranks,
to the hotel-waiter who puts up his week's wages as
a "margin" on the purchase of a single hundred
bushels.
So great is the present rage of this kind of specu-
lation, that on some days sales reach tens of millions
of bushels. On one day (Oct. 1) the "deliveries" of
grain, on previous contracts, were reported at 33,-
000,000 bushels in Chicago alone I
This speculation has demoralized the whole trade.
The " bulls " have run up prices so high as to nearly
stop exports. On Oct. 1, the "visible supply" of
wheat (that is, wheat in the elevators and store-
houses, and in transit) amounted to 41,~0:i,t)48 bush-
els. Last year at the same there were only 37,099,745
bushels, showing more available wheat now than one
year ago, though prices are fully 40 per cent higher.
Nearly the same of corn, the "visible supply" being
near 37,649,173 bushels ; last year, 28,289,298 bushels.
The increased price, produced largely by specula-
tion, is beneticjal to all those producers able to get
their grain to market while these high rates prevail.
But it is deranging almost all other business very
greatly. Money is drawn in immense sums from the
banks, and from all other legitimate business, to
supply the " margins," or to carry the stocks actu-
ally purchased and held by speculators.
Exporting being at a standstill, the inflow of for-
eign money we should have is nearly stopped, and
European buyers are seeking cheaper supplies in all
other parts of the world.
The high speculative prices arc greatly diminish-
ing the consumption, and this alone must, ere long,
bring about a decline. The laboring classes are
compelled to pay much higher rates for their daily
food, the advances mainly going into the hands of
the speculators. Labor must therefore advance,
and this in turn increases the cost, of manufactures
and of all products of labor.
Of course, every speculator, large and small, ex-
pects to sell out before any great decline shall come,
and the shrewder ones will do so, leaving the great
mass to bear the brunt of the loss.
Clear-headed business men now greatly fear that
in the future, perhaps the very near future, a crash
will come that will derange the whole business of
the country.
To the oft-repeated question from our readers,
"Shall we sell now, or hold on?" we can only an-
swer, that a good general rule is to sell whenever
ready; get the money; pay up debts, and keep in as
snug and safe a condition as possible. To sell, or
hold on for change of prices, is to speculate on great
uncertainty. One-half of the speculators who make
a business of studying the prospects — viz., the sell-
ers for future delivery — believe prices will fall.
The other half of them — the buyers— believe grain,
etc., will go higher, from natural causes, or that
they can "corner" the supplies, and put up the
rates. The outlook would seem to be that, while
speculative intluences may sustain or even advance
prices temporarily, there can hardly be a demand
for all the grain, etc. Consumers, both at home and
abroad, will necessarily curtail their purchases
very materially, and these high rates will call out
supplies from other sources not usually drawn
upon.
GUEAMmCS m BEE CULTURE.
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER,
MEDINA, O.
TERMS: $1.00 PER YEAR, POST-PAID.
FOR CLUBBING RATES, SEE FIRST PAGE
OF BEADING MATTER.
l^/LJSSJ^T.lS^.A^, i^o-^t". i, leei.
Let no man deceive you with vain words; for be-
cause of these things cometh the wrath of God upon
the children of disobedience.— Ephesians 5: 6.
After this date, the Simplicity smokers will be
sold at the same price as the new Clark.
We have to-day, October 28th, 4,473 subscribers.
One more month, and then comes the annual tum-
ble in our subscription list.
By our new price list, dated Nov. 1st, you will see
that we have advanced the price of queens for No-
vember one-fourth. This is chiefly on account of
the greater risk in shipping in colder weather.
UASSWOOD-TKEES.
Our friends will observe we have taken the above
trees out of our price list. The reason is, that the
supply in our neighboring forests is exhausted. We
are just now thinking of starting a basswood nur-
sery.
The comb honey we are selling in our lunch room
cost. us 21 cts., and we are selling it for 24. It is not
in 1-lb. sections, either. If it was, it would cost us
more money still. Have bee-keepers any thing to
complain of in the way of prices ?
If you don't want your bees to raise any brood un-
til next April, why just take away their queens, and
buy some more when you want them, of the friends
South. This is my invention, aud I hereby give no-
tice, that nobody is to get it patented, or sell it as a
secret.
Please, friends, do not take it for granted, when
you do not see your articles or reports in the very
next journal, that I do not think them worthy of
notice. It takes time to get around to these things,
and a pretty good heap of matter is almost always
waiting for consideration.
Friend D. A. Jones sends out a very pretty circu-
lar and price list, and gives in it, gratis, his method
of wintering bees; also some interesting matter
about his new races of bees. As we are much in-
terested in friend Jones's experiments and ventures,
I presume every one will want it.
Do not be in haste to decide a colony is queenless
this month, even if you do not tind eggs or brood.
Unless you have been feeding regularly, it would be
singular if you did. Neither is it to be wondered at,
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
.567
if you do not find the queea readily, for slie will be
about as small as a worker, and get about much
more lively than at other seasons of the year.
The communication from Mr. Rose, on page 568,
was somewhat shortened. After it was printed, he
wrote, asking to have it inserted entire or not at all.
Will the friends please so stale it, when the article
is sent in, where they wish it used without pruning,
or not at all ?
Friend Valentine asked me if I would not like
a nucleus of his Albinos. Thinking he meant to
make me a present of them, I replied in the aflirma-
tive. Some time afterward I discovered my mis-
take, and paid him for them, as a matter of course.
It was simply a misunderstanding, and no blame at-
taches to either of us, so far as I can see.
A COXUNDRU.M ON RIGHT AND WRONG.
A QUEEN reached a customer's postofflce one
night, but before morning the postofflce, queen, and
all, burned up. Tn our price list we agree to deliver
safely at nearest post or express office. The post-
master says he saw' the cage when it was taken
from the mail-bag, but can't say whether the bees
were in good order or not. Who should bear the
loss, myself or my customer?
CATALOGUES AND PRICE LISTS FOR 188:i.
Part Second of Our Homes is now completed,
and will be ready to mail in a week or ten days; and
to keep our friend M., the printer, busy, we have
decided to print catalogues and circulars for bee-
keepers, where wanted. For this purpose we will
use any of the cuts found ia our price list without
extra charge. Write out the matter you wish in it,
plainly, send along a sample of something that suits
you, if you can, and we will give you an estimate
without oharge.
I PRESUME most of our readers remember the
young man whom I have called "Fred," in the Home
Papers; the one who came out of our jail, and aft-
erward became quite active in the mission Sunday-
school work. " Fred " has recently held quite an
important position on our railroad, and was being
rapidly promoted; but within a few days he was
killed by an accident, not far from our place of
business. One of his companions, in telling me of
the accident, summed it all up in these words,
" Fred was ready to die."
BEE CANDY.
If you are too late with your feeding to feed liquid
food, give them candy made of pure granulated sug-
ar. It is a very easy matter to make it bj' the di-
rections given in the ABC; but if you insist on hav-
ing us do it, we can furnish it in frames, trays, or
bricks, for 15c per lb. It won't pay to order it by ex-
press or mail; neither will it pay by freight, unless
you order 25 lbs. or over, or have it sent with other
goods. Unless your time is valuable, it will pay you
best to get the sugar at the groceries, and make it
yourself. At this date we can sell you granulated
sugar by the barrel, shipped from New York, for
101/4 cents.
A BIG SWINDLE.
Last spring a visitor purchased some hybrid
queens we had received from some of oiir many cus-
tomers, and now he reports that one of them was a
tested queen whose bees have, during the past sum-
mer, given him over a hundred lbs. of honey. Now,
who of you is it that has been selling us pure queens
for hybrids? I do not know how you will avoid such
a grievous (?) disappointment, unless you buy dollar
queens, take your chances, and do the testing your"
self. (Another friend says he bought a hj'brid of us
that proved pure.) This same friend lives near a
basswood belt that was produced by basswoods
springing up where a hurricane blew down all the
other trees, about 40 years ago. He got 18 lbs. of
basswood from one colony in one daj'.
Prof. Cook, in his happy way, gets off the fol-
lowing:—
DON'T FORGET IT.
TheUth annual meeting of the Micliipran r.ee-Keepers' Asso-
ciation will be held at Battle Creek, on the Miehitran Central K.
H.. Pec. .Sth. 1881. D. A. Jones, C. F. Muth, o. o. Popi)Ieton, A. I.
Root, and T. F. Newman, have all promised to be present, if
])nssible, and we have all learned that, with these men, almost
any thinfr is possible. Mr. Jones will tell us of the " new bees,"
which we have received onlv as the result of his wondrous
enerfeT and enterprise. C. F. Muth and T. G. Newman, who have
done so much to develop the honey market, will give us from
their valuable store-house. The former ^vill tell us all about
foul brood — a most important sub.iect to Michigan apiarists.
No one in the U. S. is more competent. O. O. Poppleton, one
of the Doolittles of the West, will speak of chatf hives, and tell
us how to winter safely. A. I. Root, the apiarian " Jack of all
trades," will meet and be met by a host of friends. From our
own State we expect to hear from such men as J. Heddon, J. H.
Townley, and W. Z. Hutchinson. The president will also give
his address. Subject, ' ■ Crumbs from the Table of the National
Convention." Come one, come all. A. J. Cook, Pres.
T. F. Biijoham, Sec.
The principal fault that has developed with the
50-cent smoker is that, when very hot, it sometimes
draws sparks into the blast-tube, and burns the bel-
lows. It also blows sparks into the hive at times,
in common with all other smokers that I know of.
Well, this defect has been remedied by a circular
piece of perforated tin, pushed in just forward of
the screws, near the blast-tube. This completely
remedies both troubles, but after a while it gets
stopped up with soot. To clear it from this, push it
out and bend it until the soot cracks off, then put it
back. We will mail these circular pieces of perfor-
ated tin ao any one who has bought one of the 50-
cent smokers), free of charge. Just say on a postal,
you want one. Some one has said that vinegar will
take the gummy matter from a smoker-tube in-
stantly. To make this smoker direct draft, when
starting the fire just place your finger over the noz-
zle, and it is done instantly.
HONEY plants IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER.
A YEAR ago I did my level best to raise Simpson
honey-plants in the fall, even to carrying water dur-
a dry time, to water the seed-bed. Well, this year I
planted potatoes in a sandy spot, down by the pond.
I did not get many potatoes, but I have got a most
beautiful plot of Simpson plants. The seeds blew
over from the large patch, and the sandy ground
just suited it. To-day, October 2Tth, the plants are
about two feet high, and humming with the bees, al-
though we have had several pretty severe frosts.
The fresh, bright, thrifty green (in spite of a sharp
frost last night), rests me when I go down among
them, more than I can tell. They cover the ground
so thickly I shall have lots of roots to sell you In
the spring; and a good thrifty root that has wintered
over will stand a thousand miles of mail bags, al-
most as well as a potato. Of course, the old plants
are all dry now, but it is easy to manage so we can
have a yield of honey in October, and perhaps No-
vember. It is only the young plants that blossom in
the fall so late. Next year they will bloom in Aug-
ust, and give their greatest yield, and be done by
October. The year after, they will do nearly the
same; but like the strawberry, after two full crops
they do but little, and we must start with new
plants again. The Spider plant does not stand as
much frost as the Simpson.
568
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Nov
I AM inclined to think friend Heddon puts it a lit-
tle strongly when he says, on page 543, "And now the
favorite chaff packing and cushions are being con-
demned, even when they are to bo loft out." Re-
ports in regard to chaff packing have been so favor-
able that we are having more orders for chaff hives
than we have ever had any previou? fall, by far;
but I think friend Heddon is right in saying the
chaff cushions we have been using do not afford
ventilation enough for winters like the last. As to
just how this more ventilation shall be given, I con-
fess 1 can not exactly say, but I feel sure Ave need
the chaff packing at the sides of tae hive. Auger-
holes throuffh the honej-board, with a tight cap
placed over, have done so well throughout the coun-
try around here, even during the past hard winter,
that I know it answers very well, and I am now in-
clined to think, a ~Mnch hole through a close-filting
wood mat, into a shallow chamber under the chaff
cushion, would give about the same results. Friend
Muth's straw mat would, without question, amount
to the same thing virtually; and, by the way, why is
it we hear no more in regard to the straw mats
which were so much in demand at one time? Does
friend Muth still use them? and where is friend
Nevins, who used to make them?
write each one is such a taslc we have had the fol-
lowing printed on a postal card, the blanks, of
course, being tilled out:—
Friend we flnil in (joins over our boolis, a.s is our
custom toward tlie end of the year, a balance in your favor of
$.. . Now. if you wisli this tM rem-\in standinj; until you need
soniethinff. we are i)erfectly wiliinj: it should remain so as lonpr
ivs you wish: but lest you iiave iortrotten it, we send you this
card. If you thinlc you sliall not be ncedin;? any goods, or pi'e-
fer the money, of course we will send it yon at once. AVe en-
close you our latest price li'.;t, and wouldinvite your attention
to our counter depiirtnients. where we make a specialty of
Household Conveniences. If we bear nntbinj; from you, we
shall t.ake it for prranted you wish the amoiint tn stand, and will
hold same subject to your order. Thanking you for your past
favors in the way of patronage, I remain, respeetfullv yours,
Medina, O., Oct. 1, 1881. A."i; Root.
Do you wish to know the m-ral I am getting at
in this little statement? It is, that habits of pro-
crastination and neglect are more common sins than
thfise of deliberate dishonesty. Men who are pro-
vokingly slow in paying small debts are abiut as
slow in stirring themselves about money that is
coming into their pockets, instead of going out. Al-
though the sin is a grievous one, and clogs business,
it is not as bad as a downright purpose of wrong,
and therefore we should again have charity for even
those who don't pay.
W. A. BURCII Sc CO.
SENDING GLEANINGS WITHOUT ITS BEING ORDERED.
Several, have scolded because we let Gleanings
stop, while they had money in our possession, to
their credit. Here is one: —
Yours of 7th inst. is received I expected that you would con-
tinue to send nie Gle.aninos. but perhaps you do not wish to do
so; or, may be it is dead. I have received none since the .June
number. If you have no objection, please send it nlon^f till
further orders. Tims (!ai,uraith.
Tarentum. .Mlegheny Co.. Pa , Oct. 10. 1881.
Now, friends, j'ou are a little thoughtless. In the
first place, how are we to know there is money to
your credit, unless you say so? Again, would it be
business-like to use that money for Gle.vnings, or
any other purpose, unless you so directed? We
have customers who do not take Gleanings, but
still have money placed to their credit, in case they
may need some little thing. Should we force Glean-
ings on them, without knowing whether they wanted
it or not? "With a great deal of labor we could ex-
amine every name as soon as the time expired, and
see whether they had a credit on the ledger; but
would we have a right, even then, to continue the
.iournal without orders? if you do not want the
bother of telling us to send it on, every year, just
order it sent for 5 or JO years, and we will give you
the ver.v best discount, and you will have no more
bother, I assure you.
something on the CREDIT SIDE OF nUM.VNITY.
Most of you know something of the troubles we
have had in collecting small amounts due us, in our
business transactions all over the world. Well, dur-
ing the month of October, when we have the leisure
time to attend to it, it is our practice to send state-
ments to all who have small credits, which ha^-e
been left until they ordered something. Of course,
you would think it a very easy thing to pay folks
money, compared with the task of getting them to
pay lyoii money. But it isn't, after all. There arc
some whom we have notified year after year, and
asked what were their wishes; but we can't get a
reply. AVriting to the postmaster to see if they are
still there and living, don't always get a reply either.
We have now balances standing to the credit of
something like a thousand different persons; and to
HAVE watched with careful interest your pub-
lications of late, relating to H. A. Burch &; Co.,
^J of South Haven, Mich., and the manner in
which, as j-ou allege, their customers are being
treated. Having been a reader of Gle.vnings for
some little time, and never having sent a communi-
cation to your office, aside from my subscriptions, I
am somewhat credulous to the belief that you will
permit one who is simply in favor of having justice
done by all, without reference to iirctenaidiis, posi-
tion, creed, sex, or color. iir>li < r poor, high or low,
to occupy a small space in \"iir publication, to state
squarely what 1 knoii\ letiing the re-spuiisibility fall
where it may. My ordrr.s placed with Messrs.
Burch & Co., in 1S80, were proiiipily filled. Ta Ma.y
last [ took occasion to plico an order with thetii
again, and the time stipulated whe-n the goods were
to bo forwarded. The time arrived, and my order
was not filled; in answer to my Inquir.v, thev in-
formed me every thing was being done possible to
fill their orders, and thev felt positive my order
would be reached by a ci-rtain date, nacning it. Fail-
ing to get mv goods on the day appointed, and pre-
judiced by the reports contained in your pages, I
visited South Haven, ostensitily for the purpose of
commencing suit against Messrs. Burch & Co , for
full amount of xnv order, with ititere-;t and dam-
ages. My first business was tf> visit a few of the old-
est and best citizens in the place, to whom I sfatHd
the circumstances, who in turn informed me of the
true character of Mr. H. A. Burch, whom they had
known from boyhood, and said there must he some-
thing unnatural, and entirely different from the
course pursued by him heretofore; triving as reason
therefor, that H. A. Bvirch had ever enjoyed the en-
viable reputation of being an upright, honest, clear-
headed, prompt, and persevering \-oung man, and
it could not be possible he had so f.tllen. from such a
reputation, a-! to be unworthy of the estimation in
which he was held, and advised me to visit him and
consult all the circumstances attending the case be-
fore I proceeded against him. Upon visiting him, it
required but a short time to take in thf entire situ-
ation. First. I counted 24:i colonies ..f l)ees in his
apiary; Mr. Burch in the work, with a competent
man with hint (who. tiy the way, had jn^t arrived),
shipping off Ijpco, extracting hone-v. hiving swarms,
etc. I found Mr. B. was eniplo\ ed from sunrise un-
til about 11 P.M., and <ljing evcrv thing in his newer
to get his orders otf. My feelings were softened,
and suddenly changed, as" i he ciruumsrances became
apparent; and, seeing his dilemma, I took hold and
spent two days with him as pleasantly as I ever
passed the time in my life, aiding the man out of
trouble as far as I could, who, but a lew hours be-
fore, I was intending to cause trouble. In the assist-
ance rendered, I felt as though I was doing by oth-
ers as I would be done by. Having made other
plans, Mr. B. paid me at once the amount sent with
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
569
my order, and desired to pny me the amount of ex-
penses to his place and return, which was refused
by me. 1 returned to my home amply repaid for the
trouble and expense I had experienced, satisfied
that Messrs. Burch & Co. were being unjustly criti-
cised by you, especially when I was informed the
same explanation had been made to you that was
made to me. Let any m-ui read Mr. B.'s letter in
September (i meanings as an explanation for any
delay in tillinf? orders; and if he has any charity for
his fellow-man ho will condemn every word you ut-
ter in your remarks at the close of his letter, and as
cheerfully aoi^rove every word in the letter of Hon.
James Heddon, contained in the same number. Mr.
Heddon very ably g'ives just the reason why Mr.
Burch has failed to please us all this year when he
says, "Without g-reat caution, as well as good .iiida:-
ment. one is very apt to far overestimate his ability
to fill all these odd-sized and complicated orders
with promptness." This letter of Brother Heddon's,
followed by Mr. B.'s own explanation, should satisfy
all: It would my own mind had I never visited the
apiary of Mr. B.
In conclusion, permit me to state what I believe
and honestly believe. First, Mr. B. will make good
every dollar sent him, if let alone. No one will lose
his money. I believe further, that the unwarranted
pains taken by yourself, and Newman, of Chicago,
to catch at every thing, and by reason of the posi-
tion you both enjoy in controlling a printing-press
to scatter broadcast throughout this land statements
that vou both should feel ashamed to utter against
a fellow-cr(^ature in consequence of circumstances
from which he is unable to extricate himselfjprompt-
ly, will redound to your own injury and to his credit.
i know three men, prominpnt in their respective lo-
calities, one of them residing in New York, who re-
cently informed me that the course taken by you
two men in trying to drive to the wall Mr. Burchhad
convinced them that he was a man who xhouJd and
ivoidd he sustained. I indorse their conclusions.
When you ask yovir readers to indorse the slur cast
at Mr. B. in the Sfntiuel, published at South Haven,
as being the sentimentof hisown townsmen, you are
asking more than yon are entitled to. Men of un-
approachable character; men of honor and position;
the best men in South Haven; men who have
known him longei' than this diminutive sheet has
had existence, will contradict this statement, and
tell you it is false. Such a course taken by a man of
your pretensions, sooner or later becomes obnox-
ious to the masses. I can not believe you are prac-
ticing what you are constantly preaching.
Mr. Burch has filled orders from this and adjoin-
ing counties throughout the season, and the best of
satisfaction has been given. On orders he could not
till at once, he has offered to return the money, and
in some cases parties have recalled the money,
which was retvn-ned promptly.
H. A. Burch & Co. know noching of my wish to ex-
press myself in their behalf; they have never re-
quested ray assistance in any way, shape, or man-
ner: but I desire that you should know, and every
reader of your publication as well, that, unsolieted,
I stand ready to help them; not by vainly offering
to make good any one who may be defrauded by dis-
honest advertisers, but by speaking the simple
truth every time; and should they need it, I am
ready to loan them money sufficient to make all
the amends necessary. David E. Rose.
Grand Haven, Mich., Oct. 3, 1881.
I am sure we are all very glad indeed to
get the above t'avoraljle report in regard to
Mr. Burch, and we can freely overlook the
mistaken opinion friend Hose has in regard
to the bee journals, after reading his con-
cluding sentence. A friend in need Is a
friend indeed, and Mr. Hose promises to be
a friend to us all. As many words seem
only to engender strife, shall we not now
have deeds instead?
The following have come in since our last:
1 have written Burch & Co. several times for my
$6.6.5. Their reply Oct. 6th was, " Will do so when we
can; but the action of the bee journals has made it
impossible for the present." G.K. Hubbard,
LaGrange, Ind., Oct. 16, 1881.
I have received now my 3 queens from Burch &
Co. I sent him the money in April.
H. M. Mover.
Hill Church, Berks Co., Pa., Sept. 24, 1881.
The queen I ordered of Mr. Burch last May was
received the 8th inst., which makes Mr. B. and ray-
self square. a. M. Sawdey.
Poolville, N. Y., Oct. I'J, 1881.
! RECENT ADDITIONSs CHANGES, AND IM-
' PROVEMENTS, IN OUR COUNTER STORE.
Now, after all our talk about green corn, during
I the past months, no one has as yet reported having
I any for sale. We sold all ours while in the green
i state, on the ear, except stnne of the choicest saved
; for seed. Who has any dried or evaporated Mam-
I moth sweet corn (such as we sold the seed of), for
sale now? and what is the price? I should be glad
to purchase some.
THE WATERBURY W.VTCHES.
One of the firm of the Waterbury Watch Co. has
just paid us a visit. Their new factory, which has just
been finished at a cost of $300,000, is now turning out
500 watches per day, and can, if need be, increase
the number to 1000. Up to date, 150,000 have been
sold. The first watch was sold the 22d of Dec, 1879.
They were burned out the following April, so that
for several months no work was done at all. After
the tire they worked in quarters much cramped for
room, until last May. They employ about 200
hands now, a great part of them females. Their
new factory will, however, admit of 400. After this
reaches our friends, we shall be prepared to send
out only the new improved cases, which are plain
and smooth, as shown in the cut below, nickel all
through, and will therefore never show brass like the
old ones.
i /
IMPROVED WATERBURY W.VTCH.
They are, also, all packed in a beautiful silk-lined
mailing-case. Notwithstanding all thei=e and some
other great improvements, the price will still be the
same. We have made an especial arrangement to
get these waiches for our subscribers, and can now
give, as a premium, a watch to every one who sends
us five subscribers at $1.00 each, or we will send
Gle.vnings for one year, and a watch, to every one
who sends us $4.00. If you have already sent us a
dollar for Gleanings for 188;^, asking for no other
premium, you can have the watch for an even $3.00.
Remember to send I8c for postage, packing and reg-
istering. It has been quite a problem to mail watch-
es safely, but we can do it now almost every time.
670
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Nov.
We have just received a very pretty opera glass,
that we can sell for $3 no, instead of $5.00, the price
of those in our list. They are of course, not QUite
as powerful as the higher priced ones, but still are
very nearly as good for bee hunting.
HONEY -PAILS.
The prices on tinware have advanced, so that we
are obliged to make our .5c pails hold exaciv l pint,
instead of a pint and a half, as heretofore. They
now hold exactlv 1'/^ lbs. of extracted honey, and
thus filled and labeled, they sell readily tor an even
25c in our market.
A GOOD CLOCK FOR A DOLLAR.
1 KNEW pretty well it would come, but I did not
think we should get one so very pretty as the two
we have. The smallest, callf^d "Wec-vvag," is in iron,
and is finished to look exactly like black marble. It
keeps time splendidly, and is a real beauty; but it is
so heavy it can not go by mail for less than .Wc.
Each one is packed in a very neat wooden case. The
other pattern is in a wooden case, with the door
beautifully carved. Postage, 33c. The works are
so simple in cither, that there is but little chnnce of
their getting out of order.
Postase. ] rri'- of 10, of 100
THREE-CENT COUNTER.
3 I ABC Plates: tin; 6 in | 20 | 1 7.5
I Berry Dish, glass I 2h | 2 75
I Butter-Dishes, individvial; glass I 25 13 25
3 I Cake-cutters. fancy,6ditrerpnt nat'ns | 28 | 2 50
2 I Court Plaster, to be kept in Drawer
under Buzz Saw Table I 28 | 2 .50
5 I Cups, V,, pint 1 20 I 1 75
3 1 China Mue-s I 2S 1 2 75
3 I Glass Marbles, \M in , very handsome, . | 40 i .3 .50
3 I Glass Cutters | 28 1 2 50
Just such as have been sellinpr from 25 to SOc each.
2 I Mustard Spoons, best boxwood | 25 | 2 00
2 I Needles, the very best 1 know of (2
papers for 5c) | 23 | 2 50
6 I Pans, Milk, toy, V4 pint, 2 for 5c. Ex-
cellent for nail boxes I 25 | 2 00
3 I Pail, toy, covered | 25 | 2 25
3 i Pepppr Boxes, Japanned | 25 I 2 25
2 I Pie Crimpers, for cutting pie crusts.. I 25 j 2 00
3 I Pie Plates, 6 inch | 25 I 2 25
Just the thing for making " Iiuich " pies.
3 I Rattle Boxes, tin | 25 | 2 00
2 I Screw-drivers, Sewing Machine, Neat,
Wood Handle, fine steel I 25 | 2 00
2 I Spoons, tea, tinned iron | 2ii | 1 75
2 I Steel Watch-Chains: neatly polished | 35 | 2 00
4 I Toy Bank, Japanned House 1 28 | 2 75
FIVE-CENT COUNTER.
5 1 Bird-Cage Hooks; vcrv handy 1 35 | 3 25
2 I Clock cord, fine linen, .30 hour I :^3 | 3 00
5 I Gents' Collars, Box of 10, any size. . . . | 75 | 7 00
5 I Glass Marbles, 1?4 in., verv handsome | 45 | 4 00
4 I Pint Measures, tin, with lip; nice | 48 | 4 .50
5 I Pie Lifters, very handy | 40 | 3 50
5 I Maple-sugar Candy; a beautiful con-
fectionery; J4-lh. pkg. for 5 cents | 40 | 3 .50
2 j Tape Measure, Tailors' ; leather | 40 j 3 75
TEN-CENT COUNTER.
7 I Brushes, Counter: good for the money 1 S5 | 7 75
2 I Clock-Cord, 30 hour: best linen i 65 I 6 00
13 I T)ripping-Pans. tin, 10; 2X13 | 85 | S 00
I Mason's Fruit-Jars | 95 | 9 00
9 I Pot^covers, tin, I2J4 in., hemmed and
handled | 75 | 7 00
5 I Wire Skimmers; well mode, very useful | 80 | 7 50
FIFTEEN-CENT COUNTER.
18 1 Glue, I pound | 1 30 1 13 00
For making cheirographs, or carpenter's use; an excellent
article.
2 I Pocket-CorapaPS, in bra«s case I 1 40 i 13 00
A most useful thing when traveling in tlie woods; well-made.
Twenty-Five Cent Counter.
4 I Carpenter's Dividers, with wing I 2 25 I 20 (10
21 I Steamers, tin, 9 in., nice and useful 1 2 on j 18 00
24 I Soldering iron (or coppers) X lb I 2 00 | 18 00
Thirty-Five Cent Counter.
34 1 Dish, or Rinsing-pan. 16 in | 3 45 I 34 00
stamped of a single piece of tin, 16 inches across; 17 quarts,
and a most handy utensil in the kitchen.
21 1 Pail, Milk, with Strainer attached. .. | 3 00 | 25 00
30 I Pail. Covered, 6 qt., for cream | 3 00 1 2 > 00
31 I Soldering iron (or copper) 1 lb | 3 00 j 26 00
33 I Steamers, like 3.5c one, but larger.. . | 3 00 | 25 00
PIPTY-CENT COUNTER.
3 1 Cutting-Plycrs; 3'/, inch | 4 00 | 35 CO
Polished steel; a beautiful tool.
32 I Dish or rinsing pan, re-tinned | 4 50 | 40 00
IT inches across, 19 quarts. ( See 35c counter.)
I Trunks, very good, 11x12x24 1 4 .50 1 40 GO
The above will do nicely to pack goods in when you make an
order. Tliey are splendid trunks for the money.
Seventy-Five Cent Counter.
42 I Dish or rinsing pan, re-tinned j 7 00 | 65 00
19 inches .across; 21 qts. (See .'!5c counter. *
I Trunks, very good, 13x15x28 | 7 00 | 65 00
See 50 cent counter.
ONE- DOLL AK COUNTEB,.
I Trunks, very good, 15x16x32 | 9 00 | S5 00
See .50 cent counter.
A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio.
gcmij^ %elmT^n.
Under this head win be inserted, free ot charge, tne names or
all those having honey to sell, as well as those wanting to buy.
Please mention how much, what kind, and prices, as far as pos-
sible. As a general thing, I would not advise you to send your
honey away to be sold on commission. If near home, where
you can look after it. it is often a very good way. By all means,
develop your home m.arket. For 25 cents we "can furnish little
boards to hang up in your dooryara. with the words, ' ' Honey
for Sale, " neatly painted. If wanted by mail, 10 cents extra for
postage. Boards saying ' ' Bees and Queens for Sale, ' ' same
p'-iee.
CITY MARKETS.
New York.— HoHfy. — Permit us to quote comb
honey as follows: Best white in 1 lb. sections, 30®
32c; fair, 17@19c; best white in 3 lb. sections. 18@20c;
fair, lo@,17c; best dark, in I lb. sections, 13@1.5c; best
dark in 3 lb. sections, ll@14i'. fiarge boxes, 3c per
lb. less than above. BesCNvhitj extracted, 10@lic;
best dark, 7®8c.
Becsu'a.r.— Market is qtiiot; prime yellow is selling
at 22@24c; dark wax, 30@21c.
H. K. & F. B. Thurber & Co.
New York, Oct. 22, 1881.
St. Louis.— Ffodc.t;.— In fair demand and steady.
Comb 18@20c; pure strained and extracted at 9®
12'/4c— outside figures fur lots in choice small pkgs.
Sale 13 brls and 9 hf-brls straiaed at 9c.
St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 25, 1881. B. C. Greer & Co.
Chicago.— J?o)ic.i/.— The condition of the honey
and wax market remains about the same as last quo-
tation. The demand is good, and the supply is
equal to it. Alfred H. Newman.
972 West Madison St., Chicago, Oct. 21, 1881.
Cleveland.— Hojiey. —Choice white section honey
continues in good request <at 21c for 1-lb. and 20 for
21b. sections, all receipts being readily placed at
these prices. Extracted continues very 'bill at 11®
12c. Bccsu'a.r.— 20@33. A.C. Kendel.
Cleveland, Ohio, Oct. 31, 188L
Detroit.— Hooe.iy.- The market is firm, and the
demand for a good article is steady at 17 (m 19 cents.
Bcenwax—20 @ 22. A. B. Weed.
Detroit, Oct. 26, 1881.
I have 9 barrels of extracted honey, 7 of liarht, ana
3 of dark; the barrels hold about :5i) i Ihs. each. Will
sell the dark for 8c per lb., and the light for 10c, de-
livered at depot here, if sold soon.
Union City, Branch Co., Mich. F. R. Johsson.
You may set me down 8001 lbs. of comb honey, in
single-comb bo.xes, in cases glassed on one side, 16
in. square, and containing 14 and 21 sections to case.
Cases average 27 lbs.
Jcfifersonville, Wayne Co., 111. T. C. Stanley.
The North-Eastern Bee Association of Maine will
hold their next regular meeting at Grange Hall,
Dexter, Nov. 10, 1881. All bee-keepers are invited to
attend. Wm. Hovt, Sec'y.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
575
Names of responsible parties will be inserted in
any of the foUowinj^ departments, at a uniform
price of 20 cents each insertion, or ^2,00 per year.
$1.00 Queens.
Names ijiserted in tlm department the first time loith-
out charge. After, 30c each insertion, or $2,00 per year.
Those whose names appear below agree to furnish
Italian queens for $1,00 each, under the following
conditions: No guarantee is to be assumed of purity,
or anything of the kind, only that the queen be reared
from a choice, pure mother, and had commenced to
lay when they were shipped. They also agree to re-
turn the money at any time when customers become
impatient of such delay as may be unavoidable.
Bear in mind that he who sends the best queens,
put up most neatly and most securely, will probably
receive the most orders. Special rates for warranted
and tested queens, furnished on application to any
of the parties. Names with *, use an imported queen
mother. If the queen arrives dead, notify us and
we will send you another. Probably none will be
sent for $1.00 before July 1st, or after Nov. If want-
ed sooner, or later, see rates in price list.
*E. W. Hale, Newark, Wirt Co., W. Va. 2-1
*A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
*H. H. Brown, Light Street, Columbia Co., Pa. Vtf
*B. M. Havhurst. Kansas Citv, Mo. 1-12
*Paul L. Viallon, Bayou Goula. La. 7ttd
*D. A. McCord, Oxford. Butler Co., O. 1-13
*S. F. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. Ttfd
*Wm. Ballantine. Sago, Musk. Co.. O. "tfd
*T. W. Dougherty. Mt. Vernon, Posev Co., Ind. T 13
C. H. Deane, Sr., Mortonsville, Woodford Co., Ky.
8tfd
Hive Manufacturers.
Who agree to make such hives, and at the prices
named, as those described on our circular.
A. I. Root, Medina, Ohio.
P. L. Viallon, Bayou Goula, Iberville Par., La. Itfd
S. P. Newman, Norwalk, Huron Co., O. Itfd
J. P. Hart, Union Point, Greene Co., Ga. 4-3
FOR SALE!
As T am about to change my location for one near
the city, I offer for sale, in bulk or lots, 14 L. hives,
hinged covers, well finished, son^e of them used hut
a few months. Also one Muth Extractor, used but
one season. All in gnod order. Price for the whole,
^3i.00. Address, MRS. DR. GILLESPIR,
12d West Elizabeth, Allegheny Co., Pa.
FOR durability, ease of manage-
ment, beauty and rapidity of
work, and low price, our Printing-
press cnn not be excplied. For terms,
address S. D. RUTHERFORD,
Kearneysville,
13 West Virginia,
CHAFF AND SIMPLICITY HIYES.
Perfect machinery for turning out flrst-class work,
and as cheap as such can be done. Orders received
by flrst of January, at special rates. Write for
prices— no circulars. C.A.GRAVES,
13 Birmingham, Erie Co., Ohio.
A BEE-KEEPER WANTED.
Must be e.xperienced and reliable. No person
using intoxicating liquors, tobacco, or cigars, need
applv. A married mnn preferred. Must be indus-
trious. Address DR. ISAAC EDWARDS.
12tfd Omaha, Nebraska.
WANTED. — Bce-Kceper, and Student. Bee-
Keeper must be experienced, and thoroughly
reliable. No pt^rson using tobaceo or liquors need
apply. Address DOOTOK E. NUGENT,
13 Linden Apiary, Strathroy, Ontario, Canada.
HOITEY PLANTS!
BLACK LOCUST.— Splendid for honey, and will
pay alone tor posts. Price $1. per 100; seed 25 cents
per ounce.
SOUR WOOD.— Always produces a large yield of
honey. Price of young trees, $3 50 per 100.
BUCKBUSH.— An oinamentul shrub for the yard.
Begins to bloom wnen all else fails with us, and con-
tinues about two months. Very hardy, and produc-
es a great deal of honey. Price §2.00 per 100; seed
£0 cents per ounce.
BU»;KTH0RN.— Thi« is one of our best honey-
pliints; >ields honey abundantly. Price oJ cie. per
lUO; seed 2.5 cts. per ounce.
POPLAR.— This certainly yielded more honey the
past season than any thintr else in this vicinity.
Valuiible for timber; unsurpassed as a shade tree;
nic. straiyht young trees at $1.00 per 100.
PEKSI.MMOX.— Bloiims sometimes for nearly a
month, yielding an aluinflanee of bimey, and the
fruit is just splendid (for those who like it). Price
of young trees, $.'(.li|j per lOL); seed, 10 cts. per f>z.
SUMAC —Bliioins in the summer, when there is
but littl'^ else ; wouW be considered very ornanjeiit-
al where it does nut grow wild; grows from 4 to 6 ft.
hisfh. Young trefx. J3. per 100; seed. 3> eis. periz.
CHERRV, i3LACK T XliTA Rl AM.-Gooil for hon-
ey and fruit : vry hnrdy. Price $2.00 per 100.
GOOSEBERRY. -Be(s work on it livelv; splendid
fruit. HriCH $2.ii0 per 100 hv mail, postpiiid.
APPLE-TWIGS for grafting; altuost any variety;
25 Cts. per bunch by mad. i)'istp:i)(l.
The above trees deltver<-d on board cars hero at
pri.'es named; seeds sent bv mnil postpaid.
Address CHAS. K1i\GSLi:v,
12d Greeueville, Greene Co., Tenn.
Tlic Oldi'st Bee Paper in America— Established in l%a.
&MERIGAN BEE JOURNAL,
Published 'WEEK.I..X, at S3.00 a year.
The first and third numbers of each month. $1.00 a year.
The flrst number of each month, 50 cents a year.
THOMAS G. XEAVIWAX, Editor and Proprietor,
»74: West Madison Street, Chicaifo, III.
FLAT -BOTTOM COITIB FOUIV-
dation.— High side-walls, 4 to 14 squsro
feet to the lb. rireular and samples
free. J. VAN DEUSEN & SONS,
12tf fdn Sole Manufacturers,
Sprout Brook, Mont. Co., N. Y.
HEADQUARTERS FOR
Imported and home-bred; rucici and full colo-
nies. For quality nnd purity, mv stock of bees can
not be excelled in the United States. I make a
specialty of manufacturing the Dunham foundation.
Trr it. If yoti wish to purchase Bees or Supplies,
send for my new circulHr. Address
Itfd DR. J. P. H. BROWN, Augusta, Ga.
HIVES! HITES!
I am now prepared to mantifacturo bee-hives,
whol.-sale and retail at the very lowest prices. Send
one dollar, to get one of D. A. Jones' celebrated
hives. Catalogue furnished on application.
9tld JOHN M. KINZIE, Doon, Ont., Can.
THE
British Bee Journal.
The British Bee Journal is now mailed to our ad-
dress in packages, each month. In order to dispose
of thera, we offer them at present at 75c per year,
postage paid, beginning Jan. 1881, if ordered so they
can be mailed in December, 1881, on account of post'
age. A. I. ROOT, Medina, Ohio.
.576
GLEANINGS m BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
FREE ! io^i^1tr^VoU%S.f:!'ht:fl 'Jl KIP WORDS FROM OUR CUSTOMERS.
When I first pent for your book I thousrht 1 would
try it a short time, not thinking I would like it as
well as Id). H.W.Cook.
Atherton, Can., Nov. 7, 1881.
The " Favorite " scales bought of vou recently are
very nice and reliable, and give entire satisfaction.
Every housewife should have one in her kitchen.
J. A. BOOKWALTKR.
Wabash, Ind., Nov. 7, 1881.
Splondifl npw Oatnlotrne of Trfies. Plnnts, Poods, now
Ciapc'S and Small Fruits, free. Spooimon rony of ihe
best Fruit ajid ^Towor Pu"'or p^iblisliori. free. Extra
inducoments to Club Aeon* •= nnrl tlmso (ip^ivjns to sol]
our Pliints. Our 64-iiml.'o Aniall Fruit Ins'rtictor
(i;piv crlition) tolls 111 i<7 (•> pI-m- ^r,-. m- jiml m^n-kot : V'st-
Ijuid. 2oc. Address. PUEDY, of Palmyra, N.Y.
The Clark smoker came all right. I have tried It,
and consider it a vast improvement over the one I
have been using. Please accept many thanks for
promptness, and kindness in making the change.
D. C. Potter.
Fairhaven, Bristol Co., Mass., Nov. G, 1881.
ABC book and Gleaninos are at hand, and In-
deed they were welcome. I think each ABC scholar
ought to have both c 'pies, for they are very brief,
and instructive to both veteran and amateur apiar-
ist. Thanking you for your promptness, I remain
yours,— A. F. WaiTE.
Smithville Sta., Wayne Co,, O., Nov. 1~% 1881,
NOTICE !
! Inclosed find 53 cts., for which please send me a<«
AS the March, 1879, number of Gleanings is now j pav"i^o' tage'o^n S ' '^''goroni7or''^v™daugh?er^
name' !?nH*''.r.ri' ^"'^ "° ^"rthe same. Put your Ett^e^n 4frs old?lna tLl^schoolJrrls^^here^she [s
S us , nost^ n/insVruVVn'^^^^ the wrapper, and s-ing to school want some. Plea.se send some of
diop us ..1 postal of ulstruct ons ; them with pearl handles. Mrs. S. A. Conway.
A. 1. KOOT, Medina, Ohio. Helena. Karnes Co., Texa.s.
I
EY LABEL
Price of these labels with the spaces left blank, 2.5c per hundred, or $2.2o per thousand;
pie, for 50c per 100, or $1.25 per 1000 more. The label may be either red, green, blue, or
1881
GLEANINGS DT BEE CULTURE.
577
The 15-oent dictionary came tn hand all riffht, and
I declare it is quite a prize for the money. I showed
it to my teacher, and asked him what he thought it
ought to be worth. He replied that he thought such
a book would cost 40 or 50 cents. Isat?ei.l,.v Wier.
South River, Anne Arundel Co., Md., Nov. 18, 1881.
I write to acknowledge the receipt of your bee
book, with which I nm highly pleased. I gave the
letter containing the order to the clerk to mail on
Monday morning, eight o'clock, and Wednesday
evening before my little l>oy went to bed, I was
showing him the picture of Novice and little Blue
Eyes. I think that an instance of promptness rare-
ly equaled. W. H. Wright.
Edmore, Mich., Oct. 21, 1881.
I have one of the Waterbury watches, and think
it keeps good time. It keeps within a minute or
two, and sometimes within a half-minute a week.
The honey season has been extra poor around here;
rain, rain, all the time. I increased from three to
seven, and have been feeding them up for winter. I
shall try a snow-bank this year.
Chas. O. Mkloon.
Portsmouth, N. H., Oct. 26, 1881.
The Clark smoker works very satisfactorily: in-
deed, more so than the Bingham I had been using
all along, and for which i had to pay one dollar. I
should think as soon as bee-keepers of this country
(and Europe too) will have become apprised of the
facr, that for 50 cents they can buy the most ser-
vicable smoker, they will not use any other.
Louis Knoru, M. D.
Savannah, Ga., Aug. 8, 1881.
The queen came last evening in splendid condi-
tion — only one bee dead in the cage. I have .iust
introduced her this forenoon, and hope she will be
graciously received. I like to see such promptness
in business matters; it is satisfactory to deal with
men of your stamp. T. Bole.s.
Ridgeway, Ont., Can., Nov. 3, 1881,
I have the ABC book, which has been a errcat
help to me. I paid you $1 25 for it, and if I couM not
get another I would not take live times that amount
for it. I have learned more about handling bees
since I have had it than I ever knew ubn\it bees be-
fore in my life. .Tames K. Guegoky.
Crooked Lake, Wyoming Co., Pa., Oct. 28, 1881.
That "testfd queen and 1 lb. of bees" sent mo
last April did well. I let them go on 3 L. frames
containing comb and some honey; added other
frames as needed, and soon had to put on the upper
story. Her 'highness" was crowded ont below,
and .iust walked into the upper parlor and filled it
nearly full. I took solid comfort with them. The
bees are hu'ge, vellow. beautiful, and kind.
Columbus, O.,' Oct. 28, 1881. R. G. Warxek.
The Waterbury watch and the ABC were re-
ceived the 28th. They were very nicelv packed, and
came safely. Husband was quite disappointed in
the watch — it being much better than he expected.
I think we shall order one or two dozen in the course
of a few weeks. The A B C is worth $10, at l^ast to
me, as I have just bought a larse colony of Italians,
and knew nothing whatever of bees or bee-keeping.
IMOGE.VE Donnelly.
Omer, Bay Co., Mich., Nov. 1, 1881.
FOR TWO-POUND CANS
if wanted by mail, add oc per 100. Address and source of lioney printed in like this sam-
black. Two colors at once, one-half more. Address A. I. EUOT, Medina, Ohio.
57S
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
A KIND LETTER.
Wo must havp Gleanings for another year. Also
pond siiinple copies a8 f<illows, to * * * *
The lust is our minister of the Church of Ch'-i<t at
this plHC'c. Ho is a worthy man. 1 love him much.
If you still have some of the cards asrainst swearing',
send me 3) or 50. I can use thorn. I will ffive them
to those 1 thinl< they will tioiietit. I am superintcnd-
ant of the Bible-reading class of our town. It is an
iiiteres'ing- study. 1 nv.ss <>nce an unVielicver, .\ea,
an intldel of the vili'st type; but 1 miw believe.
Prwy for me that I may "be humble Your kind
words have done me nuieh a-ond. God spied you,
my de:ir friend! 1 once us<'d tobacco; quit its use
.Ian. 26, 1.S80, and liave never touched it since. 1 use
no alcoholic drinks, and, my dear sir, I do not pre-
scribe them in my practice. You are rijrht in fiyht-
ing thes(? pernicious p^dsons; and for one I will be
your co-worker. We must pray, and read God's
word if we de^^ire to overcome sin and temptation.
'Tis the only way.
My b' es are doing- finely now. Honey crop jrood;
only few bees kept here, hfiwever. I have much to
thank you for more than you can ever know. Bee-
keeping' has made me a nuieh better man. I do not
know why. Y'our brother in Christ,
J. E L\Y, M. D.
Hallcttsville, Lavaca Co., Tex., Oct. 27, 1881.
liECENT ADDITIONS. CHANGES, AND IM-
PROVEMENTS, IN OUR COUNTER STORE.
Our paper collars were by mistake put on the .5-
cent eouDtor last month. If vou will note the prices
per tens and hundreds, it will be plain that it was
out of place.
"Charley," our painter and varnishor, has just
g'ot up something- new for honey-cases. On the sheet
of Kla-s forming' one t-ide of the case he has put iu
bronze lettering, similir to that on our honey-
v-»xtractors, " Honey for ShIo " As the bronze letters
are on the back side of the gl iss, they are always
bright and clean. The extra expense for lettering
one of the glasses to a honey-case is 25 cents.
Tf you you can not make a folder as per descrip-
tion on page C13 we will furnish you one for 50c. If
wanted by mail, 5 c extra. These folders will with-
out trouble fold rabbets for Simplicity hives. or any-
thing else, not over UM inches. "John " wishes us
also to say, that if any of you need any help in mak-
ing tin cups or honey-palls, he will be glad to explain,
if you will address him in our care.
The new Waterbury watch has created quite a
sensation wherever it has gone, and I tell you we
have sent out a " heap" of thom since our last. The
expression "My neighbor wants one just like it,"
has got to be a pretty common phrase. Well, we
have a good supplv still on hand, and, what is more,
we can now send thom free of postage for the $i.50.
If by express or freifrht, with other goods, 15 cents
may" be deducted from each watch.
We are just about adding children's sleds to our
counter goods. The 5-cent sled is rather to be used
indoors. The 10-cout one will do very well for small
children to ride on. The 15-cent one is the same
tastily painted. Any of these can be sent by mail in
thetlrtt, and the postage will be equal to the value
of the sled. For 25 cents we can furnish a sled that
will hold any reasonable (in pounds) boy; is pretty
fairly ironed, and tastily painted. As ir is put to-
gether with screws, it can be sent in the flat without
much extra expense, when ordering gooda. We will
try to give you engravings of them next month.
BUSINESS FOR THE WINTER.
Isn't the following suggestive?
Will you please send me 300 one-pint honcy-p.ails by R. R.
freiKlit, via Cincinnati, unless you know of a shorter route. If
you can not .'■hip without delay, please advise me. I sent
^ — an order nearly eight weeks ago, and liave not the pails
vet. E. M. Hayhubst.
' Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 23, ISSl.
As we had the pails ahead, they went by first train;
but, my friends, if does not pay to send long dis-
tances for such goods. The 300 cost only ?12 75, and
Ihoy ought to be obtainable near every bee-keeper's
home. Boys, are you going to let Mr. Merrybanks'
neighbor "John," have all the fun making tin pails?
In selling tho counter goods so closel.v as we do,
m inv of them, we have f )und it necessary to add
one C'-ni each, besides the postwge, for packing; so
if you find the stamps are not equal in value to the
amount chiirgert in the list, do not think we have
overcharged. The strong paper and twine we have
found it necessary to use to stand mailing are more
expensive than you may perhaps be aware of.
PostuRe. ] [Pr. of 10, of 100
THREE-CENT COUNTER.
I liowls, yellow ware, 1 pt. ; useful | 2> | 2 25
2 I Handkercbiefs, for children, pictured, | 28 ] 2 .50
2 I Key Kings, superiorqualitj', with balls | 28 | 2 50
I Mugs, for children, glass I 28 12 75
t I Mugs, tor children, ebina j 28 | 2 75
i I Pans, Corn cake, circular, 3x2 in | 25 | 2 00
FIVE-CENT COUNTER.
2 I Albums, Autoeraph | 38 | 3 50
Paper covers, illuminated, nice for school children.
7 I Dish Pnns, toy, 2'/2X« in | 43 1+00
Cute tor chiliheu and " handy to have in the house."
0 I Flo\ii' Dredsres, japanned, very nice.. | 43 | 4 00
5 1 Kaleidoscope, a pretty optical toy | 43 i 4 00
4 I Papeteries. 13 white envelopes and 12
sheets of paper in a pretty box | 48 | 4 75
2 I Pen and pencil, Combination | 40 | 3 75
7 I Pans, paity, per Vi doz | 45 I 4 00
Over 20 diuerent sizes and patterns. Splendid for Maple
fu^ar cakes, etc.
2 I Spoons, table, tinned iron I 38 | 3 50
10 I Stove Cover Lifter, "always cool" ... 1 4'i | 3 90
5 I S!ove<'^over Lifter, wood handle | 33 | 3 00
6 I Wash boards, toy I 45 | 4 00
A fair match for the dish pans, and useful — to delight some
child's heart.
TEN-CENT COUNTER.
2 1 I 'ompasscs, magnetic ! 'J5 | 9 00
With rinj;' to liang on watch chain.
2 I Handerchiels, linen, ladies size | 90 | 8 50
Nice, with plain .and "mourning " borders.
3 I Lamp burners, Venus | 85 | 8 00
Two sizes, for straight chimney. No 0, or I. I have decided
the^e to be the best Inuuci- made. No. 2 burners one-half more.
2 I Match Boxes, rubber | 85 | 8 00
opening at eitlier end, very handy.
3 I Our Homes, Part H 1 80 1 7 00
12 1 Pans, patty, per doz | 85 | 8 00
Si.K different p.atterns. Nice for maple sugar cakes, etc.
10 I Pm ns, bread, oval, 8xlOx2'/2 I 84 | 7 80
I S.ad Irons, toy | 85 I 8 00
2 I Slates, book 1 80 I 7 50
Nice to carry in your pocket foi' memoranda.
2 i Sun glass or burning glass I 75 1 6 CO
3 I Twine, pink, cotton, jewelers 1 75 | 7 00
I'ut up in 2 oz. balls, just the tiling for nice packages.
j Whips, riding i 80 1 7 .50
FIFTEEN-CENT COUNTER.
2 1 Hdkfs, ladies, linen, hem stitched.. I 1 40 | 13 00
20 1 Pans, Dripping, tin 1 1 25 | 11 00
With wired edge, 2.\llxl(>34,
15 1 Pans, patty, per doz | 1 25 i 11 00
T\\ elve different sizes, for sugar cakes, etc.
Twenty-Five Cent Counter.
5 I Carpenter's Dividers, with wing | 2 25 | 20 00
i Pans, Patty, per doz , large size, 3
patterns, 4, 4^2, and 5 inches I 2 00 1 18 00
! Tongs, Coal | 2 00 | 18 tO
I Plates. Bread, especially for bee-
keepers I 2 00 1 18 00
A l)eautiful plate, with bee-hive and bees, done in frosted
work on the l)Ottom. Heavy Hint gla.ss.
C I Shawls. Plaid, meiino{?), but warm
and handy, any way j 3 00 1 18 00
Thirty-Five Cent Counter.
4 ; Spy glass or toy telescope, one draw | 3 00 | 25 00
riPTY-CENT COUNTEB.
1 Lamp, large size, tomplete with
burner and chimney; beautiful., j 4 00 j 35 00
5 I Spy Glass or toy telescope, 2 draw. | 4 00 1 35 00
j Washboards, stone, very nice 14 50 j 42 50
Seventy-Five Cent Counter.
Ifi I Tel(»phones, Bliss, 200 ft. of wire. , . . | 7 25 j 70 00
E>pccially to tell when bees are swarming, see Nov, Ulk.\n-
LNOS, 1881.
FOR $1.50.
Bell Jack Screw for raising buildinffS. Size 8xlJ4;
will lift 10 tons. A most handy tool on the farm.
A full list of counter goods mailed on application, and we can
send goods for the holidays to any friend you may have ANY-
wiiEKK, promptly on receipt of order.
A. 1. KOVT, Medina, OIilo.
1
Published Moiillily.
fTEKMS: Si. 00 PER ANNUM, IN AgVANCK
'Scopes for Si. 00; 3 for S2.T5- 5 for S4.0fl; 1
or more, 75 cts. each. S'"?'" Nuinber 10 cts
' Additions to clubK may be made at clu
rates. Above are all to be sent to onbJ-om-
A. X. ROOT,
Publisher and Proprietor,\ . ^ r.^ c> \^^^^^t^^^PoZ^^
inedina, o. ) EstahUsJied m i^^^^^^i^Essthan%cts^e^
by leaving the bees queculess a day or two before
offering them a stranger.
NOTES FROM THE BANNER APIABY.
No. 25.
HOW OFTEN I GET LAYING QUEENS FROM MY NUCLEI.
f»0, friend Hayhurst, I don't get a laying queen
from each nucleus or.ce in ten days. Several
— ** times T have taken bying queens from nuclei
from which laying queens had been taken only ciV/M
days previous; but even in the height of the honey
season T do not get, upon an average, more than one
queen from each nucleus once in two weeks, while
early in the spring, or late in the fall, I do not do as
well as that. Yes, some of my queens go off upon
their wedding trips, and never return.
INTRODUCING VIRGIN QUEENS.
Friend Doolittle has not had very good success in-
troducing virgin queens, while the editor of one of
our bee papers seems to almost doubt that it can be
accomplished. Now, xohcn honey is coming >n plrMi-
fully 1 3:>re/er to give a nucleus a young queen atthe
same time that the old queen is removed, rather
than wait a day or two and then give it a young
queen, or even a queen-cell. At such times the bees
seem to pay no more attention to a young queen
than they do to a newly hatched worker, and Uhave
no trouble in introducing virgin queens, oven when
they are two or three days old. When honey is
plenty, the bees seem to be fairly " crazy " to gather
if they have no time to spend quarreling with vir-
gin queens. But when there is a dearth of honey
they have more time to brood over t heir troubles, and
then, as friend Hayhurst says, 1 am more successful
QUEENS WHOSE DAUGHTERS ACL PRODUCE THREE-
BANDED BEES.
Now, friend Doolittle, abo^t those extra-pur«
queens. I have read the references that you gave
?n regard to the matter, but not one of them men-
tions a queen whose daughters did not produce one
or t wobanded bees, or hybrids. The daughter of each
wonderful queen pr.xlaccd no black bees, but nothing
is said as to whether they produced hybrids. Like
friend Root, I have seen queens wh<,80 daughters
produced no black bees, but T have yet to see the
queen whose daughters produced "« ^^^'^^ /J ^^^
Sanded bees, if -hey had mated with a W^'f drone
Now come right out fair and square, tnend D., and
tell us if you have aqueen whose daughters produce
no one or two banded bees, even if they have mated
with black drones; and, also, how you can tell
which kind of drones they have mated with. When
you rear queens from this extraor^linary queen do
you send them out as tested queens, without first
iesting them? And if you do not, it would look as
IhouKh you did not have perfect faith ia the capa-
bilities of your queen. If you really have such a
wonderful queen, and are wilting to sell her. I think
I can find a man who will pay $100.00 for her; because
he could send out her daughters as tested queens,
just as soon as they commenced laying.
I don't know, friend D.,but you will think me
very inquisitive; but in your report for the present
year you say that you commenced the season with
30 colonics; increased them to 80, and reared and
sent out 83 tested queens; while in the Aug. Glean-
580
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
INGS you say that you reared over 200 queens; now,
what did you do with the CT extra queens? were they
culls, and had their heads pinched off, or no, it
can't be possible that Doolittle has been guilty of
selling dollar queens! How la it, friend D.?
EDUCATION AND ABILITY.
Ni)W see here, friend York ;* what business had you
to go and guess that I meant j/ou, and then go on
and talk like that abnut my education and ability?
I think that if you were a little mouse, and lived in
my shop, and neighbor W.'s big cat didn't catch you,
and you could peep out of some hole and watch me
when I am preparing those "notes," and see huw
many times the dictionary, grammar, and rhetoric,
arc pulled down from the shelf, and how much hard
thinking I have to do, you well, 1 presume that
you would wonder why my articles are not better
than they are.
HEADY FOR WINTER.
I have just tiuishcd putting ten colonies into
cbimps; eleven more were prepared, more than a
month ago, for wintering out of doors, and seven
more are ready for the cellar, whenever the cold
weather comes. This is the first time that I have
commenced the winter with moie than twelve colo-
nies. W. Z. Hutchinson.
llcigersville, Genesee Co., Mich.
A BOOIU IN EiNGIiAND.
EIG^T COLONIES FROM ONE IN ONE SEASON, AND
EVER SO MUCH HONEY.
ffpRIEXD ABBOT in his happy way tells
f* of the following '-streak of luclc" in
the November number of the British
Bee-Journal : —
English bee-keepers, as a rule, have groat cause
for rejoicing; but in Scotland and Ireland the re-
sults have not been cheering, though hereand there
some good takes have been i-ecorded; notably, one
in Ireland of ISO lbs. from a single stock, and a query
will doubtless be freely echued. If one, why not
many? And although we are nut able to say what
other stocks in the same apiary have done — though
we shall probably have a report — we would remind
our readers that there is generally a best stock in
evei-y apiary, and in a large apiary the best is usually
"a wonder." We have had such an experience
with our own bees this year; and if every stock
had served us similarly, we should declare bee-
keeping to be not ' nc of, but the most protitable
busmess extant. Toward the end of April, a stock
of half Syrians was so strong that a second hive of
combs was put under it, and this was rapidly tilled,
and the population so immense that on May 14 it
was divided into three, foundation being given to
the swarms, and thus there were, in a fortnight, three
splendid stocks. A, B, O. From A we took, during
June, two full swarms, and during July, extracted
27 lbs. of honey; that stock is now strong and well
found for winter. From li, the swarm, we have also
had two swarms (one a cast, which we have kept,
and which is also safe for winter), 0 lbs. super, and
21 lbs. of extracted honey; and B is now in good
winter order. From C we had one swarm, and 38
lbs. of super honey; 12 2-lb. fceotions, for which we
were awarded a prize at South Kensington, but the
stock which is very strong in bees needed lU lbs. of
syrup to tit it for wintering; it is choke full of bees,
and has a large quantity of brood, and, all being
well, will be tit for repeating the career of its pa-
rent stock in the spring. Here, then, has one stock
multiplied into eight, and those we have retained
have yielded 44 lbs. of comb honey in sections, and
46 lbs. extracted. What the four swarms that were
sold have done, we can not report; but as they all
went out early they must have done well. The profit
on that one stock has been simply enormous — say
it was worth three guineas in April, there are now
four stocks of equal value; four swarms have been
•^Sco page IW, October nijmber.
sold for 6i., and the honey for 5Z. 68., making a nice
little sum altogether, and we have four stocks left.
Many other stocks did exceedingly well, but this, the
only lot we worked for comb huney, made us wish
there had not been such a demand for swarms, as
evidently, this year, honey-getting would have been
the more profitable game.
Did I not tell you a great honey yield was
liable to " happen " to almost any of you?
Here follows some advice for the fall
mouths. See if it tits you:—
Apropos to this, we may mention that a noted bee-
keeper and caterer, fonmrly of Crawley, in Sussex,
has discontinued hive-making for sale, and has gone
in for honey only, at Kottingdean, in tlie same
county, whence he has kindly lurwarded a descrip-
tion of his driiught-pre\ enter, mentioned on another
page. We owe an apology tor wandering into our
own apiary, and penitently return to •■our mut-
tons," to advise that as bees are now quiet, every
thing possible should be done to prevent future
disagreeables. Hive-roofs should be thoroughly in-
vestigated and made rain-proof, and vermiu care-
fully exterminated (it is astonishing how many thou-
sands of insects may be prevented oy destroying
their nests now), a routing-out of crevices with a
small bunch of birch-broom will be of great service.
Old combs should be boiled up (or melted down) to
prevent harbor for wax-moth, and the possible
spread of disease; old skeps should be burned for
tne same reason; old frame-hives that are too good
to burn should be thoroughly cleansed; old ideas
should be sifted, and old debts paid, particularly
those outstanding for the Bee Joariml; and tht^ to a
goodly number we can say there will be something
off your minds as well as off ours.
LECHLER'S 600 I^BS. TO TUE: HIVE!.
ALSO SOME KIND WORDS FROM FRIEND WILKIN IN
REGARD TO EXTRAVAGANT REPORTS.
^DfUjDITOR OF GLEANINGS:-In yours of Oct. 20.
Iqji you ask me to answer to the particulars of
— the inclosed card which you sent me, which
reads as follows:—
<i. W. Lfthler, of California, sa.vs on patfe 19:( of Gleanings,
that he trot H tons of honey, and an increase to 80 from a start
of :)0 colonies in the sprinir. I should liRe to .see that statement
sworn to before a justice of the i)eace. Six hundred lbs to each
colony! 1 wonder how many thousand pounds his best colony
gave! * « » I have taken 6:i00 lbs. from 35 colonies in th"o
sprinir, and one-halt their increase; the rest of the increase I
worked for queens, etc. More honey yet to come. I did think I
liad done pretty "ell. AV. S. H.VRT.
New Sniyrna.'Fla., Oct. 9, 1881.
My neighbor Sobey said to me, in reference to
Lechler's report, "Ah! Root ought not to publish
such stuff as that until he investigates it." That is
what I thought of the big Texas story of the bee-
cave you published lately; how the waters of the
stream passing by were sweetened so far below
from the drippings of the cave, and also the meat of
the bears killed in that region tasted sweet from
the same cause, except you had published it in a
way oyihj to bring out the question whether there
was any extraordinarj' yield of honey in those parts
to give rise to such monstrous tales.
About ten years ago, at the National Bee-Keepers'
Convention at Cleveland, O., at which friend Root
and myself were p'-esent, Hosmer, of Minnesota,
made this proposition to the members of the con-
vention: "If any one of you will buy one hundred
of my 110 hives of bees at $10. each, you can have
them, to be paid for only on the condition that, from
my remaining 10 colonies, reduced to only nuclei in
the spring, I do, the coming season, take 10,000 lbs.
of honey." The members half believed he would do
it, so plausible was his story; yet none of us took
his offer. Graveuhorst, a noted bee-keeper in Ger-
many, seeing the report of Hosmer, wrote me,
"How is it in America? does it rain down honey? if
1881
glea:nixgs in bee cultuke.
oSl
Hosmer do all he say, then I sell all I got and come
to America."
If a stranger makes a statement that the general
experience of others would pronounce incredible,
with nothing to back his staten.r'nt except his own
say-so, he is very unfair if he do not allow the public
to question the truth of his statement.
Lechler lives 20 miles from me. I have no means
of knowing how much honey he did get; someone
says his apiary is for sale, and accounts for the big
report in that way; I do not know about this; he
certainly has a choice location, with a few bees, not
crowded by neighboring bee-keepers, some of whom
have had very large yields.
California has more diversity of soil, climate, and
products, than most States; a combination of fav-
orable circumstances makes it yield in places, at
times, the largest trees, the largest gravevines,
pumpkins, and mustard, that the world knows of;
also the largest yields of honey and increase of bees.
It also does the most unaccountahhj mean things;
defeats j'ou where you were positive of success. I
have kept bees here in California for six years. My
best yield was an average of about 300 lbs. to the
hive, and a little more than doubling my stock (I al-
ways credit the old stock with the surplus from
their swarms). Two other seasons I did nearly as
well. The past season yielded nearly nothing; two
other years I got nothing; lost half my bees, and
had plenty of bother. I think but very few in
Southern California, with the same number of bees,
have done better than this. Previous to 18T7 I think
there had not boen so many failures, and we hope
there will not be so many in the future; yet I do not
know but we must have, to prevent being overrun
with bees. With a few bees in a good spot, plf*ntj-
of empty combs, the owner hitting on the best man-
ngement for that year, extraordinary things have
been done. I can not say Lcchler's statement is
impossible. Quite a number have increased from 1
to 10 in a season. Our deputy-sheriff, on whose
word I can entirely rely, told me he had increased
from 1 to (I am almost sure it was) 30 in a season,
nearly all good for winter. Ytu see, if he had 15 he
would only have to double to get 30.
R. Wilkin.
San Buenaventura, Cal., Nov. 8, 18S1.
Why. friend '\V.,did 1 not publish the bee-
cave story just as you sayV The very fact of
its havingcome from the Youth" s Companion.
a paper largely fiction, was, I thought, suf-
hcient to caution our readers, especially with
my closing comments. 1 have many times
published statements like these, thinking
the truth might be brought out by so doing,
and I think it has been. The present case
seems to illustrate it. Another point: Aft-
er such reports as these, we watch the man
afterward, and look for the outcome. Doo-
little gave us astonishing reports, but he
has since backed them up, year by year,
which would have been much more convinc-
ing from friend Ilosmer than the foolish
wager you allude to. Those who send in
such reports must expect to be looked after.
I do not feel like refusing to publish these
statements, because I myself was once
looked upon with great suspicion, even by
some near friends, because I reported over
300 lbs. from one colony, and 48 lbs. of hon-
ey in three days. If it is really true, that
friend Leckler's apiary is for sale, it looks a
little bad ; but we trust he will come for-
ward and vindicate his truthfulness. It
don"t hurt an honest man a bit to have his
statements questioned, friend L., and we
hope you will hold no hard feelings toward
friend Hart, who has only expresi-ed what a
great many of us could hardly help feeling.
Later.— Here is a letter from friend Lech-
ler himself, which many will probably read
with interest, as it is mainly in regard to his
locality, etc.
BEE-FARMS IN FRIEKD LECHLER'S LOCAI-ITr, ETC.
MR. KOOT:-Several parties have written to mo
for information in regard to this country, and the
chancfs for obtaining bee-farms, etc.; and as post-
age stamps cost money, 1 thought 1 would reply to
them through Gleanings, if you sec tit to publish
the reply, as all the inquirers say they obtained my
address through that source ; so I came to the con-
clusion I hey all take it or borrow it.
1 will state that there is plenty of line locations
for sale or rent, both in Los Angeles and Ventura
counties. Therw are a few stands of bees for sale in
both counties; the price ranges from $3. to §5. per
stand. The Lsingstroth nive is used by most bee-
men. Very few take the supers off in winter; as
for foul brood, I hear but little nbout it now. A few
years back there were some apiaries that were both-
ered with it, and claimed they caught the disease
Iriim feeding aisea?ed honey; but vu investigation I
find about the only apiaries atfected were those
where the owners practiced artiflcial swarming, and
allowed the brood to get chilled; and of course dead
brood does not hatch worth a cent. That is my idea
about foul brood. What say you? We have over
•iOO stands in this locality, and allow them to swarm
naturally, and have never found any foul brood.
The price of honey varies with the seasons. Last
year, extracted honey sold in San Francisco from 4
to S ets. per lb. This f^ll it is worth from 8 to 12 cts.
I think there would be no trouble in contracting
honey at .5 cts., no matter how good the season is, as
every year honey is taking the place of sugar more
and more. We have had one tine rain this fall, and
ever^ thing indicates a wet winter. If so, we shall
have a good honey season next spring and summer.
My bees are all out to-day, and are still getting some
honey Irom flowers that are in bloom. The rain has
started vegetation, and one more shower and the
earth will be covered with a coat of green in this
part of the country. I was out hunting a few days
last mouth: killed tj deer; met 2 parties of hunters;
one had killed 23 deer and one bear, and the other
party 12 deer; so you may think this is a land of ven-
isonaud honey, as well as milk and honey. 1 wish I
could send you a nice saddle of venison for Christ-
mas; but you are too far off; but I will think of you
all the same when 1 have a big roast.
G. W. Lechler.
Oak Park, Xewhall, Los A. Co., Cal., Nov. 4, 1881.
HOW TO TURN LANGSTROTH OR SIM-
PlilCITY HIVES INTO CHxlFF HIVES
^OR AVINXERINO.
AND THAT, TOO, ALMOST WITHOUT EXPENSE.
i^cl^HE way to do this occurred to me a few morn-
Jjjl ings ago, and I proceeded at once to do up one
dozen of colonies as an experiment. As I
looked on them after I had the bees snugly en-
sconced in their new quarters, I felt better satisfied
with it than with any thing I had seen or heard of as
an out-door-wintering hive. I give the plan, that
others may try it.
Take '/i-inch boards, 10 inches broad. Cut three
pieces just the length of the top of the comb-frames,
and a fourth piece ?« inch shorter. Nail them to-
gether, the short piece on and not between the sides,
and even with them at one end. Thus you hare a
box 9x10x19^4 inches in the inside, just right for six
frames. This box is to stand on end, the short sido
j82
GLEAl^lNGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
to the front, and the short end of this side down, for
an entrance. A strip ^i of an inch square should be
7iailed to each outside at the bottom, and project '.P.i
Inches in front, and a board 3!4 inches broad nailed
on thl3 to cover the entrance-way. To hold the
frames togethei" and in place, and av,'ay from the
front and back of the box, strips should be nailed,
two on tSiC front, one near the bottom; and one on
the back near the bottom. A strip is inch square
should extend from side to side, ?J. inch from the
bottom, and two inches from the front for the end
of the frames to rest on to keep them from drop-
ping out Avhen you lift the box. A notched strip
should be made to slip over the upper end and back
of the frames after they are in, to hold them in place
and awaj' from the back. To put the bees in, set
the box on a board or the cover of the hive; lift the
frames one by one, commenciuf? at the side, and
slip each frame down in the notches prepared for it,
putting the bottom of the frame toward the front of
the box, and the front end of the frame down. This
can be doiie easily without hurting' the bees. The
only diflicalty will be with the last comb. If the
comb has projecting points, these should be cut off
with the honey-knife, and it willg-o in readily. After
the fi-ames are all in, slip over the lops of their up-
per end, the notched stiips to steadj'them. Then
brush the bees out of the hive and set this box in
the center of the 10-frame hive, with the cover of
the ontrancc-wity tight against the front end of the
hive. Put a cldth over the tops of the box, All in
around it with chaff ; put on a second story, and till
as before with chaff, piling it up over the cloth cov-
er; or better, put on a third story and fill it with a
chaff cushion so that you can open the hive at pleas-
ure. This gives a tall narrow hive, well protected,
with the honey at one side, and above the bees. It
gives them ample room to cluster away up out of
the C'^ld from the entrance. It overcomes the ob-
jection to the Langstroth hive, that it is too shallow
for wintering; it does away with the objection to
the chaff hive, that in the summer you have to lift
the combs one by one out of the upper to get at the
under story. This hive can be taken down, and the
bees and combs returned to their old place in a few
minutes. The boxes can be put away in the shed,
and every thing made ready tor summer work in a
few hours. Give it a trial.
M'lroy, Pa. Rev. J. "W. White.
Many thanks, friend W. ; but your idea is
substantially the same as that given in some
ot the earlier volumes of Gleanings. If I
am correct, quite a number tried it, but for
some reason it has been abandoned. I made
a test of it on one weak colony that was
dwindling ; but as it didn't seem to save
tliem, I let it drop. I used no box, but stood
the frames on end, put blocks between them,
and after the bees had waxed all together,
covered the whole with a sack of bagging.
Since you revive the matter, I feel it would
give about as good protection from the
weather as a chaff hive, only that 1 should
be a little afraid the bees miglit get above
some of the honey, and starve on empty
combs in the very top of the hive. I wish
the matter might have a more thorough test,
for it would be a very great saving of ex-
pense to those who have only Simplicity
hives to winter in. "We could make these
boxes quite cheaply. On the other hand,
bowever, it would be quite a task to prepare
a hundred Mves thus, and then have the
whole to put back in the spring, and put the
boxes away, while the chatt' hives are always
all right, both winter and summer.
i/j^ "pcMms"
This department is to be kept for the benefit of those who aro
rilssatistted; and when anything is amiss. 1 hope voii will • ' talk
right out. " As a nile. we will omit names aiid addresses, to
avoid being too personal.
■\VR(1TE Mr. Burch. tellinpr him to send me on mv bees, if
he thoutrlit it would not make any dirt'ereiice ill tneir win-
toriiiij 1 1 had before told him I did not want them, but
^ wanted my money back). To-day I received a card, sayiijjr
if I wanted thein lie would ship at once, but advised me to wait
till spriiipr This is perfectly satisfactory to me.
You ask ini if 1 think you should be responsible for money
sent by tho.sc who aie not yu\n' subscribers. As I presume this
is meant to include myself, 1 will tell you what I do think, and
first will quote you one of your own texts. "He that doeth
rightcousne.-s, is righteous ' ' Ordinarily spi'aking, I would not
hold the imblisher responsible for his advertisers' wrong-doing;
but in the case of one like yourself, who pretends to such a very
sujierior degree of holinos i .'i, and also of his great influence
with the Lord. I would mn^t a^suniUy hold you responsible for
every cent sent by one who had been a subscriber, and who had
sent money before j'ou published tlie artic'les reflecting on the
intention or ability of any ot your advertisers to fullill their
promises. But you know very well that your whole oljject in
oflering to jiay Mr. B 's debts, or those of any one else, was
simply that you might make vour readers exclaim, " What a
very good man Mr. Hoot must be! for he will not see any ot his
sub.scribers sulfcr so long as he can kelp it." And tliis, top,
when I do not think you had the most remote intention of pay-
ing a single dollar But then, this is just of a piece with every
thing t have ever seen from .vou in the two years I have watchelt
your course in Gleani.ngs. There is not a single line written by
you, whether in Our Homes (which, bv the way, should nroper-
l.y be included under the heading of Humbugs and Swindles, for
if it is not a swindle it is f\iiin lirst to last a grand humbug) or
in an.y of the other dcpartuients, but. if rightly understood, is
intended solely for the praise ot A. I. Root and his wares. If I
could afford to do so, I would like to continue m.v subscription,
for the sole purpose of watching tlie developmeiit of what I am
very much inclined to think will one day prove to be a much
greater failure than thiit made by Mr. Biiicli; and when it does
come, if ever, I do not believe that your creditors will fare as
well as tlio.se of Mr B. I would like to write a great deal more,
but as my time is Morth something to me, and I doubt whether
you will read even this much, I will now bid you adieu.
J. P. BVRNB.
Foster's Crossing, Wai-ren Co., O., Nov. 17, 1881.
In our young people's prayer-meeting last
Sunday evening, a lady said that we should
thank God for our enemies, because they tell
us of our faults, which friends never do. If
that is so, it seems to me I should be very
thankful indeed for the above letter. Let
us see if we can not find something good in
it. One strong point is, that we should be
very careful indeed about doing or saying
any thing that might induce anybody to
think we are claiming to be holier than oth-
er folks, iiesides this, friend B.,you have
given me about the biggest stirring-up I
ever had in my life, in the way of a resolve
that 1 would get out of debt. Perhaps it has
given friend Buich a similar determination.
I am going to commence to-day to cut down
outgoes and expenses, and save the coppers;
and i/oujust. sec if I break down. As a gene-
ral thing, I think it well to keep cool and
not get stirred up ; but 1 do not know that
it would hurt us a bit, a great many of us, if
we got considerably "riled" when twitted
about our finances, if we only kejH riled long
enough to have every thing lixed up snug
and trim. Now, boys, who of us will pre-
sent the best record for being straight, care-
ful, and prompt? Eriend Ji., if you ever
come our way, please give us a call ; it may
be that your letter has been the means of do-
ing me more real good than any one I ever
received in my life, even if I was " boiling
for a. fight " when i first read it. Do j'ou re-
member, friends,'' Count— it— all— joy,"etc.?
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTtlRE.
583
A BOOItlING REPORT FROJTI TEXAS.
210 LBS. COMB HONEY, AND 301: EXTRACTED. IN ONE
SEASON, FROM THE DAUOHTER OF A DOLLAR
QUEEN.
ffl^ S the honej- season is just now over with us,
J(^_ I will send in my report bel>w. I will give
"~^* what our best hive did, and also the average.
At V2 o'clock. May 30, we placed our best hive ou the
scales; thty gathered,—
June 7 23 lbs.
That Eve 7 lbs
31 15 •'
Juna 1 24 "
Total.... lliCIbs
1«.
Total.... 173 lbs
Total.... 217 lbs.
rand total 510 lbs.
Lost 114 ••
Net 403 lbs.
You see, in 2t days they made 546 lbs., and every
night they lost 6 lbs.; and how it was we could not
imagine. They were always weighed before any
bees got out in the morning, and after they all came
home at night; so you see, at the time the drought
set in, June 3.'d, we had taken them off the scales,
and they made more honey in the fall; so now I will
just give the e.\act amount of honey we have taken
from them. Wc have just the number of times we
took honey, and how much each time, without any
date. The 1st time, ,5 lbs.; 2d, It; 3d, 4; 4th. 3C; 5th,
111; 6th, 140; 7th, comb honey, 107; 8th, comb, 70; 9tb,
comb, 39. Total, .520 lbs. You see, we took 304 lbs.
extracted honey and 216 lbs. of comb. This state-
ment is badly made out, but correct. If anybody
doubts it, we can bring forth four witnesses who
will testify to the above. This colony wanted to
swarm the latter part of March. As we didn't want
any more bees at that time, we ran them for honey.
All through the months of May and June, the above
hive was a 4-story Simplicity, holding 40 L. frames
and a good circle of brood in every frame. The
queen is a full-blooded Italian that [ raised myself
from a dollar queen bought of Mr. Root two years
ago, and I now have nearly all iiy hives stocked
wiihher daughters. In conclusiijn, my 44 colonies
averaged me 1!)6 lbs. of honey each, amounting to
$■'624 lbs.; about one-third comb Loney, and Isold at
an average price of lij^c per lb. This brought me
1228.92. Thisisihe season's work for myself, wife,
and two brothers. I fear from some cause my bees
have foul brood. I hope not, but they look suspi-
cious. E. J. Atculey.
D.illtAS, Tex.,Nov. 7, 1881.
FriencLs, there is something more in the
above startling rei)oit, than the simple fact
th;it friend A. had a greiittlow of honey, nnd
wisely made the best of it. If you will look
tlirough our back numbers, you will see
that l)Ooming reports have unexpectedly
turned ui» first in one State and then anoth-
er, until iVie beginner who is lookinj; for tiie
bts. locality in which to make astiirLis sore-
ly puzzled, and perhaps somewhat per-
]>le.xed, to account for these stateraiMits
that startle us almost, as ihey slioot up into
view almostwiih the sutldennessof aiocket.
Is it not true, that none of us half ui:der-
stand or comprehend wliat is in store for us,
when we once tnidf^rstand our business in-
telligently ? — Friend A., the loss every
night is caused by the, evaporation of the
water contained in tlie thin new honey. I
believe it is always the case, but it m;iy not
be to so great an extent as you mention. In
looking the re|)ort over, 1 have been in-
clined to think the ro lbs. reported on one
(lay might be a mistake. DitI you not skip
onie day, or does it not include at least a part
of two days V The whole secret of the great
yi^ld is in the queen of such astonishing
fertility as to keep brood in 40 comlis, all
at one time. Those who have been so
thoughtless, not to say unkind, as to con-
demn the dollar queens as a class, would do
well to consider this and other reports of a
similar character. I would say to the friends
who read tiiis, that I have known friend A.,
and have dealt with him for many years, and
I am sure he has made liis statement hon-
estly.— I trust you are mistaken about the
foul brood, friend A. There has been quite
a little of borrowing trouble where parties
imagined they had it, where it was only
dead brood from some ordinary cause, such
as leaving it exposed, etc.
^ ■<>■ mm
CELLAR V.«. OUTnoOK AVINTERING
AM) AK^TIL,ATION.
fW.\NT to put in my plea in l.'ivor of cellar win-
tering. I have now for eight years wintered
^ my bees succossfully in the cellar. My cellar is
only 12 feet square, directly under our living-room,
which contains a stove, of course. Ttie C'^ll-ir is not
frost-proof, as our potatoes fre(iuently freeze. This
12-foot cellar frequently contains 30 to 40 colonics of
bees, besid'^s p >taU)es, apples, l;ud, meat, and sf veral
dozens of cans of fruit, and still l?aves room for en-
trance and exit. Last winter I plaeed t>ecs in cilir
about the middle of November, where Ihey were k-ft
undisturbed until February 22d, when 1 set all out
for a fly. A few 1 found uneasy with symptoms of
dysentery, and comb? somewhat mrlily. The
cause was pliinly to be seen: the entrance was not
large enougii for proper vcntilition. I use Sim-
plicity hives, witb loose bottom-hoard; a si >t cut in
liot torn-board, triana:ular, ?« of an inch deep. I
then placed a blick % of an inch thick under each
corner, slightly raised each cover, and loosened the
enamel coth. A few days after, all were dry and in
good con'lition. Hereafter T shall thoroughly ven-
til ito f^ach hive. 1 had a neighb;">r a few miles from
me that kept from 21 to 3fl C(d)nifSof bees in box
hives, and always wintered them on their summer
stands; he aliveys kept an inch bl^'ck under each
corner, and left the cap (a box 12 inches square by
6 inches d^cp) on, with the entr.mce of an inch
auger-hole in the cap open; and he generally win-
tered sucei-s-'fully. F have, at times, put bees in the
cellar that were very weak, but wiuld c ime out
strong in the spring. Ha\e never had anv trouble
from -pring dwindling Wh !• I know that we can.
winter our b3e3 at times out of doors, 1 think the
bees, as widl as ourselves, would be more comfort-
able if warmly housed. It has been frequently
demon-'trated that cittle, horses, sh<>ep, and cth r
stock, can be wintered in a woodvd lot, or around a
straw s'ack; still, I can slo.p much Ictti r wbfn I
know my stock is li a good warm barn; jnul I im-
ayine the f-tock appn-ciates the acconim )dation?
aho. Ill cellar wiiueiing. I ncvc^r remnv • any
frames, or contract the brood-nest. Mr. George
58-1
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
Grimm's method is mine exactly, and I thoroughly
agree with Mr. Jerome Wiltse on ventilation. I
simply write to corroborate thtm.
Elmwood, 111., Nov., 1S81. M. H. Snyder
Have you not simply compared cellar win-
tering with outdoor wintei ing without pro-
tection, friend S.? I too sleep better when
I know my bees are comfortable ; but with
our varying climate, it seems to me they are
most so in well-fixed chaff hives, in their
summer houses, undisUirbed.
A CHEERINO REPOKT FRO:« OUR OLD
FMIKINU J. S. WOOUBURN.
ALSO SOMETUING -IBOUT LATE-REARED QUEENS.
^ggS) V the middle of April It^ist I had in my yard here
Ji^^ 13 colonies of Italian bees, only 5 of which
were entitled to the claim of being fair, aver-
age colonies. The remaining 7 would not, I believe,
have been purchased by any of your readers as
third-rate nuclei. All of the number, moreover,
were nearly through with their winter stores. Feed-
ing, nursing, and a building-up of the weaker from
the stronger, was the only programme of manage-
ment that seemed to promise any thing short of the
practical extinguishment of my "Home" apiary
(these 12 were the sole survivors of the 30 fine stocks
which this apiary counted in the fall of 1880), and up-
on this programme I entered with but slight expecta-
tion of the bnuntiful return which a kind Providence
had in store for me. Thirty lbs. of sugar were made
Into a thin syrup, and fed to the 13 colonies, princi-
pally to the stronger ones, and as their brood began
to hatch, assistance was brought from the stronger
to the weaker, and this was kept up till I had in each
of my hives a state of things that enabled its bees to
conserve to the full the laying capacity of their
queen. About the first of June, 10 colonics were se-
lected and arranged for the extractor; the other two
were divided and devoted to the raising of queens.
And now here is my report for the season: —
From the 10 run on the extractor I received 1119
lbs. of the finest honey I ever handled, and 22 swarms.
From the two c^snsigned to the rearing of queens, I
sold $34.00 worth of queens; took 46 sections of comb
honey, and now have from them 8 good stands of
btes. To put these and a few of the others in ap-
proved condition for winter, I have fed this fall just
200 lbs. of sugar; but as the cost of this, as also of
the 30 lbs. fed in the spring, and 3 Cyprian queens
purchased during the summer, is more than "off-
eeted" by the proceeds of queens sold, I have still
the happiness to report my yield for the season as
fully up to the amount of hooey taken, and increase
of stocks secured; that is, 1165 lbs. honey, and 38
Bwarms, or 9654 lbs. honey, and 333}3' per cent in-
crease per colony, spring count.
My honey was all sold at an average of about 12J4
cents per lb. within 60 days of its being taken from
the hive, and without the least conscious effort. I
did not even have to hang my sign upon the gate;
the honey was so good it just sold itself. My bees
are, I think, in exceptionally good condition for
winter.
I close with this single statement, together with the
moral to which it unmistakably points. My queens
In the spring were, with two or three exceptions,
reared lale in the season of 1880, and were therefore
such as Mr. Doolittle and a few others would con-
demn as comparatively worthless. But the lesson
to which this fact points, especially in the light of
this season's wi.rk, it seems to me, is that it matters
not when or how our queens are reared, pj'ouidcd
they are raised from approved stock, and at a time
when the internal economy of the hive is such as to
supply the essential requisites of the sivai-ming peri-
od: namely, flying drones, brood in all stages, and a
full proportion of workers of all ages, and under the
agreeable stimulus of busy labor. And who, I may
add, knows better how to attain and to maintain this
indispensable condition of things than the intelligent
and wide-awake bee-keeper who is endeavoring to
turn an h(mest penny in connection with the press-
ing demands of the "dollar queen" trade? Given
the pasturage of the Doolittle ranch, and the prac-
tical skill and well-timed diligence of the Doolittle
brain and hand, and there is not, I firmly believe, an
Italian apiary in the broad land that would not com-
pete closely with the Doolittle apiary in its yearly
returns. J. S. Woodbcbn.
Livermore, Pa., Nov. 8, 1881.
!■* ■»■ —
APIS AIUGRICANA.
THE COMING BEE.
understanding of how to produce a strain of
bees, all points considered, superior to any
race or strain we now know of, is so simple
that I am induced to outline it to your readers, after
reading the ideas of friends Hutchinson, Viallon, and
others, upon the subject. The above-named gentle-
men seem to be somewhat mixed up as regards the
best ways and means, and whether any such result
can be obtained or not. I may be mistaken in my
judgment, and a little more light might rob me of
my clearness in the matter, and dazzle to blind; but
I feel thus confident, that I will give you my course.
I will first make a few statements upon which I feel
sure all will agree, and then draw my deductions
from the facts I shall state, and leave you to Judge
of their logic.
1. Markings are no positive indication of any spe-
cial degree of any trait in the character of the bee.
We have all seen colonies standing side by side that
were equal, in every way discernible, to the master;
and yet that result which we so highly prize came
from one in a two-fold degree, compared with the
other.
3. Traits of character are as hereditary with the
races of bees as with other races. The above fact
we have demonstrated over and over again, in our
manipulations of the two races now common to the
apiarists of this country. Italians closely guard the
hive; Germans speedily build comb; Cyprians sharp-
ly sting.
3. We are now In possession of good qualities
enough to meet the demands of the highest aim of
our most progressive breeders, and the only work
left is to consolidate these qualities Into one strain
of bees, and, to the exclusion of various other pro-
pensities possessed by the various races and strains
now ours. Then we can exclaim, "Eureka I" Apis
Americana I " How we shall accomplish this object,
Is what I am going to try to point out. If you have
in jour yard a queen which Is abnormally unpro-
liflc. you destroy her, with almost perfect assurance
that the one the colony "will rear from a cell from
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
585
that large prolific queen over in the corner, will be a
prolific one. Such is the common unclcrstnnriing
and practice, is it not? My experience has tauyht
me that the trait of prolificness is not as surely
transmittiblo as those of good nature and honey-
gathering and comb-building propensities. In my
judgment the three above-named traits of character
are the ones which we should especially seek. In
my breeding I never breed from a colony that does
not possess them in an eminent degree, nor from
one that seriously lacks in the following minor
points of excellence: viz , prolificness and watchful-
ness. I have made these points named above my
special objects to breed from, and the reverse of
them the proponsiiics to be destroyed through-
out my apiary. Friend V. tells friend II., on first
page of Nov. No., that ho has found the second and
third generation from imported liees to lack the en-
ergy of their foreign sires. I can account for that
only by some peculiarity of his locality. Five to
eight years ago I bought daughters of imported
queens quite largely of different breeders who re-
ported their apiaries wfll str-cked with imported
queens and drones from the same, and of men whom
I have no reason to doubt, and I also raised workers,
drones, and queens, from imported queens in my
own yard, and I will tell you to-day that the best,
most profitable, and pleasant bees that I have ever
owned are bees that were produced by crossing the
best strains of the German bees with (he best of the
imported dark leather-colored Italians, at the same
time picking from stocks that possessed the above-
named qualities in the highest degree.
After this time I can plainly see the fruits of my
labor. My methods have not been strict, but gen-
eral and persistent. Both before and since the use
of full sheets of comb foundation in the breeding
department, I made It a practice to separate my pU-
worker and drone combs, and keep the drone combs
constantly occupied by such stock as I desired to
perpetuate in my apiiiry, and to rear my queens
from the pick of the choicest. Don't understand
me that I rear all my new queens. I do not. I allow
and encourage all my "stajidard" colonies (as we
call them) to go on in the natural way; but for those
below the " standard," I do the queening as above.
I never rear queens out of the swarming season.
I never have cells built in any but full strong col-
onies, and many directly under the swarming im-
pulse. 1 am aware that some few contend that my
queens arc no better for that; but I am not among
them, and I take pleasure in noting that none con-
sider them worse. If it is true that some forced
queens appear to be No. 1, and really are; that does
not prove that the forced from the forced of the
forced will not lack the energy of their ancestors.
I have but little faith in the improvements to be
made by any breeder trying to follow the above
rules, and at the same time anxiously watching the
developments of stripes. I have almost totally ig-
nored color, and yet, strange to say, I enter few
apiaries that are really yellower than my own.
"Cross hybrids" are no more a couplet in our apia-
ry. Such things are not necessary. It seems to me
that the whole subject is summed up in the word
"ditTereniiation." In every species of animal or
vegetable life, wherever found, we see that nature
is ever "sporting," thus producing great differfnccs,
and this is an earnest invitation to the thoughtful
and progressive culturist to improve the strains and
species that are under his control. If you wish cei'-
tain qualities of character, breed toward them. If
color, in stripes or otherwise, breed for that.
James Heddon.
Dowagiae, Cass Co., Mich., Oct. 7, 1881.
FROM 12 TO 81 IN 0\K SEASON, CONSID-
ERKD AGAIN.
ALSO SOMETHISG ABOUT nOSEY-PLANTS.
M'O, you are not correct on p. 5-%, if I am correct
in understanding you. No frame of brood,
' " nor of anything hut empty comb, was used
in building up the 13 colonies to 81. The S9 (you
probably mean 69) frames of brood that you speak of
as taken from the home apiary were part and parcel
of the 12 colonics, a full colony being taken from the
home apiary, with a queen-cell in each frame of
brood, and distributed in the Wilson apiary. The
queen-cells were started by other colonies; but as
an otfset to this, the 12 colonies had only 8 queens
among them, so I think it is not far from fair to say
that, by the aid of empty combs, 12 colonies were In-
creased to 81. Most of the 12 were of my strongest
colonies, but all my stocks were weak, and one of
the original IShadgot nofurther,up to June 11, than
to have a patch of brood in two combs. It may be
interesting to give you the exact record of one of
the earliest-formed colonies, which, of course, will
have a more favorable record than those formed
later.
May 24, I started it with one frame of brood and
the adhering bees, giving it a queen-cell, putting an
empty comb on each side of the brood. May 28, 1
saw the young queen. June 3, gave one frame esg's.
June 11, clipped the queen and took away one frame
eggs. June IT, took one frame eggs, leaving only
one frame brood. June 2.5 there was brood in three
frames. July], took one brood, leaving three brood.
July 11, had four brood. July 20, brood in C combs.
Aug. 16, brood in 7; extracted one comb of honey.
Aug. 22, extracted one honey. Aug. 31, extracted
one honey. Sept. 6, extracted one honey. Oct. 21,
the stock weighed 75 lbs., without cap or cover, in L.
hive, with fixed bottom-board, 9 combs, and =^-inch
division-board. So I suppose it has at least 35 lbs. of
honey.
I gave to the work the closest and best care I was
capable of, and they had no combs to build; but
above all, the season was such as I never knew be-
fore, giving an uninterrupted flow of honey from
spring till some time in September. And this leads
me to think that those of us who wish to make a
business of raising honey will, sooner or later, be
driven to give some attention to the matter of
ARTIFICI.4L, P.iSTURAGE.
If an occasional season gives unusual results, can
we not to some extent control the seasons by judi-
cious planting? Now, I don't mean to go crazy on
this subject, but I am not keeping bees for fun, but
for the money there is in it; and believing that I
could get good returns from the outlay, I am willing
to invest some dollars in planting figwort. Spider
plant, melilot, etc., if I can know just how to go
about it. From all accounts, I think I should rather
have an acre of figwort than of any other one plant.
I have just set out a dozen plants of it that I found
growing wild, an old friend first calling my attention
to it as a weed on which the bees were constantly at
work. 1 planted a package of seed in the spring of
18i0, and not a seed grew; but this year one plant
586
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
came from the same seed that had lain in the ground
a J ear. This year I planted a larger quantity of
seed, but not a plant has cnmc. I think next spring-
I shall try setting the plants. Now, Novice, ynu
have had perhaps more experience than anj- one in
trying to raise this plant, and have told us a good
deal about it from time to time; I believe you would
hardly do a better service to the fraternity than to
tell us just how you wouM now go about getting an
acre of figwort to growing. At what price will you
furnish us plants next spring? how far shall they be
set apart? what soil is tiest? how prepared? how cul-
tivated? You say the self-sown seeds have come up
by the million on your plantation. If I should sow
the seeds this fall, would they not come up next
spring the same as j'our self-sown seed? What is
the seed worth per pound?
I got a peck of melilot, and am sowing it aling
the road-sides, and I wonder if it would not pay me
to sow some in drills to be cultivated.
I notice that catnip prows spontaneously along
fence and hedge-rows, and in partially shaded places:
and 1 have been pulling off the seed-heads and scat-
tering them where none were already growing, in
shady places.
I planted Spider-plarit seed in open ground in the
spring of 1880. It came up well, and S( If-sown seeds
from those plants came up this year; but some seed
that I saved from the same plants, and sowed this
spring-, did not come up. What shall I do to get an
acre of Bpider plants growing? and what will the
seed cost per pound? Can any one tell us whether
the golden-honey pl^nt spoken of so highly by Dr.
Tinker is as valuable in other localities?
Were the figwort seeds that came up in the potato
patch (p. fiBT), this year's or last yf ar's seed?
Marengo, 111., Nov. 8, 1881. C. C. Milt.ek.
I agree with yon, frienrl M.. that I would
rather hH\e an' acre ot (igwort than of any
othi r plant yet lirought lorwanl. Althoufjh
we have had perhaps two acie.s in bloom this
season, it is pretty hard to tell the ijuantity
of honey it ])rodnced, where between three
and fonr hundred eoloiiies wern at work on
it; but the fact that it was, durintj about
three months, suclt a i)erfect roar of bees as
to aslonii-h everybody, bee-men or not, tells
pretty strongly in its Yavor. If I could have
a single acre, say on some isolated spot, and
then plant only about ten colonies of bees
near it. I think we would huve comb honey
from it in sections for a good long spell.
Who ^vill make this experiment V Another
thing : This tigwort seems to be wonder-
fully plastic in "the hands of one who will
love nature enough to study its pecularities.
I liave before mentioned an early variety
that blooms even before white clover; and
its great hardiness, and habit of pu'iiiing up
its sti'ong green shoots, even before the
snow has ^oue at times, seems to promise
that it may be made to yield the very first
honey of the season, as ^vell as the last. We
have already had bees at work on it in May
and November, and every intervening month.
Another thing : lu picking my way through
the field one day (our patch down on the
sandy creek bottom was a little roaring
swamp, for the plants were higher than a
field of tall corn), I found one stalk, or root,
rather, bearing flowers of at least twice tlie
ordinary size, and 1 at the time proposed to
tie a blue ribbon around the stalk so as to
save seed from it. It seemed to have honey
in proportion to the size of the flower, and
the bees seemed to like the large blossoms,
as it was so much easier to get into them.
In my mind there isn't a question but that
this plant of the woods may be so cultivated
as to enlarge its blossoms, just as much as
our garden flowers have been enlarged over
the wild plants. It should, how^ever, be
borne in mind that it is large globules of
honey, rather than lara:e showy blossoms,
we are after. Y ellow bands are very pretty,
but honey-gatherers are prettier, to the bee-
man who is in debt in the fall. I really do
not know whether I can Hnd that plant now
or not. When it stops raining I w^ill see.
Possibly the seed-pods are enough hirger for
identification.
There seems to be something funny about
the failures in geltingr the seeds to grow. It
may not be so funny after all, to those who
have fussed and failed. If you get some
woods dirt and sand, perhaps half and half,
and sow the seeds in a box, and keep the
temperature right, with the air moist, I
think you can raise them by the million,
without fail. As a sash put over them keeps
a moist air over them, I think it may be
well, even indoors. They must not have too
much sun. A soil that will bake over the
top will not do at all. and there is where I
think so many fail. Our creek-bottom sand
seems to suit them exactly. This matter of
improving the plant by selection, requires a
great deal of time and care ; aad with all my
business it is almost out of the question for
me to attenipt it. Will not some of our
boys and girls attempt it ? The sale of seed
from improved i)lants will pay you well for
the labor. I would set the plants exactly as
corn is planted, and then give thpm corn
treatment, and nothing more. Our plants
almost invariably blossom the first season,
with any sort of "ordinary corn care. Those
that were self-sown in the potato patch,
from seed tliat I think ripened this season,
are in blossom now, this 18th day of Novem-
ber. With such ground as that, I would
simply itrepaie and mark out the ground ex-
actly as for corn, and sow the seed, say one
or two dozen seeds in a hill. Cultivate, hoe,
and weed ; and if some hills fail entirely,
cany i)lants from those having many. This
would save, in a great measure, the grievous
task of setting out an acre of plants; and I
tell you it is a grievotis task, as I well know.
The most I should fear wotdd be the hot stm
on the young plants ; but if the seed was
sown in April or May. I think it could be
managed. Von might have some plants in
a hotbed, to "fall back on," as the woman
said of her sewing-machine, if she failed in
making her boarding-house "pay." The
plants that I sold at 25 cents per hundred,
last spring did not pay me very well, nor
our customers either. I am sure somebody
in the plant business could make it pay, and
send thein without trouble. I can not pos-
sibly " spread " myself over so many things,
and" have them all do well. I often, of late,
think of the poor old hen that tried to sit on
69 eggs (if that was the number). If I rec-
collect rightly, there were some of them that
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
587
did not hatch. I am inclined to think that
God inleudcd I sliould point out the way to
these new avenues of work that open up so
thickly, instead oc trying to do eveiy thing
that comes up, in> selt. As s"on as the roots
stnrt iu the spring, down on that sandy
ground, I will sell ihem for a penny each ;
and if by mail, about as mucli more for
postage. Seed sown in the fall will come
up in the spring, and, in fact, all through
the summer. It does not seem to make
much difference how old it is.
JSJelilot makes a much tiner growth, when
cullivatfd. I would p'aut an acre of Spider
plants exactly as 1 would corn ; and, so far
as I know, the seed will grow almost as sure-
ly as corn. It wants just about the same
temperature and soil Uiat corn does. Put in
8 or 10 seeds, and transplant where they fail.
By raising the plants in a hotbed, you could
get blossoms a month earlier; but I hardly
think it would pay for the extra labor. W illi
the amount of both plants laised, I had sup-
posed the seeds might this season be offered
very low ; but I do not see any offers less
than those in our iiriee list. Have I not
covered all points, friend Miller V
A HOPEFllL. ABC SCMULAB.
5?0W, mj- bee-keeping friends, I will give you a
yl little of my experience. I have never writ-
' ten a word yet, though this is my third year
In the bee business. Others have done the writing,
and by their advice and directions I have protittd
much. I feel now that I ought to give in my ex-
perience. It may be of interest and profit to begin-
ners at least. I commenced iu 1879 with 4 box hives;
transferred early in the season; three I ran for
comb haney ; got 50 lbs. to the hive. The other I in-
creased to three; sold one, and went into winter-
quarters with five, and came out with five. The next
season I ran three for honey, and two for increase;
got 200 lbs. surplus comb honey; increased to 12, all
of which 1 wintered wiihou*- loss. 1 have now £0
colonies of Italians, and will get about Oi) lbs. fmui
each of 0 colonies run for honey. I have sold some
bees and queens each year, and have made the bus-
iness pay from the beginning. I use the L. frame
and chaff-packed hives. Some have Hoot chaff hives,
which I like, and some have chaff only around l(3wer
story. I have never lost a stock of bees from any
cause, except one that went to the woods. I read
up pretty well before I tried to handle a bee, and
this is what enabled me to succeed as I have. I
commenced, expecting to employ all my time in
the business, and now have no time forany thing else.
I am pleaded, and paid better than I possibly could
be in any other businef s. It is a light and pleasant
occupation, and I regard it as safe as any other bus-
iness. It is true, we hear of great losses some
seasons, but I am not alarmed. Last season was the
hardest for many years, but I came thro\igh safely
with each of my 12 stocks in good condition. 1 had
them on 4 and 5 frames; 20 lbs. honey; chaff division-
boards each side, winter passages in all the combs;
chaff cushion on top. If I can have my bees in this
shape, I don't fear loss.
I hope to increase toSO coloniesnext season, which
is all the bees [ want. I can't properly care for
more; 30 of these I shall run for honey; the rest for
queen-rearing. West Virginia may not be as good
for bees as some other States, but I think it a fair
average. I can make an average of 60 lbs. of comb
honey per stock, which satisttes me.
G. w. Williamson.
Willow Island, W. Va., Aug. 3, 1881.
ITEMS ON EARLY POLLEN A^D UO>EY,
SKUNK CABBAGE {SYiMPLOCARFUS FCETIDOS).
I, S quite a little has been said during the last
jp^» year ab;)ut early pollen and honey, perhaps a
~^ few words more would not be amiss, for this
early pollen and honey is what lays the foundation
to our success during the season. The first plant
producing poUeu with us is skunk cabbage. Tho
t)uds are all formed the season previous, in a small
sheath about the size of a hen's Qgg, and upon tho
first approach of spring this pushes through the
uround, and a small opening is made, by the sheath
parting on one side so the bee can crawl in. Inside
of this hollow shell is a tiny ball about the size of a
marble, with little spikes covered with pollen stand-
ing ouc from it in all directions. Tho bees r.ll
around in this shell and run over the ball, collecting
pollen in their baskets without taking wing (the
same as they manipulate propolis from an old bee«
hive which stands in the sun), till they get a load,
when out they era vvl, often having more pollen ou
their backs than in their pollen-baskets, and away
they go for home. I see friend McWilii (page 137,
Gleanings) claims that skunk cabbage produces
honey; and friend Root saj's, "It has been several
times mentioned as a honey-plant." I think there
must be a mistake somewhere, for after several ex-
aminations I never have been enabled to find a bee
■ leavLug this plant) having any honey in her sack,
Quinby. in his "Mysteries of Bee-Keeping" (page
78), says, speaking of skunk cabbage with other pol-
len-prod ueiug flowers, "These afford only pollen."
It grows on moist soils, and after blossoming, puts
out large cabbage-like leaves, which if broken smell
very much like the animal from which it derives its
name.
PUSSY willow (salix).
Of this we have several kinds, which put out their
blossoms quite irregularly. Some are a month earli-
er than others, and some of the buds on the same
bush are ten days later than others. The kinds
which seem to attract the bees most are the black
willow, upon which the kilraonark is budded, and
those which produce a long cime-like flower similar
to the black willow. From these two kinds the bees
obtain large quantities of p lien, but, as far as I can
ascertain, no honey. They are so eager for It, that
they sometimes cut the blossom to pieces and pack
the anther in their pollen-baskets, as well as the
pollen. The flowers are of a rich orange colir, and
consist of a center, out of whieh spring hundreds
of little thread-like filaments, upon which the pollen
is supported. It is very interesting to see the bees
work on these flowers, as you can see their motions
so plainly, as the tree or bush does not grow to be
of much height. It naturally grows on 1 iw swampy
ground; Ijut with a little culture to start, will grow
readily on dry ground. They grow readily from
cuttings put iu the ground in early spring, as does
all of the williw tribe. Tho abcve are often set
down as "honey-plants;" but according to Qoinby,
and my own observation, they produce no honey.
588
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
GOLDEN WILLOW (SALIX VITELLINA).
This and the white willow give U8 our first honey;
but, contrary to the above, produces no pollen.
"When this is in blossom, and the weather is warm,
the bees rush out of their hives at early dawn, and
work on it all day long as eag-erly as they do on bass-
wood. The flowers are similar to those which grow
on the birch, being of long tag-like shape, as large
aa a slate pencil, and from one to two inches in
length. These tags secreie honey so profusely that
it can many times be seen glistening in the morning
sun, and the trees resound with the busy hum of
bees from morning till night. From the few trees
along a small creek near here, our bees frequently
make a gain of 10 lbs. of honey. The honey is quite
similar to apple honey, and of a nice aromatic flavor.
The golden willow yields the most honey of any wil-
low with which I am acquainted. Oa page 599, Vol.
8 of Gleamsgs, F. S. Paddock asks, " Which kind of
will-)w8 are best as a bee plant, and how close should
they bo set for a fencer " The white willow is the
kind used for fencing, and this kind also yields hon-
ey largely, but not quite so much as the golden wil-
low. The cuttings are set 6 inches apart for a fence;
and where kept trimmed, I know of no fence which
presents a more beautiful appearance than does
this. This is the most rapid growing kind of all the
willow tribe, single shoots growmg from 3 to 6 feet
in a year. By trimming twice a j^ear it is kept in
good subjection. Thus in short I have given what
light I can as regards very early pollen and honey,
as well as willow for fencing.
G. M. DOOLITTLE.
Borodino, N. Y., Nov. 11, 1881.
The above facts are certainly of much
value; aud although contrary to my im-
pressions in some respects, I presume friend
D. is right. The common fence willow is
in great profusion in our vicinity, but I have
never seen many bees on it. I have never
seen any willow that produces honey in such
quantities as to be seen by the eye, as friend
D. mentions, and I think that we can all of
us have at least a few cuttings of this gold-
en willow to test it, in our own localities.
Will friend D. jjlease state how low he can
furnish us such cuttings ; for by that means
we may be sure we have the kind that pro-
duces the honey in such quantities V The
willow-tree sent us last spring by fiiend
Gulp, of Ililliard, 0., drew a larger number
of bees than any other plant I think I ever
met ; but if friend D. is correct, this must
have been for pollen only, and not honey. It
strikes me just now, I should very much
like a skunk cabbage on our grounds. As
they giow in the woods near, I presume it
will not prove a very expensive luxury.
io^f)-.— From friend Doolittle's forthcom-
ing price list, which is now issuing from our
press, we answer our own question relative
to price of willow cuttings:—
VTLLOW CVTTIXGS.
As onr bee friends frequently inquire about willows for bee?,
we have concluded to send outtingrs of the foUowin}? varieties at
20 cts. per dozen by mail, postpaid. Cuttinfc^ 8 inches long, aud
from J^; to % inches in diameter. Pussy willow, pi vcs us early
pollen for the bees, and is eagerly sought after by them. Gold-
en willow yields honey in aljundance: and if the weather is
good, it helps the bees wonderfully. Wliite willow also yields
honey, and is the kuid used for fencing. If kei)t trimmed it
makes a handsome fence The cuttings grow readily in moist
soil, and will thrive in nearly any soil, if cultivated for the lii'st
year or two. Pi-iee per dozen, by tqail, SO cts.; per 100, by ex-
press, 50 cts, ; per lOOU, 81,00.
TfTINTEKING, AND PREPARING FOR
WINTER.
BY OXF. WHO DOES WINTER HIS BEES.
EN the many excellent plans for wintering, given
during the past few months, most of the writ-
ers, I believe, recommend that the bees be sup-
plied with good honey. Does not this indicate that
the quality of the honey is the most common cause
of success or failure, supposing, of course, that the
bees have plenty of it, and are in a normal condition
otherwise; that is, have a good queen, and a suf-
ficient force of healthy workers? I think it does,
and have no doubt that the neglected hives of care-
less bee-keepeers, that survived the rigors of last
winter, were those that had anopportunity of breed-
ing up well late in the season, and had an accessible
supply of good honey.
HONEY-DEW, B.AD FOR WINTEniNG.
I understand good honey to be that which is
gathered from flowers (not honey-dew\ and is well
ripened and sealed. My experience with honey-dew
has convinced me that it is entirely unUt for winter-
ing; from what I know of the bees that died in this
localitj", I am certain that black-waluut honey-dew
and starvation killed the most of them.
I can not agree to what friend Heddon says on
page 543, Nov. Gleanings, that " it seems that those
who neglect their bees succeed in wintering as well
as any." In all my acquaintance with the bee-keep-
ers of this neighborhood, there is no greater old
granny than myself about "fixing" his bees for
winter, and none succeed in getting them through
the winter better than myself; this is no doubt due
to the fact, that the bees are supplied with an
abundance of the best honey or syrup, within easy
reach of the cluster..
1 have not lost, during the past eight winters, one
single colony, excepting in 18T8-'79; then, owing to
sickness in my family, I did not have time to take
all the honey-dew out of some of my hives, and they
were wintered partly on it and partly on syrup.
These colonies were so seriously affected with dys-
entery as to make it necessary in the spring to re-
duce their number about one-half, by uniting; but
no one died out entirely, and I sold all the surplus
queens.
Our bees are snugly tucked away for winter, and
have been so for over six weeks. There is no such
thing at our house as the gambling excitement men-
tioned by friend Heddon, for I know to a certainty
that next April they will be bright and healthy,
ready for business; and to-night, as the wintry
storm rattles against our windows, I think of them
with as ufuch satisfdction as I do of our faithful
horse and Jersej' cow in their comfortable quarters.
All but two colonies are in chaff hives. They are
confined by close division-boards to from five to
eight combs, and these are well filled with clover and
linden honey and sugar syrup. All have winter pas-
sages. The entrances are contracted to Jixli-J in.
Pieces of old carpet or burlap cover the frames,
while warm soft chaff cushions pressed down over
all, confine the heat and absorb what moisture may
escape from the bees.
There I I had almost forgotten this upward-venti-
lation bus 1 less. Ever since I read, years ago, what
our kind friend Mr. Langstroth tells us about it In
his excellent book, my bees have had something of
the kind. That which is supplied by the cb.iff cush-
ions seems now to give the best results,
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
589
Our cushions are about four inches thick, and last
winter, when the thermometer ranged from 10° to
20" for weeks at a time, they would have frost on
the upper surface, while next to the bees they were
drj- and warm, and the bees and <• nnbs dry.
I have not found it neccessary lu have any open
space above the frames. " If you want to know how
that feeU to the bees, just hang your bed-clothes on
the bed-posis some cold night."
Asking pardon for saying so much on this almost
threadbare subject, may I suggest, friend Boot, that
if we would all faithfully follow your timely advice,
and attend to our bees in September, just as you di-
rect, making them breed up well by thorough feed-
ing, and at the same time supply them with ample
stores of good honey or syrup, that no dead bees
would be reported, even if wintered in single-walled
hives and on summer stands?
E. M. Hayhurst.
Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 15. 1881.
To those who are unacquainted with friend
IL, 1 would say, by way of adding weight to
his advice and instruction, that he is, and
always has been from tlie hrst, one of the
successful ones. Not only does he succeed
in raising and wintering bees, but he suc-
ceeds in raising fine queens, and getting
them safely to their destination. More than
all this, he succeeds, year after year, in doing
business with a large number' of people in
such a way that none of them ever have any
fault to find ; at least, so far as my knowledge
extends.
iu%mil^ §^liarbij(inh
Every girl or boj-, under 12 years of aee, who writes a letter
for this department will receive one of Uavid Cook's excellent
5-cent Sunday-school books. Many of these books contain the
same matter that jou find in Sunday-school books costing from
$1 00 to $1 50.
S LIKED my book real well. I have read it
thmugh, and have laid it away, to read when I
— ' get larger. 1 do not go to Snuday-school, for it
is too far away, but 1 go to district school. I study
the Fourth Ktader, geography, grammar, spelling,
and writing. Pa has kept bees for 13 years; he has
never lost many until last winter. This is theiirst
year pa has taken Gleamngs, and he likes it very
well. Pa has got 2« swarms of bets now; he had 33
swarms last fall, and lost them all but 9. I have 4
brothers, but no sisters. My little brother, 4 jears
old, likes bees; when they come into the house he
takes them on bis fingers and carries them out-
doors. His name is Amos. Pa bought 4 queens this
year; he bought 3 of them from you, and 1 from Mr.
W. Z. Hutchinson. The one be got from Mr.
Hutchinson was a $1.00 queen; ehe was all white,
and sbn has her hive full of nice light bees now.
The $3 00 one you sent us is nice too. There are not
mauy of her bees out yet. If you will open the hive
you will see some of them. I do not think much of
bee-Slings as a cure for rheumatism.
Jennie E. Stoner.
Merrimac, Sauk Co., Wis., Oct. 15, 1881.
A very good letter, friend Jennie. And
so your brother's name is just like mine.
Isn't it funny that it happened so V AJay be
you haven't had the rheumatism yet. Little
girls don't often have it. 1 am glad to hear
your queens turned out so well.
My pa finished packing his bees to-day. Thoy
crowded on six and eight frames, with division-
boards on each side of the brood-nest, one-fourth
inch from the bottom ; upper story filled with dry
forest-leaves. I assist my father a great deal with
his bees. I am a schoolarirl. Isabella Wier.
South River, Anno Arundel Co., Md., Nov. 4, 1881.
I am a little girl ton years old. My papa keeps
bees. He has about 50 hives, and about 1500 lbs. of
box honey. Papa takes Gleanings, and I like to
read it. I have got one sister and one brother. My
brother is three years old, and my sister is eight
years old. Nellie Wortd.
Reading Centre, Schuyler Co., N. Y., Nov. 5, 1881.
Thank you, Nellie. That is a very good
little letter.
This is the first letter I have ever written, though
I am eight years old. I have two sisters and one
brother. My pa has kept bees for 15 years, and the
most that he owned at a time was 40 colonies. Last
fall he had 3, but lost 1 last winter. My pa takes
Gleanings, and I like to read it. I think the pic-
tures of Mr. Mcrrybanks and his neighbor are very
funny. Eva Dehr.
Indian Falls, Genesee Co., N. Y., Oct. 25, 1881.
I am a little girl 10 years old. I have three sisters
and two brothers. Mj- elder brother keeps bees.
He had 40 swarms last summer, and lost 15 last win-
ter. He gave my sister two swarms. His bees
made 1400 lbs. of honey this summer. He got lao
per lb. for the comb honey; 17 for that in sections,
and a shilling for the extracted. My sister has the
picture of Blue Eyes. My brother takes Glean-
ings, and I like to read the Juvenile Department.
He bought twelve glasses to put honey in, and gave
me ten cen»s for washing them. I read in the Fourth
Reader, and study geography, grammar, spelling,
practical and mental arithmetic.
Emm.4 VTaoner.
Calamus, Clinton Co., la., Oot. 2S, 1881.
Very good, friend Emma, but wasn't that
a pretiy big price ; almost a cent apiece for
washing the glasses?
MRS. HARRISON TALKS TO THE CHILDREN ABOUT
CHRISTMAS.
I know what the juveniles are thinking abotit, and
shouting out through your happy throats. "Christ-
mas is coming! Santa CLius will soon be here 1"
The boys are wishing for sleds and skates; the girls,
for dulls, books, and pictures. But there is one
thing that boys and girls want just alike. Isn't it
funny? It's money. Many of you are wishing, " Oh
if 1 could only earn some money !" Yes, that is the
way to enjoy It; earn it. I see some of you own
hives of bees, but none of you have erer told us
how much money you have made from them. I'm
afraid that papa does the work, sells the honey, and,
I'm almost afraid to say it, puts the money into his
own pocket. If you are real bee-keepers, you will
do the work for the bees, and sell the honey your-
selves. You want to give presents, don't you? If
father or mother gives you the money to buy with,
it is they, and not you, who give it, is it not? You
should keep a book account of your apiary, and tell
us all about it, so we will find out whether bee-keep-
ers are like farmers — " sonny's pig, but daddie'a
pork."
If you have money to spend, ooosjder well befor©
590
GLExVNTNGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
you do 60. You give presents to your friends to
maljc them h>ippy, doyou not? And the only way
in whioh any of us can be made happy is in our nwn
way. If you give a boy a doll, be might throw it at
you in disgust; but if a knife or box of tools were
given him he could hardiy find words to express his
delig-ht if ho were a boy of inventive turn; that is,
one wbi) likes to make thing-s.
Some of yciu ouid enrn Christmas money by work-
ing- for Mr. Iti>nt g-etting subscribers fi)r Gleanings.
Slime persons who do not care tor bees themselves
inijfht bo induced to scud it as a Christmas present
io a friend who does. A book would m;ike them
glad only once, while GrjE.\NiNGS would twelve
times iiJ a year, f mm Christmas to Christmas. You
might take The You^Ii's C:>mpa)iiun along too, and
pet subscribers for both, or some other good paper.
Who among the Ju\enile8 will msike Mr. Koot the
largest Chrisimas present of ^hig club—ot subscrib-
ers to G LEANINGS for .1882?
SOMETHING ABOCT PENMANSHIP.
I am pleased to see so many children writing for
the Juvenile Dc'partment. I think you must write
plalrdy, or the editor wf>iild not print your letters as
he does. Very otten when I I'eecive a letter from
an eiiitor, lawyer, or minister, it takes the whole
family to read it; hut when a child writes to me, I
can read it all !il->ne by myself. Practice writing
your own name and address, and make each leiter si>
plain that grandpa can read it without specs. Some-
times I get a postal from someone who wants honey,
and the name is written so poorly that I can not
tell who wants it. The evenings are getting long
now, and so you should practice writing, and per-
haps Mr. Root will tell in Gleanings who does the
best. Mk§. L. Harrison.
Peoria, 111., Nov., 1881.
Many thanks, Mrs. II., not only for the
kind words in regard to the circulation of
Gleanings, but also about tlie matter of
handwriting. I do believe it would be a
good idea for a great many of the fathers to
set the children writing the letters. Perhaps
they might manage as I do here in the office.
I take the letter 1 wish answered, and scrawl
my answer on the back or margin just as
hastily and awkwardly as I please. Of
course, nobody could read it who wasn't
schooled (" schooled " is the word, and I tell
you it is a school), to read my crooked marks
and abbreviations. Well, some of the girls
in the office have so learned my characters
that they read them right off, when you
could scarcely read one word. Another "ad-
vantage they have: they can read the letter
first, and from their knowledge and experi-
ence in the business know pretty nearly
what the answer wonld be, and so can easily
write out the nice clean letters we send you.
Mrs. II., do you ever have any trouble in
reading the letters our girls send you?
Those who have tried it can tell what an
immense saving, to a busy man, the above
plan is. I have nothing to do with names
and addresses, and I ofren scrawl answers
witiiout knowing who wrote the letter at all.
I miglit add. for the enconragement of our
little uhl writers, tlmt our office is now en-
tireU/ in charge of yiris and women (one of
them is now sweeping the floor, and they
can sweep fleers and clean lamps almost (V)
as well as boys can), and I share to a con-
siderable extent the pride thev feel in let-
ting the world know that wonaen can do
business. There are seven of them in this
room now, and in a month or two we shall
need several more probably.
Now about subscriptions. If you will re-
member to send the stamps for postage, I
will make the following oifers for subscrib-
ers : For the first name you send me with
$1.00, any thing on the 3-cent counter. For
the second, any thing on the 5-cent counter.
For the third, any thing on the 10-cent
counter. For the fourth, any thing on the
15-cent counter; and for the fifth, any 25-
cent article. After you have sent five names,
we will credit you with 25 cents on each
name, to be taken in any thing in our price
list, at the retail or single-article price.
Please remember, this offer is given only to
increase the circulation of Gleanings, and
to pay you for the time and trouble it takes
to show it and explain its merits to your bee-
keepip.g friends. Be sure to tell what arti-
cle you want, children, and send the 'postage.
Big folks, or anybody else, may get subscrib-
ers on the same terms, if they wish to.
Sample copii;S and prije lists will be fur-
nished free.
GOOD NC:^VS FROra H. A. BURCU.
fl'IlE following is from the South Haven
_ i, Messenger, of Oct. 28 : —
IJees.— Since our last i-ssue, Messrs. H. A. Burch
& Co. shipped twenty-two colonies of Italian bees,
consigned to parties in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana,
Pennsylvania, and Canada. Since the first of last
June this firm have shipped bees to U7 ditferent
person-*, and out of this number they have not had
a single complaint regarding the quality of the stock,
which speaks well of their efforts to furnish bee-
keepers with a superior strain of Italian b=es. Will
the "old and reliable " Bee Jimrual ask Oleanings to
give this item his " prayerful consideration " ?
Most gladly, friends of the Messenger, and
with a '• thank God " for it too.
Kindly allow me space in Gleanings to acknow-
ledge the filling of my order for bees by H. A. Burch
& Co., of South Haven, Mich. The order was placed
in his hands about the 26th of May, and bees re-
ceived in good order by me Oct. 18th, and beautiful
Italians they are too. I might also say, that my or-
der might have been filled earlier; but when not
filled as promptly as I anticipated, I countermanded
the order and asked him to refund the money. This
also failing, I again, on the 11th of Oct., asked him
to fill my original order, which ho did, and that
promptly too.
Would it not be well for friend Rose, of Grand
Haven, to keep •***♦♦*•
down the temperature? " T. Boles.
Ridgeway, Ont., Can., Nov. 2, 1881.
Mr. Burch sent me some bees Oct. 31; ho sent 9
frames. I suppose they are short L. frames, which
I will have to transfer. There was but little honey
in two or three frames. I think there was about
two quarts of bees. What do you think they are
worth ? John E. Riqgs.
Newbern, Mai-ion Co., la,, Nov. 7, 1881,
1881
GLEANINGS IN J3EE CULTUKE.
591
STORING AND KEIilPING CO.llB IIONE^.
f]HE following from the Colorado Farmer
was credited to the Rural New Yorker,
' and nothing more ; but unless I mis-
take very much, it was writlcu by our friend
Poolittle. Perhaps you have heard the sub-
stance of it before, but it is matter that will
bear repetition, without doing anybody any
harm : —
CARE OP COMB HOXEY.
ATuch has been written in rearard to the best meth-
ods of securing large yields of honey, the hives best
adapted to secure such a yield, etc., while but little
has been said in regard to caring for such honey aft-
er it has been obtained. It is said that Mr. Diirand,
the strawberry propagator of New Jersey, obtains
more money from his few rows of strawberries care-
fully tended, and put upon the market in fine condi-
tion, than is obtained from as many acres grown and
sent to market by shiftless parties. We find the
same thing occurring in regard to much produce
which is sent to market, and honey is no exception
to the rule. To place .our honey upon the market in
the best possible shape, therefore, should be the aim
of every bee-keeper in the land.
If honey is left on the. hives but a few days after
being sealed over, its snowy whiteness will be
changed to a yellowish white, by the bees running
over it, thus spoiling it for a really fancy article.
Hence he that wishes to get the first price for his
honey will remove it from the hives as soon as
sealed, and not leave it on till the end of the season,
to save the trouble of going over the apiarv more
than onc^, as is the custom c)f some. I go over my
yard once a week, removing all scaled boxes, and
placing empty ones in ih<^ir places, and consider
this none too often. After taking the honey from
the hives there are two m>re things to bo looked
after, or we may have but a second rate article, no
matter how whit.? and nice it may he when first tak-
en off. If stored in a damp and cool room, honey
will take on dampness: and if left there long-
enough, it will become unsalable. How often wo
see honey becoming transparent and stanoing in
drons on the surface of the combs, ready to leak on
being handled the least bit, which not only hurts the
looks of it very much but makf-s it liable to sour un-
less consumed very soon. While in New York In
1877, I saw in a damp cellar several hundred weight
that had become so damp as to burst the cells and
run over the crates, tloor. etc. It smelt very bad,
and was unsightlv to behold.
To avoid a mi-thap like this, honey should be stored
in a very warm, dry room as so'>n as taken from the
hives, and left there for a moot 1 1 or more before it is
crated preparatory to sending it to market. For
this purpose I use a room seven by t-en feet in the
southwest corner of mv shop, having the outside
painted a dark color, so that the sun will make the
room as warm a« possible. The mercury in this
room will sfiind from 90 to 10(i° most of the time,
thus ripening the honey si that in a month's time it
can be handled and turned over as much as I please,
and not a drop will leak out, even from the un-
capped cells at the edsres of the box.
If kept thus warm, as nearly all practical apiarists
of the present time claim it should be kept, the sec-
,ond trouble is quite likely soon to appear, which
comes in the shape of the larvae of the wax moth.
Worms in the boxes an inch long and nearly as large
as a pipe stem are not very tempting to a customer
who is in search of a nice box of honey for his fami-
ly, or perchance for a select party. These have
bo»n seen by the writer while looking over honey at
different markets. To prevent such a state of af-
fairs, the honey when taken from the hive should
be placed on scantliners which should be raised a
foot or more from the tloor to permit tho placing of
burning sulphur underneath the pile, if the moth
worm should tte troublesome. Evamino the honey
every few days, and if you see many boxes with lit-
tle white plHces resembling flour on the combs, you
may know that the little worms have commenced to
work and will eventually eat the sealing off. unless
either they are killed by burning sulphur or their
work is arrested by cold weather. To sulphur, get a
pan of coals and set them in a kettle, or fi.x thorn in
some way to prevent danger from fire, and when
they are burning pour on them three-quarters of a
pound of sulphur for every 200 cubic feet contained
in the room. Sulphur the last thing before crating,
and you may be sure your honey will not depreciate
while staying in the market. Just how the I'ggs of
the moth get in the boxes is not known. Some sup-
pose the bees carry them there on their feet from
walking over places where the miller hns deposited
them, while others think the miller gets access to
the interior of the hive at certain times.
When thoroughly ripened and sulphured as above,
the honoy should be stored in crates made of nice
white wood, holding about ^5 lbs. each, with the
gr( S5 weight and the weight of the crate pl-iinly
marked on e.ich as well as the net weight. When
honey is thus put up it will always bring the highest
price in the market. If there is any difference in
the honey it should be graded. T make three grades,
putting none but that which is nice and white in No.
1. For No. 3. that which is mixed with buckwheiit
honey is \ised, as well as that built on old combs
from which it is always darker thati that from new.
Buckwheat, goldenrod, and other fall hone.y goes as
No. ;}. as well as all corahs which have once been oc-
cupied with brood. When all box honey in the Unit-
ed States is placed upon the market in the above-
described coniition, we shall have made a long
stride toward a settled market value for our prod-
uct, as there now is for most other productions.
RAmBIilB NO. 8.
TO THE FOREST.
"^^^^^^ are admonished again by the recent visits of
WM Jack Frost, that winter is once more rapidly
^ -' descending upon us. The comfortable fire
reminds us that the woodman will soon put his ax in
order and march to the forest, and with a few
sturdy strokes lay low the monarchs that have
swayed their branches in the free air of heaven for
a century or more.
At this season of the year, when the forest-leaves
are tinted with those rich and variegated hues, and
before the destroyer commences his work, we love
to lamblo up the mountain-side and note the
changes of the year. Tho apiarist whose mind is
upon tons of honey or scores of queens, will find
mrch food for reflection beneath the trees. We find
hero the primitive home of the honey-bee, and the
paradise for the bee-hunter. It seems now as
though it ought to he a short step from the hollow
log to tho modern bee-hive; but, tho movable frame
was born only through many trials and experiments
by man J- wise men.
We have learned that it is more economical to cut
our tree into boards, and that the soft woods yield
to our tools and make a better hive than the hard
woods. We find that pine makes the best body to
the hive; that locust gives us a better wood for the
frame, for it finishes as smooth as glass, and holds
a nail tenaciouslj'. Basswood and poplar give us
the snow-white sections for our surplus comb
honey.
When those sections are being filled with the
choicest gifts to the apiarist in the mouth of July,
the eye is often turned toward the forest, and to
those lofty tree-tops that rise like mounds above
the general level of the forest. As the seasons roll
round, you will miss, each year, a few of those
mounds; the ax, the saw-mill, and the plane have
converted your linden-tree and your bee- pasturage
into articles for the use of man. Is it any wonder,
then, that the apiarist should bestir himself, and
plant fer the future by his many visits to the for-
est? He has learned to improve upon nature, and
plant his trees at such a distance apart as to give
full development to the tree. In studying this de-
velopment, another beauty is observed: The habits
of growth of different trees. The linden has the
592
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
form of a spheroid; the apple and cherry that of a
sphere; the pear is the shape of a cone, and the lo-
cust approaches the cylinder in form. Out of these
forms it is easy to figure an acreaj?e of tree foliage.
It is safe to double the surface measurement for
blossoms on the interior branches. According to
this estimate we have apple-trees over 60 years of
age, ten of which are equal to an acre, while a splen-
did specimen of the linden, which, alas! has suc-
cumbed to the ax, gave fully a fourth of an acre of
foliage.
Aside from honey production, the forest gives us
many lessons for our improvement, and for the
adornment of our homes. How eagerly are the
lichens gathered up, and the running pine! Even
the seeds of the linden are utilized to make beads;
and when stained, they equal In appearance the
strings of foreign nuts we saw at the Centennial.
We love the forest with all its solitude and its trea-
sures. We love the grand old trees that have been
adding circle after circle to their circumference for
a century or more; and as we return from our ram-
ble we drop a sigh of regret for the noble trees that
will fall before the ax before another year shall roll
around. J. H. Martin.
flartford, Washington Co., N. Y.
HOW TO TAKE OFF SECTIONS.
ALSO SOMETHINO ABOUT HOW NOT TO DO IT.
fjiHIS is my first season with the Simplicity hive,
and I am well pleaded with them. My neigh-
— ' bors are interested, at least those who keep
bees, and say they are bound to have some of those
hives.
I wish you would tell me how you take off sec-
tions. 1 put my first swarm, and a good one, into a
Simplicity. They soon filled the hive, and I put on
a case of sections, and they filled them all with the
nicest honey I have seen for a long time. I waited
for a cool morning, and tried to take them off, but
the bees came pouring out in a perfect stream, and
I put on the cover, and left them until evening;
then I came at them with smoker and chisels, and
pried the case loose, and got it off on the grass, but
there was a small swarm in the case and on the bot-
tom of It, and after much sweeping and driving, I
set the case on an empty hive and gave them a little
brimstone. That made things quiet so that I could
take the sections out of the case. C. A. Case.
Old Chatham, Columbia Co., N. Y., Oct. 17, 1881.
Why, friend C, who ever told you to
choose a cold morning to take off sections?
It was just your very worst time, for the
bees were all at home, and in no mood to be
disturbed at all. Have we not told you in
the A B C, and everywhere else almost, to
handle bees in the middle of the day, when
as many were out in the fields as possible?
At such a time, you could have lifted out all
tilled sections, and replaced them with emp-
ty ones, almost as fast as you could pick
them up and set them down. If you are an
ABC scholar, you should have taken out
the sections and'handled them often, so you
would know just about the time the first one
would be ready to take off. By waiting un-
til evening, you had the bees all at home
again, and they were likely just unloading
and arranging the honey they had gathered
during the day. If you wanted them clear
out of the case, why did you put it on the
grass at all? Had you raised up the case of
sections, and placed an empty second story
under it, right over the hive below, you
could have driven every bee down on the
brood-frames in a very little time with your
smoker. The empty Itive between them is
needed, because without it they will boil up
in one spot while you are driving them
down in another. You had the empty
hive right there, it seems ; but instead of do-
ing as I have suggested, you killed the
poor little fellows Avith brimstone, as a rec-
ompense for their kind labor to their un-
thankful master. Please excuse me for
the way in Avhich I put it, but I can never
bear to hear of bees being killed. I have
almost felt like crying for them since read-
ing your letter.
HIVES, QUEENS, ETC.
fHAVB noticed two things about handling bees
in spring and fall and in cold weather. When
bees are clustered together in cool weather, and
you lift a frame out of a common hive, the bees that
fall on to the bottom-board curl up, and very often
never uncurl. In the chaff hives they don't do so.
PHOTECTED BOTTOM-BOARDS.
Well, I made some boxes, and stuffed them with
leaves forbottom-boardsforother hives, and I found
out that the bees did not curl up on them either, and
we don't find the combs so moldy down on the bot-
tom back corner, nor do the bees fly out so much if
the hives are on stuffed bottom-boards in winter as
they do if on common bottom-boards. When the
stand is made by nailing boards on 6-inch scantling
set up edgewise, and stuffed with leaves, I tell you
they are just " bully."
Now I'll tell you why I don't like the Simplicity.
It's too small to make a chaff hive of for winter. I
have seen and used some Simplicities that just suit
me; they arc square inside. The front and back are
packed with 3 inches of any thing to fill up; the bot-
tom has 2 inches of packing; a light cap of half-inch
stuff, 13 in. front, 11 in. back, covers the whole. A
good thick chaff division-board on each side, and a
2-inch cushion on top, won't put them in good freez-
ing condition. Well, 17 out of 18 stocks in them did
not freeze last winter, and two-thirds all around
them did freeze. The frames come just even with
the top of the hive. Now for a plain square-top case
on top of the hive, and two divisions below, and wo
have the advantge of the chaff hive and the square
cases to tier up to keep wide frames, brood frames,
or boxes, during the winter. Another thing: This
chaff packing under the bottom-board helps to get
the brood to the bottom of the frames early in the
spring, and makes the same number of bees cover a
greater surface of comb, furnishing more brood in
the same time. Make the wide division-boards one
side burlap; use the burlap side to the bees in win-
ter, and the board side in summer.
artificial and natural queens.
Well, now, don't you recollect that in 1878 and '79
you wrote about having the queen lay right in the
cups, and then we could have natural queens start-
ed from the eggs, and see if they were not better?
You asked who would try it. I sent you word that I
would if you would, and I have for the past three
reasons. When I sent you word, I believe I stated it
1881
GLE^iNlNGS IN BEE CULTURE.
593
was the hardest to stop them from laj-ing in them,
and so I find it. I find that there Is not the least
trouble in getting the queen to lay in the cups if you
keep your stock moderately strong, and have the
queen clipped; and you can quiic often find a nice
young queen haiching out or ruhulng around on the
comb if you don't keep a very close watch ; and I am
obliged to say. that the queens so raised have both
mated and laid quicker than those raised from
brood, other things being equal. This is not from a
cell occasionally, but 20 nuclei have been kept run-
ning half and half since Ihe spring of '79, and queens
have been put into full stocks side by side from
these nuclei to try the difference, and there is but a
Email per cent of superiority in favor of the natural
queens, and that is mostly size and gentleness. If I
had not promised to report on the experiments I
should never have penned the results, because I am
convinced that It is very unsafe for any but experts
or those who have had considerable experience with
bees, to attempt to get cells in this way, on account
of the dangers of swarming out, superseding, or kill-
ing off the queen when least expected. But in spite
of the objections, cells can be practically obtained
with either larvfe or capped over, and the old queen
present all the time, and cells can be obtained from
the middle of May till September. ABC class, don't
run any risks with good queens, or you may lose
them. Experimentalist.
Oct. 23, 1R81.
May I sugs;est, friend E., that with your
Simplicity hive made larser, and packed, it
would be a Simplicity hive no longer, for you
could not put them one over the other, "nor
use them in any way you do the Simplicities.
The Simplicity is a summer hive, and I do
not believe it will pay to try to ma ke a good
winter hive of it. "Your stutfed bottom-
boards are no doubt a fine thing, but T think
I should prefer having a complete chaff hive
while I was about it— If I am correct, the
greater part of the testimony is to the effect
that queens reared under the'natural-swarm-
ing impulse are, as a rule, little if any better
than those properly reared in other ways.
The difficulty because of the tendency "to
natural swarming is quite an obstacle in the
way of getting all our queen-cells in that
way, as you say.
■■ g « —
THE PHIIiO SOPHY OF VENTIL.1TION.
DYSENTERY CURED IN MID -WINTER.
f BOUGHT a couple of hives that had dysentery
so badly they were over half dead. In January
' I transferred them to the frame hive (they
were ia old box hives). I put warm brick in the
hive, and got it prettj- warm; heated the side cush-
ions as hot as they would bear, and put the bees
back (they had been la it three days). Tn the hive
I put warm brick over them, and put some cobs in
the upper story, and closed the hive so a bee cou'
not get out. I went to the hive next day, and the
cobs looked as if the hogs had been among them. I
did this to those two hives once a week for three
weeks; once when it was very cold. These two
hives made me a surplus of over 100 lbs. per hive,
and are strong yet. So much for a largo upper
story, the cube of which is (garret Included) t(H2
inches. Last, but not least, the hive should be set
In a shed /acing tbe south, as per Qumby. Tlisre Jis
a great benefit derived from the solar rays in the
long winter months.
My idea about a tight hive is something like this:
I took two boxes, one open and the other tight. I
put old damp cobs into each box. I went to them
ten days after. In the tight box the cobs were all
covered with frost, while the cobs in the open box
were all dry. In about a week it turned quite warm.
In the open box the temperature was 60° F. ; in the
tight one it was 30° F., and the cobs still covered with
frost. Now, if a bee-hive is too close, and there is
not enough air passes through to keep the combs
dry, they will be covered with frost, or a cold damp
sweat, which is worse on the bees. The draft should
not be direct, as some want it; it should be as tight
as a jug over the brood-nest.
I have experimented considerably with bees and
hives, and this is some of my practical experience.
I would like to tell you a little more about my hives,
but I have not room, and must be as brief as pos-
sible. Geo. W. Stites.
Spring Sta., Ind., Oct., 1831.
I think, in your experiment with a box of
cobs, you have hit the point exactly, friend
S., and we owe you a vote of thanks for the
experiment. If the space over the bees is so
ventilated that the packing remains dry and
free from frost. I hardly think there will be
danger from dysentery, and certainly not
with plenty of "stores of good pure whole-
some food.
UPS AND BO^VNS OF AN A BC SCHOLtR;
AND HOW HE BEAT THE "OLD BEE -MAN " FINALLY,
fi AM an A B C scholar. This is my second year.
Last year I bought 11 swarms in all kinds of
hives. I transferred and fixed them up as well
as I could, and ran them up to 29 colonies. I did not
get much surplus honey. Jlay 1st, 1S81, found rae in
possession of 16 swarms that had survived the win^
ter — 10 good ones, 6 poor. All had queens but one.
May 10th, a big storm of rain, hail, and wind, tipped
over two swarms and killed the queens, and almost
all of the bees, perhaps three-quarters of a pound in
both hives. I looked through all of the rest and
found 3 more queens gone, leaving me 11 with
queens, 6 without. June 5th I had queens for all my
hives. I had raised them myself. June 10, white
clover in blossom.
Now for the result of the year's work: I extracted
1109 lbs.; had 237 lbs. section honey; got 12;ic for ex»
tracted, and 15 for section honey, so you can see
whether my bees have paid, I might have had more
extracted honey, if T had had time to attend to the
bees. I had only 150 lbs. of linden honey; that is,
out of brood combs, and that was to give the queens
a chance to lay. I wanted to be full of good honey
for winter. I forgot to tell you that one of my
friends, an old bee-man, told me that he was going
to choose a colony, but he wanted me to, and he was
going to beat me. So I showed him my hive. Now
or that one hive: I extracted 49 lbs.; had 635^ lbs.
of section honey; divided and made 5 good colonies
from it; have got three frames of honey, which I
took out and put down for winter use, weighing ISJi
lbs. The whole amounts to over $10. How Is that
for hla-h, and for an A B C scholar? I did not reckon
In what I got from the young ewarms. I got 33 lbs.
from one; from two swarms, 44 lbs. extracted ;
and some from another, I don't know bow much,
594
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
but not a great deal. The last swarm, T sold. My
bees are mostly the bi^ brown bee; some hybrid,
some Italians. You must excu«e mistakes, for my
little blue-eyed grirl bothers me. D. Shangle.
Judd's Corners, Shiawassee Co., Mich.
Thank God you have a little '• Blue Eyes"
to bother you, friend S. ; and thank him,
too, that your elforts with the l)ees have
eventually turned out so well. If you will
excuse the liberty, I am afraid you are in-
clined to be a little careless sometimes ; but
with what you have accomplished, you now
knov/ what bees can do, and I think, too,
that you see there is little probability that
your "otherwork is more importantthan your
work with the bees. ^Vill it not be just as
well to say next year, that you had no time
to attend to the other work^ instead of say-
ing that you did not have time to attend to
the bees V
MRS. HTCINDA IIAKRISON ON BCE'
STINGS AS A REltlEDIAIi AGENT.
ALSO SOMETHING ABOUT OTHER THINGS FOR " RHEU-
MATICS," ETC.
MIR. EDTTOR:-We have been watching with in-
terest the discussions that have been in
' Gleanings in reference to the sting of the
bee as a panacea for rheumatism. We know what
rheumatism is. The Turks call it " wind in the
bones;" but our relations have been so intimate that
we have eaten salt together, and when wo yrished to
dissolve the intimacy, it was like the fabled shirt,
that, when once it was put on, could not be removed.
And we have seen the spectacle of a doctor visiting
rheumatic patients, who was a sufferer with it him-
self, to the extent that he could not draw the rib-
bons over his own horse. " Physician, cure thyself "
first, would have been more in keeping with good
common sense. During two seasons, in February
and March, we had rheumatism to the extent that
we were not able to dress our feet ; we were accus-
tomed to say to the little girl who did it for us, "You
will not have to do it very long, for as soon as the
weather is warm, and we work with the bees, and
get stung, we can put them on;" and it was so. Our
rheumatism was not cured, but relieved; whether
It was owing to being stung, or working and per-
spiring freely in the v/arm sunshine, we are not able
to say.
If we are not mistaken, physicians say that rheu-
matism is owing to the presence of urea in the
blood, and as the poison of the bee acts upon the
kidneys, we are of the opinion, formed from obser-
vation upon our own person, that it will relieve
acute rheumatism somewhat. But the rheumatism
that we will now describe is not, in our opinion, go-
ing to be cured by the sting3 of bees, any thing gent-
ly rubbed on the surface, or that passes down the
throat. The ancients called this disease rheuma.
tism, from rheum, to flow, as the mucous glands se-
creted an excess of fluids of an altered character.
These fluids, in process of time, form a hardened
substance on the bones and among the muscles,
which, for lack of any other name, we will describe
as bones. The flesh harden?, and you could just as
easily pinch up cold pork with your fingers, as this
rheumatic flesh; It is cold, and the bones and mar-
row also. Sometimes the cords and sinews are all
knotted up, like tarred rope, and the afflicted per-
son can not straighten his limbs or arms. In our
travels this summer we providentially met a person
who had learned to crush these bones, or " critters,"
as he called them, and work the hardened flesh until
it was soft and natural, and straighten out the knot-
ted cords. The treatment was as follows: The body
was first thoroughly washed with warm soft water,
and a mixture, composed of castile soap, saltpeter,
and hartshorn. Then the doctor rubbed in oil on a
small portion of the body, and worked and rubbed
until the oil was absorbed. When he found one of
these " bon(!S " he used great pressure and crushed
them. When he was working one of these hard sub-
stances, it felt as if a jagged bone was cutting
through the raw flesh. The treatment was torture,
and very excruciating, but we stood it for seven
hours a day. The result of this treatment was soft-
ened flesh, limber joints, and increased circulation,
which gives warmth and good feeling. No person
but one of a strong will would endure to have knot-
ted cords worked for hours until they are straight-
ened. My rheumatic readers, do not stop moving as
long as your limbs or arms obey your will; for, as a
general thing, when a rheumatic stops he stays
stopped as long as he lives, and another's legs has
to do his walking and bidding. A few years since
we had dropsy, and could not wear our accustomed
clothing. We took no medicine, as it and us had a
fall out many years since, and we have never kissed
and made up, and are not likely to. It was winter,
and as spring came on we moved our bees into clean
hives, and let the bees sting us whenever inclined.
It was very hard work for us to get around, and car-
ry so much water, but we kept on working in the
sunshine, and as it was so hard to do. It caused us to
perspire freely; and before hot weather our dropsy
had entirely disappeared, and has never troubled us
since. Bee-keeping is just the thing that rheumatics,
and those dropsically inclined, need to hustle them
around lively. Mrs. L. Harrison.
Peoria, Illinois.
I am very glad indeed to get an article like
the above, from one whose opinion will have
the weight that any thing does coming from
our good friend Mrs. Lucinda Harrison. I
feel sure the time is coming Avhen physic and
drugs for human ailments will, a great por-
tion of it, be laid aside, just as our doctors
have now laid aside the practice of blood-
letting, of a century ago. The evidence in
favor of bee-stings, for some forms of rheu-
matism at least, is now almost beyond con-
troversy, and we are almost if not quite as
sure in regard to dropsy, as will be seen
from this number and our last. I am strong-
ly inclined, however, to lay great stress on the
advantage of working in the situ and open
air, so as to perspire freely. I would sug-
gest to Mrs. L., that, instead of waiting for
spring, she have a greenhouse where she can
have the sun for a good many hours in the
day, even if she can not have the bees. I
should not be at all surprised if she might
have the bees too, every day the sun shines
in winter, ere many winters more pass.
The demand for early queens is getting to
be too great to allow of the idea slumbering
very much longer, of flying and raising bees
under glass. It is not only the rheumatic
ones who want to "keep moving," but it Is
advice I think the most of us need. Mrs. L.,
I pray that when the kind Father sees fit to
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
595
call you from this life you may be permitted
to die without being troubled by very much
medicine.
FRIEND MCNEILL'S KEPORT.
BEES AND BEE SUPPLIES AT FAIRS, AKD HOW TO
FIX THEM.
I herewith hand in my report
fnr 1881. Number of hives in thespring,9— all
— ' weak; four so very weak that I believe I
could have held all the bees in each of theni iii one
hand. The others would average perhaps a quart.
The honey season opened early. Indeed, I found
my bees doing a rushing business befoi-e there was
any bloom whatever. One of my box-hive neighbors
lost about 20 during the winter, and another 10; and
I found that this early flow of honey was due to this
fact, and to the negligence of the afore-mentioned
neighbors.
First pollen was gathered Apiil 20, and from this
time till after buckwheat bloom there was a contin-
uous growth in my little apiary. It was my pur-
pose to build up my only two hives of blacks into
strong colonies as early as practicable, and then
break them up into nuclei; getting my increase
from these and my honey from the other seven,
which I intended should not swarm at all. But my
purpose did not seem to be in accord with their ideas
of how their family affairs should be conducted; for
while still having plenty of room for brood and hon-
ey, I found them starting queen-cells early in June.
They soon began to swarm, and they continued to
swarm regardless of my efforts in their behalf, till,
by natural and artificial increase, I bad 25 colonies.
With such an increase I looked for little honey,
and visions of sugar buying to build them up, and
give them sufficient stores for winter, floated un-
pleasantly through my brain. But the honey season
held on bravely, and my colnnies, big and little,
grew and throve. Early in August I emptied my
surplus combs, and found, greatly to my surprise,
that my crop of early honey amounted to 650 lbs.
mostly extracted. The empty combs were replaced
just in the beginning of buckwheat bloom, and they
were filled again with this aromatic sweet. A 42-
gallon barrel has failed to hold my buckwheat crop.
I reckon my honey crop for the season at 1125 lbs.,
or an average of 125 lbs. to each of the original nine
in the spring.
Beginning a year ago last spring, with three col-
onies of blacks, the fall found me with eight and
$60.00 on the debtor side of my bee account, and not
a cent on the other. This season has added about
$100 more to the debtor side; but when my honey is
all sold I expect to have mj' bee account balanced.
As there is little known of advanced bee culture
in this section, I thought I would be doing the com-
munity a service which they would appreciate, by
making an apiarian display at our count j* fair. My
exhibit consisted of a two-story Simplicity hive com-
plete; a frame of fdn., one just drawn out into cells,
and one full of honey; a brood frame of sections
with fdn. starters, and one with sections filled with
honey, and a frame with queen-cells and hatching
brood. Then, of course, I had my extractor and
honey knife; also a Peet introducing cage, a smoker,
samples of extracted honey, and a frame of Italians
with queen in the two-frame nucleus hive, which I
got from you last year. I cut out the sides of this
hive, and fitted in two 8x16 panes of glass. This
gave a complete view of both sides of the comb, and
as 1 purposely left but few bees on the comb, it was
not a difiicult matter to get a view of the queen.
And just here let me remark to any of our bee-keep-
ing friends who purpose making a display of this
of this sort, don't neglect to have a queen in the bill.
She will prove a star, sure.
Ithink 1 have been well repaid for the time and
trouble which my exhibit cost me, in the expressions
of pleasure and satisfaction which it called forth
from the many to whom I explained the wonder of
the bee-hive, and the methods of advanced bee cul-
ture. Jamks McNeill.
Hudson, N. Y., Nov. 1, ISSl.
FRIEND TIMMEItJtJA.N'S IDEAS ON SEV-
ERAL FOINTS.
EHAVE been keeping bees 21 years in New York
and Iowa; have used Quinby's old-style box
hives; have been invited by patent-right men
to invest in movable frames, but I "got bit" on a
patent right years ago in New York State, and 1
would never hear of nor look at one again.
I have 61 stands of bees. Last winter and spring I
lost 31 out of TO. In box honey my bees average
from nothing up to 50 lbs. It seems Strange to see
others in Gleanings have such large yields. In fu-
ture I will adopt the Simplicity, but 1 don't like the
idea of transferring.
HOW far will bees go for honey?
I once disputed with Hammond, a bee-keeper in
Fayette, as to whether his bees were flying past my
house, four miles out of town. He came up, and he
owned up. We investigated, and found they went
three miles further, working on a large field of
buckwheat. I live on a prairie, two miles from tim-
ber on the north-west; east, timber is five miles off.
Now, in basswood time my bees circlQ about until
they are 50 feet high, and more go east than any
other way.
where do absconding swarms go?
In swarming time, timber bees come out of tim-
ber, fly across the prairie, and cluster in artificial
groves. White clover is plenty on the prairie. In
basswood time my runaways go to the timber every
time.
WILL BEES gather HONEY FROM CORN?
Yes, and lots of it too, sometimes. They gather it
from the tassels at the same time they gather that
dark-green pollen. I always know what my bees are
working on. It is not every year they get a large
amount, say about as often as one year in four oi'
five. I have had them average from 5 to 10 lbs. per
swarm of the nicest honej'. It comes after bass-
wood.
WILL BEE-MOTH LIVE ON CLEAR WAX?
Yes, and come to maturity in a box of honey; eat-
ing the cappings (but not so as to daub or get in the
honey), spinning their web all over the honey, the
same as in a hive. No miller ever got in said box, as
it was pasted up tight and placed in a dark and tight
closet.
Last year I helped a brother-in-law extract honey.
He had six swarms in movable frames; one was a
double swarm. It gave 20 lbs. at five different times;
first, clover honey; next, basswood, corn, goldenrod,
buckwheat. We could tell what it was at each ex-
tracting as easily as we could tell basswood honey
from buckwheat.
596
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUHE.
Dec.
Bees have been dying for three years now; our
greatest loss was in the last of April. Warm weather
set the bees brooding. A few cold days they could
not fly to get water to reduce the honey properly
for the brood; brood died in comb; bees would
swarm out as in swarming time, leaving, sometimes,
thirty and forty lbs. of honey. I hived eight one
day, but saved only one. They dwindled to nothing,
placed in liives that died out in winter.
FKED TlMMERMAN.
Fayette, Fayette Co., la., Oct. 31, 1881.
I presume bees on the prairie will fly much
further than usual, but still I think there
must be some mistake about their flying as
far as seven miles : 3i miles is as far as we
liave been able to And Italians working from
their hives, when the first ones were brouglit
to our couuty.— I presume that on the prai-
rie, swarms wotild of course go for the tim-
ber.—1 think, friend T., the moth you speak
of used some honey witli the cappings ; but
if you look closely. I think you will find now
and then a little pollen that started them on
the comb honey.— I guess April is the worst
month with most of us.
CAN WV. GET PUKE IJRONES FROM AN
ITALIAN QUKECV MATED AVITII A
BLACK drone;
AN OLD QUESTION BKOUQHT UP AGAIN.
s,;K*]RIEND ROOT: -The question of purity of the
jsri ^ Italian bee, and the test to determine the
— ' same, has been the cause of frequent discus-
sion; but the matter of keeping up that purity is, I
think, not yet fully understood; at least, too much
dependence has been placed upon the " Dzierzon
Theory," and our queens have been allowed to meet
indiscriminately, with the drone progeny of pure
queens mated with black drones, the idea having
heretofore been conveyed that such mating does not
affect the purity of the drone. Now, why should it
not? It is an established fact, that a single cross
among mammals for ever after precludes the possi-
bility of the mother producing her like in absolute
purity. In our domestic fowls even, it is now ad-
mitted by our best breeders, that a single mismating
of one breed spoils the mother, and that she can
never again be depended upon for pure stock; and
so it goes through the whole field of animate nature,
so far as comparative anatomy yet shows, and so, I
say, why should it not bo so with the honey-bee? It
is unquestionably true, that a virgin queen may
produce drone progenj', and that the office of fer-
tilization is solely to enable such queen to produce
workers; but can we say positively, that, even if
such is the case, and that the drone egg is not fer-
tilized by any contact with the contents of the sper-
matheca, that the mother is not, by this connection,
so far changed in her being, by reason of absorp-
tion, or some other result of the cohabitation, that
her drone progeny are not to some (no matter how
slight) extent affected by the cross? It may be that
the effect is slight; still, if it continues it will neces-
sarily increase until at last we find impurity where
we have every reason, as wc now understand the
matter, to expect absolute purity. As a matter of
caution, therefore, I would advise that, in order to
keep the Italian bee in absolute purity, we should
not allow any admixture with drone progeny of a
hybridized queen. This r^.atter is, I think, one of
considerable importance, and I trust that it may call
out discussion, and cause experiments, until the
truth is certainlj' (if possible) established. I may be
wholly wrong in the idea I present; but if I am, I
am certainly borne out in it by experimental results
in the higher races; and if it can be shown by any
proof that I am not now right, I shall be most happy
to admit my error, and take a back seat.
J. E. Pond, Jr.
Foxboro, Norfolk Co., Mass., Oct. 27, 1881.
Friend P. has given me one fact in the
above that is new; viz., that a common
fowl, once impregnated, will never entirely
recover from it, for pure breeding purposes.
I am not so much astonished at this, for we
know that, as a single impregnation affects
the offspring for several weeks, we are
rather obliged to conclude that the impreg-
nating fluid remains in some receptacle,
from which it is drawn daily, or as often as
an egg is laid. Every egg the fowl lavs re-
ceives some of this fluid ; but with the queen
bee, the anatomy is so different that eggs
may be laid without receiving any of this
fluid at all. So much for theory. "Well, we
are buying black bees from the farmers of
Medina county every season, and second
and third swarms having unfertilized black
queens are brought us in great numbers.
These are fertilized by the Italian drones of
our apiary, and produce variously marked
hybrid workers, but the drones are common
black, with no trace of Italian blood. This
is a test any of you can make. Get a young
black queen, or queens, and put them
where you are pretty sure they will meet
Italian drones. Now, if you find it is the
workers only, and never the drones, that are
changed by the crossing, have you not
proven the Dzierzon theory pretty well ?
WIiNTERING BEES.
fIRST, they should be so wintered, if possible,
as to prevent spring dwindling.
Now, it is plain, I think, that the only sure
way of doing this is to promote breeding late in the
fall and as early as February in the winter. This
has been suggested by friend Langstroth. But
young bees can not be raised without pollen; there-
fore, bees can not be wintered so as certainly to pre-
vent spiing dwindling without having plenty of pol-
len. This explains, in part, I think, why bees have
been wintered safely on grape sugar, the starch it
contains serving the purpose of pollen. But for
this purpose I prefer flour candy to any other bee-
feed whatever. Now, friend Langstroth contends
that the starch in grape sugar killed your bees last
winter; but if so, pollen and flour will certainly kill
them; and it is of no use trj'ing to prevent spring
dwindling by raising young bees in the win-
ter, as Mr. Langstroth suggests. In other words,
his idea, that the starch in grape sugar is not good
feed for winter, contradicts his idea, that the best
way to winter bees is to promote winter breeding.
Moreover, if it is true that "starch and sugar are,
chemically speaking, almost identical" (rs you said
in Gleanings, November, ItlS), it is not easy to see
how sugar is equal to the best honey, and the "al-
most identical" starch is dangerous.
Second. The bees should be put on C combs; the
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE,
597
outside ones halt an inch from the sides of the hive,
and the other 4, l^i inches apart; strips 3 inches
apart on the top of the frames for passages for the
bees; over these should be placed a quilt, or other
cover which will keep in the heat from the bees,
and let out all dampness. This is best secured,—
Thirdly, by ample ventilation.
Let the entrance be as large in winter as in sum-
mer, without any chaff cushion over the bees in the
second story.
Fourth. Shade the entrance of the hive from the
rays of the sun, so that the inside of the hive shall
be as dark as possible. In a word, the conditions of
successful wintering are, I think, complete dryness,
total darkness, or as near it as possible, and ample
ventilation, with room between the combs for a
good swarm to cluster; for live bees are warmer
than chaff. Thus arranged, they can, I think, breed
easily and safely in the winter, and be strong in the
spring; but only with the blessing of God.
Joseph Smith.
Hickory Hill, Pa., Oct. 29, 1681.
It seems to me, friend S., that you and
some others are falling into an error, in
thinking grape sugar contains starch. A
recent newspaper item, in giving tests for
the adulteration of sugar, said that, if dis-
solved in a little water in a glass, the pres-
ence of grape sugar would be seen by cloud-
iness of the starch contained in the grape
sugar. This is utter nonsense. Pure grape
sugar contains no starch whatever, and dis-
solves in water as perfectly as cane sugar.
True, it is made from corn starch; but it
does not necessarily contain starch, any
more than whisky contains corn. — I can not
quite agree that it is so very necessary for
bees to rear brood very late in the fall, nor
very early in the spring. We have had
stocks without brood from Nov. 1st until
April 1st, and they did very well.
1^ I ^
GETTING BEES OUT OF A TUEE, ETC.
lY red-clover nucleus (three frame) I got of
JIWFll you last year came through the winter out-
— ^*' doors In one of the Root chaff hives, but in
a weak condition; they did not have any honey after
the first of January. I fed them granulated-sugar
candy. This season they have filled 6 frames with
honey; filled the hive with bees, and about 20 lbs.
box honey. I found a bee-tree the 28th of July
when I was coming homo from Sherburne. A friend
gave me the line of a swarm of bees that went off;
and, it being in the direction of our house, or nearly
so, I took the line and found the tree about 60 rods
from our house. The bees went about a mile. They
wentin the tree about 8 feet from the ground. The
30th of July, toward night, I bored a hole above and
below the bees; fastefjcd a box over the hole where
the bees entered the tree, and tried to smoke them
out, but it was no go; not a bee would go in the
box. Then I sawed into the tree, just below the
bees, and then again 18 or 20 inches above; split the
chunk out, then another above about 3 feet in
length, and had a good chance to get the hones'. I
think I got about 50 lbs. I took the brood comb, in-
serted it in your metal-cornered frames with all of
the honey-comb that I could make stay, and put
them into a chaff hive that night. The next morn-
ing, as soon as light, I went to the tree and found
about two-thirds of the bees in a bunch on the
ground; the rest in the upper part of the hollow of
the tree. I placed the box over those on the ground;
smoked them up in the box; took them home and
put them in the hive; carried the box back, and
tried to hive the rest, but " no go." I had to saw
the tree down, and left them until evening, when I
found them in the box hive there with the others.
They proved to be queenless, so I sent to G. M. Doo-
litile and got one of his choice queens; received her
last Thursday night at 9 o'clock; placed the cage on
the frames Friday morning, and left them until
night. I let the queen out, and up she went. My
little girl Lutie said, '"Pa, she is gone." I told her
she would come back, and she did. I caught her
and put her on the frames. The bees (a few) met
her; they passed their salutations, and then went
down. 1 looked for her Saturday evening, and she
was all right. That was my first experience in intro-
ducing queens. I shall have to feed the honey I
got out of the tree, back to the swarm, as bees have
got through making honey this season, for there is
no honey in the buckwheat, as it is so dry. There is
no red clover; cause, grasshoppers and dry spell.
Wm. Tkacv.
Sherburne, Chenango Co., N. Y., Aug. 22, 18SI.
P. S.-C. F. Smith, of Smyrna, has taken 103 lbs. of
section honey from one of the Root chaff hives this
season. We call that pretty good. W. T.
^
A BOOIVI I'KO.TI AVISCONSIN.
OVER 500 LBS. FROM A SINGLE COLONY, AND ONLY
A NUCLEUS AT THAT.
f RECEIVED the glass which I ordered from you,
two days ago, after six weeks from the time I
— ' ordered it. Still, I am satisfied. I saved on the
two boxes of glass exactly three dollars.
Bees have done very well here. I had 25 colonies
in the spring for honey. I put 8 for extracting, and
7 for box honey. I received 1893 lbs. light extracted
honey, and 1214 lbs. dark extracted; 202V lbs. light
comb honey, and 893 lbs. dark comb honej'— a total of
6027 lbs. My average was 211 lbs. per colony. A
neighboring bee-keeper averaged, from 24 colonies
in the spring, 234 lbs., all extracted but 400 lbs. I
have now 92 colonies in good condition for winter.
One colony with its increase (one swarm) brought
me 506 lbs. box honey, and 10 solid Langstroth frames
of honey, besides plenty of winter stores. The old
hive brought me 308 lbs., and the swarm 198 lbs., and
the 10 frames of honey.
I had one colony which was very weak— not more
than a2-frame nucleus; it was astonishing how that
colony picked up. I added fi-ame after frame, till
the hive was full; then I put it on the scales; put
on an upper story, and after a while another story.
This colony brought me, as shown by the scales, 565
lbs. of honey. Many days during clover bloom it
brought 12, 13, and 14 lbs., and on July 6th, 18'/2, and
the next day, ITVi lbs. During fall bloom, the most
they brought in one day was 9 lbs. Buckwheat did
not yield well this year. H. Neuhaus.
Burlington, Wis., Oct. 17, 1881.
What do you think of that, boys V I have
not a doubt but that friend N. has been
through discouragements and troubles, like
many of the rest of you who have lately been
thinking of giving up bee-keeping because
it "don't pay.'i Have all your neighbors
had large yields this year, friend N.V
6d8
GLEANINGS IK BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
kp,ai%iff^mt'
BEE -MEN AS A CLASS.
S it is nearing the time to renew our subscrip-
^iVv tion to Gleanings, which seems indispen-
sable, I want again to give mj' husband a
pleasant surprise. Your paper comes the very day,
always, on which it is looked for, and read and re-
read with pleasure and profit. I have often wanted
to ask you privately if you do not think if the re-
ports given now and then of such wonderful yields
are rather extravagant. I must say, they stagger
us unless the bees get it by robbing, which may be
carried on more extensive!}' than any one imagines.
They are sly little fellows, and have very little con-
science. Mr. Mattison packed his hives for winter
some time ago, taking good care to give plenty of
ventilation on top— something he had before neglect-
ed. Now he has the chaff between the walls of the
hives instead of large bags of it on top of the bees.
The weather in this entire region has been very hot
and dry, which, together with an extremely cold
winter and late spring, has made it quite a bad year
for honey. It was heart-aching work to read of
such losses of bees as was so generally sustained
last winter; but I have become quite an admirer of
'■^bcc-mcn," as they seem to be such a good-natured
set of fellows, taking the ups and downs of life so
coolly; even in Blasted Hopes they still work on, hav-
ing, as one remarked, " some hopes that were not
blasted." Success to the great indust'-y, of giving
such a choice luxury to the world.
Emelxne Mattison.
Ocean View, Oape May Co., N. J., Oct., 1881.
Now, my very good friend, that is a rare
compliment you pay our sex ; or if you
mean, by the term " bee-men," " bee-wom-
en " too, it is a line compliment to tlie fra-
ternity, i believe you are right, and that
our people are not only hopeful, but ''right
smait " almost every w'ay. — I am sorry your
faith is not a little stronger in regard to
these large yields. Please bear in mind that
it is not all due to the owner of the bees, but
it seems as if a kind Providence delighted in
showering dovm great big rewards, once in a
while, to those who have beeti patient, and
have suffered disappointment long. There-
fore, my good friend, be hopeful ; and when a
great tlood of houey shall be sent you, just
be in readiness to receive it.— If I am cor-
rect, robbers among bees, as well as among
men, are never great workers.
DOES BUCKWHEAT MAKE BEES VENOMOUS?
The article, " Bees on a Rampage," in September
number of Gleanings, reminded me of something
I have read. The writer had visited a man who kept
bees, and fovind the b^es so cross it was net safe to
go near them. The gentleman told him to come the
next day, and he would show him his bees. The next
day he found the bees perfectly gentle and harmless.
The gentleman's explanation was, that his bees had
been at work in the buckwheat, and were full of
"pizcn." From that article I inferred that buck-
wheat has a tendency to make bees peculiarly ven-
omous. I suppose old bee-keepers can tell whether
it is so.
medicinal value of BEES.
Concerning bees as a medicine: A friend of mine
some j'ears ago suffered some time from gravel, and
doctors' medicine did her no good. Some one rec-
ommended bee tea. The number of bees was to be
seven. They were obtained, and her intense suffer-
ing was relieved almost the instant she swallowed
the tea. Mrs. A. Knowlton.
Saunemin, Livingston Co., 111., Oct., 1881.
I can hardly think that buckwheat has any
tendency to make bees venomous ; but as
the bees usually work at it only in the morn-
ing or fore part of the day, they are quite apt
to get to robbing in the afternoon, especially
if the weather is quite warm and dry. The
visitor very likely came at a time when the
bees had been robbing, and of course it was
not a very convenient time then to show
them. By the next morning, however, they
would be all over it, and their owner could
then show them without trouble.— Upon in-
quiry of one of our best physicians, I lind
that the poison from the sting of the bee is
one of Iheir most potent remedies for a cer-
tain class of diseases.
GOING TO conventions.
As we entered the hall at Lexington, Ky., where
the convention was in session, we looked to see who
was present that we knew. Failing to see A. I.
Root, we thought it takes time and money to attend
conventions; and while we are here working to pro-
mote interest in bee culture, he is at home making
money. We beat the bushes, while he catches the
game. Mrs. L. Harrison.
Peoria, 111., Oct.. 1881.
Now, Mrs. II., I protest. IIow do you
know I am not at home shaking bushes, just
on purpose to make birds tly all over the land
to conventions ? I am pretty certain, any
way, that some of the fine birds, brought in-
to the conventions by our bright boys and
girls, were first started out by some of our
friends who stay at home and keep to work
a great deal. I tell you there's a " power of
bushes " round our ranche that need shak-
ing very often.
ITIAKRIAGES OF eiEG F01.KS.
BEDELL- ALLBN.-On Wednesday, Oct. 26, 188J,
by the Rev. T. R. Faurit Le Roy, at tho. bride's res-
idence, J. D. Bedell and Miss Sophie E. Allen, both
of the parish of St. Mary, La. No Cards.
Friend Root:— By this mail I send you a small piece
of my wedding cake ; and as I have received so much
assistance from you, and succeeded so well in bee-
keeping, I should like you to publish my marriage
notice in your journal. J. D. Bedell.
Franklin, La., Oct. 2", 18S!.
I do not know but that the above is a bad
precedent, dear friends; but as it was ac-
companied by a box of wedding cake, my
wife and I will try to stand our part. I do
not mean that getting married is a bad prec-
edent, but only the putting it in a bee jour-
nal ; and even then, if it should induce some
of our single blessed friends (they know who '
I mean, without my looking their way) to
get themselves wives, and " bee," somebody,
1 do not know what hurt it would do. Well,
who among our contributors will be married
next? Priend Bedell, the Bible says,—
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another.— John 13:33.
Now may it be known among all men,
that you and your new wife are Christians
in the true sense of the word, because you
have love one for another.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
.599
^'
From Different Fields.
GOOD AND POOR QUEENS ; A PLEASED ABC SCHOLAR.
Jf THOUGHT to myself j-ou would like to hear
from " her majesty "the Italian queen I sent to
— ' j'ou for. I can say of a truth, she is "business,"
and more too. The 15th of last month was the time
I introduced her, and since that time she has made
me a good strong colony; before, there was not
enough to make a corporal's guard. Well, I gave
them a half-inch entrance, and they now fill the full
entrance. I never thought there could be such a
difference in the hum of a lazy queen and one that
is full of business. It seems as though she said,
"Now you 'git. ' " Well, they have been "gitting "
ever since I introduced her. Why, there is as much
difference in the hum as there is in a dull and sharp
cutting-knife. Now, then, I return thanks for good-
ness, mercy, and truth. May you live long to be a
blessing to our country, is the prayer of your well-
wisher, — H. B. POMEROY.
Fayette, Fulton Co., O., Oct. 15, 1881,
DO BEES PAY ?
Last fall I p ut into winter-quarters 18 stocks of
black (or rather brown) bees, part in chaff hives,
part in Simplicity, inclosed in clamp, and packed
round with chaff, and two in box hives set in a large
box filled around with chaff. Lost one Simplicity.
I think the loss of this one was caused by too late
tampering in the fall. Started in the spring with IT
in good condition, except two of the Simplicities,
which were rather weak. Fed some rye meal in
the spring as soon as the bees would work on it.
Doubled my number of stocks by natural swarming,
and secured 1750 lbs. of comb honey, mostly clover,
all in 1-lb boxes. I worked my hives for side and top
storing; used fdn. for starters in brood frames,
and surplus boxes about 1 in. wide; sold some of my
honey near home for 21 cts. per lb., and sent the
rest to New York, and received 20 cts. per lb. for
nearly all the clover, and Ic cts. per lb. for buck-
wheat. I have sold all the bees I have to spare, at
my own price. I commenced house-keeping 4 years
ago, and bee-keeping one year later, with one box
hive, which my father gave my wife. I sold about
$60.00 worth of honey previous to this year. I have
your ABC, and take Gleanings and Bee-Keeper's
Magazine, all of which 1 read, and thank God for
my success. W. A. Gregg.
Callicoon Depot, Sullivan Co., N. Y., Oct. 15, 1881.
a new way OF sending queens in COLD WEATHER.
Our friend 1). A. Jones sent us a telegram
for 10 one-dollar queens. Having just re-
ceived 15 from \V. W. Gary, of Coleraine,
Mass., put up in a novel manner, we sent
them right along on their second long trip.
Here is the report: —
Queens arrived in first-class order, every one live-
ly. Please accept thanks for promptness.
D. A. Jones,
Beeton, Ont., Can., Oct. 29, 1881. Per H. C.
Well, we have since received from friend
Jones an order for 10 more. The Gary plan
is as follows: The queens were put separate-
ly into the old-fashioned cylindrical wire-
cloth cages, without a particle of food.
These cages were put into a little nucleus
hive, or shipping-box, between combs of
sealed honey. The box was then filled full
of live bees. We are going to try the second
ten, put up in the same way.
ALL IS WELL THAT ENDS WELL.
I see bad reports from all parts of the world, on
the honey crop this year, and you would not expect
a good report from one who was in Blasted Hopes
last fall. You advised me not to buy those 15 colo-
nies last fall, but I did, and wintered all successfully;
got 20 gallons extracted, and 100 lbs. comb honey,
and have 25 colonies in good condition for winter.
BUCKWHEAT.
We had the longest dry spell here since 1853 or '4 —
only one rain between May 1st and Sept. 24th; but
we had a big buckwheat patch in the marsh where
it was only about one foot to water, and our bees
worked very well all the time. ■ Lee Warner.
Allison, Lawrence Co., 111., Oct. 19, 188L
I am glad you did not take my advice,
friend W., but still I did not feel I should be
doing right to advise a beginner to make
such a purchase, more particularly while I
knew so little about him. It has been said
that supply dealers are always urging every
one to go into bee culture, even where they
know the chances are greatly that it will
prove a failure. On this account I have
been pretty cautious in advising such in-
vestments.— Did you get much grain from
your marsh buckwheat ? Our farmers about
here say we must not have a rich piece of
ground, or buckwheat will all grow to straw
and fall down. I should be very glad indeed
for nil able article on the cultivation of buck-
wheat, both for grain and honey.
LIME valley APIARY ; SECOND ANNUAL REPORT.
The spring of 1881 left us only 14 colonies out of 21,
put into the cellar in the fall of 1880. One of thoso
was sold to a neighbor; two proved to be queenless.
A part of them were run for comb honey in section
boxes, and the remainder for extracted honey in
upper stories. Increased to 18 during the season —
only one natural swarm — and obtained only 120 lbs.
box honey and ZiVA lbs. extracted.
The season has been very poor in this part of Iowa.
White clover amounted to nothing, on account of
too much rain during the season of bloom. Bass-
wood was scarcely better. Hardly any surplus was
stored till the latter part of August. The fall yield
would have been good but for too much rain again.
We had no frost to kill flowers until Oct. 12th, but
rain, rain, rain, as in the days of Noah. It was not
only impossible for man or beast to travel, but the
"bee-lines" were down, and the nectar entirely too
aqueous. To sum up, the bees got just enough
honey to increase rapidly, and not enough to store
surplus. Those who worked only for increase had
good success.
The demand for honey in this part of the country
will greatly exceed the supply. I find the section
box weighing 1 or IM lbs. to be best for comb, and a
tin can holding about 3 lbs. very good for extracted.
I think honey-pails would be just the thing if they
could be got here without costing too much. Every
package, whether comb or extracted, should have a
label giving the name of the producer. It will ad-
600
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
vertise his business, if properly conducted. I in-
close a label used by me for tin cans, stuck on by a
preparation taken from Dr. Chase's Receipt Book.
I find it pays to advertise in that way, and to culti-
vate the home market. There is not half the honey
used in country towns that could be sold if properly
put on the market. The grocery stores should be
supplied at all times with that which is known to be
pure; and if the producer is known in the commu-
nity, there will hardly evsr be any question about
that. Eugene Secor.
Forest City, Iowa, Oct. 31, 1881.
We reproduce the receipt for making la-
bels stick to tin: —
Labelixg ox Tin.— The difficulty in making labels stick to tin
arises from the extreme smoothnc'ss of the surface. To over-
come this inconvenience, louirhen the surface with sandpaper
before putting on the label. This is a quick pi-ocess on the tops
of tin boxes; but for labeling upon the sides of boxes or cans,
the quickest way Is to have the label made long enough to go
more than around, the extra part being blank, or without
printing, to allow the other end to lap over it, and all is right,
even with common paste.
2. Wetting the tin with common whitewash, and wiping it off
after it is drj-, roughens the tin about equal to sandpapering, as
the lime corrodes the surface somewhat.
GIVING NEIGHBORS A START, ETC.
I wish you would tell us whether you consider it
wise or otherwise tor a bee-keeper to give his neigh-
bors, who are also bee-keepers, any information or
assistance about the management of their bees. If,
for example, he sells them smokers, foundation, or
bee-books, do you think that by so doing he is likely
to injure his future prospects for marketing his own
honey? J. W. Harkness.
Kecseville, Essex Co., N. Y., Oct. 15, 1881.
By all means, friend II., give your neigh-
bors all the assistance in your power, in the
way of information, advice, etc., both in
bees and all else you may be both engaged
in. Of course, where your time is limited
and valuable, you are not expected to throw
away time more than money ; but so far as
injuring your own chance of a good market
by helping others is concerned, I think such
is rarely, if ever, the case in the long run.
The man who is always willing to help those
around him is the one whom God prospers.
To be sure, we have seen men who spent
time visiting round at the neighbors, when
their presence was sorely needed at home;
but I am sure one should always be willing
to give freely all the information he can,
that will be of advantage to those around
him, consistent with a proper attention at
all times to his own affairs. Do not the
friends agree with meV
SUCCESSFUL WINTERING, ETC.
I was much interested in W. L. Coggeshall's report
of a crop of honey of over 180 lbs. per hive. I think
every bee-keeper would be obliged to you if you
would get his management of bees in detail, and
publish the same. My report for last year is as fol-
lows: Last fall I had 140 colonies — ISt in Simplici-
ties, and 6 in chaff hives; about 13 were made by
uniting nucleus hives used for queen-raising, and
were rather weak, I wintered the chaff hives on
summer stands, and 13-1 colonies in cellar. My cel-
lar is rather damp, but has ventilation by C-in. stove-
pipe entering chimney, and one small window filled
with a bundle of straw, and left open. My hives had
no top ventilation, but were covered with enameled
cloth and I'/i-inch chaff cushion, and cover as usu-
al; but were raised on one end by placing "s-inch
blocks under two corners of each hive. In spring I
found one hive dead in cellar, and one colony dead
in chaff hives. The 5 living colonies in chaff hives
were every one as strong as the strongest in cellar.
Of the 133 living colonies from cellar, I gave 63 to a
neighbor on shares; 4 colonies I divided in nucleus
hives for queen-raising, and T I united with other
weak or queenless colonies, leaving me 65 fair colo-
nies for honey-gathering. I increased these 65 colo-
nies to 130 (besides about 30 nucleus hives for queen
raising), and shipped, or have ready for shipment,
7082 full one-pound sections (about 7000 lbs. of comb
honey), besides what we used in bouse or sold in lo-
cal market, and about 1200 lbs. of extracted honey
(probably more). My extracted honey is taken from
frames in the upper story (I give only 6 wide frames
with sections, and one brood frame to each upper
story), and the sections only partly filled. My
bees are not black bees, hybridized by using Italian
drones, but pure Italian, or as pure as they can be
kept in an apiary surrounded on all sides by black
bees only, and furnishing the only Italian drones
within 15 or :.'0 miles, to hybridize those black bees.
Chas. H. Grote.
Mansion, Juneau Co.. Wis., Oct. 10, 1881.
POLLEN AND DYSENTERY.
I have read with much interest the various arti-
cles in Gleanings in regard to wintering bees, and
after an experience of fifteen years with its ups and
downs, I am compelled to take sides with Mr. Hed-
don. Some years ago I put up a quantity of liquid
honey in glass jars for my own use; and, wishing to
have it extra nice, I drained out nice box honey (not
a particle of visUtle pollen in it), heated it in a water
bath, when a thick scum arose to the surface, smell-
ing and tasting strongly of pollen. I thought then,
and believe now, that all honey contains some pol-
len ; but owing to some unaccountable freak of na-
ture, the amount is variable in different years; and
when in excess the bees have the dysentery. It is
no use to remove the solid pollen and then leave
the bees to eat honey strongly tinctured with it. I
believe it possible to tell beforehand whether bees
will have the dysentery, by examining samples of
their honej'. This honey could have the pollen re-
moved by scalding, and then be returned, or sugar
could be given in its place as thought best.
Who has ever tried the experiment of keeping
bees the entire winter on sugar syrup, with all the
pollen removed from the hive? I do not now recol-
lect of ever reading of such a case. I have had bet-
ter luck in wintering than the average, havingnever
lost more than half of my swarms, and I always win-
ter in a cellar containing a stove and thermometer,
with facilities for ventilation. I leave the upper
stories out of doors, and pile the hives 3 or 4 deep,
each of course on a bottom-board, close the front
entrance, and leave an opening in the honey-board
about ?8xll inches, and keep the temperature from
35 to 45°. F. N. Blackman.
Tomah, Wis., Nov. 3, 1881.
You are right, friend B., in saying that all
honey does contain more or less pollen, as
you will see by looking back at Yol. 3, p. 121.
You will also see, in the record of my first
experiments with sugar feeding, that I win-
tered successfully colonies entirely on sugar,
and made quite a stir about their not spot-
ting the snow at all iu the spring.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
601
WINTERING TWO COLONIES IN ONE CHAFF HIVE,
ETC.
As the honey season is now over, and bees pre-
pared for winter, I suppose I may hand in my re-
port. I went into winter last year with 12 swarms;
9 in chaff hives, 4 of which were in the upper stories,
3 in Simplicities, and one in an L. hive not pro-
tected. Those in the chaff hives wintered well, both
in the upper and lower stories. But as moving
them twice is attended with considerable trouble
and the loss of some bees, I shall try to have a chaff
hive for each swarm hereafter. Those in Simplicity
hives came through, but lost more bees. The one
without protection died, leaving me 11 to commence
the season. I have increased to 24, and taken 900
lbs. of honey, mostly extracted, which sells readily
at home for IGfaC, which is better than to ship it, I
think. I sell direct to consumers. I'he surplus was
nearly all gathered during September, after the
rains came. They got but little more than enough
to keep up brood-rearing during the fore part of the
season, but there was not a day till honey ceased
this fall that robbers troubled at all. On the whole,
it has been a very good year. C. B. Thwing.
Hamilton, Mo., Oct. 11, 1881.
CAGED QUEENS DROPPING EGGS.
I have noticed, in several instances, when queens
were caged in hives, that, after removing all the
cells 4 or 5 days old, they would start other cells, and
have eggs in them, and would repeat their efforts as
often as thwarted, for weeks, and, in one instance,
for nearly a month, and not an egg could be found
in any cell in all that time. Now, where do you
think they got the eggs? I believe the queen drops
them, and the bees get them through the bottom of
the wire cage. If that is the case, it would be well
to always have a piece of paper or pasteboard in
the bottom of the cage, to catch the eggs. As I dis-
covered no signs of laying workers, I can see no
other way that they could have obtained the eggs.
Oxford, O., Oct., 1881. D. A. McCord.
Had you tested these cells to see if they
would surely raise a queen, friend M., your
experiment would have been more conclu-
sive. I have often found eggs in queen-
cells, without being able to decide where
they came from, and sometimes they would
produce a good queen too ; but I do not now
recollect whether they had a caged queen
over the frames or not. Can anybody else
give us light on this matter?
GRAPE SUGAR CANDY NOT SO DEADLY, AFTER ALL.
Last fall I had a 6x3-frame nuclei that were
queenless about Sept. 30th, and I united them with
three that had queens, taking out all the frames
that had either honey or brood in them, and gave
each hive two frames filled with brood, except what
honey was in them, and 3 or 4 frames of empty
comb, putting a chaff division-board on each side;
then I made two batches of candy according to your
directions for 5-cent candy on page 385, Oct. No., 1879;
put it in two trays, and laid them on top of frames,
expecting to see it all put into the combs in a few
days (they were well covered with old carpet). When
I went to look at them I found considerable brood
in the empty combs, but none of the candy stored
away. They had used just what they wanted for
present use, so 1 tucked the carpet down tight and
left them, and I believe theylost fewer bees through
the winter than any other hives in my yard, and had
some of the candy left April 1st. C. T. Smith.
O'Fallon, St. Clair Co., 111., Oct. 34, 1881.
AN A B C SCHOLAR IN TROUBLE.
This is my first year in managing bees in sash
hives. I have used box hives for 30 years. My bees
all appeared in good condition 3 weeks ago, but the
last 3 weeks have been, part of the time, quite cool,
and it rained 9 days out of 10. I overhauled part of
the bees to-day, and found several without brood or
eggs, and none with very much brood.
Now, I want to learn from you whether bees are
in the habit of letting brood entirely run out under
such circumstances, or have the queens gone by
the dozen all at once? I tried to hunt out the
queens (if there were any), but the weather is quite
cool, and most of the bees are at home, and clus-
tered so closely and so densely that I could get no
satisfaction. You will do me a great favor if you
will give me your opinion on the condition of my
bees, by first mail; and if they are queenless, could
queens be shipped and introduced safely after this
time of year? W. H. Stewart.
Orion, Kichland Co., Wis., Oct, 5, 1881.
No, sir, friend S., your queens have not
gone by the dozen at all. Just let them be,
and don't bother them. There are certainly
queens there, or you would not tind so many
bees; but they have now stopped laying,
just as honest queens should this time of
the year, and they are so small and slender,
and quick withal, that it is little wonder you
could not find them. They are all right, and
better off without any brood until toward
spring. I am not sure but they would be
better off without any until April. We can
ship you queens almost any month in the
year, but I am pretty sure you do not need any.
honey from the oak.
At this season of the year the bees gather honey
largely from the oak-apples, or nut-galls, growing on
the live-oak. Before our late rains, the honey had
exuded from and candied on the surface of these
balls, so that two or three grains, by weight, could
be gathered from a single ball. It stood in round
drops as of dew or perspiration, arranged in a circle
around the ball, about a third of the distance from
point to stem. The ball itself very much resembles
a small peach. I. L. Van Zandt.
Dido, Tex., Oct. 30, 1881.
Many thanks, friend Y., for the valuable
facts furnished. Now the question is, Can
we grow this oak, with a tolerable degree of
certainty of having it bear this honey i* This
is the second case, if I am correct, where we
have heard of a plant that produces candied
honey. AVill some of the friends please send
us by mail a small twig of this oak, having,
if possible, one of these oak-balls on it, and
we will have an engraving made ? Honey
from the oak is reported from a great many
different localities, and we wish to see just
what kind of oak it is. If I am right, it is
only where certain insects pimcture the
twigs that these oak-apples are found, so the ,
honey is not a normal product of the tree.
Now the question is, If we can get the oak.
will we have the insect as a matter of course V
and have we already the kind of oak that
bears the honey V
602
GLEANIKGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
POISONED BEES.
I am troubled about some disease that is killinjj
my little pets, my Italian bees. The worker bees In
all my full-blood Italians are dying by the hundreds.
The ground is strewn with them night and day.
They crawl out of the hive, and seem to lose the use
of their legs; squirm around, fall on their back, and
seem to die in great pain. They seem to be full of
honey, with plenty of sealed honey in their hives. It
does not seem to affect any but the Italian workers.
The young bees and hybrids are not affected at all.
What is the matter with them, and what can I do
for them? John P. Ingram.
Bonham, Fannin Co., Tex., Oct. 20, 1881.
The symptoms are somewhat like poison,
friend I. Are you sure they liave not been
in mischief somewhere, and got poisoned V
It looks a little like the Krock and Klasen
trouble. It may be they have gathered poi-
sonous stores from some source. See what
is said in A B C of poisonous honey. In any
case, I should remove their stores and feed
them on syrup of pure granulated sugar;
and if the bad symptoms then cease, Vou
will be sure it was from the stores they gath-
ered. The reason why it affects the Italians
and no others, is probably because they, in
their extra industry, have found something
the others have not.
BEES ON SHARES, ETC.
I have not taken Gleanings the past year, as I
have been away this season, and let a friend have
my bees to work on shares for half the honey and
half the increase. I got for my share 598 lbs. comb
honey, 149 lbs. extracted, and ll'/i swarms as in-
crease. I had 38 swarms that I let him have In the
spring — all I saved out of 85 swarms last winter. I
was at home 3 weeks the last of June, and pur-
chased one swarm of a man In the country. It was
put into an empty hive the 20th of June. I took 3
cards of brood from it with bees enough to cover,
and gave them some frames filled with combs in
their place, also filling the hive. I put the brood in
with frames filled \fith empty combs. They raised
a queen, and built themselves up to a good swarm.
I have enough to winter on. From the main hive I
have taken 125 lbs. comb honey in lJ4-lb. sections.
Is not that an extra good yield for a queen? I shall
work my own bees the next year, the Lord permit-
ting. I have 43 swarms now, all in good shape for
winter-quarters. I shall winter most of them in my
cellar, and pack the rest. My loss last winter was
in those that were packed out of doors.
T. D. Ward.
Lawton, Vanburen Co., Mich., Oct. 28, 1881.
HOW THEY DO IN CALIFORNIA.
In the beginning of February, bees were bringing
pollen in quite freely; the previous fall stores be-
ing almost intact, we proceeded to bruise the cap-
pings of one comb in each hive with the flat of hon-
ey-knife. This we continued to do at intervals, ac-
cording to the condition of each colony, and pretty
soon had rousing swarms, their number being 73.
Early in March we obtained a fine number of arti-
ficially raised queens, and at once provided each
with a two-frame nucleus, intending, in the event of
any swarms issuing, to give the parent hive a laj-ing
queen with two or three combs of brood and bees, to
make room for which we intended to remove a like
number in favor of the swarm which had issued.
thus giving a fair start to all around, placing the
new swarm on the stand previously occupied by the
nucleus, so that the bees in the field might not be
lost. So far as we can judge from the few swarms
obtained (13 in number), we found it to work all
right — scarcely a bee being lost in the operation.
April 2d our first swarm came out; on May 7th, onr
last. Finding swarming going on slowly by reason
of cool cloudy weather during the first half of April,
we proceeded to build up our nuclei, and so prepare
for any honey which might come with brighter
weather. May 17th we began to extract, continuing
to do so at intervals till near the end of July, when
we shut down for the season, hiving obtained about
8500 lbs.
Our yield of honey might have been greater but
for the fact that we had super comb for about a
dozen only, with 30 lbs. thick fdn., necessitating a
heavy building of comb with the first flow of honey.
Our increase for the season is 63, there being, at this
writing, 133 well-stored hives in our apiary.
D. Stocks.
Springville, Ventura Co., Cal., OJt. 7, 1831.
TEXAS; ITS HONEY RESOURCES, BEE-CAVES, ETC.,
AND— TOBACCO.
I do not live athnusandmiles from your " Te.xan "
correspondent, who is the enviable (?) owner of those
nine young Texans in which you seem so much in-
terested (Sept. Gleanings, pages 443 and 443), and I
am very sure it would do you good to carry out
your desire; at least, you would seethe loveliest
bee country (natural) you ever saw. I do not won-
der at his wanting to secure a large yield of honey,
when he can get from 15c to 25c per lb. for it. Where
I live, only about 100 miles wnst of Richland Springs,
is a very different natural honey-producing country,
being high, rolling, and bare, so far as timber is con-
cerned; very dry. and no farming done except by ir-
rigation.
I have lost one stand of bees already, and the oth-
ers are destitute of stores. I have not taken a
pound of honey this season, and am in a query
whether it will pay to feed my bees or not. I do
not now believe they will ever be any profit on this
creek, except at the head, where there is more tim-
ber and brush, nearly all of which bears honey at
some time of the year. The live-oak tree has an
abundance of honey on it now— little balls on the
tree, with great drops of honey on them. Bees get
very rich off them when they can reach them. I do
not know whether I am a "Blisted Hoper" or not.
You shall decide.
I see an article copied from The Youtli'x Com-
panion, on " Bee-Caves in Texas." I think the pic-
ture a little overdrawn, and In my next I will tell
you, not of that cave, for I never heard of it before,
but what I know and have seen of "Bee-caves in
Texas."
I will say here, that although I have been an ex-
cessive and successful tobacco-user for 8 years, up
to the 33d of September, 1S81, when I was converted,
so far as the weed is concerned I am now a dean
man. R. W. Landrum.
Dave Creek, Texas, Oct. 15, 1881.
May the kind Father bless and strengthen
you, my friend, in the work indicated in your
closing paragraph. If all men, when con-
verted, were converted clean, very likely
the world would take more stock in the re-
ligion of the Lord Jesus Christ.— We are
1881
glea:ni:ngs in bee culture.
603
glad of what you say about honey from the
oak, because there seems to be something of
a mystery surrounding the phenomenon.
THE WAX question; some of the ABC CLASS
NOT SATISFIED.
Iq October Gleanings, 1881, pngc 495, 1 see "some
questions" bj' a j'oung' hand. Now, in my ignor-
ance I want to ask you if your answers to the first
and second questions are not inc )rrect. I Icnow you
agree exactly with all the best authorities in the
world, but I want to ask a question, also. If your
answers are correct, why is it that, in my section of
North Carolina, they can not make it after July 1st?
It can not be for the reason given by many, that
only !,oung hees produce it, for in my section, 7 years
out of 10 they raise young bees every month of the
j-ear. We seldom have swarms here in July, but I
have had, sometimes, very large ones, and they never
make more than 2 to 4 pieces as large as a man's
hand. Why is this so? I know they make a little all
times of the year, but not enough to store up a sup-
port for the colony. And why is it that they never
cap over those cells of comb filled with honey in Oc-
tober, the comb being made the spring before? In
April, May, and June, a large swarm will fill a story
of the Simplicity hive in from 9 to 15 days, and it
will take the same swarm the remainder of the year
to fill one frame of said hive. My own opinion is,
that they gather it from around the buds and stems
of young leaves of trees. We always see them very
busy around them, gathering a peculiar gum that
exudes from them, particularly the peach, black
gum, sweet gum, and white oak. After the leaves
get fully grown and hard, there is but very little of
said gum. We seldom see the bees at work on them,
and they make little or no comb. 1 think it is pro-
polis that he gathers from his body, as he gets pro-
polis at all times of the year, and comb he certainly
does not. Romeo.
Triangle. Lincoln Co., N. C, Oct., 1881.
I am glad to know you are looking into
the matter, friend R., but I fear you are
very far out of the vray. The fact that we
can at any time, when the weather is
warm, produce comb to any extent by sugar
feeding, covers pretty much the v/hole
ground. The reason why your bees do not
build comb rapidly in October must be on
account of the coolness of the weather. We
have comb honey made at any season of the
year when honey enough is coming, and so
they must build the comb in which to store
it. A great many of our friends get founda-
tion built out by feeding in the fall, when
no honey is being gathered. If you watch
the bees, you can see them take off the wax
scales and build the comb, yourself; and
then you will be fully satisfied it is not pro-
polis.
LAYING WORKERS IN THE SAME HIVE WITH A LAY-
ING QUEEN.
While examining a nucleus in July last, I found a
laying worker in the act of laying, and watched her
deposit several eggs in worker cells. I then caged
her and proceeded to examine the other combs, and
found a fine large queen attending to her own du-
ties. I released the worker on the same comb, and
caused them to meet several times, and they took
no more notice of each other than if they had both
been workers. I called Mr. Langstrotb'a attentioD
to the fact, and he said it was something new to
him, that a queen and a worker would live together
in harmony in the same hive. The queen had been
laying for some time. I call them laying workers,
because they have never been fertilized, and there-
fore they are not fertile, but simply laying workers,
as their progeny are all drones. What do you say?
Oxford, O., Oct. 18, 1881. D. A. McCORD.
Friend M., you remind me that Neighbor
n. has been telling several times this season,
that the Holy-Laud queens will tolerate a
fertile worker, for he has once or twice
found eggs in the cells after a young queen
had been hatched. As a proof, the eggs
hatched the usual diminutive drones. Now,
in view of this, have you not got a Holy-
Land queen in that hive, or at least Holy-
Land blood V If so, no wonder both you and
our sharp old friend Langstroth were
puzzled. By the way, friend x\L, i will tell
you how it seems to me you may do a great
service to our people. When Mr. L. is able
to talk bees, but not to write, suppose you
have some of these talks with him on differ-
ent subjects, and afterward write them out.
I will pay him, and you too, for the service.
It wilfbe next best thing to having articles
from his own pen ; and with your practical
experience with bees, you may both help
each other greatly. Friend L. is a great
talker, and ic has often seemed to me that
many of his talks are too good to be lost. —
Since you mention it, it does seem as if the
term laying ivorkers were the proper one.
Shall we not at once set about an attempt at
a reform, in this matter of names ?
some QUESTIONS BY A "YOUNG HAND" ANSWERED
BY ANOTHER " YOUNG HAND."
Now, I protest, friend R., against the idea that
bees ever get lazy. How do they gather the honey-
comb? By suction. Where do they get it? From
any thing that has honey in it. What time of year
do they gather? At anytime they can gather honey.
How do they gather and deposit their honey? By
sucking it up out of the blossoms into their honey-
sack, and when they get a load they deposit it in
the cell by placing a particle of honey at the bottom
of the cell, and brushing or licking it in all over the
bottom of the cell, and the next load he licks the
sides of the cell so that the air is all excluded. How
do they seal their honey-caps? With wax, and their
tongues and mandibles. Do bees get lazy? No.
What causes bees to get lazy? Nothing. Do bees
ever have any disease? Yes. What remedy is the
best? Clean house, pure honey, and plenty of bees
in each hive. How far will bees go after honey?
I-think they go seven miles. What do bees do with
water? It is used as driuk, and to thin thick honey.
You and Mr. Quinby and Ruber write as if you
thought wax grew. Mr. Quinby says it is very much
like asking where the cow gets her milk, or the ox
his tallow. I have seen them making it by day and
by night. Charles R. Ballou.
Halfmoon Bay, San Mateo Co., Cal., Oct. 20, 1881.
" EXTRA pure" queens.
In the spring of 1880 I bought a tested Italian
queen from W. P. Henderson, Murfreesboro, Tenn.,
and introduced her successfully into a strong colo-
ny of bees. In two weeks this colony swarmed nat-
urally, and with the extra queen-cells I succeeded
604
GLEAiflNGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
In raising a queen for each colony of my little apia-
ry of 12 colonies. All of said queens were beauties,
and although there were no drones in the neighbor-
hood, as far as I know, except hybrids and blacks,
every one seemed to be purely fertilized. In fact, I
could tell no difference between theirs and the work-
er progeny of the old queen. This spring I conclud-
ed, as my queens were all so pure and good, to let
each colony that swarmed raise its own queen. 1
had but six swarms, and all the new queens looked
nice, and I thought, as there were so many fine
drones flying, -they would all be purely mated; but
imagine my surprise when the workers of all of
them except one turned out to be hybridal The
above facts incline mc to believe in the theory of
the "extra pure" queens spoken of by friends
Hutchinson and Doolittle. W. L. French.
Martinsburg, Mo., Oct. 15, 1881.
BEE-STlNGS AND RHEUMATISM, AGAIN.
As there has been considerable said in Gleanings
in regard to bee-stings for rheumatism, I thought I
would tell you of a case I met a short time since.
About a month since, a neighbor, living about 6
miles in the country, called on me to go out and ex-
amine a colony of blacks that he thought the moth
were troubling. While there the lady told me that
bee-stings had cured her of rheumatism. She said
that she had for a long time been so troubled with it
in her thigh and hip that it was difficult for her to
walk across the house. Last summer she and her
sister undertook to transfer a swarm of bees from
an old gum, and not being acquainted with that kind
of business, nev^er having seen the operation per-
formed, they got terribly stung before they got
through. She was so badly stung that it made her
quite sick; but since that time she has not been
bothered with rheumatism. By the way, they lost
their swarm of bees; also the one that I went to ex-
amine was entirely eaten out by the moth.
J. K. Snyder.
Tiffin, Johnson Co., Iowa, Nov. T, 1881.
INTRODUCING ; A PLAN BY WHICH YOU NEED NOT
HUNT FOR THE OLD QUEEN.
The imported queen you sent me in July arrived
in splendid condition; only one of the bees accom-
panying her was dead. I introduced her safely into
a swarm of blacks, and now have a tine swarm of
Italians. My way of introducing was to take two
swarms of bees, nearly ready to swarm. Opened
No. 1; took five frames, heaviest with brood;
brushed all the bees from them; put frames of
brood into an empty hive, with queen caged on one
of the combs; removed swarm No. 3 a rod or so from
its old stand, when the bees were flying briskly; piit
the cage containing queen and brood in the place
from whence I removed No. 2; thereafter I followed
directions as on the cage. The way I have described,
saves hunting for a queen. I have 29 black swarms,
one Italian. The honey season has been very poor.
Jas. W. Hooper.
Wolfboro, New Hampshire, Nov. 8, ISSl.
A good REPORT FROM THE RUBBER PLATES FINALLY'-
Our bee season is now over, and I will arise and
report. Last spring, J. E. Walcher and I joined our
forces, and when we get our bees together we have
117 in pretty good condition. He wintered in cellar,
and got all through, and I wintered on summer
stands with surplus tops on, and some with just a
thin cloth over them. I lost nearly 25 per cent; but
what survived did well — I think fully as well as W.'b
did, although he did not use so much honej'. We in-
creased this summer to 160 colonies, and have ex-
tracted nearly 5000 lbs. of honey, mostly from white
clover. Owing to the drought we got but very little
fall honey; still, they are 4n good wintering condi-
tion.
The $15.00 rubber plates we got of you worked like
a charm after we got the hang of it. The sheets
were too thick for most persons; but we did not
complain, as we had plenty of wax, and the bees
would extend it to nearly two-thirds of the full
length of cells. I suppose you will have the same
kind, or something better, in the spring. I am rauch
in favor of having the foundation fresh when you
want to use it.
We have had several very poor honey seasons
here; but we find failures in almost every line of
business, and we hope to have a change here for the
better next season. I have not given up my theory
I of going to the honey when it will not come to me.
Hillsboro, 111., Nov. 8, 1881. I. H. Shimes.
We have already improved the rubber-
plate machines, friend 8., and can now
make sheets full size, 5 square feet to the
pound, without trouble. We will furnish
complete outfits, with printed instructions,
for $I5.0U ; if they don't please they can be
returned, purchaser payinj? expenses both
ways.
friend good's REPORT FOR 1881.
Spring opened late and found my bees in a de-
plorable condition— my nearly two hundred col-
onies being reduced down to 15 or 18 fair colonies,
and 38 or 40 nuclei. After buying a few colonies I
started in the spring with 20 colonies and 40 nuclei.
As I made queen-rearing a specialty, I did not get as
much honey as might have been obtained if honey
alone had been the object.
I raised and sold 437 queens, nearly all dollar ones,
and have sold 28 lbs. of bees; 6 nuclei, 2 and 3 frame;
5 full colonies; have taken comb honey, 1150 lbs.;
extracted, 12t lbs.; part of the honey sold at 18c.;
have now 147 colonies of bees in good condition for
winter. When my honey is all sold I shall have just
about $700.00 for what I have sold out of my apiary.
How many of you have done better with the same
amount of bees?
I wish to thank the many kind friends who have
sent mo their orders for queens. If there is one
among you who is not satisfied, let mc know, and I
will try to satisfy you. 1 tell you, it does me good to
receive such kind letters as many of you bee-keep-
ers write. I. K. GOOD.
Nappanee, lud., Nov. 9, 1881.
our OF print (?)
Some three or four weeks ago I ordered a paper-
bound ABC from our news-dealer. He sent to the
American News Company, New Tork city, but they
say that the book is out of print, and it can not be
obtained. Is that so? If so, why do you advertise it?
£. Vincent.
Bethel, Falraeld Co., Conn.. Nov. 8, 1881.
I fear the American News Co. are allowing
some lazy clerk to injure their business by
such statements. The A 13 C is not out of
print, nor can it well be so long as tbe whole
book, every word and letter of it, is standing
in type. Neither can it Avell be out of date,
18S1
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
605
for the types that form it are being constant-
ly changed, to note every real improvement
in bee culture niade in this or any other
land. Any order can be promptly filled by
return mail, express, or freight, to the
American Xews or any other individual or
company ; and if orders ever crowd, our big
cylinder press is ready to run on them all
night as well as all dav.
Though I may not be so well informed as many of
your subscribers, I hope you will allow me to say a
few words; yet I feel a delicacy In so doing, for in
your columns it seems that Mitchell (X. C.) is only an-
other name for " Humbugs and Swindles."
THKEE-BANDED HYBRIDS.
One of your contributors speaks of queens whose
royal progeny produced all three-banded workers,
and yet were /iii u'h to have mated with black drones.
How was it known? 1 am led by custom to judge of
bees by their bands, but I think the form of a work-
er bee is worth equally as much as her color, and
gives an almost infallible index both of the quality
of her Italian blood and of her honey-gathering
abilities.
LEAVING SECTIOXS OX ALL WINTER IN THE SOUTH.
The question of leaving sections oa all winter is of
considerable moment in the South — they must of
necessity be left somewhere. The time is so long be-
tween the period at which they should be removed
from the hive and the coming of winter that it is al-
most impossible to protect them from the moth. I
would add, for the benefit of your New York corres-
pondent, that the moth will live on new comb, and
even come to maturity in the bottom of the hive
without being on the comb at all.
BEES WITH SHRIVELED WIXGS— CAUSE.
Some time since, one of your correspondents re-
ceived a colony of bees and complained that the
young hatched shortly afterward had immature
wings, which you attributed to improper ventilation.
It was im}]ropcr ventilation, but not such as a colony
would generally receive in transportation; it was
too much ventilation. When the larva of an insect
enters the chrysalid state, the slightest reduction of
temperature at the critical moment of its trans-
formation is almost sure to prevent the perfec-
tion of the insect, or cause the death of the chrysalis.
Chas. R. Mitchell.
ITawkinsville, Ga , Oct. 27, 1881.
l-'riend M.,most of us know the difference
between Chas. li. and'' X. C.-' Mitchell, so be
not troubled. — The great objection I should
have to leaving sections on all winter is, that
the boxes would be any thing but nice when
filled with honey again. — Doubtless you are
right about the cause of wingless bees ;
since you mention it, I recall cases wliere
brood left some time out of the hive pro-
duced wingless bees. Thanks for sugges-
tion.
BEES IN MASSACHUSETTS.
The past season we think has been a very poor
one for honey about here. The middle of August I
could not show a pound of sealed honey in any or all
of my brood-chambers, and had it not been for
goldenrod and wild asters this fall, my bees must
have all perished before New Years. I think they
have stores enough now to pull through passably.
There are but few bees kept in this region. Whether
It is because the honey-secreting flora does not com-
pare well with other parts of the country or not, I
am unable to say. However, of late there is begin-
ning to be more interest shown in progressive bee-
keeping, and our county fair has this year, for the
first time, offered a premium for the best exhibit of
bees, hives, and implements. Whether this was in
part due to the "exhibits" and " statements" pub-
lished in the "Transactions" of Mr. Alley and my-
self last year, I have no means of knowing.
BEWARE OF AXTS IN SHIPPING QUEENS.
Do ants kill bees and queens in transit through
the mails? One of my neighbors, Mr. Charles W.
Dow, sent 15 miles for a queen. When it arrived in
due time by mail, it was overrun with emmets, and
queen and bees were all dead. Honey on a sponge
was the food provided in the cage. He next sent ICO
miles in another direction, with the same result. He
then sent for one by express, and it came all right.
He thinks the emmets attacked the bees in the Lynn
postotSce.
BEES IN A CniMNEY; GOOD VENTILATION.
A swarm of bees took possession of one of my
neighbor's chimneys a year ago last summer. I
visited them the following November. The chimney
contained two' Hues, each about 8 inches square,
without any arch or covering whatever. The bees
occupied but one of the flues — the one which led
into the spare chamber, and their combs extended
to within six inches of the top, when they came in
and out. I covered this flue with a board, stood
upon four bricks, and advised their 'owner to let
them remain till spring, when they would probably
be all dead, and the chimney could then be cleared.
But they lived, in spite of too much upward ventila-
tion, andsaov, which must many times have cov-
ered their combs, and, melting, supplied them with
plenty of water in winter for bi-eeding. And now, like
Banquo's ghost, they refuse to be laid, and afford
another argument In favor of deep combs, thick
side-walls, and upward ventilation.
Now, Mr. Editor, you won't hurt my feelings any
if you don't publish this "hash." I shall take
Gleanings just the same, and think it the best bee
paper I have seen yet. Phil. R. Russell, Jr.
Lynn, Essex Co., Mass., Nov. 9, 188L
We have had some quite serious troubles
with ants in the mail, in some of the ex-
treme Southern States, but none have been
reported before from the North, as far as I
know. There is a very simple and easy way
of cutting off ants, and it is to inclose the
whole cage in wire strainer cloth, so fine
that no sort of an ant can get through it.
Last summer our boys lost three imported
I queens by leaving them caged a few hours
before iittroducing, in an empty hive sitting
I right on the ground. Please keep tbis in
mind, all of you, that caged queens will be
killed by ants in a very short time, if they
get at the cages.— I hardly tliink, friend R.,
that it was the deep combs alone that saved
the bees in the chimney. It is true, such a
covering of combs above them would do
much to keep otf the cold, and as they had
their combs built in all solid, and nicely
waxed up, with a sure ventilation right
through, I am not surprised that they win-
tered, it would be a little difficult to manip-
ulate bees in a hive only 8 inches square, un-
! less we worked them as your neighbor Alley
does the Ray State hive. — Many thanks for
your expression of good will, friend R.,even
though we should reject your articles.
606
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUEE.
Dec.
BUILDING UP A BUSINESS AND A BEPUTATION.
I am one of your ABC class of 1880. I com-
menced with 4 box hives, and I have now 34 full col-
onies and 13 three-frame nuclei. I have a queen
from a pure Italian mother, in all full colonies, and
about ?i are purely mated. I have raised about 50
nice queens this season. I am Italianizing all of my
neighbors' bees. I have them nearly all done now,
so next season there will not be a black queen with-
in over two miles of me. Now, if I were to buy one
of your best selected imported queens, and rear
some good queens from her next season, will j^ou
buy some of me? I would like to keep about 26 or 30
nuclei going next season. My colonies are very
strong. I wish I could sell 20 lbs. of bees by the
pound. A. H. Squier.
Nicholville, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Aug. 8, '81.
I dare not promise to take queens next
season, so long ahead, but I have this year
purchased nearly all that Avere offered for
sale by reliable paities. You Avill have to
build up a reputation, as all the rest do,
friend S.; and the way in which it is done,
you can see by the reports in almost any
number of Gleanings. Strive hard to
please all your customers, and they will not
be slow in letting others know that they are
pleased. You may, any of you, at almost
any time send me a few queens as samples
of what you can furnish, and I will allow
you the regular price for them I am paying
at the time. If, after they are introduced, I
find too many of them turning out hybrids,
I shall not be slow in telling you of it. You
will probably find a demand in your own
neighborhood for all the queens, bees, and
honey, you can raise for some time. Of one
thing rest assured : we shall pretty quickly
find out just what kind of a person you are,
and there is just now an immense call for
straight, square, faithful men.
I see by last Gleanings that you hold yourself
responsible for those who advertise with you. I
want to state a case to you, and have your opinion
on it.
Last September I saw an advertisement of H. Al-
ley, Wenham, Mass., in Gleanings, Cyprian queens
for $1.50. I gave a neighbor $1.50 to send for one;
he sent; received a dead queen; returned it, and
could get no satisfaction till last month. Alley said
he would "book" him for one queen. Now, we in-
tended to raise queens from her had we received her
in time, but we received her only yesterday, the 9th,
nearly a year after sending the money. We have
lost the use of her this season, which is quite an
item. I wrote Mr. Alley that I would be satisfied if
he would send me two Italian queens, and have re-
ceived no reply. My experience and his flattering
ad. in last Gleanings do not harmonize. I find a
most marvelous contrast between bis actions and
the treatment I received from W. W. Cary, of Cole-
rain. The latter I find will do more than you ex-
pect of him: the former will "hardly" act hon-
est. I do hope bee-men will gain a good reputation
for honesty. Do you think I expect too much when
I think Alley ought to send another queen to make
up a little loss? C. Neads.
Lindsay, Oat., Can., Aug. 10, 1881.
If I am correct, friend N., you got a queen
right back. She came dead, unfortunately,
but this is nothing very unusual. Of course,
Alley should not have kept you waiting a
year ; but still, the case is far different from
a deliberate and prepared fraud. You have
both been unfortunate ; but can you really
claim any thing more than the loss of the
use of the moneyV I know, expecting a
queen all the time is an annoyance ; but by
the expenditure of another $1.50 you could
have had one promptly from some one else,
could you notV Friend N., I wish to be a
friend to both you and Mr. Alley, and I
wish, too, you two to be friends. It may be
said the above is pretty hard on our friend
Alley; but last month I allowed a very
strong letter in his praise to go in print.
See page 540, Nov. iSJo. Friend Alley has a
good many warm friends, as well as a good
many who complain much of his want of
promptness. lie has lately written us to
send in all complaints, and he would fix all
satisfactorily, and I think he is doing so.
FIREWERD.
The firewced comes up itself here wherever there
has been an old chopping in the forest where flre
has got in and burnt the brush and tree-tops up;
hence the name, fireweed. It comes up in the latter
part of Maj' or first of June ; has a leaf resembling a
species of lettuce I have seen that came from St.
John's, Canada; the leaf is 4 or 5 inches in length,
and perhaps one inch wide. The stalk grows very
rapidly, and blossoms in about 4 weeks after it comes
up. The stalk is all the way from 3 to 6 feet in
height, and branches out about midway of the stalk
into several branches, each branch having more
branches on it, and at the end of each branch is a
blossom resembling a long bud, the bud-like blossom
being from li lo U of an inch in length, and remains
in blossom until the latter part of September; and
while some buds are in blossom, the seeds will be fly-
ing from others through the air like so many bees,
only white, resembling somewhat the cotton that
grows in the Southern States, only not so large. I
must say that it is as good a honey-plant as I ever
saw. The bees are working very thick on the blos-
soms during the three months they are in bloom.
The honey is nice and pleasant to the taste, as al-
most any other kind. I have never seen any of the
plants growing en sandy soil, although it may grow
there for all I know. Had I known before that any
one of my brother bee-keepers would wish for some
of the seeds, I should have gathered some. How-
ever, any one wishing the seeds, to give flreweed a
trial, can get some from me any time after the 15th
July, 1883, for ten cents per ounce. This will sow ?i
of an acre. G. Phillifs.
Romeo, Marthon Co., Wis., Oct. 29, 1881.
MY BEE AND HONEY REPORT FOR 1881.
After uniting a few weak colonies I had 136. Sold
61 flrst-class colonies and 3 nuclei ; had 73 colonies to
begin the season with; worked 37 colonies for ex-
tracted honey; have taken an average of 311
lbs. per colony. Put boxes on 30 young colonies;
have an average of 40 lbs. each of comb honey. Run
the rest of them for increase; have this fall 147 col-
onies. Our bees had 18 acres of alsike clover, new
seeding, and 4 acres of second crop to work on.
They gathered most of the hodey from the alsike
clover. Basswood did not yield much honey this
year here. C. M. Woolver.
Hallsville, Mont. Co., N. Y., Nov. 6, 1881.
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
607
ARE rOREIGNERS MORE INTEMPERATE THAN AMERI-
CANS?
In Aug-. Gleanings, page 405. you say, " Although
a foreigner by birth, he was free from all these
vices." Do you wish to be understood as saying
that profanity and intemperance are the rule, not
the exception, among foreigners, or was that a
"slip of the pen"? My father was a Scotchman,
and so was my mother (they are both dead now),
and I was born in Scotland, which makes me a
foreigner, does it not? Now, sir, don't you think
that, out of a given number of my countrj-men, I
can find more who neither chew tobacco, drink rum,
nor swear, than you can out of the same number of
Americans? I can find more who attend church,
and Sunday is better observed by the Scotch than
any other nation on the earth unless It is the (out of
respect to your feeling) American.
DELAYS IN the QUEEN BUSINESS.
And while I am about it, I would say that a man
who takes my money for a queen, and keeps me
running to the postolHce two or three times a week
after it, is little short of a highway robber. I sent
my money to a dealer who advertises in one of the
bee papers, and for 4 weeks regularly he wrote me
that he would ship the queen on a given day; but
instead of the queen I would get a postal card read-
ing something like this: " Sorry to say that I could
not get queens to fill your order tc-day, but will have
one for yRu next week." The queen cost me a
dollar, and I spent at least three half-days of val-
uable time getting it, which was worth a plump $3.00
more, saying nothing of the colony being queenless
for so long a lime. Xow, all this could have been
avoided by writing in his advertisement, that no
queens would be ready to send out before the 1st of
July. To be sure, he would not have got my dollar,
but he would be nearer heaven than he is now. Do
you suppose I would order another queen of that
man? "Not much." The man who fills my order
" on the spot," no matter what it is, is the man for
me every time. "Wm. Cairns.
Rockland, Sull. Co., N. T., Aug. 8, 1881.
I did not mean to make any insinuations
against our friends of foreign birth, friend
C, and I presume I sliould not have used
the expression 1 did. Very likely, you are
right. Will you forgive me V— In regard to
delays on queens : It is a great and most
trying evil. I have published a good deal
on the matter, but unless it is cure(i we must
keep the matter stirred up. I do not know
but that we shall have to let the names of
the slow ones come out in print, for we liave
quite a number of queen-rearers who have
always been so prompt, after they have x>iii
out an adcertisement, that no one has ever
complained of them.
out, the old bees came out of the hive and went to
parts unknown. Hq examined one of the queen-
cells, and found a queen in it that would have come
out in a few days. What greatly puzzles my friend
is, that the old bees would leave the colony without a
queen. He says he is sure the colony was queenless.
Cau you explain the freak? E. Crompton.
Rosemont, Out., Can., June 3, 1881.
Although bees do perhaps, sometimes,
come out and go off without a queen, it is a
very unusual thing. In the case you men-
tion, I should be inclined to think some
stray queen got in there, and went out with
the bees; but in that case some of the cells
would be very likely to have been torn
down. Jf the bees starved, and went off
and united with some other colony to avoid
starvation, the case would not be a very un-
usual one ; but, if I am correct, you are
sure such -was not the case, friend C?
FRAMES OF CANDY FOR WINTER FEEDING.
In feeding sugar candy in frames, you say, be
careful that they do not build comb in the frames
after the candy is taken out; now, whstt is the harm
if they do? A. A. Amig.
Buck Creek, Richland Co., Wis., Aug. 3, 1881.
Friend A., it takes about 20 lbs of sugar to
make l lb. of comb, if done in that way ;
whereas, by the use of fdn., we get much
nicer combs at a cost not exceeding, say, 4
lbs. of sugar. Besides, the bees seldom
build a nice full coinb in the place of the
candy, but only a piece that must be broken
out and melted up into wax, which brings
only about the price of 2 pounds of sugar.
Again, the bees seldom take all the candy
from a frame, especially in cool or cold
weather. It is left at the corners and lower
edges. With the candy bricks, or round or
oval cakes of candy placed right over the
cluster, wc get it used up, every particle of
it. Frames of candy is a quick way, and
does very well for warm weather, if you look
out for this one feature of comb-building.
Give the bees frames of fdn., where you
want more combs, then put your candy in 1-
Ib. bricks, right over the cluster, and they
will build out the fdn. beautifully, and with
but little loss of material.
BEES absconding WITHOUT A QUEEN.
A friend of mine is very much puzzled over a
caper that some bees which he recently divided have
cut up. He divided a colony containing twelve
frames of brood and honey, and strong in bees. He
took six frames, together with the queen, and young
bees, and put them into a new hive, leaving the old
hive on the old stand, without q leen. There was
plenty of young brood, fven eggs just laid, left in
the old hive, and the old bees which remained there
commenced to build up some queen-cells, and sealed
them over, but before any of them were hatched
GOOD REPORT FROM ONE HIVE IN THE SPRING, ETC.
From one colony in the spring I have increased,
artificially, to nine, and are now in good shape for
winter. Also I have taken 127 lbs. of honey from
that colony and its increase; 70 lbs. of comb honey
from parent stock ; the rest extracted from increase,
and did this durmg white-clover and basswood bloom.
We have no fall honey, on account of dry weather.
I use the American open-top frame'with no wire at-
tachments or any thing of the kind; so, please do
not say too many hard things against the American
frame, for I think I have done well. What think ye?
Do I deserve a head-mark in my class, the State of
Indiana? I believe we are all spvelling for the head,
anyhow. A. Cox.
White Lick, Boone Co., Ind., Nov. 8, 1881.
I have never intended to convey the idea,
friend C, that as good results could not be
obtained from the American as any other
frame ; very likely, nearly as much honey
would have been stored in a nail-keg or a
COS
GLE2LNINGS IN BEE CULTUIIE.
Dec.
hollow log ; but with the latter it might have
caused you a great amount of labor that
would have been saved by a simple-frame
hive.
DIFFICULTT OF FEEDING EVEN CANDY, IN WINTER,
ETC.
I went into winter-quarters last fall with 2t col-
onics, all of them nicely packed in the Root chaff
hives of my own make, most of them in fair condi-
tion, as I supposed; but the long severe winter was
too much for them. By the middle of Feb., most of
them were short of stores, and the best T could do I
could not get them to take feed readily. I tried
both candy and syrup made from A sug-ar. I saved
8 colonies, 6 of them strong and 2 weak and queen-
less ; so in reality I had only 6 in spring, as it took
about all they were worth to keep them up by sup-
plying brood from the others until they could raise
queens. I think I would have got them all through
except 2 or 3, if they had not been short of stores, as
but 2 or 3 showed any signs of disease. From the
above, I have this summer increased to 40 colonies
by artificial swarming. I raised all my own queens
except.!, which were bought of Mr. Oliver Foster;
but I have sold more than that number. My 40 col-
onies are all nicely packed in chaff, and all strong in
bees and honey, except two which I am feeding.
Besides the above increase I got 300 lbs. of extracted
honey. This is my first report; but as I consider
myself one of the ABC class, I hope it will not be
the last. J. K. Snyder.
Tiffin, Johnson Co., Iowa, Nov. ", 1881.
I have taken 1100 lbs. extracted, and 225 of comb
honey. A. G. Willows.
Carlingford, Ont., Can., Nov. 8. 1881.
FRIEND TOWNSEND'S REPORT.
Commenced last May with 62 colonies of Italians;
extracted 2415 lbs. white honey, and took in sections,
1200 lbs. ; also some extracted fall honey of which we
kept no record. Most of our honey was gathered
from first crop of red clover. Of the 63 colonies in
May there were 7 colonies which did not help gather
our surplus, as W. Z. Hutchinson sent for them to
help him rear queens (I should like to know how
much they helped him). Our sales of bees and
queens amount to S44T.00; last sale of the season,
Sept. 7. I have 86 good colonies now on hand. Now,
Mr. K., or any other bee-keeper, when you pass
through this part of our State again you must not
slight us, but give us a call at least, for now you will
not have to walk 10 or 12 miles, as it is not more than
I'/i miles from our apiary to any of the depots in
town. Wishing all husij bee-keepers good success,
we will close our first scraps from Kalamazoo.
O. H. Townsend.
Kalamazoo, Mich., Nov. 10, 1881.
CROSS BEES, BUT GOOD HONEY-GATHERERS.
My bees have been very cross this year. A person
could hardly be within two rods of the hives for five
minutes without being stung. The second swarm,
on the 26th of May, Ciime off while I was away from
home, and they were so cross that the folks dared
not attempt to hive them. Father went near them i
at first, but they attacked him with such fury that
he had to beat a hasty retreat with about a dozen
stings about his head and neck. They hung in an
apple-tree about two hours and then left for parts
unkivown. My queens were nearly all from a se-
lected tested queen purchased from you in 1880.
She was replaced this summer, and the progeny of
the young queen are almost pure Mick. I com-
menced the season with 15 colonies. I have now 50.
CHAFF CUSHIONS AND VENTILATION.
And so the chaff hives do not give enough ventila-
tion! wish I had known it last year, and I might
have saved all my bees. Late in the season I con-
cluded that the cushions (6 in. thick) gave too much
ventilation; took them out; filled upper story full
of fine chaff. Kesult: of 43 colonics (one of them a
2-f rame nucleus, and several 3 and 4 frame), two lost
their queens; one starved; one, a strong colony,
died of dysentery; caused, I think, by excitement
and unnatural heat, caused by chaff getting among
combs. The rest came through in fine order.
M. Frank Taber.
Salem, Columbiana Co., O., Nov. 11, 1881.
I can't quite agree with you. friend T.,
that your loose chaff made trouble. The
best wintering I ever had was where the bees
ate through their covering, and the chaff
came down all among them, so they were
nosing around in it like a lot of mice. I can
hardly think loose chaff ever smothers bees;
but I should be more afraid of the cloth that
holds the chaff in the form of a cushion.
BIGHT OR WRONG? (SEE NOV. NO., P. 567.)
On page 567 of Nov. Gleanings I notice the loss
of a queen bj' fire in a postoffice, which also burned.
I inferred that the customer wished j'ou to stand
the loss. I think he might as well ask you to bear
the loss of an absconding swarm of bees simply be-
cause he bought the hives of you. Now, if the post-
master saw the cage of bees tr.lien from the mail the
night previous to the fire, he should stand the loss,
as it appears that your part of the contract was
filled; viz., to "deliver at the nearest post or ex-
press office." Whether she was dead or alive, it
would have been all the same in that case. I take it
that perhaps it was afl.OO or f 1.50 queen (for I don't
think any other kind of a customer would growl),
and if it was, and he still insists on having his money
refunded, just send his name to me, and I will pay it
to him.
And now, friend R., I don't know but that you
are " tempting " sr>me, in your proposals to " make
things good." I think the fair way is for each to be
willing to bear his part, and the one to stand it who
is to blame. Perhaps you may feel delicate about
sending his name; if so, let him send it, and I'll
send him his money. J. J. McWhohteb.
South Lyon, Mich., Nov. 8, 1881.
Many thanks, friend M.. for your very
kind words ; but if you will excuse me, I
fear you are such a very warm friend and
champion of my poor self, that your judg-
ment is a little biased. I decided at once as
you have, and it seemed then to me prepos-
terous that any one should take any other
view. But as the matter did not lie easy on
my conscience, I put the question to the
boys and girls at our noon service. Mr.
Gray and Neighbor II., sifter a little thought,
both to my surprise, decided rather against
me. They put it this way: The spirit of
my aflvertisement is to the effect, that I will
faithfully deliver the queens where they are
easily accessible to my customer, as he de-
livers my money where it will be easily ac-
cessible to me. The loss occurred so "near
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
609
the dividing line, between delivering and ac-
cepting property, it was pretty hard to say
just where my responsibility ceased and his
commenced. Thei-efore a fair way would be
to share the loss equally, which "was done,
and he, in a very gentlemanly way, ex-
pressed himself satistied. In thinking it
over since, it looks as if I ought to do a lit-
tle more than half, for I expected to deliver
his queen at a point where he could go and
get it. I did not do this. By the way, I do
not know that any act I ever did has called
forth such bitter and unkind words as the
one of proposing to be responsible for my
advertisers. You too. my good friend, are
censuring a little, and yet you have, right in
your letter, yourself asked to be permitted
to pay somebody else's bills. The Sunday-
School Times was my precedent for my posi-
tion toward my subscribers in protecting
them from spurious advertisers. Here is
their offer:—
The Sunday School Times iiitviids to admit only advertise-
ments thit arn trustworthy. Should, however, an advertise-
ment of a party not in Kooii standinsr be inadvertently inserted,
the publisher will lelund to subscribers any money that they
lose thereby.
Will you send me to the asylum as a luna-
tic, if I still adhere to my purpose of pro-
tecting my subscribers f
JUDGES AT OUR FAIRS, ETC.
The foui'lh annual fair of the Southern California
Horticultural Society closed on the 10th of Sept. It
proved a success all the way throug'h; the bee-keep-
ers of Southern California made a fine display of
honey (both camb and extracted), bees, bee-hives,
and implements of the apiary. I entered but four
articles, and received a premium on each. First
premium on honey vinegar and hybrid bites; second
premium on Italian bees and comb fdn. There was
considerable sport made about the judges whom the
society appointed; one was a grocerymau; the other
two, I was unable to learn their occupation. They
all might have been good judges of honey, but
when they came to the rest they knew nothing about
it. When they came to the comb fdn. they wanted
to know what it was made of, what it was used for,
and how it was used. When told, they said tiicy
could see no difference in the make of it, so they
decided in favor of the white. Inclosed you will
find sample of both kinds; white, flrst premium;
yellow, second premium. The yellow is my own
make, made on the 9-inch C. 01m mill. Hold them
up between you and the light, and notice the diflfer-
euce in the bottom of the cells. Which do you think
Is the better one? Soeak right out.
Los Angeles, Cal., Oct. 30, '81. W. W. Bliss.
You are right, friend B.; the machine on
which the sample of white fdn. was made
was very badly adjusted, and the material is
quite unsuited for the purpose, compared
with the yellow. I know the judges are oft-
en sadly at fault ; but, poor fellows, they
doubtless did the best they could, where
they had been placed. Men should have oc-
cupied these positions, capable of judging ;
but if the proper men stayed at home during
the preliminary meetings, what better could
the officers of the fair do V Suppose, friend
Bliss, you pitch right in and help them to do
better next season. I am sure they will
gladly welcome you at the time they choose
the officers, etc.
MISSIONARY BEES.
The inclosed letter explains Itself. You will see
by it my bees have been doing some mission work,
and I hope It will do j-ou as much good to read the
letter as it did mc. Surely it is more blessed to give
than to receive. C. A. Hatch.
Ithaca, Kichland Co., Wis., Nov. 8, 1881.
Mr. C. a. Hatch : — Our society has sent mo the
barrel of honey that you kindly sent to our treasurer,
Mr. Coc, and I am happy to convey to you in behalf
of the poor children cared for in this house, their
grateful thanks for your sweet gift. We give the
poor children of the Industrial School, generally,
syrup with their bread at noon, and when they got
the honey on their simple lunch the,v declared it was
the best syrup they had ever tasted. One or two,
more knowing than the rest, let the others into the
secret, and the.v were greatly surprised nt getting
such a treat, as it "wasn't Cliristmas." The news-
boys and bootblacks, who are also fed and lodged
here, have been greatly delighted with the hone.v,
and I am sure, if you sliould come to New York and
let yourself be known as the gentleman who sent the
honey they would load .you with the latest news, and
''shine" you up in the highest style of the art.
Georob Calder,
Sup't of the Children's Aid Society.
New York, Oct. 25. 1881.
$€l^s and §ii^ri^^.
T is again this season very dry here ; bees are
suffering. I have worked with bees for several
seasons, but the seasons are so very bad that I
can do but little with them. T have, of course, In-
creased some, but they are making no surplus hon-
ey at all here, and have not for several years. This
seems to bo a poor bee country. I like very much
to handle bees. H. Wehrman.
Truxton, Lincoln Co., Mo.
MY TEST OF PURITY.
When you take out a ccmb of young bees, if they
run and tumble off the combs they are uot puro
Italians, and I do not want any black blood in my
bees. The 2-story 8-frame L, hive is my choice.
Purdy, Mo., Oct. 8, 1881. M. Terry.
Father bought me two colonies of bees this spring,
and he aud I found four bee-trees this fall, so you
see we want to gain all the information that we pos-
siblj' can. We have not cut the trees yet.
Henry L. Rouse.
Ionia, Chickasaw Co., la., Oct. 31, 1881.
The 244-lb. scales wore just "boss " for that mon-
ey. Here they would cost about eight or nine dol-
lars. I have sold honey this summer to the amount
of $73.47, and have used and will use 200 lbs. more
this winter, making in all about 800 lbs. honey from
12 swarms. Increased to 32; lost 5; one was robbed
out. We have had a 6-inch fall of snow.
Albert OsBUif.
Spring Bluff, Adams Co., Wis., Nov. 7, 188L
HOW DOES HE KNOW?
Unless Mr. T. R. Butler (page 546) has his queen
marked, " as they do hogs down South," how can he
know that the queen producing black bees is not a
daughter of the old queen, impurely fertilized — the
old one being dead, or retired on a pension?
J. L. Van Zandt, M. D.
Eido, Texas, Nov. 8, 1881.
tVer.v true, friend V. ; how are we ever to know
there has not been some changeln the queens unless
we have some better way of marking queens than
any yet devised?]
610
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
I began with one hive, and am now one of the
largest bee-keepers in the north of Scotland, if not
the largest. G. W. Riddel.
Leslie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Oct. 13, 1881.
I did splendidly at the great Toronto fair, beating
for " largest and best display " of honey our great
D. A. Jones, of Becton. Edmond Nugei.t, M. D.
Strathroy, Ont., Can., Oct. 1, 1881.
Happily, late this fall the bees gave me a lift in
the way of a nice lot of surplus honey that helped
me out of a close financial place; so I am not
cramped, if I did not get to sell any bees.
J. J. KiSER.
Des Moines. Polk Co., Iowa, Oct. 21, 1881.
Please answer this In next Gleanings: Are the
Holy-Land queens yellow or dark? 1 bought one of
I. B. Good. She is quite dark — more so than Italian
queens. J. W. Marshall.
Constantine. St. Jo Co., Mich., Aug. 13, 1881.
[Dark, as a general thing, friend M.]
MULTUM IN PARVO.
Wet soft weather; 19 queens in the spring; 4" now;
most of them heavy with stores and bees; about 800
lbs. white honey, extracted; three or four hundred
to extract; about eleven or twelve hundred of boz
honey; some over 2000 in all. Extracted, 8 and 12c.;
comb, 15 to 18c. per lb. V. W. Keeney.
Shirland, Win. Co., 111., Oct. 24, 1881.
I have 107 stands of bees on shares. Our bees gave
us 7000 lbs. of surplus honey so far this reason, while
others have done comparatively nothing. Friend
Wilkin was up to see us the other day, and he said
he never saw bees thriving nicer. They are still
breeding very heavily. I am now Italianizing.
O. B. Quesner.
Newhall, Los Angeles Co., Cal., July 23, 1881.
A three -COLONY APIARY.
• In reference to bees, my wife is pleased with her
success. We have extracted about 160 lbs. from 3
colonies, and made a colony by dividing. We got an
Italian queen, a good layer, and one colony is now
mostly all Italianized. The four are in 2-story Sim-
plicity hives. 2 of which you furnished. I would not
have any others now. B. H. Lemon.
Thorold, Ont., Can., Aug. 6, 1881.
H.4PPY ANYHOW.
Bees are doing no good with the most constant
care. I have gone back from 85 to 73 swarms, and
made no honey; it is constant work to keep out the
worms. There is but little feed, but it may be all
for the best. We are getting a good training this
year, even if we do have to work for no money. We
are happy and thankful, for the spiritual food is
worth all others. I. B. Ru.mford.
Bakersfield, Kern Co., Cal., Aug. 4, 1881.
I had a call for "oil of honey." What is it, and
how obtained? This was not an extra season for
bees here. I report as follows: 20 stocks in the
spring, and 26 now; have taken 1200 lbs. of honey,
150 of it comb. Sold all I had to spare, by Aug. 20.
Two other bee-keepers near here took about 1000 lbs.
each. I have been out some time.
W. C. HCTCniNSON.
Acton, Marion Co., Ind., Nov. 1, 1881.
[Who will tell us what "oil of honey" is?l
In last Gleanings we notice that you contemplate
having a " square " and "crooked" list. It is our
desire to be placed in the list of " square " men, but
our greatest desire is to merit a place in that list.
We think that our past contracts are all square;
should we be mistaken, we arc ready to make them
so at once. Fischer & Stehle.
Marietta, Wash. Co., O., Oct. 14, 1881.
[That is exactly the was' we like to hear our ad-
vertisers talk, friends F. & S.]
nONEY FROM CORN.
In answer to your question, if bees gather honey
from common field corn, I will say, they will. Corn
on good rich crroioid. weilhoed, so the corn will thrive
well, will yield some honey. I have got more corn
honey {his year than I ever got from corn before.
My bees gave me over 200 lbs. each of extracted hon-
ey the past summer, and doubled the stock of bees.
Wm. McEvoy.
Woodburn, Wentworth Co., Ont., Can., Oct. 19, 1881.
now THE HONEY-BEES HELP.
I herewith inclose check on New York for $25 00.
I received this money as premium on hives and
honey at our State fair in Macon last week. We
have made almost an entire failure in crops this
year; corn and oat crop an entire failure, and cot-
ton yielding about one bale to five acres, so you see
how hard it has been to raise money. The honey
crop is good, and has helped wonderfully in meeting
our daily wants. F. N. Wilder.
Forsyth, Monroe Co., Ga., Oct. 24, 1881.
BLACK BEES BETTER THAN ITALIANS TO WINTER.
I have three apiaries, wi' h ■ b^ut 40 stands in each.
The bees of the home apiai y arc Italians; the two
others are blacks. I can not winter the Italians as
well as the blacks. A year ago I lost 7^ Italians to
one black swarm ; last winter I lostlO toone. Ihave
a large dry cellar, and have always wintered blacks
successfully. I keep them in 5 months, or from thj
1st Dec. till April or 1st of May. I have brought all
home to winter. John Andrews.
Patten's Mills, Wash. Co., N. Y., Oct. 29, 1881.
Sll ^LL AVE USE SEPARATORS ?
I see you request the friends to give their experi-
ence with separators, fused them one season, but
could not get the bees to do much in them. I find
one section in a great number that I can't pack in
the case, but I can eat that. I don't think I would
be bothered with separators. Our comb honey sells
out here better without glass. I put my sections in
the upper story, mostly four in a large frame.
Robert Quinn.
Shellsburg. Benton Co., la., Oct. 14, 1881.
I confess I feel a little slighted. Ne.^t time you
visit Prof. Cook just let me know, and be sure to
buy your ticket only to Fowlervill'^, and I will meet
you there, and after showing you my farm, etc.,
will take you up to the college in a buggy. May
be we haven't such fast horses as " Patsey," but
they will " get around sure." F. L. Wright.
Plainticld, Michigan, Aug. 11, 1881.
[I am very sorry indeed, friend W., I was so near
an old friend and customer and didn't know it.
When I get up that way again, 1 will assuredly come
and look at that farm, bees, etc., and take a ride
over to the college. I dearly love rides through the
country.]
1S81
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
611
HONEY FROM CORN, AGAIN.
I must tell you that I often get a lot of nice white
well-flavored honey from corn — common Indian. I
think I c:in't be mistaken. I have grone into the
fields and m:ide observation, also at times when
bees were getting houey from no other known source.
W. H. Steele.
Kossuth, Alcorn Co.. Ml?s , Nov., 1881.
ITIR. lUERRYBANKS AND HIS NklGH-
BOie.
UONEV FRO.M PF.AS, OAK, ETC.
I have 23 hives; they have not done much this
year; thej- arc githering honey from peas now. I
saw in your last number that bees had gathered
honey from will'iw roots. I found a bee-tree that
had been gathering it from white oak where it had
been biuised. The honey tasted like sap.
J. H. Mattock.
Horn Lake, Desoto Co., Miss., Aug. T, 1881.
FUOil ONE to three, AND $16.00 WORTH OF HONEY
IN ONE SEASON.
I commenced the spring of 1881 with one swarm of
bees, and now; have three strong swarms; have sold
$16 worth of section houey. As I am a beginner, I
feel much encouraged, and think girl^ can take care
of bees as well as boys or men. Father takes
Gleanings. We find it interesting and useful.
iD.v M. Church.
Benton Harbor, Mich., Nov. 11, 1881.
n§€uvaginQ,
I am in good spirits. I havet ken about 1000 lbs
honey; about ?i extracted, the rest In sections.
I have nearly Italianized from the tested queen
you sent me. She produces many full 1-banded
bees, and out of :?0 young queens, none have failed
to produce 3-banded bees, and I know that some of
them must have met black or hybrid drones. I go
into winter-quarters with 26 colonies, all very well
supplied with honey. J. D. Fooshe.
Coronaca, S. C, Nov. 3, 1881.
hill's device FOR WINTER.
I see your problem solved on page .=>30, and can as-
sure you that it will not euro norprevent dysentery.
It is as good as the hcut winter passage, because not
solid like a block, but leaves a nice circulating space.
I have used it three or four years. See Glean-
ings, page 116, 1881, .3d paragraph under cut of my
hive. I think I wrote about it to some bee journal
about two years ago. My way of using, the curved
pieces can't flatten down when dampened.
Dowagiac, Mich., Nov. It, 1881. Jame.s Heddon.
^ AM getting a nice start in the bee business. I
jiji tried it 20 years with the black bees and box
— ' gum, and at the end of that time I would have
valued my stock at §.x00. With the help of Glean-
ings and other works on bee culture, I have built
up a considerable apiary. I use the Simplicitj' hive
and the Lawn hive. I have an imported queen, and
use the extractor. Mv' ousinets is paying me for all
my trouble and investment, and I have bees and
honey plenty, and something nice at that, and sell-
ing queens besides. I Had bee culture under pres-
ent management both a pleasant and profitable
business. E. E. Smith.
Settle, Iredell Co., N. C, Oct. 11, 1881.
Fear not, little flock; fop it is the Fnther's good
pleasure to give you the kingdnm.— I-uke li :32.
jf,i|[fj,HE new watering-troupch was patronized
A aniazingly. Jolm had rigged up a sort
of work-bench down ia that playhouse,
that you remember he styled liis Temper-
ance Hotel, and he enjoyed so much seeing
the horses drink, as they
came a little shyly at iir.st
up to the new trough, he
actually dreamed of seeing
horses drinking at niglit
after he had got to bed.
The water, bubbling as it j!^
did right out of the sandy ^
rock, was always fresh,
soft aufl cool, and no horse
ever refused to drink there,
even if he had been wa-
tered but a half-hour be- John's dreajl
fore out of some muddy, stagnant pool. The
tinner's shears had not yet been carried
home, and -John had become quite expert
with them, fashioning things out of the tin
he got out of some oyster cans that had been
so recently emptied they were comi)aratively
clean and briglit. In fact, he made the tin
cup I promised to tell yon about last month,
and he became so fond of the business, the
passers-by joked him by saying he had bet-
ter put his sign. " Tempkr ance Tin^hop,"
rather than •' Hotel.'' Shall I tell you how
he made nice-looking cups out of oyster-
cans';' Well, he just cut them open near the
seams, so as to get a piece of tin 3 by 12i
inches. One oyster-can made just two such
pieces. After 'the tin was nicely flattened
by a little wooden mallet, he marked it out
accurately with his father's square, and then
cut it exactly on the line with his snips.
After this he snipped off every one of the
four corners until his tin looked about like
this:—
B
Next he folded an ed'..,e on each of the long
sides, where you see the dotted lines. He
did this by laying it on the square with the
edge projecting just enough, and then turned
it down with his mallet. He did not pound
this seam down hard, for he wished it to
look as much as possible as if a wire were
turned under the fold. One edge was turned
over one way, and the other the other. AV^ell,
after this was done he folded it around his
mother's potato-masher by means of his mal-
let, so it looked much like a cup without
handle or bottom. The ends Avere slightly
curved with the mallet before rolling it up,
so they lay on each other nicely, ready to
solder. The clipping, as yen see, made no
seams or folds where the lap came Neigh-
bor Menybanks good-naturedly loaned him
his soldering-iron, with the understanding
that John was to pay for all the solder he
used, and keep the iron in good order. You
know I said one seam was turned out and
61f
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
the other iu. AVell, Avith his father's com-
passes a true cirfle was marked out on an-
otlier piece of tin, and when made just the
right size, and cut out, it just pushed into
the cup. It would go into the top very well,
and when pushed down to the bottom it
came solidly against the seam that was
turned in to hold it. It came do.vn into
place so securely it almost seemed as if it
would stay without solder. However, as
John's cups were to be useful as well as or-
namental, it was soldered securely. Mary
and Freddie were loud in their praises of
the cup. because it actually did not leak a
drop all the while they were eating supi)er,
yet it was left on the work-bench. brimu)ing
full. Freddie said they bought a tin cup of
a peddler, and it would not do that. After
supper, a handle was made of a piece of tin
that was left. The handle, when cut, looked
just likelhis: —
After he got a cup made so he knew it
held exactly a pint, he made a careful pat-
tern and punched a hole through it so it
could be hung up on a nail. He also wrote
on every })attern the name of it. as you see
in the pictures, so no mistake would be
made. The edg^s of the handle were folded,
much like the body of the cup ; and, to get
the right shape to it, he folded it over his
mother's rolliiig-pin, so as to be bent exactly
like a cup they had iu the house. After he
bad got one to suit him with the aid of the
patterns, it did not take very long to make
another; and, at the suggestion of Mary,
this second one was hung on a nail just
over his bench, with a little board under it,
marked as you see below : —
Just as they got it nicely
fixed, T.' ncle Billy drove past;
and, seeing the children look-
ing up at the cup Avith such
interest and animation, he
glanced up too.
■• Only live cents ? Why, I
guess a new tin cup is just
what I want; '' and he took
a nickel out of his pocket and handed it
over.
" John made it, all his self," ventured
Mary, for the success of her plea for the little
trough had made her somewhat bold.
'•Is that so V Why, where did he get his
tools for a tin-shop ? "
John, a little shyly, told him they Avere
there on the bench. While Uncle Billy was
looking them over and asking questions, the
doctor drove up with his ooy Tom. (Jf
course, all had to look at the cup. The doc-
tor gave an order for half a dozen, explain-
ing that he preferred it to any he could buy,
because John had done all of the soldering
from the outside. .Solder contains a consid-
erable portion of lead, and as lead is to a
certain extent poisonous, it is very desirable
that all kitchen utensils, especially fruit-
cans, should be soldered only on the outside.
Mary clapped her hands at the prospect of
so much monev ; but Johi^ looked a little
downcast, because he did not know how he
was to get so many bright clean oyster-cans,
lie timidly mentioned something of this,
when Tom interposed.
•' Why, father, he can buy new sheets of
bright tin. I can get some for him when I
go to the city to-morrow."
" Yes," said uiicle Billy, •• I happen to be
acquainted with the tin-smith there, and I
will send a line to him, asking him to let you
have it as near box prices as possible."
John was troubled still, for the nickel he
had just received for the cup was all the
money he had in the world. But a brave
boy as he was, tliough, he spoke right out;
and at the same time he thanked them he
told them the trouble.
•• Why , look here," said the doctor ; '" here
is the money for the six, in advance."
•■ And here is the money for six more that
Jw'ant," said uncle Billy. '•It is a pity if
we can not give the • Temperance Hotel ' a
lift when it is just starting out;" and he
gave the doctor a look that was understood,
as he laughed good-naturedly. Tom took
the money, <md promised that "the tin should
be on hand by the next day noon, if nothing
happened, and off they all went. John could
hardly keep back the tears. What did it all
mean? and how was it that even Tom seemed
so pleasant and accommodating? His moth-
er told him it was simply the working out
of the promise in the text at the head of our
story this month, and that he might reasona-
bly expect people in this world to be willing
to help those who are trying hard to help
themselves. At a little before noon Tom
drove up and handed out ten bright sheets
of tin for the sixty cents. After the tin was
out, he pulled out of his pocket a clean
bright bar of nice new solder.
'•Why, where did you get that?" said
John.
"OhI I had a little money left.and I thought
you would get out befme all this tin was
w(uked up, and so I brought it along. It
cost just oU cents." As John looked a little
undecided about getting in debt so much he
added, •' You just lay it in your drawer un-
til you get a lot of cups done, and then I
will help you sell them."
John found that each sheet would make
the bodies to seven cups, and a half-sheet
more Avould make the bottoms, with scrap
enough for all the handles. Before he went
to bed that night the dozen were Huished,
and tied up with strings ready for delivery.
Before noon next day, enough were made and
sold to pay for the bar of solder. During all
this time John was revolving a plan in his
head for making a o-cent pail, on the same
plan as his cup. By the time his bar of sol-
der was all his own, his plan was matured,
un one side of the cup is a seam, you know;
well, right opposite tins seam he cut a little
notch in the body of the cup, before it was
folded up. so as to have a break, as it were,
in thiS folded edge. Well, after the cup was
all made but the handle, he with a sharp-
pointed scratch -awl raised the fold and
slipped in a bent wire, which formed the
ears of the pail. The drawing below will
show you how the ear was made, and held
in position until it could be soldered. The
18S1
GLEAl^lNGS IN BEE CULTURE.
613
Jolm made it. Of
JOHN S PAIL.
ear was bent from a large com-
mon pin, after cutting off the
head and sharpening both ends
so it AYOuld push easily into the _
fold. A piece of wire "made the ^
bail, and then it Avas all ready
for a pint honey-pail, only it ''-'■'^^''^^'^■
lacked a cover. A cover was soon made in
this way : lie made a band for the rim, just
like the body of the cup, only it was but ?
an inch wide, and had a fold on only one
edge. This fold was on the outside, like the
cup, but the band was of such size that it
slipped right inside the pail until stopi)ed
by the folded edge. A plain circle of tin,
made as large as the outside diameter of the
pail, was soldered on this hoop, as it were,
so as to project equally on all sides. After
the cover was i)ut on the pail, the edge of
the tin was rubbed down smooth with his
hammer-handle, and the pail was done, on-
ly the cover needed some sort of a handle.
This was made by folding the edges of a
strip of tin, somewhat like the cup-handle,
only it did not tajier. Here is the whole
pail and cover, just as
course, Mary and Fred-
die were anxious spec-
tators during the
whole ; and tlie min-
ute it was done, all
trooped into the house
to show the wonderful
new tin pail, cover and
all. Mary fairly clap-
ped her hands with de-
light, and John was so excited when he un-
dertook to till it with water, to see if it would
leak, that he dipjied his hand into a pan of
milk, and then started to tl>e spring after
some water with a basket. To the chagrin
of all the group, it leaked; and John had to
wipe it dry and go over the soldering again.
This was quite a shock to his pride as a
workman ; and as Freddie was a little in-
clined to quote his father as a superior work-
man all the time, John made some pretty
big resolves, that hereafter his pails and
cups should never bs brought back because
they leaked. Mary wanted to carry it over
to the neighbors to show, but tirst stopped
to ask what the price would be.
*' Five cents,"' said John.
" Why. the cups are worth only live cents,
and this is ever so much more work."
^ Can't help it,"- said John. " Ten cents
would be too much, and we can"t bother our
customers with odd coppers in making
change. If they are cheap at live cents we
shall have the more to make, that is all."
John sat down to the task of making a
better one, and one that would not leak.
Mary was soon back, all out of breath.
'■'■ Mr. ^lerrybanks says ho wants a dozen
just like it to put honey in, and here is the
00 cents."
John was already a man of business, and
no mistake : and witli the pleasure and joy
that he felt in being able to earn money fair-
ly and honestly, tliere came a little worry
about his ability to take care of all the trade
that seemed piling in. At this juncture, our
jolly old friend came up with the pail in
question.
•'John, you have opened up a streak of
business and no mistake ; but, my boy, you
must not stick to it too closely. You are
tired now, are you not ? "
Come to think of it, John thought he did
feel a little tired.
•• Well, it is best to take things with mod-
eration in this world. Where is your father?"
'■ He, with the horse, is at work for Uncle
Billy to-day."
•' \Ve\l, that is good, isn't itV Well, you
see these pails of yours hold just about 11
lbs. of honey easily, and at present prices
should retail for an even 25 cents. Now, as
it is quite a bother for me to run to weigh
out honey, suppose you keep a few of these
pails full here, and put out a sign, and I will
give you 10 per cent commission. Here is a
pailful to commence on."
In a twinkling the
pail of honey was hung
in a conspicuous place,
and under it was a
board that read like
this : —
"Now," said neigh-
bor M., '' you want
some better mode of
folding your tin for cups and pails. Haven't
you got some little boards here? Freddie,
will you run over and get that piece of gal-
vanized iron on the work-bench V "
The sheet iron was brought, and from it
were cut four strips, 4xl-lA inches. At inter-
vals near one edge, holes were drilled large
enough to receive common wood screws. In
one of these pieces, the holes were all filed
oblong, with a round file, as in the cut be-
low:—
Next, two hard-wood boards, 4x15?, were
provided. They were laid side by side, and
then hung together with a hinge nailed into
the end of each board. The hinges were
made of the galvan-
ized iron, by riveting
one strip to the end of
another, thus : The
small holes show you
where it was nailed in
the ends of the boards.
Now three of the above
strips were laid on one of the boards, and
screwed fast. The piece with the oblong
holes was the center one, and thus by loos-
ening the screws at any time, the width of
the fold could be adjusted. The third piece
was put on the other board. It Avas soon
done, and looked like this: —
HINGE FOR FOLDER.
FOLDING-MACHINE.
John found, to his great delight, that he
could fold his seams with this by just put-
614
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
ting the erlge of the tin under the galvanized
iron, so quickly that it seemed almost like
mag c.
'• Now," said friend M., " Come over in my
orchard and get some ripe apples, and play
around a while as boys usually do, and theii
you can make pails, and five-cent coffee-
pots too. if you like."
It is Saturday night again. The family
are, as before, sitting on one of the logs that
go across the bridge. On the front of the
'' Temperance Hotel" are hung pint cups,
half-pint cups, quart cups, pint pails full of
honey, and not full. John's father has got
some money that he has earned himself; so
has John's mother; so has Mary, that she
got from selling cups at a commission of
'•ten percent." John's father has just re-
peated the text at the head of our chapter,
and asked his wife if it can really be such as
he whom Jesus meant when those words
"were spoken. John's mother reminded liim
that, as it was Saturday night, he had better
take down his things and put them away.
" Please let them be up a little longer,
mother; lam sure somebody will be along
and want something more."
In a few minutes
more he came out of
the '-Hotel" with a
bound, exhibiting his |^ ^'^^^^^fc
new tive-cent coffee- ^> l^^=ss==^
pot. Shall t give you
a picture of ity
Do 5'ou wonder, dear
reader, that all that
little household are five-cent coffee-pot.
happy, and that their faith in God and the
future is bright, this Saturday night?
TOB.ICCO COliUIfllV.
FRIEND sends us the following for
this department : —
Prof. Bascnm writes, with regard to thecultivatiou
of the tohacci) plant : —
"Take the land, the sunshine, the rain which God
g-ives yoii, and set them all at work to grow tobacco.
Throw this, as j'our product, into the world's market;
buy with it l)read, clothing and shflter, books for
yourselves, instruction for your children, considera-
tion in the community, and, perchance, the Gospel
of Grace; piy ever and everywhere, for the g-ood
you get, tobacco, only tobacco — tub icco, that nour-
ishe« no man, clothes no man, instructs no man,
purities no man, b'esses no man; tobacco, that be-
gets inordinate and loathsome appetite and disease
and degradation, that impoverishes and debases
thousand?, and adds incalculably to the burden of
evil the world bears. But call not this e.\-change
honest trade, or this gnawing at ihe rent of socini
Well-being getting an honest livelihood. Think of
God's justice, the honesty he requires, and cover
not your sin with a lie. Turn not his earth and air,
given to minister to the sustenance and joy of man,
into a narcotic, deadening life and poisoning its cur-
rent, and then trHlHc witd this for your own good.
"Some years since, the annual production of to-
bacco throushout the worll was estimated at four
billions of pounds. Allowing the cost of the uninan-
ufacturfd material to be ten cents a pounil. the
yearly expen«e of this pnisonfius growth araotints to
four hundred millions of dollars. Put into market-
able shape, the annual cost reaches one thousand
millions of dollars. This sum, according to carelul
computation, would construct two railroads around
the earth at twenty thousand a mile. It would
build a hundred thousand churchps, each costing
ten thousand dollars, or half a million of school-
houses, eai'h costing two thons:tnd, or it would em-
ploy a million of preachers, and a million teachers,
at a salary of five huj^'tred doUiurs.
" What more effective, pathetic appeal to the hf>ad
and heart can be mad"- than by these figures"? T*o
millions of tons of tobacco annually consumed by
smokers and snuffers atid chewers, while from every
pnrt of the habitable miotic are hands stretched out
imploringly for the Bread of Life, which must bo
dt-nied for lack of means to send it!
" In Great IJritaiii alone there are not far from
three hundred thousand tobacc vshops. England
tias obtained a larger revenue from this source than
from all the gold-mines of Australia. In Germany,
Hollind, Great Britain, and the United States, offi-
cial ligures show that it costs more than bread."
Inclosed please find $1 00 for Gle\ninos. I would
be entirely lost without it. The other dollar is for
my broken promise. 'Tis true, 1 smoked only one
littlj cigarette, but it was a litile too much.
L. L. E.
I am both sorry and glad to get the above.
I have been for some time rather worried,
for fear all those who have given this public
promise were not strictly truthful, and now
I know that at least two of you aie. I am
very sorry, friend E., you have yielded to
temi)tation, and I fear your so doing will
weaken some other weak brother ; but I re-
joice that you come right out and confess
your wrong, and hand over the dollar. May
the Lord bless you in this 1 But I am sure
he would bless you still more in leaving oif
all such bad habits at once and for ever,
even though you have failed once. You
have done all you agreed to do, and nobody
has any right to find fault.
By reading your tobacco column I came> to the
conclusion that there arc black sheep among your
flock. If a man promises to quit smoking and chew-
ing for the sake of a bee smoker, there is certainly
sotnething wrong. lam smokiug, and my conscience
tells me, "You do no sin." Why does the great
Creator let it grow if it is a sin to make use of it?
Can you tell me of any other use for it but to smoke
and chew? Why, then, condemn God's plants? Can't
you c.ill it such? If not, who el^e lets it grow? Ytiu
may say whisky is the drunkard's grave; that is
certainly true. I am strongly against the use of
strong drinks. But whisky is a necessitj-; we must
have it in medicine. But tobacco can not bo used
in medicine; and if I tell the truth, I smoke tobacco
for my nealth. I am not ashamed to have it appear
before your readers. People must bo very pious in
Canada, the way a Canada Pharisee advertises re-
garding tobacco. Pkkston J. Kline.
Coopersburg, Lehigh Co., Pa., Nov. 7, 1881.
Gently, friend K. If I mistake not, the
letter you have given us above is a rather
telling one against the use of the weed, to
the average reader. I hardly believe you
would wish your own boys to grow up to-
bacco-users, when it could as well as not be
avoided. I can call to mind two cases in
which tobacco is used as a medicine. Your
own case is one, and my wife uses it in the
form of an ointment, as a counter-irritant to
cure the croup. If I am right, i>oison ivy is
not used as a medicine, or otherwise ; yet I
never knew any one to insist it should be
used to chew because God made it, and it
must be good for something. Our Canadian
friend meant to say, in his advertisetnent,
"tobacco and liquors," instead of " tobacco
and cigars;" and I thank God they have
just so much "piety "in Canada. Do you
know, friend K., that no students can be re-
ceived at our Government school at West
Point i£ tiiey use tobacco V
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUUE.
615
It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good.
—I. Samuel 3:18.
MEADER, have \ on a father living V I
,, had when I wrote you hist.ancl in fact
— ^ I have always liad" a father from the
first moments of niy recollection until np to
within three days past. I have tried to
tench Yon here to learn to think it is God"s
hand tlirough all the events of life, and es-
pecially through the tn/ing events. I am be-
ginning to see his hand "through this great
sorrow; and although it may seem strange
to some, I am beginning to' find a new and
strange happiness right in the midst of this
trial. We are a family of nine — father
and mother, and seven children, and no
death had ever entered this family circle un-
til father was called, on the .5th of this No-
vember, as I have inst told yon. He wlio
came into Medina County more than 50 years
ago, and chopped down the trees to bnild
the log house for us all, has been called
away first. He died but a few yards from
that very same old log house,' the one in
which I was born, and I thank God that I
was permitted to be with him in his last mo-
ments, and to minister to his comfort as he
drew his last breath. He had been on his
bed of sickness about five weeks. Tn that
time I have learned some lessons. If I am
right, God has. during that time, given me
some messages that he wishes me to carry to
you. That is why I asked, in the outset of
this talk to-day. if you had a father living.
His sick bed has taught me how much my
father cared for me and loved me. It has
also taught me how much I loved him, al-
though I did not until now know it. We
are not all alike, and we are far from being
alike in our ways of demonstrating our love
or our sorrow. I was surprised to find, when
my father was sick, that he especially leaned
on me and looked up to me : I was the only
one of his boys near him. The two others
are far away in the West.
When I first undertook the task of caring
for him through the lonely night. I felt so
utterly helpless and incompetent for the
post, that it seemed as though some one else
would do far better than I ; but soon came
the thought, that right where I wa'', was
where God wanted me, and I I'neic that he
would be with and guide me. if I put my
trust in him, and went cheerfully to work.
It was toward midnight, and I shook off tlie
drowsiness that began stealing over me. and
knelt in silent prayer near the bedside of
my feverish patient. 'J'he doctor had en-
joined upon me as little talking as possible,
and therefore my work was to be a silent
work. I had noticed that father seemed to
be much fatigued when he rose up in bed to
take his medicines, and I therefore set about
trying to make this task as brief and easy as
possible. A chair was silently placed at the
right spot, and on it was a cup of fresh
water, his quinine, milk punch, etc. "When
I was satisfied that I had every thing right
at my hand that I might need', I seated my-
self quietly on the bed, and told him it was
time for medicine again. Instead of letting
him get up, I raised him gently ; and while
he leaned on me, supported him with my left
hand, while I quickly gave him, with my
right, all he was to take, and he was back on
his pillow again with much less fatigue than
where he was obliged to wait for delays.
After that. I watched him in his sleeji until
I discovered in what position or positions he
rested most easily. "When he seemed rest-
less in one position. I found I could get him
to change, almost without waking him. Not
only was fresh water from the pnmp kept in
readiness for the time when he might ask. in
his feeble voice, for it, but I managed the
temperature of the room so that several
windows could be opened a little without the
room being too cold, until I had ventilated
out almost every trace of the smell that is so
apt to accompany fevers of that type. I
found, by making a study of it all, that I
kept away drowsiness, so far that the night
passed rather pleasantly than otherwise.
My reward came in the "morning, when he
toid mother (of course, he clung to mother
as his best and safest friend on earth) that
Amos had taken " such excellent care "' of
him during the night.
A few nights later, when my watch was
off, Mrs. Gray and myself rose at o o'clock
on a frosty morning, and rode down to the
old farm to see how he was getting along. I
told him wliat time it was, and he in his
feeble voice spoke of the trouble it made us
to get up in the night and come so far.
'• Father, do you remember, aAvay back
years ago, when" ?/rt!? used to get up in the
night in the old log house, to care for usf''
'• I remember well when mother used to get
up and carry j/ou about." I had been very
sicklv when quite young.
'• Well, father, we are glad of the oppor-
tunity of showing that we remember the
loving care vou both gave us in our helpless
childhood. 'Did jou regard it as a hardship
then V"
'' No.-' I remember now the pleasant and
reassured look that came into his face as he
answered me.
In spite of our care he grew weaker ; and
although he became very tired of the medi-
cine ordered by the dector, to be taken
through the weary hours of botli day and
night, betook it all patiently. In his younger
days he had been much suliject to a sort of
quinsy in his throat, and he had often ex-
pressed a fear ^ mother he might die of
strangulation. He did not fear deatli, and
they both talked it over as familiarly, al-
most, as of the visit he took to his old Con-
necticut home, but little more tlian a year
ago. Well, it was toward his last that I was
watching with liim one night. At midnight
he should have taken his medicine ; but he
was sleeping so quietly I let him lie a half-
hour longer.
"Father! it is time for medicine again."
"Yes."
" Will you not get up and take it now?"
" Yes, when T get rested a little.."' It oc-
curred to me then that he was failing.
" Will you not rise up and take it now?"
Father', in his life, was always very
prompt ; and even in his sickness, seeming
616
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
to remember lie was delayinor, a little to my
surprise he turned over and rose up with
the readiness of a child, almost before I was
ready to support him. I raised the cup to
his lips, but wondered his head dropped for-
ward as it did. I asked him if he would
not take it, and he roused up enough to
swallow a jiart of it. AVhen asked to take
the rest. I discovered he had fainted. I laid
him back on his pillow and called loudly
lor mother. Before she came I saw he was
gasping with the strangulation we had
feared. I shall never forget the imploring
look for help, nor shall I ever forget to be
careful in giving merlicine to a very weak
patient. She turned him on his side, rubbed
his throat, and the liquid passed down, but
my heart was beating so it shook my very
body to think 1 had, by my want of skill,
come so near hastening his approaching
end. He assured me, with a bright, pleas-
ant look, that no harm was done, and
dropped off again into his accustomed
slumber. There seemed to be a providence
in this experience, after all. Two days
afterward, when I hastened to his bedside, I
found he was lying on his back and gasping
for breath, something as he did that night.
He was dying, but the doctor and fviends
thought it" Avas his easiest position. I could
not think so. and earnestly entreated that he
might be turned on his side. I have inher-
ited from him a tendency to throat troubles,
and it seemed to me I knew better than any
one how he could breathe his last easiest..
The friends, out of kindness, had been giv-
ing him a stimulus when he was unable to
swallow it, and it was producing the same
symptoms that so impressed themselves on
my mind the night before. Fortunately he
had strength to vomit it up, and then he felt
much revived. I am thus particular in
these little details, because I feel very
anxious we should all learn to care for the
sick and dying in such a way as to alleviate
pain and suffering all we possibly can. Al-
though he revived enough to speak, his
breath soon became again obstructed, and
at my earnest solicitation we turned him on
his side, even at the risk of hastening his
death by so doin^. To my great relief, the
obstruction to his breathing then settled
down to one side, so that he drew each
breath with such ease that he sank away
peacefully, and apparently almost without
pain. I will mention here, that for many
years I have been in the habit of calling to
see my parents, on my way* home from our
Ablieyville mission Sunday-school, every
Sabbath afternoon. Well, after the labors
of the school I am invariably in a happy
mood, and had often sung new hymns we had
learned, to my mother. I do not know that
father often said much about them, but
mother always liked to have me sing. One
day, during father's early sickness, he ex-
pressed a wish to see me. and have me sing
some of those hymns. There may be others
in the world besides my father and mother
who like to hear me sing. I cannot remem-
ber now ever having heard of any, but I as-
sure you it gave me a thrill of pleasure to
know I could in this way make his sick bed
pleasanter. Well, on this night when his
breath was growing shorter and shorter,
and we could not catch any further sign of
recognition, I felt imprepsed to sing a little
hymn that I found once or twice before
seemed to give comfort to those near to
death. It is this :—
I know not tlie hour when m.y Lord will come,
To take me away to his own dear home;
But I know that his presence will lighten the prioom,
And that will be glor j- for me,
CiiO.— And that will he priory for me.
Oh, that will be Klcry to'" me.
But I know tliat his presence will lighten tl-.e gloom,
And that will be glory for me.
I know not the song that the angels sing,
I know not the sound of the harps' glad ring;
Hut I know there'll be mention of .lesus our king,
And that will be musie for me.
t'HO— And that will be mu.sie for me,
Oh, that will be musie for me.
But I know there'll be mention of Jesus our king,
A)id that will be musie for me.
I know not tlic fnrni of my mansion fair,
1 know not the name that 1 then shall bear;
But 1 know tliat my S;iyior will welcome me there,
And that will he hu;vyen for me.
Clio.— And that will he heaven for me,
t)h, that will be heaven for me;
I'.ut I know that my Savior will welcome mc there.
And that will be heaven forme.
I may be mistaken, but it seemed to me,
by the movement of the mouth and eyelids,
that he heard.
A few years ago death was but a fearful
dread to me. I avoided funerals and sick-
ness all I could consistently. How changed
is it all now ! I held my father's hand while
he approached the border line of the other
world, with no dreary forebodings ; for I
knew that a Father in heaven was watching
lovingly over all that little circle gathered
around that bed of death. Had we not the
assurance that we Avere of more value to
him than many sparrows V That great love
above bound us all together, and there Avas
no need that we should " be troubled, or
afraid."' In one sense. I was happy, because
I knew he liked to have me near liim, and I
felt that 1 had been able to make his last
moments a little easier. His breath grew
shorter and linally stopped. After an mter-
v-il, came another. Still longer, and another
still. After a third interval, came a slight
movement and a knitting-up of the muscles
aiound the nostrils — the death pang, as the
soul was torn from the body, as it "seemed,
and then all suffering and sorrow were over.
In an instant the movement expressive of
pain Avas gone, and his face had the expres-
sion of a child sleeping in peace.
Father Avas gone! The heart that had
beaten only in kindness for rne since 1 first
opened my eyes on this broad earth was '
stilled for ever. _No skill of man, not even
all the power of the universe together, could
bring back one more beat of ihe pulse we
had felt so often. Father is dead 1 Alone
in the Avorld should Ave be indeed, Avere it
not for God's great love at such a time.
How soon memory began going back !
Almost the first I can remember of him Avas
the toy wagons and sleds he used to make
brother and I ; then I remember how he
used to cany me. and take pains to shoAV
and explain every thing to me in my child-
hood days. Step by step memory carries me
back to "the time Avhen, as I grew older, he
took so much pains to afford me an oppor-
tunity of getting au education ; I never saw
it before ; but there, side by side Avith his
dead body, memory began to bring it out
18S1
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
617
with wonderful distinctness. When I was
eighteen I wanted just a little more money
to buy an outfit of electrical apparatus, that
I might go out lecturing. Money was not
very plenty then with him, and I debated
quite a while as to whether he would think
it best to give nie the am.ount. Although it
took about all he had, he took it out of his
pocket and handed it me almost as soon as I
explained what it was wanted for.
llecently he had been growing old
and feeble. 1 have sometimes wondered of
late 10 see him ''uptown" so often. The
farm is 2* miles from us. Well, Sunday
afternoon I was feeling a great longing to
see him, although he had not been dead
quite 24 hours. Eliza, who keeps the
" counter store," had dropped in to see us.
When I spoke of the longing I felt, and re-
gretted I had not improved the time more in
going down to the farm to see them oftener,
she remaiked that he used, almost always,
to ask, as he came into the store, —
" Do you know where Amos is at work to-
day V"
When told, he would add,—
"Do you know whether he is very busy
or not?"
I knew he often came up where I write,
and after a word or two went back again.
Sometimes I would go down with him, and
we would w'alk over the grounds looking at
the honey-plants, etc. Sometimes I showed
him our new^ machinery, ihe new goods in
the counter store, but I did not think he
cared so much for these little attentions ;
neither did I think it would ever come up
before me as it does now. What would 1
give — oh what would I give ! if I had those
days to live over again V Is it possible I
shall awake and liud that he is down on the
farm still, where his eyes may be gladdened
by the sight of his grown-up boy ? Dear
reader, it is no dream. The time is passed,
and he is now in his grave ; but listen, and
I will tell you of the message God has given
mo to take to you. Your father, perhaps, is
still living. Mine can not be recalled ; but
yours may still be cheered and. made liappy.
Go to him now, even though it be night, and
after dark; carry to him this chapter in Our
Homes, and ask him if it be not a message
sent from God. God, in his love and mercy,
has given me this experience, that I may
speak a w^ord for these friends of ours in
their second childhood. You little know
how they lean on you, and you little know
how they feel even a little thoughtlessness
on your part. Do you know there is only
one among the ten commandments that has
a promise with it V —
Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days
may be long in tho land which the Lord thy God
giveth thee.— Ex. 30:l:i.
My wife lost her father only a few^ years
ago. Said she to me one day, —
"Amos, while your parents live, do not
neglect them. Let your Abbeyville school
go ; let your work in the infirmary go, if
somethiiig must be neglected; but do not
neglect your parents in their old age. If
you do, you will sometime repent it most
keenly."
1 took her advice, and you can hardly
think how I thank God now for that advice.
I have been with them almost every Sunday
afternoon, for an hour or two, for years
back ; and yet how I do wish I had "gone
down oftener on week days, and been out
- around the farm more with father about his
work. About the last work he did was to
dig his potatoes, and he got very tired doing
it. Why did I not leave my work here and.
go and help him just a little while V 'i'he
recollection of having done even that would
be worth more to me now Uvau all that the
wealth of this world could pile u)). It was
not help he needed, for a boy could have
been hired for a very small sum, but it was
companionship and sympathy. Through
sorrow and aflliction has God pointed out
this lesson.
Now, the lesson does not end here. Fa-
ther is dead, but mother still lives ; my wife
lives; my children, my shopmates. You,
my friends, still live, and it is in my powei-
to give you some of that companionship and
sympathy of which God has been showing
me. I started up street yesterday. A little
ahead of me was a child with two pretty big
bundles. I can hasten up and carry one, and
if she dies before I do, I shall be made hap-
py by thinking of the little act. To my sur-
prise, I found it was my own little girl. Blue
Eyes. I took both of her bundles, and. I be-
lieve, her little soft hand also in mine. May
God be praised for the lesson lie is now
teaching me, and one which I probably need-
ed so much ! You know that friend Cook, at
the college, talked to me of the danger busy
men are in. of neglecting their own family
circles. Nothing would make me feel this
as does the afHictiou of which I have just
told you. Do you understand the text, —
Whom he loveth he chastenoth, and scourgeth
every son whom he rcceivcth?
Would it do any hurt, dear friends, if all
through life we should think, " Suppose that
friend should die before I can ever speak to
him again"? One after another of you is
going, "^'^ery often I ponder on the hand-
writing of some of j'ou after God has cilled
you away. Suppose we form a habit of ask-
ing ourselves, "Is this just what I would
say or write that man, if I thought it likely
he would die before I ever have the oppor-
tunity of saying more V " Could you look on
his face in his coffin, and feel no regret that
it had not been left unsaid V Well, this feel-
ing has brought a new joy and a new happi-
ness. In it I have felt more of God's love,
and a purer love to all my friends and rela-
tives, y es, I know it is a "belter and a purer
love to all humanity. If I hold on to it, it
will help me greatly to live in peace with all
men.
N'eiirer, my God. to thee, nearer to thee:
E'en thouf^h it be a cross that raisetli mo.
As we were about parting for the night, a
neighbor, a most kind old man who had
known my father and mother since the time
when they first sought their home in the
woods of Medina Comity, took her hand at
parting and spoke the words of my opening
text to-day— "It is the Lord; let him do
what seemeth him good." I at once began
wondering where in the Bible I had seen it,
and soon remembered it was the words of
618
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
Dec.
the good old Eli, when Samuel told him of
the Lord's reproof. Few I have found in
this woild who could say this at once, and
through all troubles and trials as they come
up. My mot her seems able to do so in a very
marked degree, for she is bright, cheerful,
and hopeful, even now. Many of the friends
say she can not hold out thus long, for it
Avould be more than human to do so. I agree
with them that it would be more than hn-
7nan, but still I think she will hold out, for
she has something more than human to sus-
tain her. Not that she has any privilege
above the lot of mortals, for Ave all may have
it if we will ; nay, we may all have it as a
free gift if we will only accept it. Is it not
so? It did not seem quite natural for poor
father to always have that same bright faith
she has. Several days before his death, at a
time when we thought he was dying, and
while mother was talking to him about going
home, he gave her a smile and a look so full
of hope and peace that it seemed almost to
belong to another world. This look will al-
ways be treasured by her; but afterward,
when he rallied and seemed better, pain and
sickness were with him again, and the bright
hopes seemed somewhat to have gone. At
this time his pastor visited him, and in his
talk asked if the Savior seemed near to him.
His reply was, " Sometimes." When near
to death, the world, earthly things, and even
his poor old body, were almost lost and for-
gotten, to such an extent that he hardly felt
any pain. When he was better in body, the
other world receded, and earthly trials came
back. In all that I can recall of my father,
I can think of no time when he held back
the trutli,even in the slightest degree, out of
courtesy, or to avoid hurting anybody's feel-
ings, llis greatt st fault M'as, perhaps, in
letting the tiuth come out, no matter where
it hit; and as he, like all the rest of us,
sometimes formed uncharitable or hasty
conclusions, this trait of his caused him to
give pain, and perhaps make enemies, which
a little more charity and mercy might have
saved. Knowing this, T was rather glad to
hear him speak, through his pain, the sim-
ple " sometimes." Few, very few, there be
who can always feel the Savior equally near,
and who can, through sickness and death,
rise above the pains and toils of this mortal
body ; and in view of this I turn again to
father's favorite chapter, the .03d Psalm,
and read, —
For ho knoweth our frame; he rcmemboreth that
we are dust.
In these past Home Papers I have told
you of one of the boys whom I called
" Fred," and about his conversion and work
in the mission Sabbath-schools afterward.
As his was a spirit fond of adventure, and
almost eager for danger, as it were, he held
this same trait to a considerable extent aft-
er his conversion. For a time he set ty))e
for Gleanings, as you will remember. In
his old life lie had been on the railroads, and
he seemed to have a longing for that kind of
life still. On this account he had been, for
tlie past year or two, in their employ, lie
had been promoted several times, and quite
recently had been quite happy in having en-
tire charge of a train of coal cars. He was
getting pretty good pay, and as he almost
invariably got his train in a little ahead of
any of the rest, he would probably soon
have been promoted still more. Well, but a
very few days have passed since Fred lost
his life, while running his train through in
the night. An accident happened that
threatened to endanger the lives of others,
and in trying to save them, especially some
new hands lately given into his charge, he
was cut to pieces by the cars. You know
how one's mind runs back over past events
when one you hold dear is suddenly taken
away. 1 want to tell you one of these. Fred
and 1 had two mission schools started that
seemed to promise much good. It was in
tlie fall of the year, and we were discussing
giving up one, 'because the days were get-
ting so short. Fred said it seerbed as if they
must not be stopped, either of them. Then
let us pray God to raise up some one to keep
them going, said I. After a little silence,
as we were riding home, said he, —
" JNIr. Root, do you think it possible that I
might take charge of the Litchfield school?"
" I do think it possible, Fred, with God's
help, and I have been praying you might so
see it."
It might have been a day or two afterward
that I saw Fred had something on his mind.
When it came out it was this: —
" Mr Root, I think I could manage all at
the school, except the opening prayer. Now,
I want you to speak right out plainly.
Would it be wrong for one who is not a
member of any church, to open a Sunday-
school with prayer V "
" I do not think it would be wrong, Fred,
if you feel in your heart God would approve
of your so doing."'
As I had argued with him some on the
im|)ortanceof uniting with Christian people,
and he had seemed to prefer to stand alone,
I do not know but that he seemed a little
surprised at me. I asked our pastor what
he thought of my advice, and he warmly
seconded me. Some thought otherwise, of
course ; but when I started for prayer-meet-
ing Saturday afternoon, to my surprise Fred
said he would go with me. 1 was more sur-
prised when he said he was going to ask for
admission into tlie church. Do you not see
how iiod took care of it all? Sunday morn-
ing he was praying by himself alone in the
factory. He told me he had been asking
God to send some one to help him through
with his first Sabbath. When he returned I
knew by the light in his face that God had
been with him ; and he said that when he
got to the four corners, near the school-
house, he looked up all four of the roads, to
see who it was God was going to send to help
him ihrough with his school that Sabbath-
day. While he was looking, a man on horse-
back came in sight, and it proved to be the
minister from the center of Litchfield. He
explained that it was impressed on his mind
particularly, that morning, that he ought, to
go and see if his assistance was needed in
the mission school he heard was started near
his parish. The school built up and pros-
pered. Tlie minister mentioned came often,
and another good faithful laborer came quite
1881
glea:nings in bee culture.
610
a distance to help, from an opposite direc-
tion. I went out to visit the school after a
few weeks, and on expressinj? surprise to all
turning out with such enthusiasm, this last
friend said it was because everybody was
touched to see one who had so few early ad-
vantages, trying so hiird to bring souls to
God. Said he, "Mr. Root, if you come out
liere I should not stir a step from home : but
I can not see this boy work so hard and go
unrewarded." JJo you see, friends y
God chooseth tho Avonk things of this earth to con-
found the mig-bty.— I. Con. 1:™7.
At Christmas time they had a Sabbath-
school concert, aud Fred was presented with
one of the tinest JJibles in Medina county.
In due time a ])rayer-meeting was started in
connection with the school, and pretty soon
preaching every other Sunday, and then a
glorious revival that changed the whole at-
mosphere of public sentiment in that neigh-
borhood. Several years have passed, but I
am told the Sabbath-school is in progress
still ; and though Fred is dead and gone, his
work and his memory still live.
And thoy that bo wise shnll shine as the lu-ightness
of the HrmHmeut; and they that turn mnny to ri^'ht-
eousues?. as the stars for ever and ever.— Daniel
12:3.
I wish also to add an encouraging- word for the
Home Papers. They reach many who would seldom
see or read any thing tending to the higher or bet-
ter life; and when we speak to any one calling their
attention to this matter, we know not how long that
word m;iy be treasured, and perhaps bring fruit. I
was once situated in New England, with everything
surrounding me that was pleasant; a line lot and
srardea, good cottage house, grapery, etc., which I
toolc care of in my leisure hours from the store,
and of which I was proud. I was once showing ray
garden to an old friend; he looked it all over with
pleasure, and as he turned to leave he said, " There
is one thing lacking." 1 very well knew what that
" one thing " was, and oh how those words haunted
meforyearsi lie never knew they liore fruit; but
after 10 years and more, when I received the " peace
that pa^soth all understanding," how fresh they
seemed! So it may be with many of your words.
May God give them weight, and send them to those
who are ready to receive them.
NOKMAN Clakk.
Sterling, Whi tesi Jes Co., 111., Aug. !), 1881.
Many thanks for your kind and cheering
words, friend Clark, and may God guide us
all through the year to come as he has
through those that are past.
GiEAiamcs m bee culture.
EDITOR AND FUBLISHUR,
MEDINA, O.
TERMS: ^l.CO PER YEAR, POSToPAID.
FOR CLUBBmO RATES, SEK FIRST PAGE
OF READING MATTER.
3VE:X3]I>Z3\r.^^, 3D3E3C3. 1, X801.
They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion,
which can not be removed, but abideth for ever.—
rsAL.Ml~'5:l.
Octtins: Ready for 1082 !
You will never build yourselves up by tearing oth-
ers down.
A VKRY interesting repoi-t of the season's work
came Id from George Grimm just as our last forms
were made up. It will appear in the Jan. number.
We have now 203 colonies in chaff hi\es, aud 10 of
the number are divided by di\'isiou-boards, and con-
tain two small colonies. As we are still selling
queens to some extent, we shall double up still more.
On the 22d of Nov. we received from Charley Bian-
concini 25 imported queens, and tound 19 of them In
fine order. Some of the lot were In nicer trim than
we usually get queens in June or July. Don't you
think that is pretty well for " Charlie "?
Those who have money deposited with us for bees
and queens next season, are not only entitled to the
first that are sent out, but also to any decline In
prices should there be such. If there be an ad-
vance, they are entitled to the ruling rates when
the order was made.
Tbe man who is always complaining of the world
and the treatment he receives, you may set down as
a rule, a bad man at heart; but he who has thanks
and kind words for everybody, probably feels him-
self a sinner with the rest. Even Guiteau complains
of his not being used fairly.
The first page of the American Bcc-Jounial for
Nov. 17 contains much valuable information, col-
lected and arranged with considerable care; but
had friend Newman explained to his readers in the
outset that grape sugar and glucose are two dis-
tinctly different articles of commerce. It would have
made a much better showing for jour humble ser-
vant.
We have, during the past season, sold pretty near-
ly, if not quite, 1000 lbs. of bees, for which we re-
ceived at least $2000. We have also sold 2630 queens,
for which we have received probably about S4000,
counting imported queens aud all. About 2300
queens were purchased, at a cost of perhaps 82000.
As many as, say 300, were lost in shipping, so we
have raised some 600 or 700.
We close the year with -1189 subscribers, for which
I can truly say," Thank you," for it is a much larger
number than I anticipated, after the disastrous loss-
es of last winter. I do not know how many I shall
have next year; but I do know that God is good, and
that he will give me all the success and prosperity I
deserve. Again I thank him and you too, through
whom he has manifested his love to me.
620
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
Dec.
OUE basswood lumber is now all so well seasoned,
that there is rather more danger of the sections
breaking, than when it was not so dry; but if you
will moisten the bends a little, according- to the
printed directions, you need not break one in a hun-
dred. Mr. Gray will fold almost any of them drij,
but it takes practice to do it.
We shall still hold to our offer of a watch for only
live subscribers at one dollar each, but we omitted
to say, last month, they must all be from one post-
office. If you haven't the time, or don't want to be
bothered running around after subscribers, just sub- |
scribe yourself for live years. Two, at least, have |
already got a watch in this waj-, and now they will j
have no bother about renewing the first of every !
year for at least " quite a spell."
As several of our friends who had occasion to re-
turn goods tons by mail have inclosed their letter
to us with the goods, we wish to inform all that
this is positively foibiddcn by the postal laws. Who-
ever conceals a letter in such a package, or ia any
kind of printed matter (unless he pays Idler yiontayc
on the whole), renders himself liable to a penalty of j
$10.00. See Ruling 40t, Jan., 1881, P(Ask(fGuWc. It is ;
permissible to write upon such packages the name
of the sender, for purposes of identification, but
nothing further.
We now allow a thrcc-ccnt premium (" heavy," isn't
it?) to any one who sends a dollar for Gle.vnikgs,
with the postage on the premium, which is to be
selected from our three-cent counter. We do it
mainly to show you how good an article can be made
for the triUing sum of three cents. Weil, if you
send the dollar before Jan. 1st, you may have, with
the above, any article from the five-cent counter,
providing you also remit for postage. Those having
a credit with us can renew, and designate the arti-
cles wanted, by postal card. None of these offers
are for Gleanings clubbed with other papers, or
where any other premium is wanted.
are met in all kinds of business,which we are obliged
to each one bear, it may be right to follow the seeds-
men's custom, of being responsible for the cost of
the seed, and no more. If I continue to sell seeds I
do not know will grow, I hope you will stop trading
with me; that's all.
FKIEND HILL'S DEVICE.
Neighbou Shane was taking his dinner in the
lunch-room, and I improved ihe opportunity to "in-
terview " him.
"Neighbor S., how did friend Hill ccme to send
you that sample of his device?"
" Why, I wrote and asked him for one, of course."
"Asked him for one'? Why, how in the world did
you know he hnd such a thing?"
"Why, I read about it in Gleanings." And then
he went on with his oysters and pic at a rate that re-
minded me if I wanted him to tell ans' very long
stories, I thould have to " wait a bit."
"Why, who in Gleanings ever mentioned friend
Hill's device before I did?"
"Mr. Langstroth,tobe sure; don't j'ou remember?"
Then it came into my mind as clear as could be,
and I didn't bother him with another word, but just
walked right up stairs and got the book of Glean-
ings, and turning to page 320, July No., read,—
I will send you. in dur si-Hson, an unpatented device used by
Mr. Hill for secniin^r a waim nejit above tlio clustered bees,
which answers the end better than any one I have yet seen. Is
there a man in all onr nortliern country who can claim equal
success with Mr. Hill in-winterintj bees;
A friend away up in Maine wishes us to put it to
vote about having nothing in Gleanings besides
bees. Most of you will remember that it was put to
vote a few years ago; well, the overwhelming call to
have the Home Papers kept up hasn't subsided yet,
for in almost every mail comes "Go on with the
Home Papei'S, Brother Hoot, and here is a dollar to j
help you along;" while the AOtes against them are
so few I could almost caunt all that come in a year
on my fingers. I am sorry I can not please even
these few; but, my friends, is not a backing of over
4000 strong a pretty good reason for going ahead?
If I were going to teach a boy the carpenter and
joiner trade, I very likely should commence by tell-
ing him honesty is the best policy; but would any-
body complain that this had nothing to do with the
matter of sawing off boards?
The principal part of the rape seed we have sent
out this season, for some unknown reason fails to
germinate. As soon as complaints began to come
in we gave it a test, and found one lot that would
not grow at all. Fortunately, the amount we sold
was but little; but it has taught us a lesson. If
those who bought will notify us, we will willingly
send more, or refund the money. It almost seems
as if I ought also to pay for time, trouble, loss, and
disappointment; but as losses will come, and delaj'S
No preventing providence, I shall be at liattle
Creek on the earlj' morning train (about 3 o'clock, I
am told), on the morning of the 7th. The following
is from the A. B. J. :—
MICHIGAN BEE-KEEl'.:;;- ASSOCI.\TION.
The 1.3th annual meeting of the Michitran State Bee-Keepers'
Association will be held in the t'ity Hall at Battle Creek, on
Thursday and B'riday, the Sth and 'Jth of December. The time
and place nialics it I'onvinicnt for those who wish to attend the
annual mi'ctinjr of tlic State Hortii-ultuial Socii'ty, which con-
venes at South lla\( II. Ihe lline pievious davs of the same
week. The Michit;an Cenlral, fhi(M^;o ,V Cranii Tiunk, Detroit,
(hand Haven & Milwaukee, and the ilrand liapids & Indiana
Railroads will sell tickets to nienihers at excursion rates. To
secure reduced fare, all mu -t have cerlilicates, which can bo
furnished bv the J'l-esident, .\ .1. Cook. Lansiuf;:. Mich. Arrange-
ments are )Liade with hotels for fare at fioni 80cts., to $1 per day.
The meetint; jiromiscs to be the larirest and best ever held.
All bee-keepers are cordially invited to be present. Bee-keepers
are requested to IjrinK samples of honey, apiiaratus, and ai"ti-
cles of interest to the apiaiists The following programme has
been airanged ;
THrKSPAV FORENOON".
•■ Italians bees," S. K. Marsh.
" The new bees. " D. A. .Jones.
"Shall we contiuue to import queens;" Discussion opened b.v
A. B. Weed.
.VKTEKXOOX.
•' Bees and prrapcs." )l. I). Cutting.
" Mistakes of bee-keepers. Dr. E B. Southwick
" Honey as food," Dr. .1. H. KelloKg.
"Thcliiturc honey market, " T. U. Newman.
EVENING.
" Ciumbs from the table of the National Convention, " Trcs-
ident's address.
■• Adulteraticui," Dr. .1. H. KellogK.
" -Vpiarian implements," Hon. A. B. Cheney.
FRIDAY FORENOON.
" Kearing and selling queens." W. Z. Hutchinson.
" Foundation, ' ' James Heddoii.
Address, A. I. Hoot.
AFTERNOON.
"Foul Brood," C. F. Muth.
" Extracted honey. " Chas. Dadant.
' Hints." T. F. Bingham.
Election of otlicers and reports.
KVKNINil
"Wintering," O. O. Foppleton, D. .\.. Tones, C. F. Muth, and
others.
Miscellaneous questions.
T. F. Bingham, Sec. .V. .). CooK, Dres.
The Nebraska State Bee-Keepers' Association will
hold its annual meeting in Ashland, Neb., on the
12ih and i;3th of Jan., 1883. A cordial invitation Is ex-
tended to all interested in Bee Culture.
Geo. M. Ha wley, Sec. T. S. Vokeokn, Prcs.
INDEX TO VOL. IX.
Apiary—
A good location for a., lo."); a Scottish a., ilius., 179;
Moore's two-tiive a., 'SM; Ptielps' a., 337; a visit to
Neighbor H 's a., 2,53; Hill's a., 292; a. of 225 cols,
in box hives, 453; a 3-eolouj" a., Oil);
Bees —
B. leaving hive in cold weather, 10, 27; b. and grapes,
7,8, «S,92, 152,528,547; poisoning b.,8; two colonies in
a chatr hive, 17; siiugless, IS, 48, 167, 188, 19J, 437;
fifteen from one swarm, 27; blowing b. out of
hives, 27; bl. and Itals.,28; shipping b. from the
South, 2:*; raarkmg hyb. b.,31; brood late in fall,
31; lazy b., 31, 6U3; bl. b. in Italy, 34; covering b.
with wire cloth for winter, 35; number of b. f(V
one locality, 36; b. not accepting q., 37; doubling
up b. in spring, 41; letting b, starve. 41; quarter-
blood Itals., 41; in-and-in breeding, 49; what to do
for b. with dys., etc., 49, 89; b. killed by lightning,
,')9; poisoning b., (iO, 70; Doolittle's av. profit on b.,
70; Cyprians in their native home, lienton, 71;
successful b. culture, 72; moving to new place, 74;
b. for profit, by Mrs. Cotton, 75; cross b., 83; acci-
dental swarm in April, 87; b. under snow, 88; b.
from Tahite, 89; brimstoning, 89; Hyatt's objec-
tion to Itals., 89; mania for swarming out, 132;
selling b., 13i; talking to b., 138; do b. complaint
140; do b. freeze? 141; Langstroih on the Cyp. b., |
165; trigona. 167, 237; apis dor., 168, 219; 324, 389; ,
shall we give up b.'/ 170; Itals. ahead, 173; Gallup
vs. hybrids, 173; how Doolittle doubles in spring
and fall, 174; b. in Texas, 178; to get rid of fertile 1
workers, 1><5; moving b. in winter, 187; reviving I
frozen b., 19U; Holy-Land b. for wint., 19i; b. absc. i
without a queen, 191, 6U7; b. dying for stores in !
wint., 191; plenty of stores for b., 221; Langstroth |
on blacks and Ituls., 232, 333; the coming b., 3.8;
crossness of dark Itals., 333; some cols, consume
more than others, 334; women and b. in Neb., 334;
packing b. in Texas, 338, 371; individuality in b., j
338; b. doing well outside of hive in cold weather, I
33*^; what kuled the b.? 353; improvement in b., '
367; where b. go when robbed, 368; selling b.
by the pound, FlauHgan, 369; too many b., 373;
new industry in selling b., illus., 374; moving b. \
from cellar in daytime, 285; Itals. in Australia, 286; \
b. swarming without a queen, 290; b. sw. in Mich.
May 12th, 292; in III. before May 10th, 293; b. pull-
ing each other, 293; burying b., 296; Cyprians in i
winter, 308; Langstroth on the probable cause of i
loss iHSt winter, 319; b. at fairs, 323; Doolittle on I
killing b., ;!31; robbed b. going with robbers, 335, i
348, 402; abnormal b., 335; b. stinging their own '
members, 341, 376; b. from Texas, 343; to manage ,
runaways, 344; covering b. with hay, 345; b. that
won't work in upper story, 316; Itals. on sorghum ^
mills, 346; b. on trees in Texas, 3i7; blacks and
Itals. in winter, 347; black Itals, 348; abs. with q. \
in Minn., 348; raising b. in the house, 348; newsw. i
abs., 349; b. coming to an apiary, 349; black b. for |
winter, 350; less than 1 lb. July 4th, 352; $2 per lb.,
360, 390; ship, by pound, 360; too much smoke for
b., 373; Holy-Land b., 374; raising b. in green-
house, 380; Cyprians in Mo., 384,496; disturbing in
wint., 385; b. of India, 386; why did they die? 393;
can b. extract sting? 394; b. going 3 miles to pre-
pare hive, 395; b. in open air, 395; b. of Italy, 395;
getting b. under ditJieulties, 396; a plea for blacks,
398; blue b., 399; hatching brood without b., 399;
hiving b. on sections only, 399; Hungarian b., 4U0,
453; b. starting queen-cells when they have a q ,
400; b. entering hive of own accord, 401; future of
Itals., 401; Cyps. and Holy-Land, 402; b. to Oregon,
402; first Itals. west of Miss Kiver, 403; Albinos,
409; dark-banded itals., 434; eating holes in duck,
436; b. cives in Texas, 436, 544, 603; water and
sugar for shipping b., 443; b. stinging horses, 44::!;
b. in Neb , 443; b. separating, 446; b. on onions,
448; are b. taxable? 449, 5l9; watering-place for b.,
451; Cyps. for increase, 453; large swarms, 4.")2:
savage b., 454; capabilities of b., 481; success with
b. not alway in number of cols., 487; McDaniel's
queries about b., 495; ant-lion a friend of b., 498;
unsealed br. for new swarms, 499; carrying b. 3
miles, 499; inserting cells when q. is removed, 501;
b. to be killed, 517, 518; apis Amer., 525; b. on a
rampage, 531; swarming by telephone, 532; decid-
ing h. quecnless, 535; b. in caves in Cal., 539; b.
enraged by buckwheat, 549, .598; cross b. from
imp. q., 552; getting b. from tree, 5.52, 597; yellow
b. irom black q., 554; b. killing and balling their
queen, 554; queer ways of consuming stores, .556;
how far do b. go? ,595; b, as medicine, 598; do b.
pay? 599; poisoned b., 602; laying worker b. In
same hive with laying q., 603; 3-banded hybrids,
6U5; b. with shriveled wings, 605; b. in Mass., 605;
in a chimney, 605; missionary b.. 609; how b, help,
610.
Bees, Diseases of—
Dys. in Dec 34; candy for dys., 126; borax for dys.,
390.
Bee Fecd-
Candy, Pearce's make, 27; silver-drip syrup, 30;
sweet corn, 90; sugar syrup vs. honey, 116; maple
sugar, 134, 255, 503; melon juice, 293.
Cages —
Which is the best c? 28 Peet, 33.59,86, 99,113, 453;
wire cl. for c, 35; Viallon's candy for c, 144; Car-
penter's imp. on P.eet c, illus., 167; Alley's views,
illus., 269; marking c, 360; latest imp. in Peet c,
illus., 373; water-bottles for c, 397; water in c,
433; bottle queen-c, 443; small c, .548.
Candy—
Viallon's c, 375, 383, 500; saved by sugar c, 333, 350;
c. for cages, 333, 434; to make without heat, .538; c.
of gran, sugar, 567; dif. of feeding c. in winter.
608.
Cl»a«-
Oak leaves a substitute for c, 190; c. packing, 192,
371,395,316,350,351, 388, 396, 454; c. in Ga., 186; c.
cushions and vent., 608.
Coiub —
Paper c, 85; what to do with c. from which b. have
died, 99; why c. get black, 180, 181; c. between up-
per and lower stories, 188; care of surplus c, 'SoS,
368; value of old c. for wax, 341; Mcllwain's holder
for c, illus., 378; drone e. on tlat-bot. worker fdn.,
396; how Miller cares for empty c, 333; with 6800
bees, 361; thick c, for ext., 398; c. tilled with
honey instead of pollen, 439; adding c. in building
up, 436; Perry's c. cupboard, 503; Minn's c. holder,
illus., .539.
Deiiartments—
Black List, 50.
Bee Botany, 11, 93, 333, 373, 391, 455, 510, ,536.
Bee Kntomology, 32, 385, 537.
Blasted Hopes, 40, 65, 149, 300, 324, 300, 352, 383, 557.
Cartoon, 46, 47, 300, 225.
Editorials, 48, 97, 09, 152, ,203, 254, 307, 360, 413, 464,
516, 566.
Growlery, 16, 169, 403, 441, 486, 530.
Humbugs and Swindles, 81, 131, 391, 4,54, ,505.
Honey Column, 48, 99, 153, 204, 256, 309, 361, 411, 466,
474, 570,
Heads of Grain, 27, 82, 134, 186, 338, 390, 343, 394,
446, 498, 546, ,599.
Kind Words, 5, 57, 110, 163, 314, 560, 317, 309, 431, 473,
523.
Ladies' Department, 40, 90, 181, 234, 300,351, 383, 436,
483, 559, ,598.
Notes and Queries, 41, 90, 143, 193, 243, 296, 349, 401.
453, 505, 558, 609.
Reiiorjs Eiict)uraging, 38, 90, 143, 193, 234, .397, 557.
Snidery, 169, 373, 351, 455, ,537.
Juvenile Department, 78, 143, 180, 2.15, 282, 335, 377,
432, 484, ,537.
Lunch Koom, 100, 133.
Tobacco. 144, 194, 252, 304, 357, 403, 456, 505, 535, 614.
622
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
Drones-
Importance ol' grood d., Tti; rearing d. from woi-kor
eggs, 77; what to do with live d., :.';il; d. brood in
upper stor3', -10:5; color of d., 447: d. with colored
eyes, 448; rearing d. and q. from one mother, 54a,
pure d. from Ital. q. mated with black d., 'I'.MJ.
Early-Amber Sugar Cane—
Clar. with clay, 35; CogswelTs report. :'(i; Awrey's
report, 41; Clement's report, 59: in Ni^\.i Scotia,
187; how to start, :.'39.
Enemies of Bees—
Hylocapa, 33; honey-beetle, 3;.'; mosquito hawk, 3;i,
385; mantis relig., 33; millers, to kill, 37, swallows,
S3; pine tyrosbeak, 13.i; implement to destroy
moih, 187; toads, 187; asi. miss., 4.55; blue-jays,
.507; mason bees, 537; mall. bom.. 537; lady-birds,
550; ants, 553, ()05.
Extractors and Extracting —
E., 4-frame, 140; another aid for ext., illus., 333;
Dadanl's pamphlet on ext., 343; an ex. for loc,
451.
Feeders-
Washboard f., 87; Hain's, illus., 133; Large's f., 345;
the tin-pan, 434; De Worth's, 477; bread-pan f., illus.,
478; dlf. with atmos. f., .55(i.
Feeding Oecs—
F. new swarms, 37; f. comb h., 40; tilling combs with
honey for f., 43; f. back ext. honey, 130; early f. to
get much honey, 175: Hour f. inside of h., 334; f. in
open air, 3!J6, 343; f. candy in spring, 345; f. in
July, 378; sugar vs. nat. stores, 394; syrup for b.,
397; fruit-can f., 503; comp. value ot sugar and
honey, 547; C coffee vs. A., 550; f. flour in fall, 55;^.
Foreign Countries—
Scotland, 13, .558; Benton from Ceylon, 168; South
America, 450.
Foul Brood-
Foul b., 19, 64; DooHttle's big article. 118; laws of
Mich, relative to, 131, 143; in Utah, 396; Harbison's
views, 337.
Foundation-
Sagging of all kinds of f., 17; Bonham's process with
f., 36; prepared paper for base of f., 36; to prevent
f. sticking, 76; dipped f., 77; Faris f. mach., 86, 370;
Foster's mach. lur f., 112, 190; wax vs. wires to
prevent sagging, 139, dipping f., 143; f. from rub-
ber, 166, 355, 368, 360, 397, 604; Fariier's mach. to
fasten f., 381; to fasten f. in frame, 395; soap root
for f. rollers, 334; how Jarrett fastens f., 347; in-
ventor of f , 351; Hanford's new tool to fasten f.,
403; molded f., 504; Dadant on f., trans., 541; f.
without wires, 553.
Frames —
How to wire f., illus., 334; closed top, 391.
Grape Sugar-
Advantage of g. s , 39, 446; for wint., 377, 181; purity
of, 373; sale <.f, 385; in the South. 403; not always
deadly, 433, 601.
Hives and Fixingrs ~
Seps. of pcrf. metal, 10; I'/i story. 84; best position
for ent., 86; mammoth h., 78, 350; bolt )m-bars of
thin hoop iron, 85; a queen-rearing h., illus., Ill;
Heddon's, illus., 116; painting h., 134; L. frame f<ir
cold climates, l:i6; pcrf. seps., 187; frames with
bars only half way down, 137; paper and wood
seps, 141; trans, clasps, 169; chaff h. for summer,
177; Jackson on box h, 185; tenement h, 191; K )<>p's
h, 193; Htddon on box h, 319; bottom-boards of
stone, 331; chaff h. vs. Simp, in S. C, 338; Bliss im-
plement for wiring frames, 368,- tenement h, 3J4;
h. on benches. 396; box h. vs. Simp., 397; chaff h.
for wint., 335, 346, 449, 450; starters, full size of
honey-boxes. 391; Todd's views on chaff' h, 399;
fide-opening h, 400; views on the L. frame, 433, .503,
536; Brooks' single-wallr^d h, 440; washing h, 448;
novel chaff' h, 451; cheap ohs. h, 475; honey-boards
and chaff, 490; patent h, 498, 538; seps. or not, 518;
sawdust to pack h, 533; imp. of div. boards, 541;
protected bottom-boards, 593; shall we use seps.'r"
610.
Honey-
Medicated h, 86; heather-h. in Scotland, 91; bitter h,
91; h. on posts and bushes, Ladd, 133; h. gran, in
comb, 136; nrtificial comb, h, 139; to tell source of,
140; h. for sore eves, 1+4; labels for h, 166, 360;
making labels stick to tin, 187, 60U; first b. for 1881,
194; tin cans for retailing h, 337; Doolittle on side
and top storing, 333; ext. old h, 340; new h, 390; h.
from red clover, 391; bleaching h, ,394: h. required
for 1 lb. of bees, 343; newly gathered gran, h, 399;
lOOU tons of h, 436; marking weight of h, 439,5.59;
how to get h, 443; 10,000 lbs. of h., 451; ext. h. sour-
ing, 4:>j; h. in Aug., 4.53; h. from corn, 499; thin h.
souring, 551; ext. vs. str. h. .556; h. to ship bees by
pound, 559; h. in New Brunswick. 5.59: storing anil
keeping h, 591; bad h, 39,5.
Honey-deiv -
Honey-d, origin of, '.12: in the cast, 119; in Oregon.
131,34(1; in South Carolina, :543; in Arkansas, 350;
from the clouds. 374; in Tennessee, 450; black h.d,
454; bad, .5.59.
Honey-Plants -
i Corn, 11, 80, .595, 610, 611; cotton, 11, 5.58; mallows. 13;
i mignonnette, 13; Simpson, 13, 63, 344, 355; willow,
; 14,38,91,333, 373, .587; experiments with h.p, Hollen-
I bach, 33; tireweed, 36; t)lue thistle, 37, 190; Lane
i on red clover, 38; peach-blossoms, 41; cottonwood,
! 41, 85, 86; Spider, 63; Hasty's clovers, 78; alsike
! clover, 36; red clover, 83,344, 391,517; black wil-
low, 83; Fontaine's exp. with, 87; alfalfa, 91; Cal.
white sage, 93; silver buckw, 93, 399, 489; flaxweed,
93; omons, 117, 176, 396; bo.x-eider, 130, 186, 394;
skunk cabbage, 137, 333; portulaca, 139; rape, 140,
141; black-heart, 140; buckwheat in N. Y., 141;
wild cucumber, 143; Chinese tea-plant, 144, 338;
basket willows, 170; to start seeds, 186; green corn.
189; sugar-cane, 35.5; from Denmark, 373; aspen-
tree, 374; sending seedlings by mail, 377; huckle-
berry, 334, 438; locust, 343, 503, 504; ilex dahoon,
391; horscmint in Texas, 393; willow roots, 394,
611; rape, 403; basswood, 446; Mollie Heath, 447;
Hercules club, 455; pycnanthemum linifol., 455;
picnan. pil., 4,55; ascle. tube, 455; plan. Ian., 455;
raspberries, 480; Sp. needles, 498; R. M. bee plant,
500; buckwheat, 506, 599; veron. Vir., 510; mentze-
lia, 536; loasacesc, .536; blue vervain, 539; big red
clover. 540; smartweed, or polyg. persi., 540; wire-
weed, 550; rapp, or winter rape, 553; h.p. in Oct.
and Nov., 567; oak, 601, 611; lireweed, 606; peas,
611; butter-weed, 606.
Introducing^—
Int. Itals. among blacks, etc. :>;; Bugg's sug. on i,
38; how Stanley i, 74; I'armelee's mode, 87; Gal-
lop's plan, 233; i. a queen to a hive having one,
400; i. by frames of hatching brood, 501; Hooper's
new plan, 604.
Merrjbaulis—
46, 60, 150, 301, 344, .305, 350, 410, 507, 560, 579.
Notes from Banner Apiary—
7, 59, 111, 163, 315, 367, 319,371, 433, 47.5, 535, 687.
Pollen—
P. in Nov, 30; p and dys, 166, 189, 600; influence of
pondys, 3.53; p for brood-rearing. 344; p cause of
d*^ath,350; p from timothy. 381; wint. without p,
389; too much, 447, ,503; Ballantine on p. 493; p,
Peters' opinion, 5.39; p too close to bees, 558.
Propolis-
Uses of p, 378.
Queens—
Q. ejejted in winter, 38; parody on black q, 37; q.
reared at dif. seasons, 69; should dollar q. produce
bees nine-tenths black'? 83; accepting vir. q, 83;
art. and nat. q,83, .593; q. dead before ent., 89; how
Cons^r raises q, 134; rearing q. out of season, 163;
Cyp. and Holy-Land q, 166; to tell age. 177, 340, .S44;
how q. sting each other, 177; fert. fall-reared q in
spring, 179; our red-clover q, 189; int. vir. q, 193;
drone-layina' q, 341; Alley's mode i tint., 341; clip-
ping, 366; Gallup on rearing'), 377; wortliless q,
391; Ital. q. turning black, 391; (j. with laying
daughter, 343; marking q, 344; twoq. wint. in one
hive, 344; non-layers, 348. 46); art. and nat. swarm-
ing q. 373; how Doolittle rears good q, 37.5, 439;
trials inreannar q,389; dollar q.in poor season, 395;
dif. in q, 3H6; Williams' mode of int.. 398; q. extra-
pure, 434, 603; Itals. on red clover, 435; Buchanan
on roaring q. 445: two in a c^ll. 447; a q. that
stings workers. 448, ,556; (] who.se daughters pro-
duce 3-banded workers. 483; sending q far in Aug,
495; three q. in a h've, 498: q. fisfhiing in air. 600;
inducing q. to take bridal trip, .500: q-cells vs.
queenlessness, ,505; imp»-ovement in appearance,
506; q. that lay non-hatching eggs. 606; laving q.
from each nucleus once in 10 days. 537; q. that will
sting', 544; caglng'^vir. q, 546; q. Hying 37 miles, 550;
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUBE.
623
two q. in a hive, 554; an uneasy q,555; eood and
poor q, 599; new way to send in winter, 599; caged
q. dropping eggs, (301.
Quceu-Cells -
Haj hurst's mode of getting q c, 33.
Kainbles—
35, T5, 125, 233, 327, 375, 491, 591.
Rf^ports, Various—
K. from Medina CO, 9; Easterday's, 11; r on honey-
pl'ts, 13; Given's. 16; Jones's, 17; Hurf, Florida, 27;
Kathbwn. Mich, 29; Pommerfs r for 1880, 32; Hunt,
Mich, 33. 289; Cook, Ct. 32; Garst, Ohio, 33; iiobin-
soD,b2; Miller, N. .1., 33; 1 lo. in .lune, Suules. 34;
Morniugstar'8 tirst summer, 34; Hummel, c!5; bad
r from sugur, 35; Stevens, Ind. 38; hopes not bi,40;
Abraham, Wis, 40; White's first 10 years, 64; Mel-
len's r on boxes, seps, etc, 66, 119, 171, 383,539;
Stanley's storj', 73, Ho; Honghtaling's r, 82; Phil-
lips, Ohio, 84; Steele's exp, 85; Gardner, .5650 lbs
from 52 cols, 90; Hasty's r for 1880, 115; Garrett's r
from La, 119; Miles, Neb, 121; Jsickson's blasted
hopes, 123; Bridge'sexp in Cal,124; Freebrtrn, 17,-
000 lbs from 250 cols., 125; Berg, Ind, 130, 400; A B
C child, llj7; Sweet's r tor 1880, 138; 36 from 1 in 8
mos, 144; McCrory's blasted r, illus, 149; Neighbor
H, 169; Penn's Star apiary, 175; Hagen's story, 177;
White's bees in Fla., 184; Weiss, Pa, ISO; Miilone's
exp, 190; Coon, Cal, 191, Huyhurst's r, 192; Ballan-
tine's r, 192; Our Own Apiary, 210, 29.S, 358, 379, 478;
Grimm's r, 217; Townlev's r, 221; Rodney's re-
pulse, illus, 225; Lobdell, N. Y., 226; Wllder's r
irom Ga, 230; C. C. Miller's r, 231, .534, .557; Calver,
Pa, 237; Mrs. Axtell, 241, 340; Langstrolh, 344;
Shook, 2.52; Floyd, Mo, 253; Heddon's r, 272; T.J.
Cook's talk, 279; hints in regard to making r. 280;
Nelson, Kan, 295; Lane's r, 297; Old Curley's r,
300; Wilkins sisters, 300; Burridge, Utah, 327;
Smith's r from Pelee Island, 329; Buchanan's exp,
335; Moore's r on art. swarming, 339; Mrs. L. Har-
riscm, 339; from Northern N. J..340; L. C. Roofs
r, 351; Mrs. Squire's r, 351; Burch's r, 361; Ellis's
r, 373; Kaye's r 374; Dimick's r from Fla,381;
Brilton's r, 388; Rhodes, Col, 399; Calvert's r from
Can, 424; Boombrower's r, 427: Gallup's r from
Cal, 435; Case's management of bees, 438; good r
from Vt, 447; Bliss on Cal, 449; r from bee-k. of
Medina CO, 466: Koff, Col, 483; Harkness, N. Y.,
488; Taylor, N.C., 489; Lechler, CiU. 490; Clarke's
visit to Jones's bee is- lands, 494; Torrey, Wis, .501;
Churchill, Me, .504; Dooliltle's r for 1881, .526;
"White's r, 533; Kebey, Col, 548; Sobey, Cal, 5.52;
hurrah for Texas! .5.58; Shangle's r, 593; McNeil's,
595; Neuhaus' big r, 597; l.ime Valley ap, .599;
Stock's, Cal, 602; good r from rubber plates, 604;
Good's r for 1881, 604; Squier, N. Y., 606; Woolver,
N. Y., 606; Cox, Ind, 607; O. H. Townsend's r, 608;
Williamson's r, .5»7; Atchley's r from Texas, .583;
Woodburn's r, .584; Snyder's r, .584.
Robbing—
To stop r, 83, 143; how Gastinger stops. 123; lookout
for r,29.i; r when first set out, 394.
Sa\v»( and Otl»er Macliinery—
Honey-knives, 8; Faris' fdn. mach, 29; making bar-
rels, 30; hardening plaster plates, 33; galv. iron
for honey-tools, 34; Adams' h p, 37; planers, 38;
scales to reg. daily yield, 39; DeWorth's mandrel,
Illus, 42, .5.59; perf. seps, 70, 425; Given's mach. to
wire brood frames, illus, 79; windmills, 85; home-
made hp, 91; magnets, 91; mach. for 1-piece sec-
tions, illus, 9H; new planers, illus, 113; new nail-
box, illus, 122, 194; battery swindles, 1.52; type-
writers, 186; telephones, 188; a new starter mach,
illus, 218; Bliss's sun evap, illus, 220; Given fdu.
press, 370; Osborne's mach. for punching frs, illus,
271; winder for Wat. watch, 274, 373; devioe for
swarming-box, illus, 276; Gauff's swarrning-box,
illus, 330; Kiugsley's foot-power saw, 341; Simp,
tool-box, illus, 3.59; Chapman's machine to pierce
bars, 479; Hunt's power, illus^ 487; Star saw-set,
illus, 545; a handy scraper, 549.
Sections-
Miller's views, illus, 281; s on all winter, 287, 294, 295,
343,3.50,384, 479, .503; fancy s for winter, 426; tak-
ing off s, 446; taking s fro'm bees, 483,492; 1-lb vs.
8-1 b. s, 556.
Smokers—
The best, 84, 143, 185; Clarke's cold-blast, illug, 323.
Spider Plant-
To raise S, 62; raised under glass, 114; S p and hum-
ming-birds, 452.
Sting's—
Poison from s, 12; s and rheum, 24, 30,193,500,504;
,554, .594, 604; s in eyelid, 349; death from s, .390; s
for sick folks, 473, 477.
Swarming—
Kleinow's trouble, 15; art. s, 138; one swarm for the
Lord, 139.
Transferring—
Trans, in July, 454; trans, in Oct, 5.55.
Ventilation-
Relation of V to wint, 285; V in wint, 346,452, 535j
upward v, 386, 497, .54S, 5.51; ptiilosophy of v, 593.
Wax—
Ext. w by steam, 308; moth worms living on pure
w, 477, .595; Romeo's queries, 603.
IVintering—
Chaff for w, 19, 135, 136; Mellen's ideas on w, 24;
Hoop's plan, illus, 67; w in a cistern, 75; Thomas'
method, 77; wwiih chaff and cellar, 83; Heddon's
views. 111!; Grimm's cellar w, 128, 329, 476; views of
N. E. B. K. A., 129; cob bran vs. chaff, 135; cotton
seed for packing, 143; how to start again after
losing all, 164; leaving sections on in winter (see
section); Morgan discards cellars, 172; w without
protection, 189; outdoor and cellar w, 189; success-
ful cellar w. 226, 401; w two cols, in one hive, 239,
601; water for bees in w, 341; cellars ahead, 341,
2!i6; Morrison's mode in Pa, 271; toughness and
endurance for w, 279; Sccor's letter on w, 288;
chaff vs. other modes, 289, 449; Boardman's suc-
cess, 291; forest-leaves for w, 346, 401; Setford's
plan, 351; loss of 800 by one man, 382; cellars not
always ahead, 397; w without loss, 398; dry brick
in w, 398; Christie's views on w, 430; statistics of
losses for 1880-'81, 439; F. C. White's mode for w,
4.50; exp. in w, 475; J. W. White's views, 491; Hill's
device to cover frames in w, illus, •'>30; Heddon on
w, 642; Wakefield's queries,. .546; Smith on w, .590;
Grote's ideas, 600; frames of candy for w, ,607;
Hayhurst's letter on w, .588; Hill's device, "611:
Snyder's views on w, 583.
Index to Correspondents.
A B C, 5; Abr.aham C, 40; Adams G, 440 r ATM,
266; Alden C J, .549; Alzaida, 3.52; Alcott D, 137; Alley
H,24l,269. 4.53, 400; Alger H B, 4.53; Allred H, 296;
Amery Eva, 336, 484; Amig A A, 607; Anuis A A, '004;
Anderson O J, 377: Anderson L A, 450; Andrews J.
610; Anderson J, 144; Anglemire S, 29,401; Angell 0
H, 394; Armstrong B M, 283; Arwinc E, 5; Astry W,
214; Atchlev E J, 57, 296, 343. 558; Awrev Mrs. H A,
18. 199; Awr'ey F E, 41; Axtell L C, 311; Axtell Sarah
J W, 241; Avars J T, 395.
Bagshaw R A. 5.58; Baer W, 187, 502; Basset H, .506;
Ballentine W, 86, 19i, 493, 512; Ballou C R, 141, 144,
214,603; Baldridge M, 28; Ball J, 252: Banghain Mrs
R, 40; Baldwin L H, 296; Baird J. 97: Balch C A, 283;
Bailev R H, 139; Bailev A, 194; Bailey G B, 396; Bail-
ey S E, 3.50; Bailey J W, 350: Baker J." 352, 395; Bar-
gers J, 396; Bannon Julia, 484, ,538; Balcomb T, 544;
Baxter J S, .557; Bean C M, 516; Beeton R, 496; Beach
L,214; Berwick E, 266; Beal W J, 11, 12, 92, 273, :391,
455,510,536; Beckwith L, 143; Beech J T, 294; Ben-
ham A D, 88; Bedell J 13,296,598; Benton F, 72, 168,
219; Bemis L E, 454; Berg E, 136, 243, 398, 401; Bemis
J H, HS^, 403, 459; Bethe Mrs F, 214; Bethel H C, 350;
Bell F J, 350, 390, 498; Bellemey E, 377: Benson S,
4id ; Bentley & Voung, 4;«; Beliah J P, 472; Berry M,
496; Bishop H T, 243; Bills W C, 370: Bissell L E, 65;
Birney W H. 422; Birrell E, 448; Bixby A, 6,5, 349;
Blauton O W, 453: Blackman K N, 600; Bliss W W,
88, 221, 252, 297, 334, 351, 449, 556, 009; Boardman H R,
8.S, 278, 291, 296, 3.50; Bonham A F. 20; Bowers J L, 27,
343; Bookwalter J A, 421; Both B, 243; Boombrower
F, 429; Bostwick C L, 346; Bourget P A, 4.51; Bowcn
HE. 524: Border J. 5.55; Boles T, .'91; Bradford A A,
240.317; Brown M J, 473; Browne R A, 318; Brayton
D, 350; Brands J D, 340; Bright Bros, 3.50; Breeee H
H C, 86; Briiton R D. 388; Bridges C, 124; Brown J S,
403; Bryan AW, 314; Brooks J M, 441, 532,. 548; Brooks
JK, .538; Brush A, 552; Brown J H 559; Brooks CL,
81; Brooks R F, 304; Browney W, 45i; Brumbaugh A
J. 296; Brunner C H, 395; Bryner J M. 404; Burrage
J H,297; Butman C,o97..524; Burrage G W,328; Buzaid
J, 404: Burbank D S, 404. 456; Busy Hee. 382; Butcher
T P, 4.54; Bulison C E, 456; Buitch W C, 473; Butler
TR, 547; Buchanan S, 404; Buchanan J A, 337. 415;
BurmeistcrH, 286; Buger W, 89; BuggJL, 38; Bu-
624
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
Dec.
zick D B, 143; Burtch W C, 162; Eurch H A. 186, 361,
413, 463, 464; Butler S S, 140, 2.^0; Butler T, 343, 383;
Byrne J P, 583.
Cadwoll E, 84; Case C A, 5rt2; Capser C, 90; Carpen-
ter H F, 167, 403; Carroll B F, 13, 33, 143, 179, 238, 389,
545, S51; Carter J W, 91 ; Callen M M, 400; Carr W,
167, 338; Carlile J S, 431: Cannon L C, 188; Calvert A
E, 425; Cary WW, 143; Cainis W, 446, 607; Case N F,
81, 187, 296, 4:i9; Case N, 395; Castello G. 150; Callear
C W, 448; Caldwell J V, 194: Calvcr T, 237,473; Canoles
MoUie E, 236; Cauthen W S, 338, 546; Canoles C E,
344; Church Ida M, 611; Cheney A W, 90, 318; Chap-
man T, 314; Christie E F, ;550, 431; Chapman F B, 45J.
454, 480; Cheney FM. 454; Chase F, 503; Churchill E
P. 504; Chapman J, 505; Clark X. 123, 132, 318, 578;
Clark A L. 397; Clarke W F. 18. 495; Clark G, 395. 401,
477. 552; Clayton C W, 401: Clarke R E, 537; Clement
WP. 60; ClineJ, 341; Cox A, 607; Cook H F, 484;
Cook J, 358; Collins W H. 404, 456; Cochran Mrs .1 S,
347; ColeG, 358; Collier J A, 194; Cole J L. 357; Cnb-
lentz L H, 149; Cohb L S, 214; Cobb Mrs P P.31; Cogs-
well B. 36; Converse J C. 27; Conser J, 134: Cook T J,
279; Conk A J, 22, 23, 123, 529, 537, .567: Cook J, 345;
Cook E H. 33; Cooper J D, 5, 37. 342; Coon O E. 191,
447; Corbin S H, 296; Condon M G. 304; Cottrell N E,
352; Coble J. 451 ; Cotton Mrs. 47. 62. 75; Cooper L N,
459; CoatesA, 472; Cogshall W L. 477; Ciillv T, 90;
Craycraft F L, 79, 142. 284, ;?78: Crnndall C M, 193;
Crompton E, 607: Crowfoot J. 291; Gulp H, 14. Gulp
C P, 162: Ciirley Old. 300: Cutchawl .J H, 304, 309; Cut-
ting H D, 243; Cy renins F H, 340, 344.
IJ>idant C H. 355, 541; Darrah Ada B. 485: Bart J E,
91; Daniels H, 401; Davison A S, 85; Davis H A, 131,
448; Davidson T L. 139, 191; Davies .7, 436; Danloy S
A,5a5; Datton FP. 549; Deishcr W K, 89, Ull. ;{99;
Denton A G, 201; Delia Torre F, 85; Deaton N. 394;
DennesCZ, 58; Deming- Maria, 189; D'-ming (i A,
456, .506; Deardorff A. 193; Devennort 11. 37. 93: Dean
N B H. 353; D-^an J E. 194, 549; Dean G W. 343; De
Worth W. 43, 435. 477: Dennist.m S L, 343; Derr Eva,
589; Dines C. 378; Dimick F S, .381 ; Dickson H. 4.55.
,516: Disston H & Sons. .545; Dickinson E J: 5.55; Dodd
J. 34; Dodd Cr, 163: Douglass E R. 323; Dorman H,
.537; Dorman M L. 369; Dorman M C, 391; Donnflly
Imogpue. .577: Doolittl'^ G M. 20, 63. 68. 69, 119, 137,174,
183, 194. 217, 333, 268 ;«1. 376, 439. 482. 527, 5-'8; Drano
L T. 473; Dunn A M, 28; Dubois M D, 2'<: Duvall T &
C, 29; DuttonFP, 214; Duff A FT. 66, 372, 500; Duitt
B. 401; Dunbar N, 187; Duncan Sarah E, 382; Duke
H R, 422.
Karhart P, 4.')6; Earnshaw J, 486: Easterday E S, 11,
242; Eastman H A, 473; Eby .1 H, 456, .519; Eckley
Emma, 377; Eddy Bros, 317; Edgmand Eliz. 282, 377;
Edwards T, 345; Eilenberger A F, 337. 4.54; FAv I, 266;
Ellis W, 373; Emmons E A, 65,456, 47;-!; Endly AV J,
404: Engle J M, 57; Epperson J M, 57; Etherington
A L. 438: Experimentalist, .593.
Fan L, 317; Faville Mrs C. .524; Fav M iM, 297, Far-
ringtnn H P, .547: Favor & Dudley, 557; Ferner A H,
110; Ferris CG. 394; Feasel 1.382; Ferguson W H,472;
Fitzgerald 1 G. 2.55; Fiddes A. 401 ; Fischer & Stehle,
610; Fletcher D W, 193. 465; Flanders H F. 318; Flan-
agan E T. 110, 131, 190. 270. 342. 379. 5.52: Flnurnov &
Foster, i:^6; Fl«wpr W E, 38; Flourv J F, 339; Flovd
A. 253; Fleming J W, 343; Folts W. 92; Forbes J. 404;
Fontain W S, 87: Fooshe J D. 611 : Footer T, 38; Foote
W, 266: Foster O. 113. 333. 397. 594: Fox .1 G. .57, 90;
Fox H H. 88; Fradenbur? A A, 14, 115. 189. .5,59; France
J M, 41; Francis S, 193: Freeborn S T. 126; Eraser A,
516; FronceCH, 296; French W L, 604; Fullwood C,
287.
Oarst .1. 33: Gates G W, 217, 402; G.ardner D. .58. 90.
401: Gauff D K. 3.30; Gale L D, 91 ; Gates S C, 358, 404;
Garret M A, 119, 493; Gandv Lillie A, 377: Gastingfr
F C, 124; .551; Gaston F E. .5,54; Gallup E. r,-^, 232. 277,
43.5,539; Gardner K. .558; Giilbraith T, 568; Gill MA,
544; Giliett Martha. 377; Giles JS,40i; Gdliland J C,
2I4;Gilmore .1. 369; Given D S. 16, 80: Glazier G E, 225;
Good I R, 87, 101. 374. 694; Goble J, 369; Gould J, 451;
Grainger E, 58; Griffith A, .391; Graham F. 38; Greer
S L, 450. 559; Green P D s, 5: Green E ZT, 41; Gregg
.7 .Jr. 81; Gregory H K, 136; Grimm C. 5,59; Grimm G,
129,318,339,349.476; Graves W H, 140, 401; Greeley
Mrs C A, 370; Grant M W. 395: Gray J L, 4«S; Grub'b
.1 W, 5 6; Greenleaf .7 C. ,5.54; Gregg AV A, .599; Grote
C H, 600: Gregory J K, 577; Guild' H M, 84; Gurnee
Emma, 378.
Hatch C A, 609; HallTS, .534; Hall D S, 137. 422;
Hagen H T, 391; Hambley D r. F. .5. 404; Harwond W.
144; Hartwell Mary E, 5;" Hart W S, 28, 238, 453, .537,
580; Haskin G S. 9; Hastv E E, 20, 78. 115; Ha\h\irst
E M, 33, 192, 343. 351, 496,589; Hartwell A P, ,57; Har-
rison A B, .57; Harrison Lizzie, 181; Harrison Lucin-
dd, 80, 143, 181, 234, 237, 270, 337, 339, 350, 378, 385, 403.
486,590,594, 598; Hackman, H S, 143; Harrison Isa-
bella, 266; Harrington H B, 169, 253,308; Hardin B
M. 283; Hassett 1?, ;}17; Harris J H, 353; Haves L M,
369; Hamilton S T ;599; Hanford E D. 403; Hawley D
F, 423; Havelv A\'C, 444; Haight C J. 450; Harkness
.7 W, 4.53, 488. 600; Harrison E M, 453; Harris M J, 455;
HauckeC, 498; Halbert H A. 499; Heddon J, 13, 73,
117. 178, 220, 273, .393, 444, 482. 543, .585, 611; Herriman G
G. 404; Hempleman. A AV, 453; Henderson J H P, 65;
Henderson AV P. 139, 318; Higdon, W D, 346, 472;
Hinds AV D, 38(!; Hildcman E S, 93: Hintz A J, 402;
Hitchcock .7 C. 141; Hilton Mrs J, 531; Hinshaw EJ,
23.5, .506; Hill AV C, 399; Hilton AV T, 374; Hill S, 346;
' Hinsdale J W. 346; H L B.37: H F B, ,565; Hohbs M
; L. 346: Hofstatter L. 30; Hooper J W. 604; Hollen-
; brtchG L, 33. 578; Holmes R E, 135; Hopkins C F,
1538; Hoover A J, 150; HosslerJC, 534; Houghtaling
i D. 83. 89; Howell E D. 338. 503, 507; Hovt W, 453; Hoge
J L, 347; Hoswell G AV, 401; Hooper G H B, 369; Hor-
I ley E. 431; Hodge E T. 401; Holike F, 578. Hub-
I bard N. 490: Hubbard G K, 538. .569; Hudson M L, 239;
Hughes J S, 10; Hutchinson AV Z (see Notes from
I Banner Apiary), and 436, 547; Hunt M H, 33, 389, 487;
Hutchinson AV C. 610; Hutchison J D. 91.343, .500, ,506;
Hummel A. 35; Hunt B, 489; Humphrey Alice, 300;
Hyatt G, 89; Hyne J M, 448.
lUinski A X, 4.53; Ingram J P, 603; Ingram W, 430;
Isaacs A, 473; Ismel N J, 41; Israel C E, 335.
Jackson L B, 133, 185; Jackson G F, ,5.55; Jackson
E. 180: Jarrett J E. 335, :347; J D, 391; Jansen T H,
4.53; Jeffrey H C. 377; Jenkius Ad.i. 163; Jewell J E,
;?04; Johnson D H.30; Johnson J AV. 193, 398; Jordan
I Mrs A E. 5, 30; Joiner M A, 404; J<mes G W, 17. 433;
I Jones D A, 169, 219, ,599; Jones C M, 241; Jones T G
I H, 401.448; JosenhansO G,244; Johnston Lizzie, 433;
Johnston J W, 501.
Kaye A W, 374; Kelley S H, ,548; Kenvon L B, 449;
i Kendel A C, 171, 224, 343, 429. 479, 553; Kenyon G G,
i ,36,5.58: Kennard CW,41; K^rstenHC.5; KerrTC,317;
I Keeney V W, 377. 433, 610; KetteringC.391; Kennedv
! G W ;i9S: Kennell F, 533, ,553; Kenvon G G. ,558; Ken-
dall J & Co, 499: Kitinicuit G AV. 403; King J S, 143;
Kingsl)ury H, 335; Kingsley C. 93, 242, 39,5, 341,4.55;
KirKj W, 446, .559; Kiiter W T, 314; Kirk W. 292;
i Kirk Emma, 326; Kidd AV J, ,380, 381; Kincade C H,
i 401,431; Kinney G, 433; Kintner, 6, 551; Kiser .7 .7,
610; Kilpatrick A, 446; King AV L. 5.57; Klein P J,
45, 90. 614; Klar A L.341 ; Kleinow O. 15. 367, 273, 288,
49S: Kloer T H, 3:i5; Klum. .5.53; Knorr L, 396, 577;
Knight S A, 317; Knowlcs C G, 503; Knowlton Mrs
A, 59S; Koontz Cattie G, 335- Kregloe E L 41;
Krum M, 91.
liayj E, Un. 393, .578; Lndd E. Jr. 133. 343, 252,348,
454; Lake C H, 200; Lane D P, .5, 300, .534; Lane S H,
39. 397, 3.89, 399; Langstroth L L, 143, 166, 223, 244, 321,
3:-!3; Larkin C S, 194; Lnwrence H, 236; Larrabee C
E, 194: Large Mollie O, 345; Laurence H H, 350;
Lamb WR, 399; Lancaster AV, .500; Laughlin A D,
.534: Landrum R AV. (ii13; Leonard V, .534; Leifsete F
R, 505; LeashicrF. 3.50; Leavitt C. 466; Ledbetter F
M. 43, 187; Lee C. 447; Lee F, 1,39; Lee Minnie E, 180;
Lee J M, 456: Leggett G A, 340, 318; Legrone G S,
447; Lemmon AV W. 34; Lechler G W. 490, 581 ; Leon-
ard W E. 350; LeeperBliz. 4:33; Lewis, H. 402; Lewe-
dag 11,404; Lemon B H, 610, L'H( nimedieu DE&F
J. 297; LLE, til4; Lindsev Louie M, 79; Liks R P,
4,56; Lister S, 449; Little B F, 30, 285; Lizzie, 282; Lob-
dell C S, 226; Logsdon J F, 404; Lobre A S, 266; Love-
land AV D. 421, 472; Lowe Mrs B H, 349; Lovejoy R P
449, .524; Louo C A de, 396; Lund E W, 83; Lybarger
SC, 473, 506.
ITIattock J H, 611 ; Macquithv Mrs M J, 300; Mngee
A M, 5, 57; Main J, 13, 5,58; Mattison Emeline. 6, 590;
Martini G, i4;3,389; Martin J H, 25, .32, 7.5, 13.5, 334,
.337. 350. 37.5, 491. .593; Martin T,7, 194; MarkhamHC,
134: Madory J. 194: Marv. 349; Malone AV, 190; Mat-
thews W D A, 300; MattoonJ, 343; Martin S B, 403;
Martin Mrs J N, 335; Martin J W, 349; Markwick S,
296: Markle.L 3,50; March H A,, 3,58. Mavo JK, 395;
Mackev G H, 430. ,5.56; Marshall J AV. 558. 610; Mc-
Crorv R, 149; Mellwain, A F. 376,378,39.5, 373,396; Mc-
Rav C E, 244, 350, 536; McWilli W E, 137; Mclntvre
CW317; McClaren AV AV, 110: MeCrorv Grace, 336;
McPhail W A, 86; McCormick J B, 86, 369; McNTpIH,
J C. 35. 4.36, 511. 595; McFarland R W, 403; McLaffer-
ty D, 369: McAVilli W E, 340; McCrory Kate, :i77;
McCord D A, 4S|, ,556, 601, 603; McCord W. .5.57;
McDaniol H H, 495 ; McGregor J, .501 ; McCuUers
Mrs M E, .5.59; McAVhorter J J, 608; McEvoy W, 610;
Meatyard R, 240; Merrill J W, 293: Merrill A AV, 448;
Mcllen R H. 25. 67, 130, 173, 384, .540; Melliger A, 163;
Mellette U N, 150; Meloon C O. 91, 366, 551, 577; Mer-
rill AW. 89; Millspaugh WL, 5; Miller N, 225; Mil-
ler S A, 33, 397; Miller G C, 187; Minor A, 34; MiUer
1881
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE.
625
C C, 233, 283, 296, 324, 53r., 55V, 586: Michener I, 83, 451;
Miller J, 243; Miles C K, 121. 243; Michael J C, 2fi6;
Mitchell N C, 81; Miller C W, 350; Midplev J, 163;
Miller L E. 391; Mills J P, 19::; Mills Z, Jr. 2T4; Minns
H W, 4.55; Mitchell CR, 605; Mosier J B, 506; Monica
J, 486; Morse O C. 505; Moore .1 E,36; Moore M B.
230,343; Mooro J P, 239, 473. 578; Moore 1) W, 305;
Moore C H, 339; Mosier M F. 404; Mohler S M, 243;
Moody H A, :«9; Morg-an E A, 78, 87, 110, 138, 173, 443;
Morningstar P, 35; Morrison g W, 33, 272, 3S8, 465.
506; Morris R, 180; Morris H M. 186; Mock ,1 L. 2i0;
MosherMrs A 0,92; Morse H, 421; MoselyEO, 473;
Morrow Mrs J, 483; Moselv Emily, 4>-5; Moselv E J,
485; Moyer H M, .553. 569; Munsoh Mary A, 90; Mur-
ray J W. 557; Muth C F, 143. 4.53; Muth-Rasnmssen
W, 34, 431, 534; Murff D L. 189; Murkar R W. 284;
MversA S, 14;!, 446; Mvers J H, 448; Myers J, 366,
370.
Neil WC, 317. 347; Neads C. 606; Nelson Mabel L,
142,325; Nelson J A, 200, 29.5, 4.54; Neuhaus H, .597;
Newell D,40, 294; Newton W C, 41; Newton J A, 234;
Newton H F. 341. 290; Newton Lydia A. 281; Neads
C, 402; Neighbor H, 424. 527: Newman Melinda, 53S;
Newmans M.,519; Newton J T. 559; Nice J F. 400;
Nicholas H, 472; Noble J. 65; Northrop G E; 88;
Noelting J. 193, 286. 437; Norton W G, 348; Nugent E,
610.
O'Bannon G H..57; Olsen J E, 236; Onderdonk G,
3;7; Oren J K. 12. 402. 453, 549; Ormsby V H & L D,
266; Oshun A,,5, ,550, 609; Osborne.! A, 271; Osborne
Addie E,485: Ottaway M & W. 189.
Painter U S, 398; Parker D G. .5.30; Paddock Z D,
138; Payne B F. 394; Parmerlee W, 37. 87, 140, 499, .5.57;
Pars )n8 Mrs E M. 38; Parsons A A, 432, 524; Ptirshnll
J, 45; Parmenter W, 516; Palmer F A, 193, .533,543;
Pate Mrs W, 4.54; Peck Florence G, 485; Pearce [ D,
37, 451; Perry SC, 144, 194. 503; PerrvG. 5"; PeirceJ
H, 278; Penn G W, 143, 175; Peters 1 C. 383; Pettit S.
91, 4.53; Pettit S T, 190; Perkins W C, 381: Peters G B,
387,530; Peters C, 433: Peahr.dy Mrs A L, 483: Phil-
lips G, 606; Phlegar HL, 441; Phares GN. 517: Phillips
JC. 84. 91; Phelps W G.3:i7: Pike DA, 90, 233; Pitman
HF, 472; Pickup E. .503: Platts W. 333; Potter C B.
.555: Pomcroy H B .599; Pommert J C, 32; Poppleton
no, 292: Pond G H, 3.5, 516; Pond J E. .Jr. 400, 434. .50.5,
533, ,542. .596; Prentice N E, 194; Pond W H, 4:W; Pratt
A, 151; Pratt D, .505; Pruden N A, 188,24:3; Purdy T,
193; Pue W H, 473.
Quesner O B, 610; Qiiinn R, 314, 334. 403, 610.
Kathbun R, 39, 30ii; Raitr W, 179; Rnter A, 140;
Rapp J B, 194. 3.50; Randall L H. 317; Ray Lillian, 336;
Rainbow J P M, 454; Reynolds W W, 370. Reeves E,
91; Reynolds Bros, 149; Reynolds R, 473; Replogl'- G
B, 304, 350; Heed L G, 435: Rhodes R H,343. 399; Rich-
ardson M, 81; Rich S, Jr. 369; Riddel G W, 61(1; Higgs
JE. 590; Roff. Mrs F S. 483; Ross J W,.554; R'>bertson
W S, 41 ; Robinson E A, 151; Robinson^ R. 33. 397: Koh-
inson C.T. .57; Robbins R B. 31 : Roop H.6-<; Rose D
E, 569; Rosekclly G. 8. 9; Roderick J H. .58.85,369,
404. Rodney R W, 335; Roberts W F, 39:); Robuck J R,
317; Root L C, 3.51: Roddv S P, 3r.8; Ronton A R. 472;
Roberts J, 473; Howe M T, 473; Rom^o. 603; Rouse H
L. 609; Riiger W, 294; Rutherford S D. 5n4; Rnmford,
I B. 5. 46, 198. 397. 473. .5.58, 610; Rue C H. 143; Ruther-
ford J. .505; Runnion J F. .5.50; Russell J, 86; Russell
P R, Jr, 193, 605; Russell Cora M, 284; Russell W G,
350.
Sayles H P. 451; Sawdey A M. .569; Salisbury S W,
38>; Saltford W G, 403; Sawdey Cora J. 235; SaVers H.
441; Salisbury FA. 3.'il; Sandford E, 91; Saunders N
A, 214; Salisbury B, 298; Scranton H, 280; Schermer-
horn Jennie, 142; Sehwarts D, 214; Schneider A. 93;
Schaeffer O W. 325: Selahammah. .57; Set ford E F,
351; Scheidel W H, .537; Secor E, 131; 239; 389. 600;
Seavey G H. 383; Seaton F 0,383; Sedgwick W H,.548;
Shook D. 253; Sherman Eliza M, 2.56; Shedd W H, 190;
Shepard N N, 193; Shane W H. 9; Sherman E. 194;
Shaw F R, 10, 2.55; Shaw G D, 169, .554; Shaw H B, 273;
Shaw G L. 385 Sheeves G H. 41; Shumaker L M. 4.5,
214; Shucks A,86, 393, ,389: Sberfey S W, 133; ShuU
D C, 170; Sherrick I B R, 334; Shul'tz L O, 369; Shull
H S, 401 ; Shaye J, 4.50; Shephard T F..5;36; Shoemaker
P. 391; Sherwood W S. 396; Sherrty W E. 454; Sharp
FP. .5.59: ShangleD. ,594; Shimes Th. 604; Skinner E
B. 433; Simons M, 547; Sibley J W,386; Sia-ffins A. 2.35;
Sills J, 510; Slauffh Clara. 40; Smith A S, 294. 472, 50ii;
Smith E E, 6. 611; Smith H M. 144, 162; Smith Mrs W,
5; SmithDC, 225;Smi'hLS, 135: 234; Smith T, 3.30;
Smith H. 141, 4,55. 4,59; Smith A W, 413; Smith W, 404;
Smith Claude, .533; Smith C H, ,565; Smith J. .596;
Smith CT, 601; Snow L, 91; Snow S P,144: Sneed I R,
334; Snyder B F. 366; Snyder J H. 4.50; Snyder J K,
558. 604. 608; Snyder M H. 584; Soules L S, 34; Sorter
GW, 397; South wick E B, 503, 536; Sobey E G, 553;
SpauldingWM, ,394; Spencer O O, ,565; Spcrry Mari-
etta, 377; Sperry D, 401; Spencer Anna, 180. 336;
Spencer V O, 553; Sqin're A H, 397, 606; Squire Mrs T
M, 3.53, 5,59; Steele W H. 611; Stanley G W. 464; Stan-
Icy T C, 75, 115; Stehle R, i'.U, 5:i8; Staples 1, 35; Storz
G A. .500; Stevens M C, 38; Stengcrl'S, .505; Stltes G
W, 97, 188, 393, 49,s, .59:i: Stiles W L, 163, 371: Steele D
F, 85; Stowell Mrs M C. 297: Street S A. 41; Stearns
Eugenie. 335; Stringe DC, 91. .5riO: Steele N F, 369;
Stover E. 135; Stevenson I E. 401; St. Martz W. 189;
Stemmons J T. .5:.>4: Sieddom J PC. 300; Steele D F,
5.57; Stehle R. 339; Stewart W H, 601; Stanger L B,
390; Stocks D, (;02; Stoner Jennie E, ,5S9; Summe G,
37; Swarihout J P, 296; Swan M C, 57, 214, 266: Sweet
D O, 338, 398.
TarrE. 36;TaberMF. .501, 608; Tadlock JS, 548;
Taylor J G, 255; Taylor J J. 442; Taylor R C. 84. 318,
323, 489; Teagiie D B, 200; Teats R M, 4.56; Terris
Mary A, 189; Tennant J R, .506; Terry W B, 137;
Terry M, 609; Thomson Mrs R, 343; Thorn G. 4.53;
Thornburff J H.:.'00, 318; Thomson M L, 304; Thomas
E A. 77, 126. 366; Thoinns R J, ,534; Thomson J U, 473;
Thompson G W, 559; ThwingC B. 4,55, 601; Tigges A,
353; Ti(>knorF A, 297; Timmerman F, 596; Townsend
0 H, 333; T.idd M i, 399. tJOS; Townsend J E, 135;
TownleyJ H, 331; TobinC,3r)(l; Torrev DM. 501; Todd
JE, .534; Traylor J W. 91, 241. 433.544; Trussel W R,
144, 194; Treat G M, 314, 304; Tracy W, 597; Train H
V. 330. 396, 4.54; True W, 403; Turner W h; 5; Turner
J B, 65; TurnhiimTR, 41; Tuttle Julia R. 335: Tun-
niclifTe E, 433; Tweedy D H, 433; Tygard J R, 318.
TJnderhill D C, 394; Underbill B S, 431; Urich V D,
83; Utify Loretta, 433; Utter J W, 503.
VanD.irn J W, 11; Vankirk L, 39; Van Zandt
1 L, (iOl, 609; VanAuken W. 143; Valentine S, 344, 409;
Vankirk L W, 350. 373, 4.53, .505; Viallon P L, 276, 383
535.5:31; Vincents, 604.
Waddell G H, 5, 40; Walcott Jennie, 3.34; Warner
L, 37. 41, .599; Warner R G, 366. 577: Wardell F J, 90,
:?70: 403; Warstler H L, 392; Waleher J E, 394; Watt J
P. 396. 549; Waterhou^^e C, 317: Waketield W, 348, .546;
Washburn A, :i70; Wallace T G, 403; Ward H.403;
Watf^rson C C. 433; Wakeman N. 181; Wallace E M,
455; Walker J 1} A. .534; Ward T D, 603; Wagner Em-
ma, 5S9; Webster WT, .5,58; Wet.ster D G, 4.55, 523;
AVebster Jennie,3S4; AVf myss W P,:!35; AVecd A n.:31,
143; Werner J D. 485; Welch C, 143; W^irRM, 300;
Weis'5 H L, l.'^O; Werner Glara E, 538; Wehrman H,
609; White Anna A, -.'.^4: Wbite J H, 185; White J D,
193; White F C, 37, 450; White J W. 65, 493,540; White
D W. 403; White D. 449; Whit beck T L, 449; Wbite H
W, 45:3. 5:34; Whitman W R, 8;3. 3.5,5, 292; WhitsittH,
149; White J A. 506; Wheat H L, 550; Williams T,
398; Williams WT, :31S: Williams M L. 288; Williams
Emm;i, 283; Wilkins Lucv A, 300; Wilder P N, 22,
2:31, 317, .5.58, 610; Wilder Ellen C. 180; AVjlkin R, 8,
343, ;349. ,3.50. 533, 580; Wilmarth A W, 349; Willi* G A,
117; Wiltse J. 497. 540; Wilson W W, 127. 163. 243;
Williamson G W, 5.87; Windisch F G, 393; Willitts O
W, 460; Winslow A A. 300: Witt W C, 4,56; Wininger
W. 346; WitHeld W. 433; Wickersbam M S. 370, 395;
Williams M E, .5,58; Williams G F, 433; Williams C F,
4.53; Willis A D, .501; Williamson A 0, 5.51; Willows
A G, 608; Wier Isabella, 589; Wolf G W, 343: Wolfer
M H, 10; Wood N L. 345; Wood C A, 394; Wood J S,
.373; WoolverCM. 606; Wondside E L, 43; Wood burn
J S, 584; Wort h L D, 1.31 ; Worth NeUie, .589; Wriffht
C D, 342, 517; Wright F M, 447; Wright G A, 83, 304;
Wright F L. 170, 3S4. 4S0. (JIO: Wriffht W G, 3,50;
Wright W H, 577; W F R, :J05; W R AV, 303, W W L,
96.
X Y Z, 199, 347. 355.451, 460.
Vcrk M D, 499; Yoder (i J. 391; Y-'oder C J. 138;
Yoder S P, ]:i3, 1:34: Young S, 6.5,214; Young G W,
431; Young W W, 369; Young W A, 433; Young W
M, 440, .538.
List of Illustiatioiis.
Bliss Sun Evaporator. 330. 2?A; Cartoon, 149. 200,
335; Cage. Carpenter's. 168; Cage. Alley's, 369; Cage,
Peet's improved, ;37'v: Comb-cupboard, Perry's. 603;
Comb-holder, Mcllwain's, 378; Comb-holder, Minn's,
.539; Cutter-head, 98; Clark's starter machijie. 218;
Dadant's Can for tmcapplng, 32i; Feeder, Bread-
Pan, 478; Feeder, De Worth's, 477; Feeder, Glass-
tumbler, 122; Given's Frame-wiring machine, 79, 80;
Heddon's hive. 116; Hill's Device to cover Frames,
ri-iO; Machine to perforate Separators, 425; Machine
for Sections, 98; Nail-box, Clark's, 122: Osborne'8
Frame-puncher, 271: Phelps' Apiary, 237: Planers,
Gem and Pony. 114; Queen-rearing Hive, 111; Roop'8
Hive, 67, 68; Scale's, Chatillon's, 39, 308; Scottish
626
GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTUKE.
Dec.
Apiary, 179; Simplicity Tool-box, 359; Sections. Mil-
ler's plan for folding, 282; Shipping-capps and Fun-
nel. 27S; Smoker, Our 5'i-cent, 322; Star Saw-set, 515:
Swarming-box. The "Cheese-box." 3'VH S warming-
pole, Mcllwaln's, 276; Watch-winder, 274, 373: Water-
bury Watch, 569.
Index to Advertisers.
Allen LD, 520: Allen N H, 205, 360, 312; Alley H,
257, 265. 317. 4U, 410.
BHrnc? W F& J, 2d p. of each cover: Bnrber H,
107,160.315.419: Baer E, 204: Baker G W, 4U, 419;
Basspft T) S, 419: Beebee E B, 3: Renhnm A D. 4. .56,
108. 160. 213, 310. 362, 367: Binnconcini & Co, 56.108. 1.58,
210. 202. 314: Bishop H T. 263. 315: Bingham &Hether-
Ingtnn. 3. 104. 156, 257. 309.362. 414. 421: Bingham C R,
258,310,364: Blvstone C H, 421: Brown H H. 212, 264,
317. 369, 468. .520: Brooks J M & Bros, 20.5, 2.57, 265, 317,
869,420: Brisrht Bros, 108, 160: Brown .T P H, 52, 104.
108: 160, 213. 265, 317, 416, 420. .520. .572, 575:, Bued S D.
109,204: Burch H A & Co, 102, 1.54, 206, 2.58, 309,310,
364: Buchanan J A, 257.
€anti«»ld C W, ,52, 104. 108. 1.56, 160. 208. 2.57, 260, 264,
312, 315, 416. 468. .520, .572, 628; Carv W W & Son. 108.
160. 213, 265, 361: Caldwell .T V, 205, 260. 312: Canoles C
E. 211: Chapman P B. 367: Cheney A W, 1.59, 213:
Clement W P, 5: C'^ggeshull W B. .310, 31.5, .369,420:
Crofifat WN, 205: Crnig \V G, 55: Crowfoot I S, 102,
154: Culp H, 3: '^ulley S P, 315.
Darlant C, 109, 2.58,310. 364.416. 468: Davidson .7 .T.
212: Deane C H, 620: Dnollttle G M. 205. 213. :J65. 362,
628: Dormnn M L. 4, 55. 107, 1.58, 210, 262, 314, 366, 418,
.520, 572, 628: nnuylassO, 108: Dougherty T W, 471:
Duvall C D, 20t. 212, 264. 317, 367.431.
Kd wards 1,50,575: £1 wood W F, 109, 205: Estey E,
1.59.
Faris J, 57, 109,1.59, 213, 471: Fahnestoek A. 1.59:
Fischer & Stehle, 204, 211: 316: Flanagan E T. 310. 317,
369: Forncrook J & Co. .52, 102, inS, 16'', 2.57, 414: Foster
O, .57,205,211. 213, 309, 316. 369: Fradpnhurg A A. 214.
Gastman E A, 159, 263: GillespieMrs l)r..575: Given
D S,r)2. 56,109.159,211, 263.362: Goort I K, 109. 161, 212;
Graves C A, .575: Green J A, 361, 308: Griffith HL,
315.
Harrington HB. 318: 413. 421, 471.. 532: Hasen H F,
367: Harkness .1 W, 414: Hall & .lohnson. 107,1.59, 2.57.
310.421: Hayhurst E M, 109, 160: 213, 265, 361, 4i:3, 420,
471: Harrison EM, 161. 2i2, 264. 316: He<lf1on .1, 104,
1.56, 208, 260, 312, 468: Henderson W P, 3, .55, 107, 208, 260.
312: Hoffman J, 3. ,55. 109, 204: Hollowav J P, 1.53, 160:
H)lmes F W, .5.5, 263, 414: Holoom'he & Co. 3fil:
Hutchinson W Z, 161, 212,364, 303, 368, 431, .520, 572:
HvdoR. 107.
Israel NJ. 109, 1.59.
Johnson H 0. 1.53. 160, 213: Johnson .1 T. .56, 108, 160.
KempWCR. 211: Kinzie J M. 421. .520. ,572, .575:
King^lep C, .5, 102, .575: King A J & Co. 628: Riser J J,
419. 471: Kleinow 0, 1,59. 212, 263, 31.5, 369. 468.
IiakeCH,57. 108: Larkin C S, 53. 101, 1.56,161,208,
211: Landes J R, 1.54. 2n8, 257, 265: Labar R A. .523:
Lewis G B. 52, 104, 156. 205, 213, 265: Lewis & Detwiler,
1.59,211: Leonard V,:367.
Maher & Grosh, .55, 107, 1,59. 311, 363, 31.5,367,419,
471,572, 628: Mann R& Son, 204: Mnllalieu R, 212:
Martin J H, 419: McFatridge L C. .56, 109. 160, 213, 265:
McGregor J, 3. 55: McQueen C, 161 : McLean SD&-
Son, 102. 154, 206, 2.58. 310. 315: Merriam & Falconer,
104. 1.56. 208, 260, 312, 364, 410, 468. .530, .572. 028: Mielke
F .1. 419: Moore J E. 3: Moore .1 P. 315. 367. 431: Mor-
ris H M. 102, 1.54, 161: MurravJB, 102, 154; Muth C,
53, 104, 156, 208, 260, 312, 364, 416, 468, .520, 573. 628.
National Farmer, 57, 1,54. 208: Newman A H,52, 104,
156. 208. 260, 313: Newman T G, last page of each cov-
er, and 575: Newhaus H. 419. 471: New England Bee
Snurnal, 576: Nicholas H, 206: 2.58, 310, 317, 416. 468:
Nichols & Elkins. 109. 1.59, 211, 263: Nostrand P E, 362,
368: Nuerent S. (Dr E)533. 575.
Oldroyd W, 4. 5-i. 108. 158. 210. 282. 314. 418, 470. 522,
.574: Dim C, 2, .54, 102. 154. 206. 211, 263, 315, 369, 430, 471,
,572. 638: Osborne J A. 107, 211.
Parker CH, 204: Pike D A. .57, 108, 211: Pommert
J C, 159, 257: Post W O, 109, 160: Poole H, .523, 570:
Pryer B C, 2n6: Purdv of Palmyra, .576.
Richmnnrt H L. .533: RogersW, M, 414: Roop H. 56,
103, 15t. 206. 2.58: Root A 1. 2, 4. .52, 54. 55: Root L C &
Bro. 205. 213. 265. 362, 414, 468, 471: Ross H S, 161, 313,
265: Rutherford S D, 57.5.
Savles J C & H P, 3. .55. 107, 208. 260. 312. 364. 416: Sal-
isburvF A. 5?, 104. 1.56. 208: Sanford B F. :}63: Scho-
field 1 L. 109. 204, 206, 21.3, 258. 265: Shaw N H. .52: Sher-
wood E H, 206. 258: Sherrick C. ,56: Sherrick J B R,
205: Sherfy E, 109: Shuck S A, 211, 263: Stratton C L,
102: Stanley G W, 212. 204, 316: Stump Mrs W, 109:
Stiles EP, 206; Stauffer A F, 213, 367: Steele W H,
263: St John L B. 36;J, .368: Staples D, 421, 520: Sutton
P, 5, 101: Smith IFG, 263, 264, 265, 310: Smith E D, ;^68.
Tavlor J M C, 309, 301, 422: Thomas E A. 56, .57, 102,
109,205,211,363: Thompson R G, 310: Townsend F E,
263, 315: Townsend O H, 212, 2153, 315, 367, 416, 419, 471,
572: Train H V, 310, 363.
Underbill B S, 305, 2.57, 316.
Valentine S. 1.54, 206, 2.58: Van Allen E. 159: Van
Deusen J & Sons. .53, 104, 156, 208. 260, 312, 36 1, 416, 468,
.520, 573, 575; Van Eaton C J, .52; Van Frank VV W, 109,
206; Via lion P T,, 56, 160. 257. 264. 316, 368, 430. 530.
Watts J P, 102. 154, 306. 431 ; Walker B, 2ti3. 363, 413:
Ward J A, 159; Webster D G. 431 ; White D. 357, 309;
WiNon J T. 57, 108, 160, 213. 265. 317, 369, 430; Wittman
T F &• C<1, 264; Willows A G, 367; Wolfender J L, 3«7;
Woodburn J S, 471: Wright F L, 102, 367: M' right C D,
414.
Yoder S P, 57, 638: York A >[, 433.
f CM^»( ^clunin.
Under this head -nili be inserted, free of charge, the names of
all those having honey to sell, as wijU as those wanting to buy.
Please mention how much, what kind, and prices, as I'ar as pos-
sible. As a general thing. I would not advise you to send your
honey away to be sold on commission. It near home, wnei'e
you can look afterit. itis often ,a rei-y good way. By all means,
develop your home market. For 2o cents we "can furnish little
boards to hang up in your doorvard. with the words. ' ■ Honey
for Sale, " neatly painted. If wanted by mail. 10 cents extra for
postage. Boards saying ' ' Bees and Queens lor Sale, ' ' £ame
p.-ice.
CITY MARKETS.
Cleveland.— Ho?icj/.— Choice white 1-lb. sections
have advanced anotber step. We have been enabled
to sell all consignments this month for 21 cts. per
lb.; 2-11). section*. 20 cts.; extracted, in 30 to 4" lb.
cans, 12 cts.: in 'j barrels, 11 cts. Bees ira.r, 30(3;S2c.
These are the prices we sell tor on commission; we
do not buy. A. C. Kendel.
Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 31, 18Si.
New York.— If«)Ki/.— We quote honey as follows:
Best white comb, put up in neat packages, ISgivOc;
fair, 1.5(5 17c; dark and buckwheat, 13@14c. We have
no large boxes, therefore we don't quote them.
Best white extracted hon<-y. 10(5;llc; dark and buck-
wheat, 7(580. jBfcsica.r.— Prime yellow, •St@2-ic.
H. K. & F. B. Thurber & Co.
New York, Nor. 25, 1881.
Chicago, Nov. 23.
Hiincii.—For extracted honey there is a lively de-
mand; but otferings. at prices quoted, are abund-
ant. For honcv in the comb, in single-pound sec-
tions, the demand is good, many preferring the 1-lb.
sections to those larger. Honey in boxes, holding 4
to 12 lbs., is of very slow sale, and at a discount from
the regular rate, of 2 to 5c. per Ih. 1 quote prices as
follows: AVhite. in comb, 1 and 2 lbs.. IS to 22 c; ex-
tracted, white, 9 c: dark, 8, if in small bbls. or kegs.
Larse bbls. are at a discount, as they can not be as
easily sold or handled. A. H. Nkw.man.
Cincinnati. Nov. 23.
Jfo?ic.i/.— The demand for extracted honey is very
good, and the supplv is fair. It brings readily 8 to
11 c. on arrival. Demand for comb honey is medi-
um, to keep pace with the supply. A choice article
brings 18 c. in our market on arrival. It retails from
20 to 25 c. per lb.
Tirc^iva.r is quoted from 20 to 23 c. C. F. MuTn.
Detkoit, Nov. 24.
i/o)icf/.— The supply and demand for comb honey
are about equal. It iV bringing from is to 20 o.
TT'ar, 20 to 25. A. 15. '\^ eed.
F^r\ STANDS of Italian Bees for e.xohange for
0\J some in Canada or near. Address
13-ld A. W. SORY, Devall's Bluff, Ark.
^ T^y- .".'^
3^.^»^
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